Beware of Snuggie Checks!
Ever wonder why “As Seen on TV” products can be sold so cheap? Usually it’s because they are not only selling a product, for storing/selling the customer information as well. I recently received a check in the mail from Snuggie. Now, Snuggie has been all over the place. I actually bought one of these a while back… and even promoted the Snuggie affiliate program and made some sales. I get checks from different places all the time, so when I first saw a check from Snuggie, I figured it was from some affiliate sales or something… then I looked at it a bit closer.
As you can see, at first glance it looks like a regular check. Outside of being an affiliate marketer, and having promote the offer… I would have found it weird to just get a random check from Snuggie out of no where. However, with economic times the way they are, I’m sure a ton of these are getting deposited.
Now lets take a look at the back of the check, where you have to sign before cashing it in.
You know something is wrong when there is a big disclaimer/agreement on the back of a check… but then again, not all people are that bright. Not to mention how some people will cash the check, then say they will cancel within the 30 day trial… and never do. All for a lousy $8.25.
So once you sign the check, you are signed up to some crappy “Great Fun” credit card program that ends up costing you $149 annually! This is like taking weight loss / biz opp offers to a new level. I signed up to these “Great Fun” offers a while back when I got a free plasma TV for completing offers. In most cases… they suck to cancel, and it isn’t a fun process. The best part is at the end, ” I authorize Snuggie to securely transfer my credit card information to Great Fun for enrollment, billing and benefit processing“. This clearly tells you Snuggie is dealing you info and profiting from it. Nothing wrong with that… but a sleazy way to do business. Lots of seniors will probably get suckered into this scheme.
More than anything else… I thought this was pretty interesting and humorous. I’ve received fake “checks” like this from other places in the mail before, but this is the first that was affiliate offer related and made me want to write about it. With so many As Seen on TV offers being promoted, I wonder how many of these checks are being sent out, and for how many different products.
Did you buy a Snuggie and receive your check? What are your thoughts on this whole thing?
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These deceptive marketing tactics need to be stopped by the government. I know its up to the consumer to read the fine print, but this is just BS.
I got this too a couple weeks ago. Very shady indeed! It's a great example of why you should use temporary cc#'s from you credit card company if they offer them.
Wow that is some dirty biz.
Dude, this happens to me all the time with travel deals. Well, it happened twice to me, same company. You thought I'd learned after the first time. Although I didn't get charged 149, it was more like a monthly rebill, and then I just cancelled my cart, and complained to my bank. I never got a refund, but with these situations, canceling your card is the best way out of it. Or just tell your bank it was some fraud transaction. (In a way it was)
I've received promotional checks before, but this is the first I've heard of them used in this manner. Thanks for the heads up- definitely not worth it to make $8 and end up spending $125.
I've received similar checks in the mail. Disgusting and misleading. I've received similar offers from a bank and insurance company. It looks like you're depositing a check, but then the fine print says it's for joining another program that I'll get charged for. Just food for the shredder.
The sad thing is your right…due to the poor economic times, most people probably are going to cash these checks (even though it's only $8), and once they do, they will be in an even worse financial position then before.
But hopefully they will do their their due diligence just as you have done, and will realize that the $8 is definitely not worth it!
I hate those checks that come in the mail with the additional programs you get enrolled in after signing. I remember the long distance companies sending them all the time back in 90s. And now credit card companies like to send them out for some kind of card protection that is a complete waste.
great article. were you wearing your snuggie while you wrote it? 🙂
Devious in deed!
You seem the same dbag add ons at ProFlowers and other online merchants where they offer you a discount coupon for your next visit but the fine print enrolls you in a membership rewards program for $25 a month.
Amazing they are cracking down on rebills but this stuff rolls on untouched.
Must be the season. I just got one yesterday from Little Explorers. Now i have bought from them before, so i thought this was a check for a rebate or something I had shipped back to them. . The envelope even said "Check enclosed" so that's what i figured rebate/refund check coming to me.. Then, I looked at the fine print – yep -autobill into some monthly insurance plan..F'in ridiculous.
I've seen some direct mail offers exactly like this. It should be illegal.
