Equinox Skin System ESS Acceptance of the "free" sample results in monthly shipments for which you are charged $100+ by checking the terms and conditions box internet
Equinox Skin Systems deliberately obscures the fact that when you accept their offer of a free sample you are signing up for unwanted monthy deliveries of and charges for their products while making it difficult to discover this and cancel the "subscription" or return the products.
Equinox Skin Systems offers trial samples of two skin care products to help with wrinkles and spots for the cost of shipping $3.97. You are required to check the "I agree to the terms and conditions" box to confirm your order. In that (most likely unread - they count on that) copy you are agreeing to have them ship you monthly supplies of this product at $100+ each month. This is also mentioned way down the page on the website but if purchased from a pop up it is not. The expectation, that most people will not read the terms and conditions, allows them to charge you for future shipments of their product hoping that you will not notice until it is too late.
Representatives at Customer Service either hang up at the mention of a complaint or insist/argue that you agreed to this and does not offer refunds unless returned in their window. You are unlikely to be able to do as if you do not understand that you have signed up and if the charge on your credit card statement is not promptly noticed.
The company has structured their system to take advantage of the fact that we do not usually read the terms and conditions and that we are not totally vigulant in monituring our credit card bills to inable them to sell unwanted product. The product itself does not in fact banish wrinkles and spots as discribed, by the way.
Scrutinizing the web site copy (after the fact, unfortunately) finds them using names like CNN, WebMD, Harvard University, Fortune, FOX and CNN and then goes on to say that these organizations have nothing to do with them. Of course, one does not typically do anything other than register the logos and names without realizing that their inclusion is to note the companies non affiliation with them.
Painful to admit that I have been scammed. If I had been suspicious I could/should have seen it coming. Had I looked up the company and seen the hundreds of complaints about this exact thing, and read the terms and conditions before checking the box I would not be out all this money. I hope to alert others and perhaps join others in an effort to be reimbursed and stop this company from continuing their scam.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
MJD
Other,They DID NOT rip themselves off
#3General Comment
Thu, July 03, 2014
In response to the first rebuttal - so it is OK to make things so unclear and to con people who are either vulnerable, or in a rush etc? I don't think so - the company preys on people. Do not make people feel that this is their fault - it isn't
Ken
Colorado,So, you admit to being an "IDIOT"...
#3Consumer Comment
Wed, January 08, 2014
The box you check on their site agreeing to the Terms and Conditions has a link that you can just click on and read those Terms and Conditions. What does your assertion that "most people" will not do so have to do with your situation(carelessness)?
You shot your self in the foot. Your argument about "most people" reminds me of the things my daughter used to say when she was 13..."Nobody else has to do that" and Everybody else gets to do that" along with a few others.
You Ripped YOURSELF off. Take it as a learning experience. Many sites offering "free trials" have the same conditions.