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LA Weight Loss Centers RIP OFF: Dieters are biting off MORE than they could Chew
The TV commercials advertising LA Weight Loss Centers announce a price that appears to be right. It says, "Now just $7 a week based on a 52-week program payable in advance."
But according to ABC NEWS, five angry women from Albany, N.Y., told Greg Hunter of ABCNEWS' Good Morning America's that they turned to LA Weight Loss to drop some pounds, but ended up dropping some extra dollars. Now, they say they feel cheated. They are among a number of dieters who say they were hit with hidden costs when they joined the program.
New York's attorney general, Eliot Spitzer, investigated the company and said it was not being straight with the public. Its advertisements, according to Spitzer, led people to believe they would get on the program for a few bucks a week.
"They were using the old bait and switch," Spitzer told Good Morning America. "Come in here, $7 a week. And then you go in, you're interested in the product and you find out it costs two or three times that. And that's not the way businesses are supposed to operate."
Spitzer said LA Weight Loss inflated the cost of the diet by routinely requiring customers to buy snack bars called LA Lites or Nu Lites, available only from L.A. Weight Loss. The attorney general said the fine print stating "setups and supplements extra" in some ads did not clear things up.
LA Weight Loss recommends that its customers eat its 180-calorie LA Lite bars twice a day, between meals. But the company said it's not a required part of the LA Weight Loss diet.
Without admitting any wrongdoing, LA Weight Loss recently paid $110,000 to settle with Spitzer's office. In a statement, the company said it did so "to avoid protracted legal costs."
The Difference a State Makes
In order to find out whether the diet would be available at the advertised price, an ABCNEWS producer joined two different women as they joined two different LA Weight Loss Centers, with hidden cameras rolling.
Their first stop was an LA Weight Loss Center in Troy, N.Y., shortly after the company settled with the state attorney general.
Although the LA Weight Loss counselor tried to sell the first woman $800 worth of LA Lite Bars, she did not claim that they were required for participation in the diet program. The $334 advance payment she quoted for participation in the program did not include the LA Lites, and did not exceed the advertised price of $7 dollars a week.
But when the other woman joined an LA Weight Loss Center across the state line in Secaucus, N.J., the experience was quite different. The counselor there insisted that the LA Lite bars were required for participation in the diet program.
The plan required an upfront payment of $446 and it would last for a year and five months.
That cost was below the advertised $7-a-week price, but the counselor also said the diet wouldn't work without the bars. "It's not going to work for you," she said. The bars run $14 per box but the counselor suggested the woman buy as many as 90 boxes in order to get a discount. The cost of the bars ended up at $872, boosting the total potential upfront cost of the diet program in New Jersey to $1,300.
The manager of the New Jersey center stressed to the woman, who was accompanied by the ABCNEWS producer, that the bars were an essential part of the program. "It's part of the program," the manager said.
Back in New York, Spitzer said dieters across America should be on the lookout for the hidden costs. "I would say, be careful, be cautious," he said. "You should know that this company has gotten into trouble elsewhere in the nation."
Spitzer said people should be sure to find out what the diet is going to cost before signing anything.
The company has started running some commercials that do not mention price and it said that whenever the ads do include a price, it will let people know that setups and supplements are extra.
Ice
5 Updates & Rebuttals
Wiser
West Sand Lake,New York,
U.S.A.
Liars and Thieves
#6UPDATE Employee
Fri, January 26, 2007
Come On- Yes sales are a big push for BUY NOW
can someone really force you to pay money you dont want to spend? I do not think so.
My concern is more for the Albany NY staff that was stealing from both the company and the clients. It was their District and Regional Managers that knew what was going on but as long as the numbers were there, no one cared. When will Vaughn and Elaine look deeper at Michele's involvement and get smart? The Attorney General can only do so much. The program is a good program, the products really work... Nothing is free.
Unfortunately the employees that really do care about the clients needs are the ones that get pushed out the door. Eventually the liars and thieves have to get caught and it will make its way up the ladder and finally the Capital Region Centers will get the proper caring staff in the door and the program will once again be able to sell itself.
