What can I say? I loved Utopia Silver when I used to purchase my colloidal silver a few years back... It seems that the product no longer holds the quality standard that it was once known for. I have been using colloidal silver for many years and it has improved health issues immediately and effectively -- Utopia being one of the best...several years back.
Now, I have had one of the worst (and only) negative experience in my life. I ordered the product and couldn't wait to receive it. Once received, I took 1 teaspoonful, anticipating a quick recovery from inflammation. I was shocked when I took the supplement, only to find an instant gut reflex of nausea -- I ignored it because I have never had this reaction (20+ years). I continued to take the product, only to continue having nausea, which grew worse over about 10 days.
I wanted to test the product to see what was wrong, so I stopped all of my other vitamins, along with the colloidal silver...and then reintruduced the vitamins and colloidal silver slowly back into my system. My vitamins were perfect, but when I took the colloidal silver again, I was nauseous almost right away. I knew the Colloidal Silver was the culprit.
Still unwilliung to give up, I used the colloidal silver as a disinfectant and mouth wash. In the past, when I used Utopia's Colloidal Silver, I would brush my teeth, then swash a mouthful of colloidal silver into my mouth for 5 minutes, then wake up in the morning with my mouth so clean that it felt like a sanitized hospital.
This product no longer worked the same.
As I mentioned, I wasn't willing to give up, so I tried the same method of using the colloidal silver as a mouth disinfectant to clear any bacteria. I completely expected to have the same results that I used to; however, I woke up the next morning with my mouth feeling barely clean. This was my final test, which showed me that the product was not as good as it used to be.
I knew that it just wasn't the same product.
With the economy being so bad, I knew I could not afford to be out over $25.00 for the product, so I called and asked for a refund. They were happy to refund $14.95 (under $15), but not any portion of the $10.50 shipping. I felt that this was WRONG. Why should I have to pay $10.50 for a product that made me sick and clearly wasn't as good as it used to be? It wasn't my fault... Other companies only charge about $3 to $4 dollars for shipping (in glass bottles).
Although I would never purchase a product by mail that would cost me $10.50 for shipping, I had the utmost confidence in Utopia Silver Supplements that the product would be great -- but I was wrong. The product is bad.
Most upstanding companies, who really care about their customers would accomodate their clients by giving the shipping back under these embarrassing circumstances -- the customer should never take a loss when the company is 0 responsible for a substandard product -- even if they have to take it out of petty cash.
I spoke with Jenny, who works for the company and she was sweet, compasionate and helpful. She explained that they normally don't refund the shipping, but that she would take it to the manager for approval. I did not hear back from the company, so I called again and spoke with another young woman (I do not know her name). Initially, she was very kind and explained that the shipping costs were set by another company and they couldn't refund it. I exxplained my circumstances and pressed the issue of getting my shipping costs back, too.
This other woman became rude and nasty. She told me that she would not refund any shipping and to "...go ahead and write a negative review." She obviously didn't care... I responded by advising her to atleast ask the manager and let him make the decision, instead of taking it upon herself. The conversation ended.
So, here I am...writing my "honest review" of my experience, which is, unfortunately, not too good for the company -- or me.
I have not heard back yet, but I am hopeful that the manager will refund the shipping costs, too, due to the circumstances. If he does, I will be happy to report the customer service, which I received from this company.
Still waiting...
Barb Pierce, M.S. Psychology