Hydroderm "Better than Botox" SCAM!!

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Home < Shopping Scams ~ Hydroderm "Better than Botox" SCAM!!

Guest

Posted: Thu Jan 06, 2005 5:36 am

A total scam! Order "free trial" and all you pay is $3.65 for shipping. Yeah, right. Just wait an additional 10 days. They will, without your permission, take $61.05 out of your checking account!! Then, under the "return instructions" it states, "Do not dispute charges with your bank. If any charges are challenged by the customer's credit card, the customer is no longer eligible for a refund." That is verbatum, folks! I live in the area where their "corporate office" is in Culver City. I went there and the place is a totally old, vacant and delapidated old brick building. Posted and stuck to the door was a "4th" UPS delivery attempt notice to return 77 boxes!! No one there! Oh, and then call information...no listing. Call information for the distributing company, Spectrum Partners in "Beverly Hills." You will get a fax number! So, I called the Better Business Bureau and the Attorney General and, guess what? I am not the first! This is a SCAM, SCAM, SCAM!

Guest

Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2005 10:24 am

Quote: Originally Posted by alicia A total scam! Order "free trial" and all you pay is $3.65 for shipping. Yeah, right. Just wait an additional 10 days. They will, without your permission, take $61.05 out of your checking account!! Then, under the "return instructions" it states, "Do not dispute charges with your bank. If any charges are challenged by the customer's credit card, the customer is no longer eligible for a refund." That is verbatum, folks! I live in the area where their "corporate office" is in Culver City. I went there and the place is a totally old, vacant and delapidated old brick building. Posted and stuck to the door was a "4th" UPS delivery attempt notice to return 77 boxes!! No one there! Oh, and then call information...no listing. Call information for the distributing company, Spectrum Partners in "Beverly Hills." You will get a fax number! So, I called the Better Business Bureau and the Attorney General and, guess what? I am not the first! This is a SCAM, SCAM, SCAM! Wish I had read this before I ordered, YOU ARE RIGHT hydroderm is a scam, stole my money

Guest

Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2005 9:24 am

I have also ordered this Hydroderm trial, but I really like the product. Hydroderm has a membership program with a free trial period, which for me was a nice change from buying a product I couldn't try first (because Lord knows I've tried so many anti aging products that didn't work!). Here's how their program works... you order a trial (and only pay S&H), have at least 14 days to use it. If you like it, cancel it, if not, they send you a full supply which you'll be billed for.

So they DO have your permission to bill you, here's what's stated on their site:
"Enroll now and get a Free 14 day supply of Hydroderm. If you are enjoying the product, do nothing, and in 21 days we will send you a full one month supply of Hydroderm (after the completion of the your trial). We'll bill your credit card automatically for the members' only special price of $49.95 (+ $5.95 for shipping and handling). As a trial member to Hydroderm's regular shipments program you are not obligated to continue. Even if you decide to cancel, please keep the FREE trial as our gift to you. No commitments, no hassles. Cancel anytime."

Also, I liked the product but wanted to delay my shipment so I called their customer service (888-460-5888 for anyone else who has issues finding their number) & they were very professional. I know most of us don't read & conditions, especially when we see "free," so if you don't want to deal with all this membership stuff you can walk into GNC & buy it there (but I prefer online b/c it's cheaper). I'm not surprised the BBB has complaints b/c so many of us don't read what we should.

Guest

Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2005 2:37 am

I also was scammed by Hydroderm. But as Morgan suggested, it was not due to not reading the policies. The problem is they don't stand by their communications.

True at the bottom of my initial order email confirmation (after I already submitted the order) in early January it says to return the unused portion by the end of your trial to prevent getting billed $49.95.

But every other item after that (three total) Hydroderm states "Please do not return trial products. They are your gift to keep." 1) my shipment confirmation 2) my cancellation confirmation and 3) the How do I return product? web page

So I contacted Hydroderm 2 times asking for clarifiction and confirmation that they do not want trial product returned. No response.

Yet on 2/18 I was billed 49.95. When I called to speak with a manager, she said that the free trial only applied to a "14 day trial" - which didn't even exist when I enrolled, nor is that specified that in any of the three items above. She said the same things over and over, that the sale was final and hung up.

I wish this site was more visible on Google and I would have been saved the trouble - all for a product that didn't work for me.

PS Yes, you are automatically entrolled in their autoship program as part of the free trial - which is not communicated until after you sign up. That seems the actual reason they want your credit card on file at enrollment.

Guest

Posted: Fri Feb 04, 2005 8:17 am

I'm posting this everywhere I find a complaint about Hydroderm (and there are plenty of them)>

Here is a copy of an email I sent to hydroderm customer service describing my experience with them since I made the mistake of ordering thier products...it's lengthy but 100% accurate.

