Department store faces allegations of selling outrageous items to senile customers

No way! These stores would never prey on the elderly and vulnerable.

A judge ruled but a store refuted....how does that work

Do they have a power of attorney in Japan? Shouldn't the money for someone with mental disability have had their money in trust.

A friend of mine was having exactly this problem with his ageing father.Even though they took control of his finances, all he did in a lucid moment when he realised he didnt have his cards anymore was apply for new ones and the chase would start again. My friend even went to the department store to explain (he always used to go to the same one) but they shrugged and said there was nothing they could do. Vultures, the lot of them.

Its not the stores duty to enforce selling restrictions. Odd people buy the oddest of things and are entitled to do what they please with their money either wisely or foolishly. Packinko is a classic case of this, there is no way you can get rich playing pachinko but the courts never rule it to be dishonest do they?

In April, a judge ordered Tokyu to refund a large percentage of the woman’s purchases, but the store refuted the ruling,

The writer obviously doesn't understand the meaning of "refute".

I miss shopping in america, the shopping culture there is wonderful=) although staff have their own individual attitudes

Greece was the worst... if you dont plan to buy anything from the shop, beware, dont enter! you will be kicked out for window shopping! lol

The hook is "wakai desu ne!". Flatter the old dears. Then offer them a special discount (5%!) on some snake oil, toupee or other overinflated garbage to make them 'look and feel young.' The dopamine rush is irresistible, and they want to reciprocate for the (false) compliment and (false) discount.

Just like Zichi's example, it's targeted, cynical and obscene.

But the store argued that “It’s not unusual that customers of a boutique to repeatedly buy expensive items.” Yes, this is true. I have had young friends do this. They keep buying clothes they don't need ... and most probably will never wear ... and the stuff just keeps piling up in their home.

I don't know ... but it must be some kind of a shopping sickness.

And when the old folks come in and do the same thing, well, I guess the store just thinks it's normal as other shoppers do this to.

A problem if you're senile, I guess, but what about those younger ones ... ??

How about naming and shaming the Stores.

Tokyu, I hope and pray that you belly-up. The store management must really want their bonuses to prey on the seniors.

The woman’s 70-year-old brother said he realized something was amiss when his sister showed up to a relative’s funeral dressed like a rich college girl ready for a night out in Shibuya.

Wish I could have seen that!

Pretty funny actually! I would be like wtf grandma?

Reminds me of when my grandma gave me and my cousins the prongs! (Basically saying f-you) She being a religious kind hearted old lady was a massive shock for us! She ment to do the peace sign we later found out! Haha

So when I have a dementia person in my family, my best option is locking them in a cage?

Just kidding.

A sales transaction, even one conducted in a store, is a contract and a person who is non compos mentis (such a person with Alzheimer's) cannot enter into a contract. The hospital or doctor who diagnosed this person should have had her declared non compos mentis. I think the sister still has a case and the purchase contracts should be voided.

Its just lonely rich pple living alone ,the only pple who say kind things to them are the store staff thats why they keep going there ,its like therapy after they have been flattered they will buy something not becoz they need it but only becoz the experience makes them feel good about themselves thats why they keep going back. The relatives are angry becoz they want that money too.