Acai Berry Scam - the Untold Truth about Acai Berry Scams
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With all the media coverage, you probably already know that the acai berry has become one of the most popular and controversial health supplements in the world. As with almost anything controversial, there are 2 sides that think they are right and the other is wrong. The truth, as it usually does, lies somewhere in the middle.
I will share some facts obtained from independent sources then make what I think is a logical conclusion. The rest is up to you. In the end, only you can decide if acai berry supplements are good for you.
When you are done reading, take the poll at the bottom and leave a comment so we can see what everybody thinks about this controversy.
Now lets get started talking about the acai berry scam.
Acai Palm
What is the Acai Berry
Let’s start with what an acai berry is. It is a small, purplish berry that grows on the acai palm tree. They grow primarily in flood plains and swamps of Central and South America. The berries are small and similar in appearance to a grape. They grow in clusters of 700 to 900 berries and are harvested twice a year. They have been a large part of the diet of the native people for centuries.
The berry is high in fiber, omega fatty acids, and antioxidants. All of these have been showed by numerous studies to promote health and even weight loss.
Quick Video on Antioxidants and Free Radicals
Acai Berry Scams Part 1
ANTIOXIDANTS
We all know that anitoxidants are beneficial to people. There are tons of studies that indicate antioxidants can improve health, help cure disease, and even promote longer life. If you don't think antioxidants are a good thing, you might as well stop reading because I consider their benefits a fact.
There are 2 arguements here. The supporters of acai berries say that they are the highest source of antioxidants of any food. The opponents of acia berry supplements say they are no better than red grapes. Who is scamming who?
According to OracValues.com, freeze-dried acai berry ranks 6th behind the spices cloves, cinnamon, and oregano as well as the grasses sumac and sorghum. Acai is only one that is widely used as a health food supplement. I would say in this case it is the acai berry opponents that is scamming you.
For this one, I have to say the acai berry is legitimate.
Have You Tried Acai Berry Supplements?
Have you tried acai berry supplements and if so how did you buy them?
See results without votingAcai Berry Scam Part 2
ARE ACAI BERRY ANTIOXIDANTS USABLE BY PEOPLE
Some opponents of acai berry supplements say that the antioxidants are not absorbed by people and that processing the berries destroys any potential benefits. Obviously, acai supporters maintain they have given the native people of Brazil tremendous health benefits for hundreds of years and the supplements do the same thing. Who's scamming us on this one?
As reported by Science Daily, a study done by a professor at Texas A&M showed that the human body does absorb antioxidants from the acai berry. Click here to read the article in Science Daily.
Based on this information, acai berries are legitimate health supplements.
Acai Berry Scams Part 3
EXTREME WEIGHT LOSS
One of the biggest things that acai berry supporters have used to get peoples attention is to claim that it will lead to rapid, even extreme, weight loss. Acai opponents say that it is a complete lie and there is no proof of weight loss.
Acai berries are high in antioxidants which should make you feel better and make you more active. This will burn more calories and could lead to weight loss. They are also high in fiber which can help regulate your body and also lead to weight loss. There are even reports that it acts like an appetite suppressant so you may eat less. With that said, there is absolutely nothing documented that will substantiate any weight loss, let alone extreme weight loss.
While acai berry supplements may make you healthier and be a part of an overall weight loss program, there is no scientific evidence to support it.
If you are being told acai berries are going to make you lose weight all by themselves, you are probably being scammed.
Acai Berry Scam Part 4
FREE TRIALS
This is probably the most highly debated part of the acai berry controversy. If you are not familiar with these promotions, basically what happens is a company gives away a free trial of a given supplement. It is usually weight loss related, but I have seen them for everything from Dr. Suess books to teeth whitening treatments. The thing is, you have to pay for shipping and handling which is usually around $5 or so. What some people don't realize is that you are agreeing to a monthly auto-shipment unless or until you cancel. This can lead to unexpected shipments and charges on the credit card you used to pay for the shipping on the free trial.
If you know the shipments are coming unless you cancel, this isn't a big deal. If you stay on top if it, this is a great way to get free samples of many different products as long as you remember to cancel the auto-shipment. Unfortunately, if you don't pay attention and get hit with extra charges, it can quickly turn a positive experience into a negative one.
If you have been burned by unexpected charges, you will have a negative outlook and nothing is going to change your mind. If you have had a good experience, you won't accept that somebody else may not have. Both sides will tell you a story based on their personal experience. I will make a couple observations then leave you to decide.
- Nothing is free. If you expect to get something for free, you are not living in reality.
- Acai berries are not the only thing available in free trials with automatic shipments. You can get DVD's, children's books, and even collectible plates like this. Acai berry free trials are not unique.
- Some companies are dishonest. This goes for every industry.
- Some acai berry promoters don't go out of their way to let you know that you will get additional shipments or how much they will cost. Just remember, if you are getting something free up front, there is probably a recurring shipment you will have to cancel or face extra charges.
I originally scored this one a tie, but there are just way too many problems and less than honest websites associated with acai berry free trials. While I have had good luck with them, too many people have burned. Most free trials are unfortunately scams.
Free trials are what most people think of as the acai berry scam and I have to score this one for the anti acai berry argument. You are better off to just purchase supplement in the beginning and save money in the long run.
Acai Berry Scams Part 5
ACAI BERRIES ARE WAY MORE EXPENSIVE THAN OTHER FRUIT
Another common claim about acai berries is that they are way more expensive than other fruits and don't give you any benefits. I already covered the benefits of acai berries versus other fruits. Now let's talk about the costs. I will use $US and local US prices for my comparisons.
Let's talk about a couple common fruits. Depending on where you live and time of year, fruit costs are very different, but in general you are going to pay $1 or more for a large apple. You will pay around $2 for a pomegranate. A small container of blueberries (2 or maybe 3 small servings) will cost you $3 to $5. This means your cost per serving is $1 to $2 (or more) for common fruits.
So what does an acai berry supplement cost? If you purchase your supplements up front, you can usually get a bottle of acai berry puree or bottle of acai berry capsules for $30 to $40. Sometimes the cost will be as high as $50. These are almost always 30 servings so they last you one month. At $30 a bottle, you pay $1 per serving. $40 equates to $1.33 per serving. $50 equals $1.66 per serving. If you buy a package deal like Buy 2 Get 1 Free, you can get the cost down to about $25 a bottle which equals $0.83 per serving.
Even if you are paying $50 a bottle, acai berry supplements are less than blueberries. If you get a package deal, you pay less for acai berries than apples.
Based on this price comparison, the acai berry is definitely a legitimate and cost effective health supplement.
Acai Berry Scam Conclusion
Now that we have went through most of the key points of the controversy, it is time to weigh in on the score and make a conclusion. I tried to quote non-biased sources when I could and invite you to check out the links. Before I score this controversy, I want to list a quote from a WebMD article. Click here to read the whole story, but I think it sums up this controversy nicely:
Scientists are learning more about the functional power of superfoods, such as the acai berry. Although acai is touted in some weight loss products, few studies have tested the benefit of acai in promoting weight loss.
For now, plenty of research supports eating a diet rich in antioxidants. There’s no doubt that berries and other fruits are a key part of any healthy diet promoting weight loss. The jury’s still out on whether there is something special about acai’s ability to shed excess pounds.
To score the above debate, I would score the acai berry as 3 parts legitimate and cost effective health supplements and 2 parts scam. If you stay away from free trials and don't expect them to melt off 30 pounds of fat without exercise, the acai berry is 100% legitimate.
If you take acai berry supplements in combination with a little exercise and a healthy diet, they should be able to help you improve your health, but they won't work if you continue to eat junk food and don't exercise. The quote above from WebMD pretty much says the same thing.
For the record, I am a supporter of acai berry supplements. I have not tried every one and I am sure there are some scams, but if you are smart about what you do, you should be able to get health benefits from them.
Final Notes
I am not a doctor and have not had any medical training. I am not making any health or medical recommendations. You need to contact your doctor for any health or medical advice. Also, I do operate other websites including some of those linked to in this article. If you click on a link on those sites, I may be compensated if you make a purchase.
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Acai Berry Conversation - Tell Us How You Feel, but Keep it CivilLoading...
watercress......that's all you need brudda
i bought my Acai berry tablets from Holland and Barrets i eat a very low fat heathy diet due to havind a heart bypass a few years ago i found that i di loose some wieght but also that i have a lot more energy and the loss probably comes from being more active so i am in favour of these berrys if used with exercise and a healthy diet
ive used acai supplements and and as a body builder, it was more effective within 2 months taking them doing 3 days a week at gym, than before wen on strict diet pumping 6-7 days at gym, ive never used such an effective supplement in my life, and all my friends that gym with me have been getting crazy results, in shreding fat as they dont have strict diet like me, because it boosts metabulism so much all of them noticed changes they never been able achieve before, in under 5 weeks. sceptical as i normally am, dont care what anyone says i kno my self wheather it works or not, or mabey i just happened to be in the right place at the right time for acai
Would simply rather eat a balanced diet including grapes, bananas, blueberries etc than pop a pill.
Thank you for the information, because I was looking at the free trial but pay the shipping and then when I looked further it said it wanted my credit card #. So I looked further and it said it would be something like 69. plus each month and it would just continue to come and billed to my credit card. I know other fruits with antioxidants and I'll try them. Thanks again
i'm glad i found your site,its probably saved me alot of money.the acai berry was advertised on facebook,so i thought it would be cosia.but at the end of the day if it was a g8 success for loosing weight,doctors would prescribe it for the obese.
Hi all, this is a brilliant informative guide. Me being me didn't read it until i had ordered my Acai berry capsules. However for me, things have turned out well. I have been taking the capsules for one week and am full of energy and have lost 5lb. I think the weight loss is because i am more active due to the extra energy rather than an effect of the Acai. I brought my pack through amazon for £10.99 for a pack of 2 tubs of 60. Without a doubt i will be ordering some more :)
There are no quick fix weightloss fixes that are safe. fat is burnt by increasing your metabolic rate. this can be done by a combination of diet and extercise. no one wants to accept or hear this but everyone knows its true. Increasing protien intake and reducing starchy foods helps. dicipline cannot be found in berries!!!!
Its a total scam i thought i was paying £4.99 shipping costs for a free trial the package never turned up but i was charged £59.80 TOTAL SCAM
Just wanted to update everybody about changes to this Hub. I have removed all of the affiliate links in the article.
If you would like a free report on Acai Berry and other health foods, go to: http://www.sassafrasstation.com/acai-free-report
What is the scam? Do they lie about the product? Do they cheat you? Or the testimonials are misleading? What do you mean by scam...? I never trust any magic wonder product regarding weight loss but I still do not see why some people regard this a scam. Based on this everything that you can buy in shops or on the net is a kind of a scam - especially those that are advertised and lied on.
There's quite a debate going here! I just wanted to say that I would prefer to eat fresh fruit and veg for their antioxidant properties (peas are a superfood too you know!)The problem with taking supplements is that you lose some of the great benefits of the acai berry. I agree with what Martial Arts Guru said, that making a fundemental change in your attitude is the only way to maintain a healthy lifestyle and weight. Having said that, if taking these supplements helps you to focus on eating and living healthier, then go for it! Just make sure you buy them from a reputable shop and that you don't spend more than you can afford. Let me give you all a tip - I can't exercise much due to a recent spinal operation and I've found that doing the tiny trans-abdominal exercises 3 times a day, taught by my physiotherapist, has really tightened up my tummy muscles, which in turn supports my back and, amazingly, has helped my IBS! Look up exercises on the internet for people with back problems. They're easy and they work. (Won't give you a cardiac work-out and won't burn fat, but will make it easier for you to do the exercises which will, and you'll feel more toned)Don't fall for anything that promises amazing results without any hard work from yourself!
If you can't buy these berries in the store, I wouldn't trust that they are safe. Remember a lot of scam companies try to get your money buy selling you sugar pills. If they do work, it's definately a placebo effect and not the pills you're taking. I don't buy anything drugs including vitamins that are FDA approved. That's what the FDA is there for (to ensure safety and efficacy of drugs). And yes they are drugs, even if people claim they are "natural". Marijuana is natural, you know, and it causes many problems.
