Common Complaint:
Consumers from Alaska, Oregon and Washington have contacted your BBB stating they ordered a "free" trial of Acai Berry supplements or wait loss pills. After seeing the advertisement, usually on a Web site, consumers are under the impression they are required to pay only the shipping – $4 to $7. However, their credit or debit card is charged an additional $50 to $90.
Many consumers were unable to reach the company while trying to cancel the order. Online cancelation processes have been reported to link to reorder forms, and phone calls often are put on hold for long periods of time or consumers receive "busy signals."
Businesses linked to complaints:
Acai Berry products go by several different names including: Acai Berry, Acai ELITE, Acai Berry Edge, Extreme Acai Berry and Natural Acai.
Complaints link to several different companies offering the same or similar products. Each of the following have BBB’s lowest rating, "F."
- SFL Nutrition, LLC, 123 NW 13th St. #212, Boca Raton, Fla. 33432. www.acaiberrysupreme.com. 3,161 complaints in the last 3 years. Click to view BBB Reliability Report
- Crush LLC, 11778 Election Rd, Suite 140, Draper, Utah 84020. Also uses a P.O. Box in Sandy, Utah. www.exremeacaiberry.com. 484 complaints in the last 3 years. Click to view BBB Reliability Report
- FWM Laboratories, Inc., 4961 Leeward Lane, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 33312. www.acaielite.com. 1240 complaints in the last 3 years. Click to view BBB Reliability Report
- Cheshunt Overseas, Ltd., 1285 Baring Blvd PMB 297, Sparks, Nev. 89434-8673. www.natural-acai-berry.com. 185 complaints in the last 3 years. Click to view BBB Reliability Report
Ad Examples:
Advertisements can be found in magazines and other publications. Most are found on social networking, newspaper and Internet search engine Web sites. Ads say things like, "Lose 37 pounds in 2 weeks" or "1 flat stomach rule: obey." Ad links to what looks like a blog. Links there go to the Acai Berry Web sites, which sell the products. Ads stress urgency with comments like, "Limited quantities available," "Only 97 free trials left!” and some sites have a five-minute count down before the offer expires. When trying to leave many of the Web sites, a warning pops up trying to convince the consumer to rethink the offer.
Your BBB advises the following when considering purchasing supplements online:
- Check business reliability. Look for the BBB Online seal or check the business’ Reliability Report at www.bbb.org or contact the Attorney General's office.
- Review claims. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. The Food and Drug Administration allows for some claims, if scientific evidence is available. The FDA does not review or authorize claims. Dietary supplement companies are required by law to post the following disclaimer on Web sites, "This statement has not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease."
- Read and understand terms and conditions, privacy policy and return policy.
Check for online security. If you check business legitimacy and decide to make a purchase make sure the Web site is secure before entering personal information. Confirm the Web address, on the page for ordering, has an "s" in https. Also confirm there is a lock box in the bottom right corner of the window.
Similar issues have also been reported concerning the colon cleanser supplement, sometimes advertised with Acai Berry.
Consumers who wish to file a complaint can visit bbb.org.
About your BBB serving Alaska, Oregon and Western Washington:
Your Better Business Bureau is a not-for-profit organization funded by Better Business Bureau accredited businesses. The BBB’s mission is to be the leader in advancing marketplace trust. For more information about the services and products provided by your BBB, call 206-431-2222 or 253-830-2924 in Washington, 503-212-3022 in Oregon, or 907-562-0704 in Alaska, or visit our Web site at www.bbb.org.