To Hydroderm Customer Service:
>>I am in a state of complete disbelief at how appalling your customer service reps and supervisors are. Let me give you a rundown of what I have been through since making the mistake of ordering your products. Please read carefully, it will take 5 minutes of your time...I've been going through this for 2 months!

1. Got my initial (paid $49.75) order of serum, moisturizer and eye gel...opened the pkg and found that the products were unsealed, opened and half used. The eye gel actually had a small hair inside the cap and was dirty! I called the 800 # and told the rep what I received and he apologized and said a replacement would be sent out immediately and that the auto shipments would be suspended for 1 month until I had a chance to try the products (the clean, new, unused ones). I get an email right away saying that a replacement order is on it's way at no charge.

2)A few days later I see that my credit card has been charged again for $56.90 for an auto shipment of serum which was supposed to have been moved back a month.

I call the 800 number again and tell them all of the above and the rep says he'll cancel the auto ship which had not yet been sent and that I'll be refunded the 56.90. Nothing happens for a while so I call again...

3)Next rep (Jason) tells me that rep #2 had actually cancelled the REPLACEMENT SHIPMENT I had already paid for and the auto shipments but did not initiate the refund on the auto ship charge. He tells me he will re-do the original replacement shipment and take care of the 56.90 credit to my acct. since the auto ship was never sent out from the company. He says he'll move the auto ship to sometime in July. I don't know why so long but figure I can move the auto ship to sooner online after I've tried the products if I like them. I receive the credit for the auto ship serum that was never shipped in a couple of days.

4)Continued to wait 3-4 weeks for the replacement of the original order...finally called back last Friday and asked to speak with a supervisor, got Bernice in Chicago and she tells me the replacement order was sent the beginning of Feb. (two other reps had already told me it was cancelled and never sent and according to my "track shipping" feature on my acct online it was never shipped. I have a copy) She says she can't do the refund and that it has to come from the main office and that they will call me on Monday of this week to take care of the refund and that getting the refund will not be a problem. It is now Thursday and I've been waiting a week for this phone call.

5)I call back AGAIN and speak with another rep (Laura? In Chicago) who tells me she'll send a replacement for the original order and confirms it was not sent. I tell her I don't want the replacment now because I've had too much trouble with the company and I'm over it. She then tells me I have to send the original (nasty, HALF USED by god only knows who with god only knows what kind of germs) containers back to get a refund LESS SHIPPING AND HANDLING!!!! Plus..I HAVE TO PAY TO SHIP IT BACK TO THEM!!! This is the first time anyone has said I have to send the original pkg back. She said she is a supervisor when I asked to speak to one. She proceeds to try to give me an rma # still insisting I will be charged s/h. I end the call to keep from blowing a gasket completely. But I'm not about to give up.

I am so enraged at this point with your company and the horrific service I have been subjected to that I'm ready to send a copy of this to the president of hydroderm, sue, call the local authorities in your county, the health dept, postal service fraud division and anyone else I can think of. I want an immediate refund of the TOTAL amount I was charged for the shipment that I got that was half used. I can't believe you have the audacity to charge me for shipping when you sent me something that is utterly disgusting and unsanitary. I've been through enough with this. I was extremely patient for the first month and a half and 3 calls to your 800 number...I've had it.

A full refund is the least you should be doing at this point. This is unbelievable and starting to look an awful lot like you are purposefully cheating people...getting their money and then giving them the run around. I have made a copy of this letter and will wait until Friday, March 11 for that FULL refund to show up on my credit card. I'm holding on to the original opened products as evidence. I was told I should throw them away by your rep almost 2 months ago but found them still in a box recently. I decided to hold onto them just in case I continued having problems, never imagining it would be this ridiculous.

If I get my refund by the above stated date, you can send me the rma and a prepaid shipping label and I will gladly return it and I never want to hear from your company again.<<

Update: Got a reply

>> Dear Valued Customer,

Thank you for your recent inquiry with Hydroderm Customer Support.

I apologize for the inconvience. Our recrods indicate your credit card was
refunded for $56.90 on 2/11/05. In the notes from the supervisor, you need to
return the product for the other refund to be processed. I am sorry for the
hassel and wish I could do more to assist you further.

For answers to Frequently Asked Questions, visit our website:
http://www.hydroderm.com.

If we can provide you with further assistance, please contact us at
other@hydroderm.com or call us Toll Free: 1-888-460-5888, 6am to 5pm, Monday -
Friday (PST).

