GNS Inc. Acai Berry rip-off! Arvada Colorado
I ordered what I thought was a free sample of the Acai Berry product. I was drawn in by the reference to Oprah and Dr. Oz. I was charged $3.97 in shipping. When I read the fine print I saw they planned to charge me an additional $79.90 for the product after 21 days!
I phoned them and requested a cancellation of any further products and any further charges to my credit card. I spoke with "Leigh" and received a cancellation number, and was assured that no further charges would be made. "Leigh" didn't say anything about returning the product I had already received.
Later I received a $79.90 charge to my credit card! I phoned and was told that this was a "free trial" not a free sample, and that I had been required to return the product with 30 days to avoid the charge. I said I could return it now, since I had not used or opened it. She said it was too late, and that all she could do was give me credit on other products. I said I didn't want any other products; she said she didn't have the authority to help me but would have a supervisor call me and they could help me. I gave her my work and home phone numbers and the hours I would be at each number.
The next day I received an email from them (no person's name attached) saying they tried to call me but got no answer (untrue, as I have a direct line into my office and their number did not show on my caller ID at home). They forwarded terms they said I agreed to when I placed the order (I had never seen them before). I answered the email, gave them the history of my conversations, etc. I asked them why "Leigh" didn't explain this when I called, which would have given me plenty of time to return the product, and I asked them to please accept return of the product and give me a refund.
Today I received an email saying there is nothing they can do, and wishing me luck with my weight loss! I tried to reply to the email and also to send another email to a separate address on their website; both were returned as undeliverable, so perhaps they have blocked my email address from their server?
I will be filing complaints with the BBB and the attorneys general of Kansas and Colorado; I also plan to write to the Oprah Winfrey Show telling them how this company is using their good name to defraud people. I doubt any of it will do any good for me but it might it help someone else avoid being ripped off!
Naive in wichita
Wichita, Kansas
U.S.A.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Gns
Arvada,Colorado,
U.S.A.
Company Response
#2UPDATE Employee
Tue, June 09, 2009
The offer you ordered from is advertised as a free 21 day trial for our product called Acai Berry Edge this was not advertised as a free sample. With this offer you would be charged $3.97 upfront to cover the shipping and handling. In the terms and conditions of the offer we explain that you can try this product out for 21 days, if you are unsatisfied with the product for any reason you can call us to return the unused portion within your trial period and not be billed a thing. If you keep the products past the 21 days then you are charged $79.90 for the two bottles kept. Additionally, we do provide you with another 9 days after the trial period ends in which you can still return your trial products for a refund.
We understand that you had contacted our company and were not advised to return your trial order for a refund, we would like to apologize that this was not expressed to you at that time. However, the information regarding the trial product and autoship program is presented to you four different times-- in the terms and conditions on the order page, on the order confirmation page, on the order confirmation email, as well as on your order invoice. We provide this important information multiples times to prevent this from being missed. Please contact customer service at 1-800-595-4670 if we can assist you further in anyway.
Thank you,
Supervisor