I have been using acai berry powder freezed dried that I purchase from a pharmacy for around a month now. I have to say I am astounded by the increase in energy, I have not read many articles on this fruit prior and didn't know it had weight loss effects. This supplement should be taken along with other measures, such as eating healthy food, reducing your intake and maintaing an exercise schedule. It really is not rocket science. I would say I have not encountered any side affects apart from increased energy. I really believe this is an amazing superfood. Just purchase it from a reliable supplier who is not trying to con you.
oh crap!! I ordered my acai berry supplement from leanspa and I still have not recieved it. I called them today and they said that it should be shipped the beginning of this week. I orderd it on 01/18/2011 and recieved a confirmation email!! Twice!!?? And they both looked different! Thanks to this article I am gonna TRY to cancel my order!! :'( I really thought I was gonna lose the weight with this one.
Or instead of buying acai berries you could just buy reasonably priced fruit and excercise and feel better just for knowing that your money is safely sitting in your account instead of being used to pay for shipping fees, think about if you havent done any serious excerise for a while and eaten healthily, and you start exercising and eating well your going to lose weight and feel better just for that.
I had always thought that this was only a scam and that acai berries didn't really exist because I got emails in english from my non-english speaking friends about how I should try this diet to try and loose weight. The email is very well done, I might actualy have gotten offended if I knew my best friends english wasn't that good. Now I'm really mad since I started getting those messages on Facebook too. I don't know who is doing this but please stop making friends call each other fat, there are better ways to make money when you're that good. Put your heart into something else.
Our bodies are incredible efficient at getting ride of toxins and there is very very little scientific research to support "detox" diets. Eating a balanced diet of dairy products or alternatives, meat or meat alternatives, breads and cereals and 8+ fruit and vege servings a day is what science is telling us works for keeping us well and healthy. Come on people we know that there is no magic cure to weight loss and health. You get what you put in.
There are also a lot of comments about supplements on this page and natural products. Just because something is "natural" does not mean that it is healthy. For example vitamin E supplements can actually increase the risk of lung cancer in people who smoke. Butter and lard are "natural" products but both are known to increase the level of saturated fat in your diet and increase your LDL cholesterol and hence risk of cardiovascular disease.
Be smart people there is no quick fix to improve your health, do your own research (google scholar is a good forum for this which is very easy to use) and be realistic. If it sounds to good to be true, it probably is.
acai is deffo a scam! if you from uk you will have maybe heard of michelle mcmanus ( won xfactor ages ago).she did the diet show "you are what you eat" some years back. well i saw a acai site that used the before and after photos she took on the show. only now she was called tiffany who had lost 20lbs and was so happy with her acai weightloss she sent in pictures!!!!
This is a scam. They were charging my credit card, and I never received the product. I tried calling got through one time,the lady was an idiot, and could not even get my info right with me while giving her an emailed confirmation number. I tried calling company again after they said they would extend my trial offer another 14 days! In the mean time while I was trying to remedy this situation the lady on the phone goes into a sales pitch and tries to sell me a very pure form and highly concentrated acai berry!!! For a limited time only! You have to be kidding me..they can't send my first order and charge me then they try to sell me more!! LOL. Good luck to all of you guys trying to cancel, you are dealing with ignorant people. I had to call my bank and have them cancel my credit card and have a new one issued so they cannot take out anymore charges. Btw check your statements because they take out hidden charges and now I have to file a dispute form..:( Lesson learned!!
I found your article very interesting but you don't mention
about side affects and can you take them if you have
high or low blood presure
Hi, I was just a little curious about one fact. I want to try these berries just to start getting more energy to work out but do these berries have a side affect if you stop taking them? I know some pills like that do. Bc it's a supplement it might not but thought I would ask before I try. If anyone could email me the answer back that would be fantastic
sports_blue_02@hotmail.com
Thank You
I went on the acai berry website to get the free trial. I had no idea that I would have to pay shipping costs- that came at the end of a long registration process. The final page wants your credit card number so you can pay for the shipping. I smelled a rat and went no further. I left the website and thought no more of it. Then I got a call at home telling me I had visited the website for the free sample but failed to complete the process. They wanted my credit card number. I told them not to bother me again.
Good article. I must admit I was expecting you to be just another scam. The bottom line is buy direct from a shop when it comes to medicines and supplements. People will have to learn the hard way that the internet is not for buying anything related to your health when it comes to oral intake. The moral of the story : do yourself a favour and do not use the internet for buying anything for direct intake relating to your health. Always buy from a shop and have a point of reference and someone that can be held responsible for any damages. Thanks again for opening the eyes of the naive and gullible.
I just bought my acai berry powder freezed dried in 50g sachet thinking it will promote extreme weight loss quickly. Now by reading the above i realised this is nothing but a scam but I'm still pretty happy to try it out as part of an overall weight loss program and see how I go for a month before continuing. Lesson for me is "No pain, No gain"..and don't expect a brazilian amazon exotic fruit to do it for YOU.
thank u i had a hip replaced do to djd and i need to lose wt so this acai berry site caught my eye i think i will stay with ex and pushing the plate away lol
I just wanted to respond to some of the latest comments.
First, I would seriously avoid any supplement that is $3.50 a bottle. As with everything, you get what you pay for. You don't have to pay $100 a bottle, but you have to pay something for good supplements.
Second, regarding ads on this page, please remember many of these ads are paid ads placed by Hubpages and many of them are the exact scams we talk about in this article. The only supplements I have personal experience with are in the Scam Free Acai Berry section of this page.
Third, as far as losing weight, acai berries can help you, but they won't make you lose weight. If you just want to use them as an antioxidant boost, that is a great way to use them too.
I think that is it for now. Thanks everybody for making this an extremely active hub. There are hundreds of comments and thousands of people have voted in the poll and I think that is really cool!
I Just wanted to let you know I bought a bottle of 100 soft capsules of Natural Wild Harvested Acia and it was only $3.50. I bought it at WalMart.. So you don't have to over spend on this.
I wasn't sure about these berries, but this article has been a real eye opener. I will get some from Holland and Barrett. They seem reasonably priced too, no scams either. I hope they help me detox.
Hey, U Know The link down the bottom ? is it one of the scams coz thars where i orderd my free trial from & after checkin this site im a bit skeptical ??? its weekly health buzz or something ? could someone mail me & tell me - jason.wright.1@hotmail.com - thanks
I am interested in the health benefits and energy boast from the berry, but I don't want to loose weight!! Any comments?
reverse your list please! so the most recent are at the top of the page...excellent artical, has made me reconsidder, i will not be falling for the scam..thanks again.
iwould not buy any produt endorsed by oprah winfrey
hi. im new 2 dis site. i've read alot ov ur comments. appreciate u xplaining abwt how good dis product is 4 u. i 2 want to find something dat would help me lose weight, but don't want to get scammed. i live in new zealand, and was wondering if anyone knowz ov a place dat would sell dis product.
well I do belive these berries are good for you but though they they can cause loss of pounds doesnt mean you make ripped with muscles if any website is endorsing steroid like muscles dont belive them those muscles are obiviousy done by working out push ups sit ups juice running and chin ups and acai berries which are meant too kill bad fat promote good fat. so for guys who wanna get ripped do it the old fashined normal way this stuff is meant for people trying to get skinny
Good article, I think the scams give it a bad reputation, I do want to try it though so i'm just going to buy it from Holland&Barrett =] No trials or subscriptions, just buying it straight from the shop, that way I wont be biased when I try it because I wont of had any bad scamming experience beforehand.
Definately think its worth a try. =]
I have been taking Acai Berry in the freeze dried form for well over 5 months now (Sambazon Acai Berry)and I have noticed a SIGNIFICANT difference in my health, I feel better - smile more - stress less. I no longer have scatter brain moments and I RUN circles round everyone! I don't drink coffee or energy drinks because because I don't need to but I also LOVE to make fresh fruit & veg juice PLUS live an active life which all has a lot to do with how I feel.
Eat Bananas, berries arn't the only option!
I think some people are missing the point here: the article in no way claims that any one food can cure disease or make you lose weight rapidly.
Furthermore, HealthFreak2009 was very upfront about REPEATEDLY stating that he uses the supplement, and acknowledges that you need to use it in combination with a well-balanced diet and adequate fitness program to SEE results.
It is a supplement, and as such, has its benefits. It is NOT directly responsible for weight loss, rather it increases energy and curbs food cravings, thus giving you the energy to lose weight on your own and make healthier lifestyle choices.
It is also good for your hair and skin. (For those of you who can't sort out facts from guarantees, i AM NOT saying it will make you a super model!)
I, personally, was pleased with the article. I know the writer is supporting use of the supplement, but they are not trying to convince you to rush out and buy, they are trying to tell you to what to look for to avoid scams, and how to go about safely ordering the product.
In short, if you don't want it, don't buy it, and don't pass judgement on those who DO buy it. It works exactly the way it claims to work.
I tried the product, but had to cancel because I couldn't afford it anymore.
The cancellation policy is always printed at the bottom of the order page, in fine print. Look for it, read it, and you will be fine.
And, for the millionth time, AVOID FREE TRIALS!!!!
Thank you, HealthFreak for an informative, objective view.
Hey up healthfreak, great article, i was about to sign up for one of these scam free trials but read and searched extensively until i found your article and several others. I am now thinking of trying out an acai product from the acai berry store you mentioned but first have a question..
Im at college, about to go to Uni and am crazy about football. Im 5 ft 11 and 68kg, so i am actually quite thin,but am not amazingly built. Basically i want to use Acai to help speed up my gym results, i go about 3, 4 times a week, so as to help me in football. What i want to ask is, should i be using it if i am thin and already reasonably athletically build(light six pack when i tense). I also have a few diet problems and have suffered from exma etc, so acai could help me there as well, but mainly would be for my football. So thats the question- already thin, but want to use for GYM and for antioxidants-is it a good idea?
Many thanks
I was lucky enough to purchase the acai berry capsules from my local health food store. They are expensive, but i suffer from anxiety & depression & i find them effective, they have also helped me lose weight. I do watch what i eat & try to find the time to exercise & lose 2.5kgs a week while taking the capsules. Along with a balanced diet the berries have made me feel a lot happier & healthier. =]
Thanks for the heads up :)
I live in Australia and looked at a "free trial" offer on a facebook ad. After reading throught the terms and conditions I became aware that I would have to submit credit card details for a "small shipping fee", but then after the first pack (which only lasts 14 days) I would be mailed and charged for a monthly supply at $50 per month plus shipping. I declined this "free trial" and visited my health food store. I purchased a 40 day supply (240 capsules) for $84.95 (AUD) and will see if they are of any benfit. If they don't work I just won't buy any more. I eat properly and exercise daily and am in my healthy weight range. I only want to lose about 15pounds but as I am 40 years old it won't budge!! Wish me luck :)
Thank you so much for talking about that scam thing, I just ordered from AcaiOptimum and when i checked after reading this I found the smallest print saying that the order will go on unless cancelled within 14 days. Thats ok thou, I will go on and cancel once I have received it. The thing is, it also demands you to send the bottles back even if they are empty. And the 14 day trial starts when you click CONFIRM ORDER, not when you start actually taking it...!
Silly really, but at least I know whats happening and thank you for it!
Ok so frist to anyone who gets there Acai Berry from the computer or tv...your stupid. Go to a health food store and get a bottle of Acai Berry there. They cost between $30 - $50 a bottle but you are in charge of when you get more. I have been doing this for 2 weeks now and love it. Have lost 2.5 ponds but am more active because of they Acai Berry.
hi i am 16 and want to tone up my body by losing fat. i regularly exercise at the gym and eat a healthy and balanced diet. i then found a deal at holland and barrots for 120 capsules for £12.50 (half price), which is 2 months worth for a pretty cheap price am i right?. people keep trying to find ways of losing weight without putting the effort in and continuing to eat rubbish foods. i agree with you about the "free trial" scam as i was going to do it, but read in the small print about monthly packages and paying with the card every month etc...i believe the berry is legitimate and with regular exercise and a healthy diet, you can get rid of excess fat to look healthier and feel healthier. thanks for the information you have given us it was very interesting to read through what the arguments for and against actually are.
Paul, thanks for the info. The scammers give everybody a bad name.
Barb, I have not tried Monavie, but I know it is pretty expensive. Also, it is a juice blend that contains acai berry and other juices so it isn't pure acai berry.
Everybody - thanks for sharing. Lots of good discussion. For the record, I just want to say again that I personally use acai berry supplements from Amazon Thunder and love them. So, YES, I do support acai berries. If you want to know more, check the links in the Scam Free Acai Berry section.
thx it told me the truth. lol
I've tried tonnes of work out regimes and diets, and none of them worked for me. As soon as I took my acai berry pill, I feel the loss of weight. Quickly I picked up the same work out regime and diet I had used previously, SUCESS! Thank you Acai Berry, you saved my marriage, and my life!!! :)
Hi
I've found all the comments quite helpful, I was literlly just about to order a free trial but thought I dhould check out what everyone else thought first, didn't even think about company scams, I think I'll go to my local holland & Barrets.
