Glow

What a scam this grow.com! I ordered a free trial offer from the Yahoo-sponsored ad for a shampoo and conditioner, paid $5 shipping handling fee. Two months later-- surprise! I received a credit card charge for $109 that is now in dispute. Another month later, I received another exact package with another invoice of $113. They called that auto-shipping. I didn't order that and the original trial offer did not say anything about this auto-shipping stuff. If you think that's a scam, wait until you hear this-- The invoice included inside the package has an instruction for you to return and promise a full refund.

The instruction asks you to log in into your account, go to the Trial Orders tab, select Cancel, print an RMA#, and return it with your own shipping. And this is what I found: It says my account is no longer active for auto-shipments. And they still shipped it? And there's no Trial Orders tab. The closest one Trial Offers tab has no order listed in it; hence, I have no way to cancel it. Another tab "Retuns" listed my order, but gave no option of Cancel or Return to make it happen. In other words, these tabs are all fake.

So, you have no way to print an RMA label. So, what do you do? You seal it and return it back to the sender? They thought of that too. On the invoice, it says, "We cannot process or refund packages marked Return to Sender", and it also says, "The package must clearly show the RMA number". Go figure! They cut you off on both ends and you have no way to exit.

This was supposed to be a free trial offer for Kronos Shampoo and Conditioner. I was only supposed to pay the shipping costs. The package arrived on 5-20-2010. Inside was the shipping slip stating that my 30 day trial ends on 6/15/2010. In no way is this a 30-day trial period before I would be charged for the sum of $98.50 for an additional package. This is, in my opinion, a shabby way to do business and terribly counter productive for any company which wishes to stay in business, and grow but uses deceptive practices (Free, just pay shipping!). I've put a block on my old Visa, cancelled it and ordered a new one. I am also informing my friends by e-mail and telephone not to fall for this 'free offer' There is nothing free about it.

As with many other companies, Glow.com advertised "free trial offer, just pay $4.95 shipping/handling" for shampoo. I went through the website and filled out spaces as I have done in the past. I received 2 small bottles: 1 shampoo, 1 conditioner. Used it once or twice and was not impressed - forgot about the entire thing until a charge for $108 showed up on my visa. The 800 phone number doesn't work so I emailed them. Here is the communication I received:

We apologize for any misunderstanding.Under the terms of the 30 day Trial Offer, we send out a 60-day supply of product and allow customers to try our products for a FULL 30 days before deciding whether or not to purchase them. If you do decide to keep the products, you will be charged $108.10. We are in NO way trying to be misleading and clearly state all of the terms and benefits of this program. This information was fully disclosed online prior to placing the order before you enter your credit card information; it was included in a confirmation email sent to you within minutes after placing the order and we also include a copy with your shipment. We indicate the details every step of the way to ensure that the terms are understood before a customer decides to purchase our products. We are sorry if you did not have the opportunity to read this information in advance. Please be advised that the time allotted for you to return the items before your 30days has expired. If the merchandise is returned now, you will only be eligible for a store credit which may be used toward other items in the future."

This is, at best, deceptive business practice. [Their] advert states "pay only shipping and handling." I will dispute this with my card company. If [they] need the product returned that's not a problem as I didn't use very much (and was thus, not very impressed). I will also contact CNN.com to inform them of [their] practices in false advertising. Let me see, maybe the FCC as well?

I tried [their] "free trial." I now have a follow up charge on my Visa for $108.00 and have received no product. I would like to cancel this and any further orders. Economic/emotional damage: $108 for 2 tiny bottles of product that were sold using deceiptful business practices at best. At no point of the order process did they make it clear (many websites warn you in red) that they would shaft the consumer for over $100 for what amounts to a barely standard product. This is also taking time to work out as I fight the charge with my credit provider.

I did not place an order. I received a container of face cream in the mail. There was a charge placed on my credit card without my knowledge or authorization. I canceled my credit card.

I responded to an ad for samples of a hair product for $4.95. When I received them, it was four full sized bottles of product along with a letter stating that if I kept them, I would be billed $98.50 and sent a new supply every sixty days. In order to cancel this "order", I would have to return the "samples" - full or empty - within a limited amount of time, copying a return order form and noting a specific "RMA" number which would be e-mailed to me. I would be responsible for the cost of return shipping. If I had not bothered to read these instructions, I believe I would have found myself being billed. The instructions to be carried out online were rather complicated and I called for assistance, only to find out this is a Monday to Friday, 9-5 operation. My complaint is that a simple $4.95 sample offer turned into a disappointing, time and money-wasting effort - none of which was made clear initially.

I saw an advertisement on tv and online about getting a so called free sample of Bare Minerals make up and I would just have to pay the shipping cost. What I received in the mail were not samples of the product but the actual product size with a bill that had already been charged to my credit card of $33.95 and then told on the bill that if I wanted to keep the product I would have to pay $90 for it.

When I tried to dispute this with the company I was told that you do not get a sample and pay the shipping. I am very upset that I was mislead by their advertisement and obviously they had received other complaint phone calls because the customer service representative had a tone with me.

I now have to pay to send the product back even though on the bottom of the bill it clearly states that if I call 1-888- a customer care representative will give me a RMA# and instructions on how to print a return label.