Directecig Misleading Advertising Naples, Florida

On January 18,2011 I reviewed an online advertisement by Directecig.com, for an electronic cig to try for free for 30 days; I just had to pay for the shipping and handling of $4.95 USD. The journalist used in the advirtisement spoke of how she used this electronic cig to quit smoking.

So, I clicked on the trial offer and was immediately taken to an order page; NOT the directecig.com page.

Six days later, on January 24, 2011 I received the starter kit by FedEx.

On February 4, 2011, I receive an email stating my order is being shipped. The email reads:

PLEASE MAKE SURE WE ARE SHIPPING YOU THE CORRECT ITEM! We are shipping you:

Intro Offer First Ship Cartridges MRL 4 mg

I thought I had already received the "Intro Offer"...so, I contacted customer service of Directecig.com on Feb. 4, 2011 at approximately 10 am CST. I spoke with a representative, Nicole who informed me that this was not a mistake, that I had been shipped the automatic shipment that proceeds the 14 day "trial offer".

My complaint here is as follows;

I was mislead by the advertisement that I had 30 days to try this product. I was automatically directed to a payment screen from the advertisement. I was not given the "fineprint" found on their website, explaining that after a 14 day period from initial shipment; in my case this was Jan. 18, 2011, that I would be billed for $59.99 USD for an additional 30 day supply until I canceled my order.

Most legitimate companies contact the consumer prior to the end of the trial period to inquire into the consumers satisfaction of said product and give the consumer the option of canceling or continuing with order.

This Directecig is obviously a scam business operating on the desperate states of consumers wishing to cessate smoking.

In my opinion, if they were a legitimate, reputablecompany, a representative would have contacted me by email or phone (which they obtainfrom the first order), to discuss our future relationship, giving me, the consumer the option of continuing or canceling the order.

I would recommend researching this company prior to initializing a business contract with them; read the "fineprint" on their Terms and Conditions page of their website. Read under the Sub-heading Product Return.

I realize there is a lot of legal disclosures on this website. This should be taken as a "red flag" to consumers. These people are scam artists.

Do the research, don't be taken in by false advertising, as I was.