Do Not Order "Free Trials"!!!

[Thejables]

I have no issue with any of these scammer sites. I scam the scammer though. I have been doing it forever, ok maybe not forever, but for the last 3 or 4 years.

You have a few options.
A) Don't order from scammers
B) Set up a paypal account and then set up a virtual credit card. Use the VCC towards the purchase of your free trial thing. When entering information give completely false information, except your address. Then once you get your confirmation close the card. These scammers scam people ALL the time. I've only received one letter from a book of a month(BOMC) club...and that has been it...they didn't even follow through.
C) If you have already paid, cancel your credit card. Go to the bank and get a new one. Its a good practice to do anyway if you buy stuff online. I generally go every 6 months and get a new credit card #. They can't charge you again, unless you foolishly give them your new number.

This is my first post. If it is considered unethical to talk of how to scam scammers, let me know and I'll remove it. I just think its kind of a safety net.

Additionally, I know I have heard in the past of paypal VCC not stopping payment, but I've never had an issue, and have ordered LOT and LOTS of stuff so I can get "free" video games and what not.

 

[JB292]

I had seen the freebies, but read this first. Thanks

 

[WOW]

You do have more protection with PayPal but it can take a long time if a scammer has your money. (They can't get your CC# through paypal so I don't get that part and probably don't want to)

If you're in FLA, check out bbb.org and search for e-cigarette. There's only registered company and they have an "F" rating.

There's no guarantees on any of them that I've seen trial-packs or not.
When these places stand behind their products in writing it'll be easier to spot the scammers from the legit ones.

I get your frustration though and really good idea to change cc#'s or use low denomination pre-paid gift cards. (Major ones will refund/protect you against on-line fraud!)

 

[ricky59]

The sad thing is how little the public really thinks about things. I listen to nothing but Sirius radio in my car and every station (other than the music ones) have constant ads for free e-cigs, free trial of some prostate herb or willie enlargement tablets.

Now I know most people haven't purchased radio advertising (I have locally) but do people honestly think that these companies can spend hundreds of thousands of advertising dollars and they aren't going to get you on the hook for some serious cash?

Just remember the old adage: "If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is"

Glad this is a stickie. Hope lots of people find it before they get scammed.

 

[Thejables]

You do have more protection with PayPal but it can take a long time if a scammer has your money. (They can't get your CC# through paypal so I don't get that part and probably don't want to)

I get your frustration though and really good idea to change cc#'s or use low denomination pre-paid gift cards. (Major ones will refund/protect you against on-line fraud!)

Paypal has virtual credit cards. If you link your bank account to paypal you can simply open up a virtual credit card...buy your scammy product, then close the creditcard after the payment has gone through.

I have 2 electric cigarettes that have come in today. I know they HAVE to be of poor quality, but I haven't ever tried a ecig, so I figured this would be a good 7 bucks invested.

 

[Thejables]

The sad thing is how little the public really thinks about things. I listen to nothing but Sirius radio in my car and every station (other than the music ones) have constant ads for free e-cigs, free trial of some prostate herb or willie enlargement tablets.

Now I know most people haven't purchased radio advertising (I have locally) but do people honestly think that these companies can spend hundreds of thousands of advertising dollars and they aren't going to get you on the hook for some serious cash?

Just remember the old adage: "If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is"

Glad this is a stickie. Hope lots of people find it before they get scammed.

Yeah I listen to a LOT of Opie &Anthony (2 hours a day, 5 days a week), and
yeah... the only good thing to come from their advertisers is the adameve dot com promo codes...use doll get 50% off and free shipping and free extras... So I can get a pair of duracell batteries for $1.50 no tax and free goodies.

 

[WetStick]

The one that I hear on a popular radio show is hinting (they may even say it out-right) that it's for quitting smoking. This is just the kind of stuff that will get the FDA’s interest.