I'm not looking to loose weight but do need something to boost my health as I do find myself getting ill and feeling tired and worn out a lot. Im 20 and at uni so don't really have the time or money for a healthy eating routine, I often find myself eating a packet of crisps for luch!! Just wondering even if i have a poor diet would i still get health benefits, most suplements say they don't work unless you have a balanced diet.
Beware - the produt is good but unethical companies continue charging your credit card forever. Amounts like $8 once or twice a month even after you contact and cancel the product the charges continue. I've tried everything to stop them short of closing down my credit card. If anyone can help I'd be grateful. Thanks
What about Monavie?
I'm sorry to say this but I worked for the crappy company that scammed some of you - Impulse Marketing. FHM Labs made the Acai Berry Detox pills, but Impulse Marketing called people and sold them. I really needed the money so I bit my lip and went along with it. But I was recently laid off along with just about everyone else. Thank god, I was feeling so terrible about what I was doing.
I'm too afraid to give out my real name because they might come after me but I'm posting their info everywhere I can. Impulse Marketing is a boiler room scam that's only into ripping off as many people as possible.
We "upsold" all kinds of stuff by calling people who already bought something similar. The best were old people or guys that sounded out of it. We would just read from a script and get people to
agree a couple times on the "free trial". Then the cards would be charged immediately. And we would give phony toll-free customer service numbers to call back that no one answered.
We were told over and over to never mention Impulse Marketing. We were only supposed to say waht was on the script. Some guys got fired for slipping up and mentioning we were from Impulse Marketing because then we could get found. Well I hope that's exactly what happens now.
We never knew the owners names. We only knew them as the bosses. But all of them drove new Escalades, BMWs, Mercedes, etc. One guy just got a Maserati. I heard they even have a company limo. But they treated all the regular workers like crap and paid us only for the time we were actually on the phone talking to someone. If anyone complained, they would fire them for virutally no reason at all.
Well I looked them up on sunbiz.org and found out who the owners are: Joseph A Montalbano, Matthew R Argall and Christopher Reinhold.
Here's the company info:
Impulse Marketing LLC
3985 Gateway Center Blvd Suite 200
Pinellas Park, FL 33782
If your trying to get ahold of them to get your money back or complain to someone, here's numbers that went straight to their offices:
727-210-4721
727-210-4715
Like I said, I'm really sorry and I hope this helps anyone whose been ripped off by these guys.
I ordered Acai Berry, and found it worked. But the only problem was that they withdrew large amounts of money out of my account with out authorization. In which my bank is intestigating as fraud.
There has been a lot of comments on buying acai berry supplements at stores. While there are a lot of good supplements available at the store, there are also a lot of lower quality supplements. The most common thing I see is acai berry juice blends that only cost $5 or $6 a bottle, but only have 4 servings so you are paying $1.50 a serving. That is the equivalent of about $45 for a one month supply and you can almost always get a month's supply for less than that if you order on the internet. The key is to make sure you buy from a reputable company. Amazon Thunder is my personal favorite, but there are a couple other good ones too.
Thanks everybody for contributing!
Well, I just ordered the acai berry and colon cleanser a few days ago. I did read the fine print and I know that as soon as I get them I will be canceling. No sense waisting time while you try it out, and you can always go back on and try to get more free samples from the same company or others, depends on how well the product works for you. I know about having to cancel the charges because years ago, lol, I placed an order for some other supplements and got them not reading the fine print imagine my suprise when I saw the extra money missing the next month. I called my bank and got the number to the company making the withdraw. I called it immediately and told them to cancel it because I never recieved their product, when asked why I didn't call sooner I said I forgot, and they refunded the money. No reason in them knowing that you did recieve the initial shipment if they want to put fine print out there. So, there's an idea for anybody who wants to try and get their money back. Oh, and usually by the time they charge you full price you've already got another bottle of the product. Cheers.
So I come to the conclusion that ordering Acai berries is an unnecessary hassle. If consuming more readily available sorts of fruit is just as healthy, what is the point dealing with making orders, then worrying about having to cancel and etc.? Eat right, exercise and you will be just fine.
i bought the acaiblast pills from gnc for 15 bucs last year and lost 15 pounds. in less than a months time. all i ate was tuna and chicken straight out of a can, when i got bored with that i would use wraps with healty mayo, lettuce and tomatoe. i also ate fruits as well. thats all it took for the acaiblast pills to work.
i never bought any online because i investigated some sites and seen it was a scam to charge your card without you knowing it monthly.
I find it interesting that the Acai berry is called a scam by many people. The berry and it's health benefits are not a scam. To be honest, I'm not even sure if a company charging you after a free trial should be considered a scam. Most "free trials" come with stipulations. If the membership isn't cancelled, you will be charged. The same principle applies to magazines and newspapers.
On another note, Acai supplements can be purchased in health food stores and grocery stores. They are not only found online. When I wanted to try taking it as a supplement, I went to the local health food store. One bottle was $15.00. They happened to have a bonus pack at the time so I was able to purchase 2 bottles for $15.00. It is never wise to purchase from internet sites offering something such as easy weight loss (because there is no such thing). If you want to try a supplement, find a reputable source.
Hug, there should be directions on the bottles on how to take them. Some supplements are once a day, some are twice. I do not think very highly of any acai and colon cleanse combos because of all the problems so I have never tried them. If they don't work, don't lose faith - try a high quality pure acai berry supplement like Amazon Thunder. They don't have free trials, but I really like them and so do a lot of people.
Thanks for visiting and sharing your experience!
Hello, just received my free trial today, colon cleanse and acai berry detox, don't know how to take them and plus i cancelled with them and they seemed nice and said i will receive an email confirming my cancellation...I am always spectical but i told myself why not try but thank you very much for your information, you are amazing....hope it helps... How many time do i need to take the pills per day?
Just to add my piece,I use a frozen Acai puree (its like sorbet) which does not have added sweeteners that show up in many of the juices you find on the shelves. I find it to be very effective for providing energy and reducing the soreness and fatigue that comes from training day-to-day. The acai berry is a staple in the diet of Brazillian Jiu Jitsu artists for this very purpose, and is the only claim I have heard them make about the berry. The beneficial effect of acai is not a scam, its the marketing methods used by some of these companies that tends to be deceptive (or even devious).
Just go to: http://www.acai-berry-health-benefits.net/store
This will bring you to a health supplement store on the acai berry page. Click the link on the side for colon cleansers and quite a few other health supplements.
Hope this helps.
Sarah, How did you order the pill? Can you send the website address. I am looking for legitimate sellers.
Kitty, you complain that there are no literary citations, but I have included links to articles on acai berry on WebMD and Science Daily within the article. I also link to OracValues which shows scientific test results for the antioxidant value of acai berries and other foods.
Here are the specific URLs if you didn't catch them in the article:
* www.webmd.com/diet/guide/acai-berries-and-acai-berry-juice-what-are-the-health-benefits
* www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081006112053.htm
* oracvalues.com/sort/orac-value
good info u gave.thanks
Personally - I know most of this is on weight loss - but I hate fruit - big on vegetables but hate fruit - *BUT* - I love the taste of this fruit and have been drinking the V-Fusion (like V8 but with this fruit juice in it) and I really like it.
So granted I'm not trying to lose weight - I'm a jogger so I'm alright there - but the one thing positive about these little buggers is it is getting a 40 year old dude to drink Fruit Juice (cause of the taste) that I normally (orange juice etc) would stay way away from.
wow really? this is a scam? well we ordered some, and put it on my mom's cc (without her knowing) and she hasn't complained yet, but than again we order like tons of stuff on her card and she never says anything. but when i got the stuff(it was a little more than the promised 3-5 days) we tried it and it was awsome! me and my twin used to weigh 100 pounds and now 2 weeks later we only weigh 80 pounds! (we're 14 and we're about 5"5) it's so amazing. we used to be like SO fat... 14 years old and 100 pounds it was gross even my mom noticed we were getting fat but thanks to this product we only weigh 80 pounds. even if we do get charged (which im starting to worry we will) i dont really care becuse a) its not MY money so who cares and b)it was worth it and c)we're skinny :)
I noticed a complete lack of primary literature citations. This is still all anecdotal evidence and should be treated as such. If the stuff works for you, then great, keep using it, but please don't try to suggest that in any way these claims are based on scientific fact. Be aware, people of what you are reading. Ask yourself if it is proven fact or purely anecdotal before making decisions about your health.
I think after all the hype is over and they have taken as much money as they can get, then you will see acai berry in the walmart clearance isle.. just wait and see.. i think its good for you, but so is alot of other things.
i have used acai berry and life cleance for 2 months now and i have gone from size 12 to size 8 with taking both thoese plus going the gym 4 days a week for an hour it really works if you buy the right ones
i lost weight using acai berry and life cleanse over xmas not thinking it would work i did not cut down on any!! xmas food or goodies and still lost weight repidly! it does work thats the main thing in my opinion! :)
I am leary of products that sell you acai berry and a cleanse together. This sounds a lot like the typical scam companies. Hopefully you got a good product.
As far as feeling anything right away, you need to give it time. You can't just exercise once or twice and see a big difference. With that said, I did feel a difference in the first couple days after taking Amazon Thunder and so did my wife. I wouldn't give up, but if nothing happens after you finish the bottle(s) I wouldn't buy more of the same product. I would find another product.
I ordered acai and the other cleanse to try, heard about the scam and found a phone number (07)3123 4400 in Brisbane Australia, where I live, rang and spoke straight away to a male with an Indian accent and cancelled any future orders and he gave me a cancelation number. That was 19 days back and so far I have not heard from them again. Maybe a few days is not enough time to tell whether it is working, but I don't feel any different to when I wasn't taking the pills.
Kieren, you are right, they are an amazing fruit. The one thing people don't realize is that an acai berry supplement that costs $30 is really cheaper if you use it every day for a month as opposed to buying 30 servings of any fruit. I like to buy frozen fruit and make smoothies. I add acai berry powder or puree (both from Amazon Thunder).
The ads on the side can be ironic. I think the scams are getting better since Visa and Mastercard started suspending payments for free trial offers. Unfortunately, I have no control over the ads.
Thanks for the info.
Do you realise there a google ad for the exact scam you're describing along the side of the article? Oh the irony.
Acai berries are a brilliant fruit, but they are not magic berries that turn fat people into super toned body builders as these ads (which are targeted at desperate people) would lead you to believe. I have no scientific evidence for this, nor any personal experience, I am merely applying common sense which the vast majority of people seem to lack these days (or is outweighed by their desperation).
If you want something healthy; blend up some fruit or fresh fruit juice along with some lightly toasted flax seed, a scoop of protein powder and a small amount of skimmed milk. This is objectively one of the healthiest things you can eat and is actually very filling which means you should have fewer cravings. If you pick the right powder and fruit it can also taste delicious.
If you don't intake enough protein your body will use muscle as fuel, instead of fat. Muscle is denser than fat and therefor provides more energy. This is another reason why looking at your 'weight' while on a health kick is a bad idea unless you are measuring your body fat %..
Please correct me if I'm wrong. :-)
please people these berries are good for you, but if you want to loose weight, diet and excerise. Then having these supplements helps you loose extra weight because it keeps you feeling more active/alert giving your body some much needed nutrients whilst on a diet. The antitoxins will help flush your body also giving you a more positive feeling. There are also claims of them regulating your digestive system and colon cleanser, dont know if there truth in either but both will help you loose weight. The claims of rapid weight lose, well ofc its a scam, but they CAN help, (which is where the scams step in be exaggerating facts). Please go buy them from a health food shop and not on some money making site. yes i have been taking them for a long time, only supplement i trust to take.
Scam doesn't begin to describe this, I got charged over $650 from not only acai berry and colon cleanse but other companies affiliated with them. When I got the credit card statement I shut down my card. I am still fighting to get $ back 9 months later. The companies go out of business and you are unable to find contact info for them. DO NOT DO THESE TRIALS.
this was an interesting article:) a friend of mine recently ordered a 'free trial'of the acai berries to get really buff. but a month later he was unexpectedly hit with a $260 fee for the next months worth! and he couldnt contact the company to cancel his order because they had changed the website and it was untraceable...all in all it was a very very bad experiance. worst part is he didnt notice any changes in the first months worth anyway!
hey man you saved me loads of money!! i didnt know about the recering order :)
thankyou hugely
keep up the good work
x
Hello, I have been interessted in buying the acai berry, my mother said she would buy it if I looked at all the ingerdients and that they were safe, I have done just that and can say that acai berry...
