Complaint Review: Dermallure & Skin Essentials

I purchased online both anti-aging products Dermallure and Skin Essentials in May 2014.  As already reported by others on this website, I was lured by the supposed $4.95 trial price for each.  It was not all clear that I would be charged about $100 additional for each of these unless I acted almost immediately and returned both products.  There were two charges for $4.95 dated May 8, 2014 on my credit card statement received about mid-June.  So I assumed that I was charged according to what I understood.  Then on my credit card received on July 12, 2014 there were two more charges dated June 7, 2014 For $99.96 and $94.93.  Such strange oddball amounts which I surmise is so the credit card companies don't kick the charges out as fraudulent.  

I called them on July 12, 2014 only to be told that what they charged was what I had agreed to when ordering the products and that they would not refund any of my money.  I sure do believe that disclosure was so hidden, no reasonable person would have seen it.  And there is no way that I or most other potential customers would have signed up for such a ripoff.  

And I also received another shipment of both products on July 12, 2014 which I am returning. After a lot of time of time on the phone with the company representative trying to talk me out of returning it, he finally gave me an RMA #(Return Merchandise Authorization) for each of the returns which I have to pay for shipping. He also made a real point of letting me know that it would take a long time for the credits to be posted to my credit card (at least 30-60 days).  I will be at UPS first thing on Monday, July 14 to ship that back. 

The products are okay but in no way worth that kind of outrageous price.   I have purchased lots of things online from many different companies over many years and have NEVER experienced anything close to this kind of ripoff.  Most well known and lesser known companies operate with full disclosure and upfront policies because they want repeat business and referrals by satisfied customers.  I do not know if this company is operating outside the law or if they are merely skirting its edges. Either way their business model is not sustainable for the long term.