Regards,
Hydroderm.com
Customer Support Team!<<

Called back again today and was told a supervisor was coming on to speak with me...waited 25 minutes on hold and gave up.
What kind of company does business this way? Do you think these kind of people care what their products may do to your face or about the purity of the ingredients...hmmmm... I think not. I'm writing to GNC and everyone else I find that carries hydroderm to let them know what kind of fraud this company is committing. I'm also calling the Attorney General in CA about the situation.

They messed with the wrong girl. I think they are trying to get the original used products back because it's the only proof I have of what they did...not because they suddenly want to give me a refund after all this time. That's got to be some health code violation...Who knows what could be growing in those bottles. Ick!!

Guest

Posted: Tue Feb 08, 2005 10:47 am

I bought it and like the product. I read before I bought and knew all about their offer and the autobill shipments. I cancelled the subscription before I was to be billed and no problem with any additional billings. Of course if you dispute the charge you shouldn't be eligible for the return product guarantee. If you took did both, you'd be getting a double credit. I order the product when I need it, and that is that!

Guest

Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2005 2:06 am

So glad to read all of your messages before ordering, I stumbled onto this message board looking for the site to order Hydroderm - I'm so glad I found you first. I guess I'll just stick with my Oil of Olay. At least I can pay cash for that and leave the store with it.

Guest

Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2005 2:56 am

I guess I got lucky. I tried their free trial late last year and canceled online (and by phone, just to be sure) before the 14 days were up. I was poised by the phone to dispute any new charges with my credit card company, but nothing turned up and I didn't receive further shipments. Whew! Having said all that, the product seems to work fine, I have been milking my little sample for a few months. I was thinking of re-ordering, but I don't want to deal with the hassle of automatic shipments. Turns out a few websites now offer their product: drugstore.com is one, and boundarywaters.biz is another. I may try boundarywaters.biz because their quote is cheaper ($58.95) and shipping is free. If anyone knows of a cheaper price please post it here and let us know, cheers.

Guest

Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2005 9:15 am

if you gals are looking for a good product try the dermadoctor line. it's expensive but quite good. you can get it from www.dermadoctor.com. i've been buying from them for a couple of years but recently they started their own line. their "immobile lines" works real good for crow feet but not much else so if that's your only problem you could get that. their other product, "faux fillment" does wonder with deeper lines and if i had not bought "immobile lines" first i probably would've stuck to just getting "faux fillement" for all my needs. no, it's not a permanent solution, you have to use it everyday and it will not make really deep lines dissapear but it does make smaller ones go away for 24 hours and deeper ones will be soften. they have before and after pictures for both products.

Guest

Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2005 9:33 am

I signed up for a free 30-day trial. I then canceled online following everything they said. They claimed I didn't cancel and thus sent me another order. Now I have two charges on my credit card. I'm assuming one was for the free-trial. How can you have a free trial if they are going to charge you for it. The info about returning unused products for a refund is bogus as this comes after I agreed and paid. Thus, it is information they are attempting to add to the agreement after the agreement was made. I'm not paying them anything or returning anything. I don't dispute the product or its effectiveness but don't get caught in their free-trial stuff unless you plan to pay for it. I have already contacted my credit card company and have disputed the charges.

Tom

Guest

Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2005 1:21 pm

I have not pruchased this product, and I want after reading this.
netnutri.com Try this website you can buy it for $55.95.

Guest

Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2005 9:51 am

I order the FREE Hydroderm trial and was very satisfied w/ it. I didn't have a problem with the product, it was just that I wasn't able to affor it, since I only work party time. When, I called to canceled by phone, the rep. was very nice and answered all my questions, he canceled my order and was very professional. I keep listening that Hydroderm is SCAM but sometimes we don't take the time to read what are the and conditions of the product. We just look the word FREE and we sign up for the free trial imediatelly, once we get it, we try it and don't want to deal with the canceling process.

Guest

Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2005 7:36 am

Guest

Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2005 1:15 am

I'm only going to say this once for those of you who think we didn't read the and conditions BEFORE we signed up for the "free trial". I work for a company that does third party offers at the end of their orders. I do this all day long, and I know and conditions MUST be given before the card is charged. THEY WERE NOT. I know what to look for and it was not there. By the way they have code in some of their text that changes the wording if you try to forward it.

After I told them I was going to dispute the charge, they told me they would put it back on my card again if my credit card company removed it. Luckily I save ALL my correspondence. Shame on MyPoints for dealing with this company.

Keep turning them in, my company is always getting into trouble and having to change their wording. You can imagine what is eventually going to happen to these scum.

Guest

Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2005 9:59 am

By the way here is the site for the Federal Trade commission complaint form.

https://rn.ftc.gov/pls/dod/wsolcq$.startup?Z_ORG_CODE=PU01

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