1)It gives your more energy.
2)Takes away the pain of Headaches
3)Sooths and heals the parts of the body it comes in contact with.
4)helps diabetes and elevated blood lipids in humans
5)contains the minerals manganese, calcium and zinc.
6)liver tonic
7)help pass kidney stones and for infections of the bladder
8)one of the ingredients BuleVervain helps stop caner growth and other diseases.
9)lowering cholesterol and controlls diabetes
10)helps intestines move faster.
11)reduces risk of heart disease
12)helps stop tooth decay
13)enhances bone denstiy and lowers chance of getting osteoporosis.
14)decreasees risk of getting tumors.
So, it may not help you drop 30 pounds put is highly helpful to the body.
xxx
god i hate these people ... heres another mug who fell for the scam ... luckily i only placed my order yesterday through the website. i am in the uk and after reading all these complaints i have cancelled straight away through their hotline (which aparently worked) but not being one to take chances have just canceled my card aswell.... hey, if i end up with the samples ill be happy though :D good luck everyone and cancel asap before its too late and check with your bank ... dont just take it that theyll cancel it because they say they will because ive read loads that they say the will and dont!!!
Free trials have been a very bad deal for many people. On the upside, talking to a rep at the health store I reference above, it sounds like the credit card companies are implementing some controls and are fining companies $100,000 (yes $100,000) for not complying. There is some sort of approval process and acai berry offers are getting a particularly close look before being approved. Hopefully this will drive out a lot of the scams.
DO NOT PURCHASE A TRIAL OFFER! TOTAL SCAM AND FRAUD! I have been dealing with them 2 months... charged me for two different amounts, then charged me THREE times for some type of exercise internet class, just today charged me 3 times for $6.97 for what?? I am out almost $300.. canceled my debit card, and waiting for the crooks to refund. Bank is dallying too... never, every order this!!
Guys, guys guys.....and gal's. Don't be a stooge, part with some cash at your local healthfood store....if you are serious, giive it a try. It can't hurt, can it? Beeter than being ripped off. What I don't understand is the length of this thread. So many people considering....should i or shouldn't i.....maybe this company will be ok! People wake up!. Free is too good to be true.Nothing i free in this world. Pay for it, give it a try, if it works for you, great, THEN post a thread.Cheers,
being a personal trainer I thought I would make this comment.
I personally haven't tried it I know that I have been losing weight through exercise eating sensibly. Acia is not a magic berry even those who would be honest and it has worked would say they have exercised as well. it may work faster giving you quicker results who know I wouldn't trying it myself! If and when I do and it works then great if not thenno problem write of the cost!
Thanks for hub! Its really helped me make the decision to stay away from the free trials and avoid these scams. will be on the look out for buy 2 get 1 free promotions.
Well I just ordered my "free trial". Thanks to all your tips I will surely cancel within a few days. But I am definately really excited to try something new. I have definately started watching my diet and began an excercise regiment so if I can find something to boost my energy and anything else then that is splendid! I will let you know how everything turns out!
I signed up and received half a bottle and then got charged by 2 different accounts from Europe and never received any more bottles. They were really difficult to get hold of and I was unable to cancel as no was picking up the phone!!!! I obviously got scammed and in the end shut down my bank account - so not worth trying I was really annoyed and not so happy as you can imagine.
Thanks for your article I do think alot more people need to know especially about the scams.
As I have said in other comments, I CANNOT give medical advice.
My personal opinion on any acai berry colon cleanse combo is that it is a scam.
You mention eating healthy and taking a supplement once a day. That is a really good plan for overall health. For your once a day supplement, I would recommend Amazon Thunder. They have the highest quality acai berry and their prices are good too. Check the section above on Scam Free Acai Berries.
Hello my name is Yasmine and I'm a 15 year old girl and i want to lose a bit of fat by using the nature acai and colon cleanse combo, im partly scared that it has side effects im also scared that it doesn't allow me to take it because im so young. But i wanted to ask you if i could take it and what is your opinion i mean will it harm my health or anything? Or will it produce any side effects?, i really need your opinion because you have used it and you know what it is about and stuff, i wanted to try these just juice diets but i rather eat helathy and normal and just take some capsules once a day. I am really scared and nrevous and i need your help and opinion please please please take your tiem anwering my comment.
Hello HealthFreak Your article i read was amazing! Thanks for talking about Acai Berries I should ask my mum about these things and see if she know's anything good about them, Again ; Thanks Heaps. :)
Thank you, I found it to be a very helpful article. I had seen the free trial advertised and was interested in it but was a bit put off by all the charges if I didn't cancel on time. I don't think the scam necessarily lies in the product as I'm sure there is alot of truth behind the claims they make; I don't know much about it really. I have found though that the way they word these deals is where they get you. I am sometimes a bit ignorant about these things and really appreciated your take on it, thank you.
Just had to delete another less than polite comment accusing me of supporting acai berries. I do want to respond. Yes, I do support acai berries. In fact I have said this repeatedly including this direct quote in the article: "For the record, I am a supporter of acai berry supplements." What I don't support is misinformation and scams which is why I wrote this page. I hope most people benefit from it. Thanks for reading!
I called and cancelled my order after I kept getting bottles of this stuff what seemed like every two-three weeks. Just got another bottle yesterday and when I called to complain about them still sending, I was told that since I didn't have the name of the person who I canceled the order with, I will be charged for it. My credit card company was able to save me and gave me the credit for it, and they will deal with these scam artists. So, when you cancel ensure that you get a name and write it down.
ACAI BERRY "FREE TRIAL" SCAM Facebook group.
Hi,
My brother has set up a Facebook group...ACAI BERRY "FREE TRIAL" SCAM. Please join and then pass it on to as many people as you can.. Vid 3 Ltd uses the internet to spread their scam so let's do the same...Let's spread the word and bring these creatures down a peg or two. Best Wishes :)
I was trying to obtain a free sample of a product ( ACAI Berry Tropic ) that is suppose to help in reducing weight. I did not read the statement saying that I was going to be charged $ 88.74 that a manager promptly stated was available on the web page. They will refund 85% of this charge providing that I return the bottle of the product to a site in Delaware. The product was not what I ordered and the Manager ( Ken Sanchez )said that it was similar to ACAI. Due to me signing onto this free sample my account is being charged for a CashSystem in the amount of $40.00, called them and canceled. They promise they will refund the amount, waiting on this.
My account is also being charged $88.55 for cure colon ( Cancer prevention ) from another company that I never requested services from. They will refund me with a 15% re-stocking fee that I got charged for, after arguing about it and never ordering the product. In the same note, there is also a charge in my account for $87.77 from a Debit Control Bold for a product that I never ordered.
Oh! BOY for a Free Sample of a product that I never got…. Is very expensive….Could you believe all these charges.
I don't care a toss what the detractors say about acai ......I swear by the stuff . I have just suffered one of the worst bouts of Infectious Mono ..my body was riddled with the epstein BARR virus , which caused hepatiitis , a thickened gallbladder , chronic fatigue and an enlarged spleen , according to the doctors I should still be infectious and my organs still struggling , but after just one 750ml bottle I am in near tip top shape again . They can't explain my quick recovery , I however am darn certain the acai everyday is responsible for my recovery , Money well spent !
Just a reminder to everybody. You need to keep your comments civil. I have deleted several comments lately because they were very aggressive and negative. There are a many ways to get healthy. There are ways to lose weight and get healthy without supplements and there are ways to use them properly to help you lose weight. Neither way is right or wrong. I personally use health supplements, but don't condemn anybody who doesn't. Let's make sure everybody uses that same courtesy. Thanks!
The free trials are almost all scams. My wife got suckered by one to the tune of $80. I was mad, but the lesson was learned. And then after doing a little looking, I found I could get all kinds of acai berry products on e-bay for lot less (usually around $30 for a 30 day supply, shipping included). I got a month's supply off e-bay and then found an acai berry drink at Sam's Club and have been using that ever since. I don't see the weight loss benefit, but I figure the antioxidants are still worth it.
Thanks for doing such an honest review of the acai berry issue!!!!
I also was taken by an acai "free trial" scam. Mine was that I pay only a $.99 shipping fee and receive the product free. I realized one "click" too late that I had been scammed. I immediately checked with my credit card company and they confirmed that the $.99 shipping charge had already processed and they advised that I immediately close that account so no further charges could process thru....which I did.
With all that being said, I was still convinced that the Acai berry itself was a good product so it was just a matter of doing some research and finding some reputable sites offering a high quality, 100% freeze dried acai product. I was particularly intent on finding one that was "acai" only and wanted to be sure that the capsules I take do not contain any other fillers....which alot of them do.
For me, acai has been an excellent supplement but do your research first.
I ordered a "free" trial and was subsequentially charged nearly $100!! The offer was for AcaiBurn. Thanks to your site I have (after a bit of hassel) cancelled my shipment. Beware of "free" trial offers.
Thanks for contributing Keith. I think you may be oversimplifying things a little. You say there is no proof that antioxidants and dietary fiber don't improve your health, but I guess I have to disagree. There is a lot of studies that show that antioxidants and dietary fiber are good for you.
I'm also not sure you can associate high quality honest companies like Amazon Thunder with scam companies. It is unfortunate that honest companies are associated with scams and I personally refuse to put them in the same category. Amazon Thunder is 100% scam free. There are other companies too.
They are a super healthy fruit and I don't know anybody who can seriously say fruit isn't good for you - or dietary fiber or omega fatty acids or antioxidants.
What I get from this is that acai berry sites should, if they wanted to be honest and un-fraudulent, read:
"acai berries are on average slightly healthier* than 'regular' berries and fruits and MIGHT (indirectly) HELP you lose weight (if you exercise and eat healthy) which, (if the previous is true), will make you feel better about yourself and, (given that you aren't ugly), POSSIBLY increase the number of sexual partners you have. It will improve your 'overall' health. *Note: By healthier we mean having more antioxidants and fibers, neither of which have been proven to have a direct relationship to how slim, sexy, or energetic you are. If you decide to use our 'free' trial, we will bill you for the 'free trial' and an additional month's subscription after two weeks."
Obviously, nobody would buy them, at least not anywhere near the magnitude and frequency that people today do. In my opinion, the acai berry doesn't deserve as much attention as it is getting right now. While I appreciate your efforts to be unbiased and objective, your conclusions still have the tone of encouraging people to go out and try it (albeit carefully). My question is this: you could have claimed to be the supporter of any number of health-benefiting foods or supplements which are comparable to acai berries in their actual health benefits; why advocate buying the product that is, as you say, 40% scam?
Analogy: Ted and Bill apply for a job. Bill has just as much skill as Ted, who, on the other hand has lied to, angered, and stolen from thousands of people. BUT, poor Ted is misunderstood. I recommend hiring Ted.
I don't get it.
I think the best is Amazon Thunder. There is a link above. I believe their products are freeze dried. You can get a powder to mix with smoothies or other things. You can get a capsule. My favorite is the bottled juice puree. There may be retail locations that carry this, but I am not sure. I would at least check it out then see if you can find it at a health food store. The prices online are good though and you do not have to worry about any kind of scam or recurring billing. http://sassafrasstation.com/amazonthunder
Can anyone please reccomend a UK retailer who will sell these? Would prefer a reputable highstreet dealer rather than an online site, but I'm interested in trying the freeze dried versions of this product as they seem so beneficial to some and I would like to make my own opinion up.
Just say no to free trials!
these people are thieves, if you order the acai berry trial and decide to continue with them, they just take money from your credit card without notice, just in one month, these people took up to a $900 dollars from my acct, wonder who wants to spend that much on a drug. if u drink that amt of water they say and exercise, u will still loose the weight. its all fake.And a word of advice for these company, if u want to better your product, send people email notifying them before taking money from their acct and wait atleast for the one they ordered to be almost finished before sending the next one. if these product is as good as u say u wont be in a hurry to take peoples money
If you put in your checking account information, they could keep it on file and charge it whenever they want. If you want me to check out an offer, just put the website in and I will see what I can figure out. Your best bet is to stay away from free trials. It will save you money in the long run even if you don't get scammed.
