Passport To Fun And Shopping Essentials Potpourri Group Inc. Hidding unwanted treasures of ordering online. Chelmsford MA

Since you are an employee of this company I was wondering if you could help me out.  I ordered from Pyramid Collections ,which is a company of Potpourri Group, 3 dresses.  They shipped my order and when I got it they only shipped 2 of the dresses.  It wouldn't have been a big deal if the dresses weren't for my bridesmaids.  I am in love with this dress and want my bridesmaids to wear them.  Pyramid Collection never notified me that they were no longer available. I just got my order and had to call them.  I called and asked if there was anyway that they could get another one in the size I needed and they said no they stopped doing business with that vendor.  I asked for the vendor information and they wouldn't give it to me.  If they have stopped doing business with them what is the harm in giving me the information so that I can get the dress that I want.  I have searched and searched the internet and found many vendors of the Potpourri Group but have not found the one I need.  The dress is the Turqouise Beaded Dress Item # P9698.  If you can please let me know who the vendor is I would greatly appreciate it!!!!

OK, so I work for Potpourri Group Inc. whom sells Shopping Essentials (a.k.a Passport To Fun). The deal with Potpourri Group Inc. is a customer may try Shopping Essentials FREE, RISK-FREE, for 30 days. If a customer accepts the offer they recieve information on the check rebate ($20). Easy. $20 check for just listening to some under-paid Contact Center Rep spewl some information. After the "ACCEPT", the customer recieves a packet in the mail (pretty giant packet too, you cant miss it) within 3-7 buisness days. We give multiple oppourtunities for the customer to understand what they are getting in to. At the end of our spewl we give them a Phone Numer and website address, that same number is even in the giant packet the customer would get. We continuely tell the customer (and its also in the packet) that they must call before the 30-days are up or they will get charged, even if one "forgets" to call Shopping Essentials, they will still give you back one months charge as long as you call within that second month.

In addition, the program is simply good in itself (I get it for free), I can order gift-cards from like Circuit City and crap and recieve 20% back. So if I ordered a $100 gift-card for a family member this X-mas, I get $20 back. I have already paid for the one-month service in that one transaction.

If you order by internet, yes, the box is already checked (as all other websites already have checked boxes also) because MOST customers choose to order the service, its more for convinience.

If you order by mail you are not offered the program.

If you order by phone, the Contact Center Rep gives multiple oppourtunities for the customer to decline. Many. More than we should as we are timed on our calls.

At least the lesson is learned with the OP, read everything. Do you skim over a credit card contract? No, I dont believe so.

Once again, you have 30-days to cancel, EVEN IF YOU CANCEL, you get to keep and redeem the rebate check. Who gets paid $20 for 15 mintues worth of work?

They hide it behind surveys, offer of money off your current order or very small print with PRE-CHECKED check boxes. The pre-checked check boxes are easy to overlook - so you do have to be super vigilante when internet shopping. Pre-checking the box is to ensure people are unknowingly signing up for them. If they really only want voluntary sign ups, they would not employ the pre-checked boxes at all

Opting out is no guarantee that you will not be signed up anyway.

Your credit card company can also be pushing these by sending checks for about $10.00 - cash the check - you get signed up. NOT CASHING THE CHECK - they still sign you up. I never cash those checks and I was signed up anyway.

No one wants these worthless membership programs, so they resort to offers intended to lure you in and hope you do not notice the program is included whether you like it or not.

You did the right thing in contacting the internet vendor and complaining.

NOW FILE COMPLAINTS WITH THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION, The FTC has already fined Trilegiant (Parent company of both programs) over $14 Million and they were ordered to make restitution of over $25 million to consumers they have already ripped off! Did not stop them from continuing the hidden sign ups

Do not make up complaints that are not warranted. Everything was explained at the end of your order. Either you were not satisfied with Shopping Essentials and decided to vent your anger out or you "accidently" ordered the service.