T
Rensslear,New York,
U.S.A.
Lose on your own
#6UPDATE EX-employee responds
Mon, January 15, 2007
The report from GMA in the past will be updated soon by 60 minutes i have heard.
All the management from the Albany store were fird in Nov 2006 due to unethical practices.
If you signed up there maybe you need to contact the new attorney general and the company for money.
April
Charleston,South Carolina,
U.S.A.
TRY FOLLOWING YOUR PLAN!
#6UPDATE Employee
Thu, January 11, 2007
Come on! I've worked for both sides of LA, corporate and franchise and it's about the end result. I've lost about 20 lbs. on our program and YES, I ATE THE d**n BARS! I'm not a chocolate fan but they did help. Ask the clients who are so upset at LA over the cost if they ACTUALLY FOLLOWED PLAN FOR A MINIMUM OF 30 DAYS?! Probably not. Yes, sales are a big part of being an employee here but so is helping our clients have a game plan for an upcoming event, giving good ideas on late night snacking and celebrating with them on losing their first 10 lbs.! Everyone is selling something! You sell your girlfriend on a great shoe sale, your hubby on a new restaurant...it's all sales! Not all centers are ran the same, but ours in West Ashley, SC allows us freedom to put ourselves in what we do. I'm proud of the help I give to clients because I know what it's like to be overweight and unhappy! Ask one of our SUCCESSFUL clients if it was worth the money and most will say YES! What I've learned about my body and weight loss is information that I'll keep with me for the rest of my life. When my jeans start to feel tight and I'm a bit out of control, I know EXACTLY what to do and do it WITHOUT TAKE OFF JUICE! WEARING PANTS IN A SINGLE DIGIT SIZE IS WORTH EVERY PENNY!
Avery
Philadelphia,Pennsylvania,
U.S.A.
LA Weight Loss - Watch Your Wallet
#6UPDATE EX-employee responds
Mon, July 05, 2004
Want to lose weight with LA Weight Loss, Its goin' cost you. LA Weight loss offers $7 dollars a day, based on but you have to purchase a full program. (Programs are weight loss weeks start from 10 weeks to unlimited weight loss week + 6 weeks of stabilization + 52 weeks of maintains = 68 week to unlimited week program.
Program price start from $500.00 Unlimited.) Not including LA LITES. Helpful hints more weight you have to lose the more you pay. Two days later they bring you back for PE (Program Explanation.) We weight you in hopefully you lose yeah! Using the take Off juice jump-started you weight loss. Were we explain your program, and set you up for purchasing your LA LITES & SUPPLEMENTS. We show the product video and give you a sample of LA LITE bars.
We offer the 20% coupon and tell you that you have to use the coupon to get the discount & and that you need to bring it back from you next visit. (NOT TRUE, YOU DONT EVEN NEED THE COUPON). A Day & a half later we bring you in for you PSV (Personal Success Visit bulking your lites) Your visit as all you visit start by weight in hopefully you lose, yeah!
See haw those LA LITE are helping you lose weight. You sit we talk and then your told we have worked up prices that if you have the coupon you can save on your lites. Your lites packages $826.00 to unlimited (the most I saw was $4000.00 for la lites) You can have a smaller package $500.00 or you can buy week to week but they don't like that BULK BULK BULK.
By this time it is already pass the three days to refund program with you losing money you have already spent at the least $1,000 and it has just began. You still have to by Supplements; Meal replacement shakes, cookies, breakfast bars, & snacks.
NOW THE BEHIND THE TRUES
I worked for LA Weight Loss for almost a year. First we go through a week & a half-training class. We are first taught the phone script. It all starts from when you call. They tell the new class your more likely to purchase the full program by coming in right now today. So I class we learn how to get you to come in that day. Than it how to sell products on a daily bases. Each client must spend $35.00 a visit to meet our goal. We are shown how to get you to spend more money, If you believe they will buy.