I have a quick question what if you got a free trial on there and instead of paying with a credit card they had a check option, how would they keep charging you if they dont have your account number?
i like berries
Nice write up mate. Thanks.
I saw a video clip which appeared on CNN. It was a discussion with a registered dietician and she said there was absolutely no proof that the acai berry products made you lose weight. Although they may increase your overall well-being, they did not cause you to lose weight. I have also noticed that the search engines have been re-manipulated to omit a lot of the negative comments associated with the product that existed several weeks ago, in unison with all of the televised negativity. Interesting... The company that telemarketed me to buy the Acai Berry is now calling and harassing me because I canceled my credit card when I learned of the scam. It took 15 days to receive the trial and then my 15 days was considered up. The number associated with the purchase on my credit card statement had been disconnected. There were originally 69 pages of complaints associated with the phone number that called me to sell me the acai berry product. Today when I google the phone number, nothing comes up. All of the complaints are gone. I printed everything out and have over 100 pages to back up what people said about getting scammed. Yes, you need to realize it's a "trial" but then if you can't get a hold of anyone to cancel, you are stuck with the charges. One woman had $800 in charges before she got smart enough to just cancel her credit card number. It's a shame things have come to this because there are a lot of good deals on reputable products to be found on the Internet.
Hey! Well I work in the Disputes Department of a major UK bank, and the reason I'm looking into this 'Scam' is because we see a lot of it being disputed.
The crux of the matter is people don't read the terms and conditions of the payments they are making. They then say it is supposed to be free, simply because they haven't bothered to read further into it.
As it says above, nothing is free, and if it is there's a catch.
From what people have told me, either these berries don't work like they're advertised (but there is no concrete proof as to whether they do or don't); or they don't arrive at all and so people can't send them back or use them etc, but are often still charged.
This causes endless problems, not just for my bank, but for nearly everyone who has ordered them. Unfortunately people don't read terms and conditions, people see something for easy weight loss and are blinded by the fact that they can be more perfect.
My final note on this is it is only a working scam in that the customers of the scam are too unintelligent, lazy or naive to read further into it (especially as all you need to do is type the name online before you buy and you get pages like this!)
Thanks for sharing! Unfortunately, many people prey on people's insecurities and concerns all the time, and the most common scam is selling some sort of placebo that fools people into thinking it's that product that makes the difference, when that's far from the truth.
wow, big debate in here. I have heard about acai for the first time this past month in Miami while having dinner with friends. I have given it a chance and I liked it. I am not doing it to loose weight, for all we know that the only secure way to lose weight and to keep it down is by living a healthy life: eating, exercise and sleeping properly. I just liked the flavour and felt very energized. I will not try it for free, for there is not such thing as free. if you really care about life, try things and see what suits you better.
I learn my mistake, don't order any free trail on internet because I ordered one (acai berry pills) and thought it is free trail but they keep send me pills and charged, cost me over 500 dollars. I told them stop send but they keep sending me. DONT ORDER any free trail.
Unfortunately, they are legal and a whole lot of companies use them. I was watching a commercial on TV last night for an acne medicine and they sign you up automatically for monthly shipments. Time Life books used to do the same thing when they sold book series (probably still do I just haven't seen a commercial in a while). Children's books at the doctors office with the tear out coupon for a free book. BMG music and videos. They all sign you up for something after the free trial.
The difference is that a lot (but not all) of the diet pill companies are scams. In the long run, you will save money with virtually any offer that is a purchase as opposed to a trial or recurring shipment.
Avoid the free trials. Just buy your supplements up front.
Free trials that take money off you because you did not cancel are illegal. You cannot take payment from someone unless they authorise it and you cannot set up a standing order because someone did not click onto something called terms and conditions. The law is about common sense. These people are crooks. They are operating a scam and if you don't think so then listen to their defensive tone of voice when you ring them. Take them on. Demand recompense or these slimeballs will continue to sell overpriced goods at loan shark prices. They're crooks and con artists.
The only real thing Acai berries have going for them is that they are a fruit, and fruit has fibers (and in this case also antioxidants) and some other nutrients which are valuable to the human system. HOWEVER, I don't know a single person who is fit or in shape that has ever tried (or even knows of) acai berries.
I am dedicated to the gym (I'm a 20 year-old male and I weight train 5 days a week), and I would never even consider acai berries ever. Regular fruits are just fine, thankyou.
The key to building muscle: Sleep, proper diet (caloric intake, protein intake, and carb intake are all key), and of course a proper routine at the gym. No muscle is going to build itself (unless if you're still going through puberty). One fruit is going to be a small fraction of what your diet needs; milk or any meat is just as important (more-so I would say) than any fruit will be to your diet.
Angela, I hadn't heard of trying to trick somebody into getting a free sample to write a review. The level people will sink to in order to make a buck is truly disgusting.
Gareth, you can get some acai berry supplements at grocery stores and health food stores. They usually aren't as good though. Try showing your parents the Amazon Thunder site I linked to above. They are a really good company and no scamming what so ever. Maybe they will go for that one. http://sassafrasstation.com/amazonthunder
Fergus, you are absolutely right about all the spam sites. It really gives the legitimate companies a bad name too. Really sad, but I guess that is the internet we are stuck with for now. Eventually Google will catch up with the spammers, but for now you just have to dig a little harder.
One more time: STAY AWAY FROM FREE TRIALS!
This whole thing is the biggest most deceptive dodgy business i have ever seen online. The first 3-4 pages of google are filled with bullshxt reviews and forums created by the fraudsters to make you feel you are safe.They seem to have a clever team of people suppressing the public awareness of the con. The issue of whether the product works or not is irrelevant. I have just fallen for one of them which was advertised to make you ripped from someone's fake blog.I thought the product was probably bull but had no idea when i paid for it that i was agreeing to a subscription. I didn't see the terms and conditions anywhere. Surely you have to agree on terms like most webpages you have to tick a box. This must be illegal surely? Stay clear for gods sake and if you have already then cancel your card immediately as from what i've red you may struggle to cancel your 'membership'!
My parents have not given me a credit card yet and they will not buy from the internet sorta like health help. I tried to convince them but they would not do it. So do you know if any other fruits that are better or the same or a drug mart where i could buy them.
I would just like to let everyone know that this company is now preying on journalists. I answered a craigslist add looking for freelancers and got a reply back asking me to review acai berries as a weight loss tool. No problem. The email directed me to a link where I could order a free sample: http://www.absoluteacaiberry.com/lp2/?aid=az&sid=4
Having heard of the scam I entered the url to google and up popped scam notices. So I emailed back saying I would do the review but with acai berries purchased from a health store, not this site.
Needless to say, no response back. Beware of a company called Desire Content.
Health help - I would recommend just buying acai berry supplements. If you don't do a free trial, there is nothing to worry about as far as scams. Check the section on Scam Free Acai berries and click the link to a page on Amazon Thunder. They are an ethical and eco friendly company and their juice/puree is very competitively priced when you look at serving sizes.
AvtomatKalashnikova - very good points on serving sizes and the real cures of healthy diets. When you take the proper serving of acai berry it really isn't that expensive. I take 1 ounce of Amazon Thunder a day. That costs about $1. I know if I buy blueberries I spend about $3 and that doesn't last me more than 2 days. My wife just bought a pomegranate tonight because she likes those and that cost $2 and will be gone in about 2 servings. When you look at it like that, acai berry really isn't any more expensive when you look at cost per serving. Even an apple is going to cost you close to $1 if you buy big apples. I may have to make a section on the cost of acai berry supplements and real fruits.
Thanks for your contributions! I really like how much conversation this Hub has created. I really have only had to deny a couple comments because they were inappropriate, but other than that it has been really good discussion!
Even though these berries are proven to have ridiculous amounts of anti-oxidants, people have to realize that there are other fruits that have high amounts of antioxidants that are MUCH cheaper and easier to obtain while offering other nutrients you won't find in the acai berries. While acai berries do have a huge lead on antioxidants, it should also be noted that certain antioxidants in excess can be very harmful, especially to infants and pregnant women. So people shouldn't think that just drinking a couple liters of this stuff a day is going to make them live longer just because the guy on tv said so. What I recommend to people is to actually look up what an anti-oxidant actually is, because I'm pretty sure most people don't even know what classifies as one, and what the recommended daily intake for it is and what the side effects are if taken in excess.
Also, as far as living longer and losing weight, the painfully obvious truth is this, if you don't exercise and eat junk food all day no berry or supplement known to mankind is going to save you even if it is a super fruit.
Anyways, good article HealthFreak, I liked hearing both sides.
i dont want to get scamed so im just wandering is it possible for me to get a bottle at the doctors or in a pharmacy
Sorry to hear about all your problems Eric, Ed, and Jodie. I hate how this spoils so many people's opinion of what really is a good supplement. If you haven't lost faith, check out the section on Scam Free Acai Berries as there is a really good supplement out there called Amazon Thunder which is not a free trial and I haven't heard of any problems with them.
The best thing anyone can do is CONTACT YOUR BANK IMMEDIATELY! They know the best way to deal with these fraudulent activities and have a very high success rate of getting you your money back.
Doing it yourself is time-consuming and it will most likely get you nowhere as they have numerous websites and emails and the postal addresses listed are often false (as in the Australian case).
You need to call you bank, tell them of the unauthorised transactions, they will file a fraud complaint against the company and cancel and reissue you a new credit card so it can't keep happening whilst the dispute is being processed.
My bank told me that due to the number of complaints against this company the Australian border security are taking on the case for investigation.
In Australia, there is a 99-100% chance you will get all your money back if you contact your bank asap.
Good Luck!
DON'T DO IT!!!
I have just spent 30 minutes on the phone to their company because their 'free trial' is not a free trial at all, because you get charged after the two weeks at about $60 and then $60 every month after that!!! Unless of course you know this and have the money to spend.
Wake up people!!! This is a scam. There is no free lunch. My wife signed up for these pills at a website that obscured the fact that it was a 14-day "free trial" period. At the end of 14 days, they charged our credit card $180 ($90 for each bottle). Then they shipped two more bottles the next month automatically and charged another $180! Oh yea, BTW, they didn't help her lose ANY weight at all. Anyone who falls for this crap is a sucker just like we were.
BillyT, I hadn't seen a disclaimer that the preceeding message was creative writing. There are new FTC regulations that go into effect December 1 and that may be their way of trying to stay out of trouble. Still sounds pretty deceptive. Kinda funny.
One of the sites I visited had a notice at the very end of the web page in very small print that was very washed out, besides telling you about the need to cancel within the designated period, the last sentence was this disclaimer "Any story expressed on this page are creative writings and not necessarily true, and do not necessarily represent actual product testimonials or normal usage."
Wonders, I think I have been pretty up front about it. I DO use acai berry supplements every day and think they are great. I Do run other health websites which I have also been up front about - just check my profile. Not really trying to be manipulative in any way. I just wanted to create a thought provoking page which based on the 100+ comments I think I have succeeded.
All I want to do is get everybody to think through the acai berry issue logically and not believe the hype from either side of the argument because as I say in the page, both sides are scamming and telling half truths. You don't have to agree with me, but if you do great.
I got taken in by the free sample add. What made me try it was the add claimed someone in my home town tired the product. It seemed ligit. However, the product didn't help me to loose weight. And on top of that, my credit card was billed for a months supply that I never got. When I saw the charge in my statement I called the company. My account with them has been stopped, but the charge is not being refunded. The young girl stated they don't give refunds. Just another example of buyer beware. There is not such thing as a FREE LUNCH. I hope my note influences someone else to think twice befor trying a free trial. That free trial may cost you hundreds of dollars 14 days later. At that time your still trying the free pills to see if they work. My opinion is they don't. Best way to loose weight is to burn more caleries than you take in.
WOW, so much information. So many situation. So many stories and questions. Great reading. I recently ordered AcaiBerry Free Trial Company called TradingPlanet Ltd. Just called them to find out what the re-shipping costs were £75/$130 roughly in dollars. Thank you for the insight into this. I have obviously canx'd. Had no problems, they even gave me cancellation number and thanked me. It is such a shame that when anything of benefit comes along that there is always bad apples out there to spoil the barrell for the rest. I have only been a week on the supplements and plan to buy the drinks too. Will come back on the site in a month with a progress report. Im looking for energy levels, well being and weight loss. Tall order but lets see. I'm 39 and want a healthier life as life is for living. Good Luck to the rest of you.
I wonder if the person writing this doesnt really have a acai berry shop himself. The way i read it it was pretty manipulative.