I'm both shocked and outraged! I can't believe someone would try to fool consumers, and then rebill them! Golly, no affiliate marketer I know would do such a thing!
Scamming people is one of the best ways to build a strong brand.
From now on I am not going to buy from one of those home tV shopping.
@Ridiculous blogger:
I've seen them in Bed, Bath and Beyond, too (and in a variety of color choices). I do like the Snuggies, but not this particular marketing campaign.
Hello Zac
This is very interesting! I get these types of 'checks' as well. Are you still trying to cancel "Great Fun"?
hanji
Recently someone with BIG name in the affiliate marketing did this to me, he offered me to test his "TOOLS" for $3.95 for a month and if l wish to continue with them they will charge monthly fee at a discounted price of $49.95 per month.
I used my credit card and paid $3.95 for testing the tools, I signed up just to see how the system works, i thought they would ask me whether i want to continue with their affiliate tools or not after this one month of testing period is over, but i was wrong…
without intimating me they deduct the fee amount of $49.95 from my credit card for next month and did not bother even to inform me about this.
When i contacted their support staff they told me that while singing up for testing the tool i also checked somewhere that i agree to continue using their tools in future also.
I mean this is ridiculous , What do you mean by "TESTING PERIOD" and how could I agree for continuing with the system specially when i am singing it for "TESTING PURPOSE". I have never seen such dirty tactics of snatching money by auto debiting one's credit card credentials.
I am requesting all you guys here, if you receive any such mail from that FAT BALD affiliate marketer to test his TOOLS at very low price please sign up carefully and see you are not authorizing them while singing up to deduct full fee amount in next month.
Shanker Bakshi
this is not good . we need to beware from something like this
Fortunately, I never got any check from them.
I stay away from these type of schemes. I know I received 4.00 dollar checks in the mail for some company I knew nothing about. What makes since to you? No one is going to give you free money. Tempting, but not reality.
That is just nasty. Many people will not turn that "cheque" around, and will only pick this error up on their credit card statements months later. It is the sort of tactics that really doesn't lead to good relationship building. Unfortunately most credit card offers count on this kind of tactic, so refrain from buying in unless you're going to mange your cancellations effectively.
I probably would have fallen for this one. Good eye.
That's deceiving of them to do it, I bet they knew you were an affiliate too. But the more sad part is that I bet alot of people do fall for this trap and wind up cashing the check 🙁
Till then,
Jean
I never did trust Snuggies with their cult like appearance. This is a very smart scam on their part, but obviously only good for a 1 hit wonder product like this. I bet close to half of those checks get cashed.
Majority of people don't read terms and conditions or find print and that is why they get scammed. It is always wise to read the fine print.
I get angry with such types of marketing techniques. I am sure many people will not even bother to look at the back or even read. They will just cash it and then say: “hey how am i being charged $149?” The bottomline is: it’s crucial to read stuffs like that which come from nowhere.
@Shanker Bakshi:That just sucks! I wonder who this naughty marketer could be? Perhaps sombody who hides his money in his shoe? Heheheheh…..the bottom line is to be extremely careful with your credit card details online, and to carefully scrutinize your credit card statements too. Sometimes months go by before you realize that you actually had to opt out manually, and there is no refunds!
This is very sneaky and should be reported to trading standards i think!
I doubt many people are reading the back of the check.
I just got an email from a friend showing this exact deal, creative but very very crappy.. I wonder how many poor or elderly these people have taken advantage of.. sad for sure
Noteable article. Forunately i havn't received such email. But anyone can get trapped with such email especially aged and needy.
I never received such a check, but that is really bad. Im sure many people don't read the back of the check and they just submit it.
I am amazed that this isn't illegal.
It's cowardice to advertise what the service is using a legitimate check as the cover. No return address on an envelope containing a check?
THIS IS AN INSULTING SCAM!!!
Goes to show that we should read closely and between the lines in any transaction or get really burned.
Companies attempts to scam people continue to get more pathetic. I agree appalled, how can this not be illegal. There will be many stupid people to fall for this as well, what a shame.
Problems are not only bad checks, but bad companies… I just had a very bad experience with a hosting company, 2ip, and I finally understood how important is to work with a solid company!
Scamming people is one of the best ways to build a strong brand.