Sneaky Money Back Guarantee Offers!

I recently had a very unpleasant experience with this company over the sneaky money-back guarantee they were offering. I bought a product in September last year. The product was about a specific diet plan and it guaranteed 90-day "No Question Asked" money back.

Unfortunately, it was a low-quality product as far as I was concerned. I paid over $100 and it was supposed to give me full access to my weight-watcher dashboard, including tips, a customized diary, a special diet planner, etc., etc.

I had trouble accessing my account to start with. There were many problems with the content and It was not exactly user-friendly either. The navigation was complicated and the overall quality was poor.

Sneaky Money Back Guarantee Offers

I am fairly a patient girl. I thought I could give it a try a few more times to see if I could get used to it. I had 3 months to decide, plenty of time. No urgent. I did log back in a few times after that, then I forgot... 

I totally forgot about it, and when I suddenly remembered, it was the last day of the 3rd month. I emailed the product's support team, attached my receipt, and asked for my money back.

Out By 1 Day!

The response I received was something totally unexpected.

I bought the product on September 15th. The date I emailed to ask for my money back was December 14th. It was the 91st day! Therefore I was no longer eligible for a refund! I checked my calendar, and counted the days myself, yes, of course, there were 31 days in October. 

But could they be sneakier than this!? The support's response was brief, harsh, and abrupt. I wrote back to say I was only out by a day. Everyone would assume 30 days = 1 month, 90 days = 3 months. I felt how absurd it was.

They replied by saying, they would make an exception for me BUT "because I was late by 1 day", they would have to deduct;

• 50% of the price as a penalty charge.
• Plus a $25 admin fee. 

The product was $110. The amount to be refunded would merely be $30!

My Lawyer Helped Me

To cut the story short, I got my best friend who was a lawyer to write to them on my behalf. She was fantastic. She got the full refund for me - it took them 2 months to actually send the money back to my credit card account though. (I took her to dinner and drinks, and spent all that money by the way - we had a great time!)

90-Day Guarantee: Psychology Behind It

Did you know many sellers prefer to offer a 90-day money-back guarantee instead of a 30-day guarantee, for this exact reason? Because people forget. When a 30-day money-back guarantee is offered, psychologically the customers tend to urge themselves to make a decision quickly.

They purchase a product, and the moment they feel unhappy with it, they've almost already made up their mind; and claim the money back. And they'll take action "before they forget", claim the refund by 2nd or 3rd week.

Whereas a 90-day money-back guarantee is offered; 90 days is a long time. They slowly forget, or become lazy and cannot be bothered about what they purchased over time. Just like what I did. For that reason, product sellers choose to offer longer guarantee time.

Take Action Quickly

I'm not trying to justify my mistake though. I knew the product wasn't working for me, I should have claimed my money back right away. And they were offering a "No Question Asked" money-back guarantee, whatever the reason I had was. But I felt I had plenty of time.

If you're not happy with what you've bought and a refund option is available, take action as soon as you can. It helps if you put a reminder in your calendar app.

The Steps You Should Take To Get Your Money Back

Step 1: Reach Out to the Seller

First things first, contact the seller. This is your go-to move when you're stuck with a bad product. Most stores have return policies, right?

Just shoot them an email or give them a call. Explain what's wrong with the product and ask for your money back. They'll usually try to fix the situation, maybe by offering a replacement or refund. But what if they don't respond or refuse to help? That's frustrating, isn't it?

Step 2: Use Your Payment Method to Your Advantage

If talking to the seller doesn't work, your next move is to check out how you paid. Did you use a credit card? Many credit card companies offer protection for purchases. This means they might help you get your money back if the product was a dud. Just call your credit card company and explain the situation.

They'll guide you through the process, which usually involves some paperwork. It's a bit of a hassle, but it could get your money back, right?

Step 3: Seek Help from Consumer Protection Agencies

Now, if you're still hitting a wall, it's time to bring in the big guns: consumer protection agencies. These organizations are like superheroes for shoppers. They handle complaints about businesses and products.

You can file a complaint online or over the phone. They'll look into it and work to find a solution. It might take some time, but they're pretty good at what they do.

Step 4: Spread the Word Online

In today's world, online reviews are powerful, aren't they? If you're not getting anywhere with the previous steps, consider leaving an honest review online. Websites like Yelp, Google Reviews, or even the company’s own site are good places to start.

Be factual and calm in your review. Explain what happened and why you're unhappy. Sometimes, companies take notice of these reviews and reach out to fix the problem. It's worth a shot!

Step 5: Legal Action as a Last Resort

This is the path you take when all else fails. Legal action sounds big and scary, but sometimes it's necessary, isn't it? Small claims court is an option if the amount is within the court's limit. You don't usually need a lawyer for this, and it can be a way to get your issue resolved.

But remember, it can be time-consuming and a bit stressful. So, consider this as your last option.

Final Thoughts

Dealing with a bad product and trying to get your money back can be a headache, can't it? The key is to stay calm and methodical. Start by contacting the seller, then use your payment method, seek help from consumer agencies, spread the word online, and consider legal action if needed.

Most of the time, one of these steps will work. And hey, it's your hard-earned money. You have every right to fight for it, don't you?