To above contributor 'TrueCures' - re studies on antioxidants, here's a start:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17327526
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19878615?itool=
Above 2 from PubMed, enter search for trial subject you are seeking. Right hand side of any article, lists other related studies.
Cochran Reviews, major data base for med trials. Search available for free abstracts for topic. here are 2 samples:
http://www.cochrane.org/reviews/en/ab007176.html
http://www.cochrane.org/reviews/en/ab004183.html
This is a topic of current study and very interesting. As for losing weight. A well balanced diet in moderation with exercise has always worked and is cheaper. Not making any claims either way regards the products mentioned here.
GNC would probably have something. I have found them to be more expensive normally. They do give you a good way to put your hands on a supplement though. What may work is to buy it at GNC and see if you like it then go to the internet and find a package like Buy 3 Get 2 Free.
The other option would be to just order Amazon Thunder. Click the link in the article in the section I called Scam Free Acai Berries to learn more about them. They currently have a sale going on and you can get a bottle for $31.99 which is $1 a serving which is pretty good. I love their prouduct. They also have sales from time to time so you can stock up when they have a sale. I usually keep an extra bottle or two around the house.
JUST WONDERING IF IM BETTER OFF JUST GOIN TO MY LOCAL GNC AND LOOKING FOR SOMRTHING SIMILAR TO ACAI?
Al, you are saying you do not believe that antioxidants are good for you? You have a right to your opinion, but there are way, way more studies showing the benefits of antioxidants than showing no benefit. You can find a study that shows just about anything. You need to look at the majority and the majority say antioxidants are good for you. As far as disease, they aren't a medicine to use after you get sick. As with all healthy diets, they help keep you from getting sick.
Are you really trying to argue that a healthy diet, including antioxidants, isn't good for you? If so, I'm not going to waste my time trying to convince you that a good diet including antioxidants is healthy.
The benefits on your information about acai berries and antioxidants are not in any way a fact. There are complete and utter disproving studies done in the biological field that show that antioxidants may do nothing. Yet, you treat them as a cure all for weight loss to disease. This obviously shows you have no understanding of how an antioxidant works and what it even is. Please let me know when those acai berrries that you are eating save you from a life threatening disease.
-Biology student
Well, I'm on unemployment and was surfing the net for the benefits of drinking water when the incredible ad to try a free sample of Acai Berry for the low, low shipping price of 99 cents, that's it!
A month later I'm checking my unemployment transaction records and this company has scamed me out of an additional $59.xx and another $1 transaction for over $60. When I complain to the company (who never gave me a receipt) I was told that the price was there on their site under Terms & Conditions. As I went back to the site - there it was. I had also made it clear to the company who contacted me via phone shortly after paying the 99 cents, that they were also shipping $29 per month for some type of weight loss water. I told them they were only authorized to take the 99 cents and nothing more, the lady said, ok and I thought nothing more of it until I received my statement and found THIS IS A SCAM!
I think I have said it before, but will say it again. You are usually better off just buying the supplement. Way too much potential for unexpected charges on free trials if you don't pay attention to the details. I don't like the natural food stores much either though. Their products are usually too expensive and it can be a hassle returning there too - especially if you opened the product.
My favorite is Amazon Thunder and I have never thought about returning it.
Why does a company tell there is a 30 day trial in big print but when you go and order one its say only 14 day and then they will charge you 70 or more a mouth I thinks it’s a scam. I don’t know anything about acia berry but I think it better is to go to a natural food store and get all the supplements there its better that way because if you are not satisfied go back and return in person not mailing back
Hay Healthfreak tell me more about that acia berry
If you are purchasing, there usually isn't a recurring fee. I would try to stick with a company that specializes in health supplements. Amazon Thunder is my personal favorite. There is a link in the hub for a review page on Amazon Thunder.
i've seen the acai berry supplements/tablets/capsules on websites like puritans pride (american), and holland and barratt (england store), would these versions a bottle filled with a 100 for example, work in the same way as the trials that are advertised on the web?
Actually the French paradox associated with red wine reflects something about its potential beneficial health effects on our body. Tons of researches have already demonstrated red wine's ability to reduce heart diseases. Furthermore, a chemical known as resveratrol present in red wine is known to prolong lifespan in guinea pigs. Whether that works in human and how much do you need to get it to work remain undetermined. Therefore, don't start looking for resveratrol pills that are available on the market and start consuming them blindly. Drink 150 ml of red wine per day will do you good in the long run.
I'm a molecular biologist and I can tell you antioxidants have been proven to work wonders against tumor prevention. Type antioxidants on Nature, Cell or Science (the three most high profile journals in the science field) and just read a few articles, they will give you detailed knowledge on the exact effects of antioxidants at the cellular and organismal level.
Lovely article!
SPearson - another good thing to do is use a pre-paid card whenever ordering anything online. It helps protect against identity theft and makes sure you control how much is charged. Either way, the best thing is to stay away from free trials and just buy the supplements
nike - Pure acai berries make you healthier in general. The antioxidants help you stay healthier internally. The dietary fiber helps your digestive system and may help you eat less because you feel full. The omegas are just plain good for you. I think the weight loss comes from feeling better and being more active which burns more calories.
Does acai berry work by increasing the heart rate to achieve weight loss? Does it do this by acting on the thyroid. Is there a risk of reactivating a previously successfully treated over active thyroid?
I made the mistake of signing up for a free trail. The product came and made me ill. I canceled the next day. Since then I have recieved two more bottles with $49.95 charges on my credit card. I have made four phone calls now and returned what they have sent me and have had promises of refunds. I have notifed my credit card company and they even told me that they have had a lot of trouble with these kind of places. My advice would be if you really want to try any of these products. Go to a health food store or GNC and know what you are getting with no surpise charges on your credit card. I am only hoping I got this stopped and there will be no more charges.
Matthew, thanks for your contribution, but you are 100% wrong. Lots of scientific evidence supports that acai berries are way better than red grapes. As far as red wine, I wouldn't recommend alcohol as a source of anything other than intoxication.
"Numerically it appears that acai berry supplements are not a scam, but they won't work if you continue to eat junk food and don't exercise"
Humm. In the same way if you stop eating junk food and exercise you get the same results without the acai berry. Its a placebo that gives you the faith to change yourself.
It would also be far more beneficial to eat fresh red grapes that freeze dried acai berries.
This article is just designed to get the writer some health commission from the signups. Its not scientific, and not balanced.
Go get your anti-oxidants from a glass of red wine :)
Thank you for the quick "education" in Acai berries! Does anybody have a comment about shipping ovearseas? Do most of the users live in the US? I am in Australia and wondering how long it would take to get my shipment (and implications for cancelling etc) Maybe it is better to order from a UK supplier?
I want to try.
A comment for Karen Ellis (4 months back): you are on the right track with your "inflammation theory". Get a good physiology textbook and read about the Autonomic nervous system and how your body operates. Then consider that everything in your body is controlled by the nervous system. Many "problems" are dealed with by the process of inflammation. This uses a lot of the body's resources, leaving little available to deal with things like weight loss (I am trained in western medicine but also am qualified chiropractor and understand some of the accupuncture and chinese medicine (but not qualified in these!)
Matt, you are 100% right. If you eat a really good diet, there is no need for supplements of any kind. Most people don't though and supplements are the only way they can get the right nutrients. No matter what you eat or supplement with, you still need to exercise and live a generally healthy lifestyle.
Thanks for contributing!
I have come to the conclusion that antioxidants in general can be obtained by any fresh fruit found in your local supermarket...admitadley they probably do not contain the same benefits as the Acai but Pomegranates and Black Berries are easily accesible enough...basically so long as you eat foods that are going to cleanse your colon and give you more energy (aka fruits and vegetables) then your fine ...its all about lifestyle choices and what you put into your body...i mean when you look back to our ancestors they rarley ever ate meat it was difficult to find and hunt so they made do with plants and fruit and nuts...now a days most people are tempted to go into a restaurant and order that BigMac with Fries...in the end its all up to the person not so much the supplement though i'm fairly certain the supplement provides huge benefits as one of my buds takes it and has seen phenominal results...anyway best of luck with whateve choice you make
Ree, you should have gotten the information on how to cancel when you ordered. If you didn't write it down or print it off, go back to the website you ordered from. At the bottom there should be a link (it will probably be small) called terms or somthing like that. It should have information on how to cancel in on that page.
Hi, i ordered the free acai berry trial a few days ago, it hasnt come yet, but now im worried that im going to get scammed! How do i cancel it? i have no idea! plz help!!
Green tea is pretty good. I am not a tea person myself. Also, I believe it has caffeine in it which could cause other problems especially if you drink a lot of it. You can get acai supplements that also have green tea - just buy them though and don't worry about extra shipments.
If you happen to look at the orac values you will find that a cup of green tea comes in at between 1200 and 7200. That puts it pretty high up the list and you will find a box of good quality green tea is by far and away one of the cheapest options
Plus many people drink quite a few cups of tea or coffee a day, how hard is it to switch to green tea instead. It isn't to everyones taste I will grant you that but it is also another option and one that is basically completely harmless and very cheap compared to pretty much anything else
MATTHEWd you need to consult with your parents and probably a doctor before deciding to take acai berries. There probably wouldn't be a problem, but I cannot give you advice on whether or not to take it.
Twokka, you are correct about cocoa being almost as good as it relates to antioxidant value. You could take a spoonful of cocoa powder I guess, but that isn't really a good supplement. There are some spices that are higher than acai berry too, but again, they aren't practical supplements either. If you just buy a quality acai berry supplement and don't waste money on a free trial, it really isn't that expensive so why try to come up with your own supplement?
If you look at the antioxidant levels from ORAC you will see that Cocoa powder is almost as good as Acai. It is also a fraction of the price with far less environmental impact. There have been dozens of scientific studies over the last fifty years which prove beyond doubt that cocoa/chocolate contains amino acids which improve mood, reduce carbohydrate binging (thus promoting weight loss) and boost the immune system. Funny how the "supplements" industry promotes Acai and not cocoa - but then cocoa is available in the corner store allowing little opportunity to scam gullible people.
Is this suitable 4 kids like im 15 it wont like damage me or anything ive got a lot of padding will it have the same results for me or will it do summat bad
Passingcloud, you are missing the point. The reason that many people take acai berry supplements is to be healthier and maybe lose weight which is exactly what you pointed out. Acai berries are not used to build muscle and make you big. Not sure why you would have that idea. Also not sure about the creation of a new species thing either. I do agree with you on the spam sites that are nothing but lies. Thanks for contributing.
If you notice there are numerous blogs out there that claim to have gained incredible results from these products and even comments from "users" of the product BUT... Once you look at more than one of these blogs they almost seem identical! The comments are obviously FAKE! and what's more I noticed that most of their ads are on websites that promote piracy, pornography, and so forth, basically "underground" websites. And LASTLY I'd like to pose just one question... If the natives of south america have been using acai berries for thousands of years, WHY aren't they all jacked up and ripped like all the hollywood stars??? answer that! They're mostly short and skinny looking people, I mean if they've been using it for thousands of years they should be naturally that way. I mean think about how dogs are bred, after a few generations, their descendants become an entirely new breed. Think about how some tribes are able to run down caribou for miles because they've been doing that for thousands of years so they have incredible lung capacity. So if they've been taking this stuff for thousands of years, then most of their descendants should be extremely built and ripped!
I decided to try it and never received my "free" shipment but was charged the shipping for the shipment..so wouldn't recommend it.
ligit1234, thanks for the link.
I have mixed feelings on the O**** issue. I don't want to mention her name or I could get sued too. It is obviously wrong for people lie about her endorsing specific products, but it is equally wrong to say you never endorsed acai berries in general when I have personally seen the shows where her and Dr. O* talk about how great they are.
Those are all really good points. I sell the Acai Berry Juice online. The one thing that I wanted to point out about my website is. There is no free product offer and after you select the product you want you have an optiion to select "NO" to the autoship option. Please visit my website if you are interested in drinking the Acai Berry
at www.mymonavie.com/monvieup/
It is also available KOSHER
Josh, in some cases you can get the same supplements. In some cases the supplements are no good. If you choose to buy supplements on the internet, you can usually get the supplements in the $30 to $40 range which is often cheaper than at the local store. The $80 supplements are your price for taking advantage of the "free" trial and that price is kinda high.
I have a basic question for you...Can't you just go out to any local nutrition store and buy Acai Berry Extract and have the same product as some of these sites selling it for 80 bucks?
