|
Thursday, July 15, 2004 12:00 AM
The High Cost of Free Samples 7/15/04
Ever see one of those commercials on t-v that offers a "free sample"? Some local women say they saw them so many times, they finally called to order the products — but were they sorry they did: You've heard of the pills that help men with their reproductive health. Now, there's some for women...called Avlimil. 40-year-old Daria Robbins of Troy was interested in Avlimil's promise to combat the symptoms of Pre- Menstrual Syndrome....and ingredients that would boost her overall health. Daria Robbins/Troy: "It's really important for me in this point in time to kind of maintain my reproductive health." So...she ordered the "free sample" promised online. And got it. Daria Robbins/Troy: "Of course you have to pay shipping and handling which was 4 dollars and fifty cents which was fine." It wasn't so fine after she paid that fee on her American Express though...and faced a 40 dollar charge too! Turns out, the company enrolled her in its "managed care" deal that meant more pills..and more charges on her card without permission. Daria Robbins/Troy: "I don't know how companies can get away with that and regular people go to jail for that." Robbins fought it and got her money back...but a Watervliet woman who's too embarrassed to show her face wasn't so lucky. Watervliet Woman: "I was livid." She ordered a "free sample" of Altovis...a pill made by the same company to help with fatigue....and paid the same shipping — but got socked with a 70-dollar charge it won't refund. She called the Better Business Bureau and it said: Watervliet Woman: "Well, I'm not alone. I'm not the only dummy out here..." The BBB says 2596 people have complained about the Cincinnati based Berkeley Premium Neutraceuticals...also known as Warner Health Care and Lifekey Healthcare. So, the BBB gives the company an "unsatisfactory rating." Warren King/Better Business Bureau: "What we would expect from companies is that they market themselves ethically and provide full disclosure to companies or to the consumer." As always...the BBB says...your best defense is skepticism. Warren King/Better Business Bureau: "If it sounds too good to be true, that's a red flag." Neither pills have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration — but that's not required because they're "nutritional supplements." We contacted Berkeley and it says all ads say that customers must pay shipping. As for whether these are misleading sales tactics, it says: (Statement) "No. This is no different than Columbia House's CD or DVD Clubs...Our policies clearly state that all free offers include automatic enrollment in our Berkeley Value Added Program (formerly Managed Care) and that customers can cancel anytime...Because the products are ingestible, it states that once a product is shipped we cannot provide refunds." Watervliet Woman: "They're thieves. No matter what Berkely says...this woman warns against buying anything from them! Daria Robbins seconds that — and says when you get tempted...listen to that old adage, even if she didn't. Daria Robbins/Troy: "Nothing in life is free...ha ha." By the way, Daria never took the Avlimil because she didn't trust what was in the pills after her dealings with the company — and the Watervliet woman we talked to never took the Altovis because her doctor told her not to.
|
A Subscription to Scam? 5/25/05
;)
;){kind=small}
;)
;){kind=small}
