Resveratrol sellers sued by Dr. Oz and Oprah
Filed under: Ripoffs and Scams, Shopping, Health
There are a few things you just don't do and one of those is mess with someone who is close to Oprah.
That's a lesson that the several sellers of Resveratrol, a supposed anti-aging product, found out after being sued by none other than Dr. Oz and the Oprah Winfrey Show for using his likeness to trick consumers into trying out a free trial of Resveratrol which comes with more strings than a marionette.
These days it should go without saying that there's no such thing as a free trial, especially if there's an asterisk anywhere on the screen, but companies like Resveratrol continue to take advantage of consumers by offering limited "free" trials and charging incredulous fees if customers fail to cancel the free trial. Take note, if you have to provide your credit card number for a free trial you should ask yourself, "what's the catch?"
Fox 5 from New York spoke to many of the consumers who have been duped by the company and found several practices and claims that should shock you.
Here's a list of some of the complaints against the companies:
If you want to make your voice heard on the use of negative option free trial offers, which make you jump through hoops for the trial to actually be free, you can make a public comment directly to the FTC until Oct. 13. These comments will be taken into consideration when they review the current use of free trials like those offered by Resveratrol.
Until the FTC makes some changes to the way companies can promote "free" trials; I suggest you join me and Laura Northrup of the Consumerist in toasting the lawsuit with some resveratrol packed red wine.
That's a lesson that the several sellers of Resveratrol, a supposed anti-aging product, found out after being sued by none other than Dr. Oz and the Oprah Winfrey Show for using his likeness to trick consumers into trying out a free trial of Resveratrol which comes with more strings than a marionette.
These days it should go without saying that there's no such thing as a free trial, especially if there's an asterisk anywhere on the screen, but companies like Resveratrol continue to take advantage of consumers by offering limited "free" trials and charging incredulous fees if customers fail to cancel the free trial. Take note, if you have to provide your credit card number for a free trial you should ask yourself, "what's the catch?"
Fox 5 from New York spoke to many of the consumers who have been duped by the company and found several practices and claims that should shock you.
Here's a list of some of the complaints against the companies:
- Illegally uses Dr. Oz's likeness.
- Advertises with fake studies, fake doctors and fake news articles.
- Implies that the product has been endorsed by WebMD, CNN and Fox News and others.
- Hides the fact that claims are all fictitious or an advertisement in tiny print the same color as the background.
- Puts a fake timer on the order page to increase urgency.
If you want to make your voice heard on the use of negative option free trial offers, which make you jump through hoops for the trial to actually be free, you can make a public comment directly to the FTC until Oct. 13. These comments will be taken into consideration when they review the current use of free trials like those offered by Resveratrol.
Until the FTC makes some changes to the way companies can promote "free" trials; I suggest you join me and Laura Northrup of the Consumerist in toasting the lawsuit with some resveratrol packed red wine.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
10-10-2009 @ 2:07PM
Nila Wilhelm said...
Why is it that so many of the articles under the heading of Wallet Pop come out in a format that is impossible to read. The text is too small and is blurred. It is the only thing I receive that is like that.
Reply
10-10-2009 @ 7:31PM
RonD said...
If you look at the top right of the page just above the text, there are 3 A's. The A's are different sizes and indicate the size of the text. You can chose a small, medium or large A to get small medium or large text.
10-10-2009 @ 10:40PM
RonD said...
Another item that may need fixing. Does the page fill the full width of your screen. If it doesn't you can adjust it to fit by holding down the CTRL key and then pressing + or - to make the screen wider or narrower to fill the screen. Your computer will remember the setting and use it whenever you return to walletpop (also it will remember the size text you used).
10-10-2009 @ 2:28PM
EVE said...
I learned the hard and expensive way - A free trial of Vitamins, and it cost me about $200.00 before I could get them off my back. When I called to say I did not want them, they said ok and that I could throw them away but must pay for them.
Nothing is FREE, and by getting your Card number for shipping, they GOT you, and continue shipping.
I am old enough to have lived in a world of straight talk and honesty, so must really guard myself in a world mostly of fakers, liars and cheats that we seem to have now. Arrrrrrrg.
Reply
10-11-2009 @ 7:29PM
CharlieZZZ said...
I totally agree...
10-10-2009 @ 6:42PM
unorthodoxic said...
An offer can be incredible, and a person can be incredulous, but an offer cannot be incredulous. Incredulous is an adjective descriptive of a person who cannot believe something, incredible is an adjective descriptive of something that cannot be believed. Therefore, the adjective in the phrase, "... "charging incredulous fees," should have been written, "incredible fees" since it is not possible for a fee to believe or disbelieve anything. It is very sad that those charged with writing these stories are not expected to use proper grammar and accurate vocabulary.