Sims, I have never seen a free trial with free shipping. If you purchase up front, you can probably get free shipping.
Cherylbear, I see a difference in my bathroom habits when I start taking acai berries after being away for a while. It needs to be part of a complete fitness plan not just taking a supplement if you want the best results.
I agree with paying for the supplement up front. I read too many horror stories with peoples' credit cards.
My girl friend and I just started taking a pure 1500mg per serving acai supplement a little over a week ago and started a blog about it.
I came across your hub as I was searching for how long it takes to see/notice a difference.
I did months of research before I came across a company I wanted to buy from.
A reader a couple of months back said something about antioxidants and wanting personal testimonials. Maybe in a few more weeks I will be able to give them one.
I have a pretty weak immune system so I hope acai helps to turn that around.
Let you know in a few weeks! Great hub!
I ordered the 'free trial' and paid $ .99 for shipping and handling. Two (2) days later, they charged my credit card $49.95.........I called and they say it will be charged back in 2-3 days.....I am patiently (?) watching my account to see if this actually happens.
im trying the acai berry/colon cleanse "diet" now im 1 week in and have changed nothing about my normal diet. i havent lost any weight at all so im sure all the weight loss claims are scams, however im going to the toilet much more regular than ever before. that said i think that supplements are a waste of time and i could get the same effect of upping my fibre intake. In conclusion i dont think they will do you any harm but they are not needed if you eat a balanced healty diet which i think is a better way to get your neutrients
i got mine from ebay as the shipping charges to the uk on the free trials cost more.
Ok what if the add says free shipping?
Sue, it is getting so hard to tell which offers are legitimate. I think people are just better off paying for the supplement up front and not having to worry about unknown charges. I hope things work out for you. I have never heard of Perfect Health, but will make sure I stay away.
I ordered the acai berry almost 3 wks ago and havent recieved them yet. I did pay by credit card. I attempted to contact the buisiness from perfect health. and they seemed to not have any knowledge of me ordering but yet it shows on my statement. It was to be 5 dollars something and ended up being like 80 instead.When asked why this took place i was given no information, and i would be sent the email that i never got.. I did cancell but wont know yet if it was actually done someone by the name of bob smith if even that is real is beyond me..so beware
Unless you live in the South American rain forest, you won't be able to get fresh acai berries because they spoil very quickly. Some of the top supplements like Amazon Thunder and Cloudnine Pure Acai berry contain nothing but acai berries that have been freeze dried to capture all the nutrients. No chemicals just acai berries.
If acia berry is soo good for you why not just eat the natural berry why spend money on suplements and put chemicals in your body. They mostly talk about the berry not the suplement, if the berry is that good you dont need the chemicals that come with it am i right?
If acia berry is soo good for you why not just eat the natural berry why spend money on suplements and put chemicals in your body. They mostly talk about the berry not the suplement, if the berry is that good you dont need the chemicals that come with it am i right?
I have not dealt with either of these companies. I looked around their website a little bit and noticed at the bottom there was a link for support. It had a phone number that looks to be in the UK.
Personally, I like to deal with companies in the US because I know there are decent laws protecting consumers.
I hope you get things straightened out. Acai berry supplements really are beneficial and I hate that there are so many companies out there that give people problems.
Another thing I do is stay away from websites that promote multiple products together. This is mostly because of all the scam sites that put colon cleans and weight loss pills together.
I ordered from effectivecleanse.com and acaiberryexclusive.com and after reading some of the stuff on here I want to cancel...how do I do that? I tried calling Custumer service and that didn't work...what else do I have to do to get out of this?
Jules, I am not sure what you are talking about as far as the site being full of scam links. If you are talking about the Google ads, there is nothing I can do about that.
As far as the links I have placed, yes they promote acai berry products. I personally use both pure acai berry puree from Amazon Thunder and alternate between several of the other acai berry weight loss supplements. I have ordered from 5 companies and have not had any problems. I will not willingly promote any site that makes unsubstantiated claims.
The sites I link to offer information which includes advertisements for acai berry products. My goal is to give honest information and let people choose. I thought this was a refreshing change from the fake blog diet sites most people see. I am sorry you do not feel I am being honest, but I am.
I think it is a scam!! I have been trying to cancel my order but I cannot get through, the line is always busy!! So that tells me that they do not want people to cancel, I am hoping I will get through one of these days, if not than I will have a bad name with my credit card company!!!
To all those who are interested--Acai berries are available at local health food stores and pharmacy. So, you CAN buy them and avoid the scams!
I think that this site is actually a scam. If you look at any of the other pages in the website, they're covered in ads for Acai berries. It's just another way to scam people--lure them in by trying to get them to trust you since it looks like you are on the other side or "unbiased."
--wondering if this will even make it through to posting...
If you want to loose wait then you need to go on the Lighterlife programme. Here in the UK it is growing in popularity, You have councelling as well as a strict programne to follow but it changes your eating habits for life and that is the important thing. Go to lighterlife website for more info. I tried acai berry - just made my heart race as I am caffine free.
While I have not had any problems canceling trials, you usually are better off just buying a bottle and seeing what it does for you.
I disagree that you won't know if a supplement works in 7 days. When I take something that work, I can feel it in 2 or 3 days. You may not see the scale move much, but I feel better almost immediately when I am taking good supplements, acai berry is one of the supplements that I notice within a couple days of taking it and if I skip a few days.
Just watch what you do so you don't waste money.
Some of the people putting messages on this site are the people who are involved with the scam. Can you get a product and try it for 7 - 14 days and actually know if it works? Not a chance. That's what you will have to decide and then get the product back to the company on time or be charged. Don't do it! They just want your card number so they can charge it as many months in a row until you cancel the card. Trust me they will make it impossible for you to get the product back on time. DON'T FALL IN THE TRAP!
I tried the "free" trial and wound up getting burned for $180 by not seeing the fine print about having to call back within 14 days to cancel. It really made me mad. and the worst part was that I didn't lose any weight.
Acai berries are excellent anti oxidants and are good in removing toxins as well. It is very useful hub as well.
i order the acai bery slim last week and it still havent came yet and came to do a research on it and found this site and i hurry up and cancil, and called them and they told me it was too late so i call my bank and change my card over
Totally agree with Andy. You don't need Acai Berry pills or any faddy foods like that. Just have a well balanced diet with plenty of vegetables and some fruit and you'll be fine. If you MUST take a pill, just add a daily multivitamin and mineral tablet.
Don't kid yourself that anything can give fast weight loss and be healthy. The most you can lose healthily is 1 - 1.5 pounds of fat per week. If you're losing more then you're also losing muscle and/or water as well, neither of which is desirable. Exercise will help you keep the muscle and lose the fat but as Andy says you need to make it enjoyable and interesting or you'll most likely fail to keep it up.
It really just comes down to calories in / calories out. A pound of fat contains 3500 calories. So even if you're on a 500 calorie per day defecit you'll still only lose 1 pound of fat per week. It also means that even if you only consume 10 calories a day more than you need you'll gain a pound of fat per year!
Unfortunately gaining weight is very easy and losing weight is very hard. To be successful you need to make a permanent change to your lifestyle and then apply some patience.
I signed TO Acaiberry and their cleanse 14 free trial and is a scam. First of all you receive the product probably 2-3 before you have to cancel the trial if you don't want to be charge, but it doesn't matter the charge you 49.95 for a cross promotion that is never metntion in the first place. Their response when I called in regarding the charge that once I agreed to pay for shipping and handling I was also accepting this charges. When you try to cancel you call qand leave a message they will never call you back to confirm cancellation and the website they gave in the automatic system doesn't even exist. DON'T FALL FOR THIS FREE TRIAL.
I'm no fan of acai and would never actually use it. If someone wants to however, its easy to just buy it on ebay to avoid all the crap that comes after. Just make sure when you buy it off ebay its not from another company offering anything monthly. Don't provide details outside ebay for payment, stick to paypal, that way if anything comes up you can alert paypal and your card company.
At the end of the day, everyone will make it seem to be more than what it is. Its called business. The sole purpose of ANY business is to make money and they will all market it in a way that makes you want to buy it. Tonnes of money is poured into consumer research each year just to know how and why you buy. Don't use a quick fix to get healthy, it won't pay off in the long run.
Stay natural, eat some fruits (5 a day) play some football, basketball, tennis or some sport with friends or family.
If you're a lazy jones buy a wii, get a game for the wii that makes you swing or jump or move in some way.
You need to realise that getting healthy doesn't have to mean going to the gym or using supplements. You can get healthy doing everyday things. its all about how long and hard you make your body work doing everyday things like walking. Most exercise and health regimes fail because people try to break themselves into something they're not use to like using the gym, why learn something new? Just do what you usually do in a way the stimulates, and makes your heart beat faster.
Stay off the pills...regardlesss of the hype or what your partner/friends/family or anyone else say.
I cannot give medical advice. I personally take acai berry supplements, but that is a personal decision. Given you are only 15 and your mom who is a medical professional advises against it, you should listen to her.
Hi, I live in the United Kingdom and I ordered an Acai Berry detox and another dietary supplement called Life Cleanse from http://www.acai-cleanse-detox.com/?kwtoken=Acai-Be
Im 15 and my mum is a nurse and she says they’re not good at all and have life long side effects, im just asking from your point of view should i take them?
Just something I wanted to put out there some companies that offer free trials give you a 30 day supply and you need to cancell withing 14 to 15 days (free trial) some require you to return the unused portion and some don't make sure you read the terms and conditions before placing an order and giving your credit card info. and it helps to give them a call too.
I've been using acaiburn for only a week and a half, and have already felt a difference with my general well being. I moderately work out (3-4x a week) and eat semi-healthy. So far I've lost 4lbs, but have added an additional day of working out to my routine and have cut out soda.
Honestly, the only down fall I've noticed is for a few hours after taking the second pill in the afternoon, there is some (not-so-pleasant-smelling) gas. It has regulated my digestive system though!
So, in conclusion; the acai berry is good for you and corporations are scamming us. Shocking.
i agree that acai fire is a scam but in the same way it is not because on 1 of the free trial sites it clearly states what will happen after you recive the first shipment..you cann go throught your local GNC or drug store and ask them to order you this product, so this way there is no scamming i have used acia fire and it works well and is much healthier than most weightloss/ muscle toners out there..it does work and i feel that you have done a very good job getting the facts and i understand that the scam is bull**** but it really does work..
Good info. At least you obviously understand what you are talking about and are sharing real information which makes a change.
The diet / health food niche on the Internet has now become an online sewer full of, as you say half truths, but even worse than that, downright self serving lies from people who have no idea what they are talking about.
Just yesterday I was looking over Hubpages for the latest tea information, (I happen to know so much about tea it's boring !!), and someone had just published a hub citing academic clinical trials and the usual half baked BS these people scrape from Ezine Articles, and they are calling Oolong a herbal tea! In fact their quote was something like... "Oolong is the least popular of the herbal teas".
The rest of the article just gave out half truths implying cures for diabetes and weight loss which is specifically aimed at misleading people into buying their product. This is wrong on so many levels.
There is nothing on the market which is a miracle cure for old age or losing weight. The problem is actually really simple but people won't admit that it's all because of high fat, fast food and little or no exercise.
I see this with members of my own family who are totally in denial over fast food claiming they don't eat it that often but, in reality their lives revolve around getting in and out of a car and eating at KFC or McD's. Their idea of a home cooked meal is instant noodles with a tin of carrots thrown in. Unfortunately this involves 2 young kids as well so their eating habits are now well established and will keep KFC in profit for the next generation!
The reason for mentioning them is that they are typical of people who are looking for an easy fix for health or weight loss and like millions of others they are pre-disposed to believe the half truths and lies because, it's perceived as being easy.
It is so sad that your first comment is from a 16 year old girl who believes she needs a colon cleanse. What sort of society are we turning into to make a youngster think that way?
Article directories and sites like Hubpages are a breeding ground for mis-information on the Internet, although Hubpages is thankfully better controlled than most, so we have a better chance at good information.
Anyhow, as you can tell I am quite passionate about truth and health and this is just a thank you for some well balanced and factual information.
That is correct wii rationing.
There is a hub that goes over the ordering and cancelling process for several different supplements you may want to check out. You can also get reviews at the websites referenced in this hub.
so... in order that u dont get scammed all u have 2 do is order it then quickly cancel ur newsletter so u dont get charged xtra!?
In all reality the Corporations involved are the scammers. Food can never scam anyone. The purpose of this article is to let people know that the ACAI is a very powerful, and new source of Antioxidants here in the US. Not to put down other berries, but to include a new one. I would say just take the Natural Berry, not the Corporate-Drug.