 

[DALE SAMUEL]

I WAS A VICTIM OF A "FREE"TRIAL SCAM. DON'T DO IT!!!
Since I cannot name the company...I will give you the lowdown. I bought a free trial which they charged me $9.95 for shipping and handling. There was no mention of what their requirements were for this free trial.
The product arrived 3 weeks later. It was nicely packaged and it looked good. As I put the E-Cig together...the battery would not work. When I contacted customer service, they did not respond. It took over a week to reach someone.
BUT
When I checked my credit card balance on-line, I found out that I was charged $150. I was ....... I told the CS rep that you sent me an E-Cig with a faulty battery and then I asked about the $150 charge.
The"TERMS & CONDITIONS" for this program was not noticeable on the website. I found it as a bottom part of my invoice and the font size was about a 4 which you really do not notice. The Terms said you can cancel and return the order 10 days after placing the order. I go HUH! It took them 21 days for me to receive the order, so according to the terms I was going to get charged. $79 was for the "free Trial" but the other $75 was for their refill program. I told them I did not sign up for a refill program and I also said that I did not even use the E-Cig because of the faulty battery and they nailed me for the sample package and for a refill kit. I am trying to work things out with the credit card company, but it is a huge headache and maybe 50-50 for fixing the problem. Avoid the headache and do not order these free trials
Dale

To all new members that are thinking about getting into the world of PV's (e-cigs)...

Do not order "free trial" offers. Most of these companies offering so-called free trials are thought of as scams by most members of this forum.
I use the word 'scam' loosely, as they are operating under all the policies and conditions laid out in the fine print of their contract, so they are a legal operation. However, the shady practices they use qualify them as scams to me.

They will suck you in with the offer of free goods. Then, once they have your credit card number, you're hooked. After the 'trial period' expires they will charge your card for the device. Usually charging way more than the device is selling for elsewhere.

They will also start you on a plan to send you a supply of prefilled carts each month and automatically charge your account.

Many of these are selling inferior models at triple (or more) the cost that they can be purchased from one of the many suppliers listed on this forum. Do some research on this forum, and determine what model suits your needs best. Then make an informed purchase from a reputable supplier.

If you have already purchased and received one of these 'free-trial' offers, return it immediately! The trial period typically starts when they ship the product not when you receive it, so you don't have much time to act once it's in your hands.

Moderators: Can we get a sticky on this subject? It doesn't have to be this post, but this warning should be one of the first things prospective new users see. These scammers are giving the whole industry a bad name.

Edit Note: To anyone wishing to reply to this post and share their experiences, that will be helpful to others as well. However, please refrain from calling out any company by name. I would hate to see this much needed information have to be taken down due to posts that break any forum rules. I think just mentioning a company as a "free-trial supplier" is enough to cover all such companies. There are many of these companies out there now, and some even seem to change their name on a regular basis. The one that advertises on my local radio station has altered their name twice in the last 6-8 months, yet have the exact same script in their commercial (with just the name changed).

 

[mofrappie]

Good info to know. Someone called me the other day trying to sell me a free trial. I told the guy I wasn't interested, that I already had 4. He told me how could I pass it up? It was free! I asked him if they were going to charge my credit card and he said yes. How is that free? I finally had to hang up on him!

 

[Mr. G.]

Thanks for the advice!

 

[MJR]

thanks for the advice

 

[preben]

Thanks this site helped me make an informed purchase from a reputable supplier.

 

[regularjoe]

If it sounds too good to be true...

 

[rlc321]

im afraid i didnt as i didnt know about this forum then, i made a mistake and had a free 14 day trial this was about 7 months ago, the site didnt say anything about sending back or the fact they would take £77 from my credit card at the end of it, all it said was if i wanted to continue then contact them via there website and order new cartridges at £35 for a pack of 5. obviosly i managed to get my money back as the site was from uk but the supplier was from singapore, i will attest no one have a free trial and if possible use online companesy that use paypal as if anyhting goes wrong they will help you out.
all the best
rob

 

[jimwillie]

Thank you for the information.

 

[MeganVonL16]

Very true!

 

[Zaiden]

Nothing in life is free. I ever see "FREE" in a deal and I'm already out the door.

 

[godp777]

i came really close to doing so but thanks to this forum i was able to make an informed and educated decision when i purchased my first PV

 

[vapor79]

I have hurd this as well. I have also seen offers like this in my e-mails junk folder. I have never opened them to look at the details but im sure it is the same deal as most of them have the words free or free trial in the subject description.

 

[menthall]

This is good info, as i have never heard of these free trials, and i've been vaping for almost 2 years.