A Freebie Beware

[VirginiaRatz]

BEWARE OF THIS FREEBIE SCAM: On one of the couponing sites (which are so helpful with couponing) I saw a “freebie offer” that I really wanted to try: Mineral Elements. I didn’t know from reading the offer that this was a scam. Unless within 10 days of them shipping the product a request is made to send the “FREE” product and accessories back, a total of $130.41 is charged to your credit card. NOTE: that if one fails to do everything they request to cancel you become a member of the club and the price is $29.41. So, they are charging for 4-3/4 months of product. I was told that the additional charge was for the “accessories,”i.e., the makeup bag and the 3 brush set (a charge of $71.59). I am realize that I am guilty of failing to read the small print and of thinking I could get something for nothing. But I also believe that “free” should mean free.

[everprincess]

Never give your credit card info out for a freebie. Big red flags!!

[434Teresa]

yep no card numbers at all for FREE items..just email address,name and mailing adress pretty much.

There is no need to give a card number of any kind for a total free item

[motherofmolly]

ditto. no credit card info EVER for a freebie. and if the freebie takes you to a site that makes you do "tasks" to get to the freebie, skip it -this is spam

[sal987]

I'm guessing that the OP initially thought/was led to believe that she was only paying some low cost for shipping?? I agree with what all the previous responses have said, but I can also see someone thinking what's the harm, it's only this small shipping fee. (If that is what happened.)

But yeah a freebie should be *free*, period. And the company should be more upfront about costs instead of hiding stuff in the fine print. Not saying we consumers are not responsible in checking things out more thoroughly, but when a company shouts "free!" but actually has extra fees pretty much hidden in some fine print, that is just wrong of them IMO.

Thanks to the OP for posting about this. Sorry this happened to you.

BTW, if you google them, a number of complaint links come up, so OP, you're certainly not alone.

[blossomed]

Contest it with your credit card!! Say too much fine print and in big print it said free!

[rupalparag]

BEWARE OF THIS FREEBIE SCAM: On one of the couponing sites (which are so helpful with couponing) I saw a “freebie offer” that I really wanted to try: Mineral Elements. I didn’t know from reading the offer that this was a scam. Unless within 10 days of them shipping the product a request is made to send the “FREE” product and accessories back, a total of $130.41 is charged to your credit card. NOTE: that if one fails to do everything they request to cancel you become a member of the club and the price is $29.41. So, they are charging for 4-3/4 months of product. I was told that the additional charge was for the “accessories,”i.e., the makeup bag and the 3 brush set (a charge of $71.59). I am realize that I am guilty of failing to read the small print and of thinking I could get something for nothing. But I also believe that “free” should mean free.

You have to think first if it's free why would they need credit card info sorry for that