Buyer Beware: Mom's Trick will Cost You

Have you seen the ads all over the Internet about the mom's trick to whiter teeth? Well, after seeing them umpteen times, I decided to check it out. Turns out the "mom's trick," combining two whitening products, isn't quite as good as it sounds. Dazzle White (which changed its name to Dazzle Smile) and Smile Bright apparently are working together on this advertising project. I filled out the information at Dazzle Smile and went to the payment page where I had to read the fine print to see exactly what these companies were up to.

Offer Details:When you place your order today with DazzleSmile, you will automatically become a part of our elite customer club. Your active credit card will only be billed $4.95 for the shipping of your 14-day day trial. If you choose to keep your trial, your active credit card will be billed the low member price of only $87.62 for your trial, and each additional month you continue to use DazzleSmile. (Shipped as a fresh, 3 month supply every 90 days.) And remember, there’s no obligation – you can cancel your membership at any time by calling 888-948-5508. Orders outside of US pay an additional $9.95 for shipping. No obligation, CANCEL ANYTIME!

How can you use your "free" trial without keeping it? And if you don't return it, you've committed to paying for it. This doesn't say one word about returning the "unused portion." Consumers who don't read the fine print on this bogus free offer may not realize that it's "negative option" commitment. In other words, you must opt out because, if you don't, you've committed to a regular shipment of their product and will be charged for it. If you keep the product, you've signed up for their "club" which will keep charging and charging and charging. And how easy do you think it will be to get your money back and get cancelled?

And this is only the "Dazzle" company. I decided not to give any of my info to Smile Bright which also charges your credit card a hefty fee. By the time you're finished you may be in hock a lot more than whitening at your dentist would cost. There ain't no "free trial" about the approach sneaky and unethical so I wouldn't have anything to do with these companies no matter how effective their products are. As for the phony guy in the white coat - that's Madison Avenue all the way. Doesn't he look like a medical authority as he tries to convince you you're getting something for nothing?

Remember, there's no such thing as a free lunch, whether it's a faux medical authority promising you teeth whitening or a liberal in a three piece suit promising you free health care. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Don't be conned by snake oil salesmen taking you for a sucker.

Check out the complaint board on these products and don't become one of their posters. One person claimed credit card charges of over $1,000. Some savings! As for "the mom" trying to convince you to do this, exactly how much did she get paid for advertising "her discovery?"