Reply
10-10-2009 @ 6:52PM
RockyMGirl said...
...you must've skipped the part about "run-on sentences"...
10-10-2009 @ 7:07PM
Melissa said...
Thank you. I actually winced when I read that sentence.
10-10-2009 @ 3:30PM
chris said...
"Nothing in life is free" or 'NO such thing as a free lunch", Both old quotes, but, lessons to live by.
Reply
10-10-2009 @ 3:54PM
Linn said...
Must be same manufacturer as Acai Berry. Ad says its endorsed by Oprah...just pay $5.95 for shipping for a 30 day supply. Unfortunately, you don't receive it til week 4 & they hit u up for it by charging you $88.95 and are ready to ship the next bottle. I had to cancel my credit card so they couldn't keep charging me & discredit the $88.95 charge. I was one of the luckier ones. Check it out on Consumer Complaints...it is one of the biggest scams going!!
Reply
10-10-2009 @ 5:57PM
gwobama said...
Linn, welcome to the club. I had the exact same problem with Acai Pure. They used Oprah's picture on an email ad they sent me. I tried the so-called "free" sample. Like you, I got the runaround when I tried to call them to tell them I wanted to cancel. They tell you in small print that once you order the free sample, they automatically send you another bottle every month. When I called, I was put on hold for thirty minutes and then disconnected. I sent an email to them and I got an automatic repley that someone would get back to me. I'm still waiting. I had to cancel my credit card to which was tied to my bank checking account. I had to cancel the card and apply for a new one. There needs to be more government crackdown on these companies.
10-10-2009 @ 3:55PM
Jo Ann said...
LIFE IS ONE BIG COMMERCIAL. YOU HAVE GOT MONEY AND SOMEONE ELSE WANT'S IT, AND COMMERCIAL'S ARE A GOOD WAY TO SEPARATE YOU FROM IT.
THEY WANT YOU TO THINK YOU CAN'T LIVE WITH OUT WHAT THEY HAVE TO SELL TO YOU. THEY DON'T HAVE TO TELL THE TRUTH, THEY JUST HAVE TO HOOK YOU. YOU HAVE THEIR GARBAGE , AND THEY HAVE YOUR MONEY.
GOTCHA.
Reply
10-10-2009 @ 3:58PM
Jo Ann said...
AS LONG AS THERE ARE TWO PEOPLE ALIVE IN THE WORLD, THERE WILL BE ONE MAKING SOMETHING, AND ONE TRYING TO TAKE IT AWAY FROM HIM.
Reply
10-10-2009 @ 4:14PM
Sher said...
Don't mess with my Dr OZ!
Reply
10-12-2009 @ 8:01AM
ro said...
its the best nedical show on television
Reply
10-10-2009 @ 5:58PM
HeeHee said...
Who is dumb enough to fall for this crap?
Reply
10-10-2009 @ 6:23PM
G. Wilson said...
Good for Dr. Oz & Oprah fpr bringing a law suit against the company; I hope a class action suit will resuIt from this. If the suit is won than other companies will think twice before trying to scam the public. Also, I hope anyone reading this blog will tell their families and friends to beware of this scam. Have a pleasant evening.
Reply
10-10-2009 @ 6:30PM
G. Wilson said...
Good for Dr. Oz & Oprah for bringing a law suit against the company; I hope a class action suit will resuIt from this. If the suit is won than other companies will think twice before trying to scam the public. Also, I hope everyone reading this blog will tell their families and friends to beware of this scam. Have a pleasant evening.
Reply
10-10-2009 @ 6:40PM
bem179 said...
Another notorious "vulture" ad is listed on most websites as DazzleWhite - tooth whitener which advertises free trial, but before you know it, you have a couple of debits for $90.00 a pop shortly after they've deducted the shipping fee to which you agreed. When you call (and I say this because I know others who experienced the same thing), they tell you it's too late to cancel but you can send the second shipment back minus the shipping fee plus a "restocking fee" ! They won't cancel the full price they've charged for the initial "trial shipment" since there's never really a trial offer - you're buying the whole over-priced piece of regular paste you can get at any store. Boy, these people are just too underhanded to see coming, they've become so brazen at literally stealing from consumers as if it's no big deal!! The same applies to those "but wait, order now and get a 2nd one free" - it's been admitted on a talk show that they charge the max possible shipping fees they can - you're actually paying way more than the item is worth!
Reply
10-10-2009 @ 6:53PM
mc said...
Dr. Oz is a joke. He did robotic surgery on my father, & was suppose to do a bypass, & it didn't even work. We went to another surgeon who couldn't believe the poor work Oz did. Thank God my dad was in a better surgeons hands.
Reply