After the week and a half is done we are out telling how to eat and lose weight. 1 out 100 employees is fitness experts, dietitian, and health care professional. Others are what ever they hire. So if you are really good at selling or now anyone you go into a second training call PE/PSV training. They show us how to get the big $$$ sales if you follow a few simple mind game steps the client should get a package A the most money spent on package (From $850.00 to $4,000 extra) you can buy week to week but they really don't like to here that.
Now if you have sold your butt off with PSV (Personal Success Visit) and Daily Visit you go to Cousultion class. Were the shows you how it all brings. The teach you how to being the clients down and build them back up using LA LITES and LA Weight Loss. Cries always pay in full. PIF is all they want to see, if not you mess up some where. The flip chart, the product broad, the selling of the program. We get your hot spots (your husband looks at you a little different, your uncomfortable in the summer, you hate the way you look. No social life, stay home, single mother, just had a baby any and everything we can turn it around and let LA Weight Loss take care off it)
HARD TRUTH
My area supervisor and manager as was got mad at me for not getting a PIF or a Package A or money on a daily visit. They told me that people lie and say they have no money but they get their nails done every week. And they have coach handbags they have money. I worked all over Philadelphia and I have heard my boss say anything to people even lie to get a PIF etc make sure no one walks out without buy something. Every time I was doing daily visits my boss will tell me you better sale her. She better buy something.
Your only money if you don't spent we don't care, if you try to get a refund we will give you a run around!
You don't like the program too bad.
Don't get close to anyone turnover is so high no one stays more than a few months before quitting or being Lay Off. See a dietitian they can help you a lot more for a lot less. No one there is a Doctor hey make use wear white doctor coats.
Elizabeth - Sales Counselor
Indianapolis,Indiana,
U.S.A.
we hold you hostage until you cough up at least 100.00 dollars or more
#6UPDATE EX-employee responds
Wed, June 16, 2004
I was just recently let go from my position as a sales counselor @our Castleton LA weight loss center and yes the company is a rip off.
The program itself is fine 1on 1 couseling for 7 dollars a week with the 6week stabilization and 52 week maintenance. However they base this on 2pounds a week with the LA lite Bars.......The truth is that the clients that do not use the bars and follow the program lose weight at a higher rate. hmmmmm.
Also what the procedure is is to work up "Value Packages" or ABC charts that include all your bars for the program at a reduced rate....You are still looking at over 500 dollars a package.
Even if you go with the cheapest package, that is only weight loss weeks and 6 weeks of stabilization and no maintenance, we were explicitly required to work up the packages to no less thank 500 dollars a package.
If you could not afford your packages for the bars, well have no fear...the protocal is to have the counselor call their supervisor to come up with a customized package....
Basically we hold you hostage until you cough up at least 100.00 dollars or more. It's the used car sales man approach. If you cannot afford that then certainly you know someone you could borrow money from (" On your information sheet is says that your family is very supportive and that weight loss is the most important thing to you on a scale of 1-10 do you think your family wants you to be uncomfortable or depressed?? Do you think they would help you achieve your goal by loaing you the money??" Or I have to speak with my husband...Does your husband have a hobby?? Yes he plays golf...Does he love golf??
oh yes he's always at the greens...Does he always ask you if he can go pay the green fee's or buy new clubs?? NO? Of course not.. do you think he would hesitate to help you achieve you health and happiness goals?? WOuld that be cash check or charge?
Anyways it was all about the hard sell their quote for training is Cryers are Buyers...make them feel miserable about their weight and focus on how awful it makes them feel, make them cry and you sold 'em.
Pretty awful sales ethics for such a large company.
Thank you,
ELizabeth
PS I was terminated for not following our telephone script in booking appointments and not meeting our daily floor goal of 35.00 to every person that sits in my chair.
Yes on top of the 500-1000 dollars in bars, and, program costs as we are paid on commision...AHHHH
we are also expected to sell to you 35.00 worth of product every time you sit down...Add that up folks that is an additional 105.00 a week another 50000 dollars a year...they dont tell you that either..
other than that the program works just fine!!