I have been thinking about giving this stuff a try, but I really don't want to be scammed or take something that is harmful.
I recently started a workout schedule within the last two months and have lost almost 40 pounds from this and a dietary change. I no longer eat foods that contain MSG. Simple as that. I keep my caloric intake below what it takes to maintain my current weight.I am not starving myself at all as I consume food 5 times a day sometimes more lol. I just eat good healthy food.
Just curious if I could really benefit from this stuff or if I should just continue on as is.
I started at 370 lbs and I am now at 326 lbs. Looking to hit 250 lbs with a ripped body eventually.
Buddy
Thanks for all the comments. The one thing I have seen commented on that I would avoid is buying acai berry at stores or buying cheap acai berry supplements. If you want to get the benefits of acai berry, the supplements at your local grocery store usually won't be very high quality.
Also look at actual acai berry content and serving sizes. A $6 bottle of acai berry juice sounds better than a $30 bottle, but if the serving size of the $6 bottle is 8 ounces and the $30 bottle is 1 ounce like Amazon Thunder which I personally use, it is actually more expensive to buy the $6 bottle.
Thanks again for the comments!
I also tried the "free" trial of the Acai capsules, as well as a colon cleanse. I did this for 3 months, then I decided to cancel and I was not charged for future shipments.
I did not lose weight, even though I exercised regularly; and the colon cleanse did nothing for me - I didn't notice a difference at all. Not to say it's a scam, but they didn't do anything for me personally.
' Acai Berry'- After seeing an ad for the 'free trials', I decided to have a look at Holland and Barrett instead.On line,they are offering half price Acai Berry capsules - 120 for £7.49 ,instead of the usual £14.99.Plus £1.99 postage.Got to be worth a try!!
1. Good, unbaised article. States facts.
2. You always have to be careful in everything you do. As the article sez, if you thing things are free, you do not live in reality. They make small print for a reason and you should always ask questions.
3. Everyone should try to live healthier lives.
4. I'll probably give the wonder berry a try for giggles and grins.
I have been taking acai berry supplements from Darvida for 6 months and have noticed a general upturn in my well-being. I already had a BMI of 22 (5ft 7 and 9st 12lb), but have noticed that I appear more toned and my skin is much softer since taking them. Further, if I do any exercise (a rare event) I notice the difference.
I have been drinking the Acai Juice from vitacost.com for several months. It did NOT make me lose weight. The reason I lost weight, 15 lbs., is because I began a Weight Watchers plan and started working out 3 times per week. THAT'S why I lost. Now, for sure, the Acai berry is good for you. Since I've been taking it, my complexion is very clear. My dermatologist told me once that it is a myth that fatty foods and chocolate cause acne problems. But antioxidants CAN boost your ability to fight the acne. I will continue to drink Acai juice.
While blueberries are good, there is scientific data that says that acai berries as well as pomegranates have more antioxidants. This isn't opinion, this is data supported fact.
You can the same or better results from blueberries folks. Don'r buy into the bull of the Acai berry hype.
I'll steer away from all the free trails & just make a one off payment for the product. There are sooo many websites selling acai berry, but this & other reviews really help.
i just signed up to one of those free trials so thanx for the heads up to cancel or be charged!
lifesaver
Great idea on the prepaid card. That way you don't have to worry about being charged if you cancel.
As far as the local health food shop, I would be leary. You never know how long the supplements have been sitting around. If there is dust on the bottle, I would not buy. I personally use Amazon Thunder. They are pure acai berry and about the highest concentration you will find. I have compared so Sambozan (sp?) and for about the same price, they have twice as much acai. They have drink, powder, and capsules. You can learn about Amazon Thunder juices, capsules, and powders at http://www.acai-berry-health-benefits.net/suppleme .
Everything always sounds too good to be true with these FREE trial offers.I agree with annalise and recommend buying the acai berry tablets from your local health food shop. That is what I am going to do.
Will keep you posted on how I go on them.
I try to use prepaid credit cards anytime I haven't heard of the online company before that I am ordering from. Just to be safe.
I ordered Acai x3 about a month ago and I have now lost 15 pounds. I havent been exercising. I sleep wonderful and have plenty of energy that I didnt have before taking them. I would highly recommend this product it is great!!!
THe saying Goes, "If it sounds to good to be true, it probably is."
Why buy from any tv or online company? I went to the local health food store and bought mine. No strings no commitments. Also an herbal colon cleanser can be purchased there as well. Paid less than $15 for both. Still waiting to see how it works.
Those people that promotes them are actually focus more towared your money than your body and health. Get a certified fitness instructor and he will show you the right way.
Funny that you talk about inflammation. I was reading a book by Dr Mehmet Oz a couple months ago and he talks about inflammation being a big problem for your weight. I think it was called "You, The Owners Manual" or something like that.
Come back and let us know how the antioxidant supplements help.
I just purchased two bottles, a couple of days ago. I found them in my local health food store. I don't like those offers that suck you in and then make it difficult to get out without paying and arm and a leg. I actually wanted the antioxidant. I have a theory. Where I see so many people able to diet and loose weight, my ability to do that has lessened more and more over time, until I can loose nothing no matter how little or what diet I go on. I believe my problem and others has to do with inflamation. I'm thinking that inflamation keeps me from losing weight as well as that it is the main cause of disease. Hey, I'm no scientist nor do I have any scientific study to back this up. It's just a theory. I thin the inflamation may also cause cravings that make it so, so difficult to change eating habbits. It truly is (like) being an adict. You can't just stop. Anyway, this seems to be a life long job to figure out.
Thanks for the great article - you did a good job.
I have tried about 5 of the offers to see how they work. Most offers take about 2 weeks to get to you and by then you are already out of the trial period. If you know you are going to cancel either way it is no big deal. If you want to actually try the supplement and maybe continue getting it, this will be hard.
The Acai Burn and Acai Burn Xtreme offers actually give you 2 weeks after you get your sample to decide. The sample usually shows up in less than a week. You can find more information at http://www.squidoo.com/acaiburnreview.
Good luck and make sure you read the fine print.
I'm pretty curious about the buzz and took the free offers as proof of how good acai was. Only then, googling "acai berry scams, I kind saw some light. Oh well, I'll check my things and cancel as soon as possible.
I think I saw a place the actually charge you the first free complimentary after, like, 14 days... Isn't that an outright ripoff?
Anyways, I'l try some, try and feel what it does, cancel the "subscription" and by it in a store :) il I actually find the stuff pertinent
Peace!
Go out for a walk! :)
Sal
PS Thanks for this great page!
While I can't say that I have heard that antioxidants are a cure for any specific disease, I thought they were almost universally accepted as beneficial. It isn't possible to stop the destruction of our cells and not have an associated health benefit so I would have to say that antioxidants are a good thing. If you can get them in high quantities with acai berry supplements I say go for it . . . just be aware of the fine print!
Nicely done hub.
How beneficial are antioxidants showing to be and who or what is behind the studies. What have they cured? Looking for personal testimonies not research.
It seems to me that the word "antioxidants" is attached to products to boost sales as much or more than anything.
I have never heard anyone say, "boy those antioxidants" sure make my herpes go away faster.
In reality, scientific research can be bought which could be a new topic for a hub. I have never seen any results from "antioxidants" in my clients. It is more likely the other components of the foods containing antioxidants that are making people feel better. Good food is good food.
I do like a person who is willing to expose marketing gimmicks!
Super fruit or not, they have tons of antioxidants which have been shown to be very beneficial. It won't let you sit on the couch and eat potato chips and lose weight, but there is way too much evidence to say that antioxidants aren't good for you which means acai berries should be good for you.
The key is making sure you eat well and exercise too. Nothing but maybe gastric bypass will allow you to lose weight without making a commitment to exercise and eat healthy.
Nerver try before but my bro says there is no such thing as super fruit...
As far as cancelling online, Acai Fire has an online system. They give you the web addresses when you sign up. I believe it is acaifire4men.com/contact.php. Several other companies say you can cancel by email, but I don't know if I would trust that. It is better to spend the time on hold and call. For free supplements, I am willing to spend some time on hold. The online cancelling is really nice though.
VanBergen, how did you manage to cancel the trial online?
Thanks again
I didn't have any problems with the free trials. I ordered one called Acai Fire for Men. I was able to cancel my trial online so that was nice.
Some would call it a scam because they also sign up up for a newsletter and an online health service. They are free for 30 days so it isn't a big deal as long as you cancel. If you don't cancel anything, though, the total cost for supplements and 2 memberships was going to be about $100 a month.
One interesting point, when I cancelled, they offered me a discounted rate of $19.37 a month which is actally pretty reasonable. I am going to try a couple other trials then I may come back to this one - at the $19 rate of course.
I don't know, it seems relatively legitimate to me. Just don't forget to cancel!
Ahhh...the Acai Berry debate. You bring up so many good points and the fact is eating natural fruits does provide many benefits. The Acai berry in particular is high in fiber, omega fatty acids, and antioxidants all, as you have said proven to lead to a healthier body. Since I'm a martial arts instructor plus run a fitness camp, I deal with people everyday who ask the same question...how do I lose weight fast? I always tell them diets are fads and it's not until you make a fundamental change in your attitude will you succeed at maintaining a healthy weight.
Thus said, it still doesn't detract from the allure of the potential that pro Acai berry promoters push. My own program director got sucked into a company that sent her the Free product as you stated but consequently refused to stop her charges, even when she asked. She had to force the credit card company to stop it and she's still in the process of recovering the other charges they "illegally" obtained. Stories like this do give Acai berry a bad name even though it was the company that is responsible, nothing to do with the effectiveness of the berry itself. In the end...it's your choice. Just make sure you purchase from a reputable company.
As I said in the article, if you don't cancel, you will be charged. I have tried them and cancelled before the end of trial so I never got charged more. I did the Acai Burn Xtreme offer which is a lot less than $80 if you keep getting it. I think around $50. Still high but definitely worth it if you are getting good results.
On all the sites I have looked at, it is posted on the order page that you must cancel or get more supplements. Granted, it wasn't in big bold writing, but it is there if you look. Like I said, you just need to pay attention and you can get really cheap supplements.
As far as needing to be consumed in 24 hours that is correct, sort of. It has to be consumed or processed or it will spoil. Studies have shown that processed acai berry supplements are absorbed by people and increase the antioxidant levels in their blood.
Thanks for the comments and keep them coming!
First off it is a scam i just got done from calling them. They give you 30 day trial and it gets to you in 4 days and you must cancel order withing 12 days of initial order or you will be chared 80 dollars. I order these for my wife and another one which is a system clean. More than anything they are all money scams. Just be careful people. This things werent posted on site when you pay.
I just come to know from this hub that Acai Berries helps to reduce weight and i will also try it definately.......
thanks for this Hub
The Acai berry story is an interesting one. I started researching this a few weeks back and whilst the berry itself seems to be reasonably good there were just too many scams associated with it.
The berry needs to be consumed (or processed) within 24 hours of harvest which one does have to watch out for. And many companies seem to have made outlandish claims with regard to it.
So I think I will leave it alone for now.
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I do not have a sufficient knowledge about Acai Berries. But i thought you added right information which is true. I also think there are some scams while using Acai Berries. Can you please tell me something more about Acai Berries in details? Thanks again!
I don't know about FDA approved colon cleansers or supplements. I personally don't trust the FDA because they are in the pocket of big business and money talks. When I look for a supplement, I do my own research and come up with my own decision. I do think all natural is the way to go though so I would not recommend putting a bunch of chemicals into your body.
I have heard that a 24 hour juice fast, will do the same thing as an expensive colonic so maybe try that. If you can make fresh vegetable juice, that would be the best. If you are able to try supplements, check out the links section for some resources on inexpensive supplement trials so you can get started without spending a bunch of money.
Good luck and thanks for visiting!
i am 16 and i want to lose weight then work out cuz i am always strayed away to fatty foods hot cheetoes lots of olives dont know if thats good but i wanted this but my mom wont get it and is there any type of colon cleanser that is fda approved
Rupert Beare 4 months ago
Regarding the 'free' trial scam. Yeah, by all means get your delivery of same for $6 or whatever but cancel your card immediately and ask your bank / provider to send you a brand new card. No sweat, they are more than happy to provide a new one at no cost to your good self at all ! In fact they are pleased that you are so security conscious. If everyone did the same the rip-off bastards would be out of business in no time ??