Gourmet Cooking DS12, 7850 Ruffner Ave., Van Nuys CA 91406 Extreme Scam Artists! Do not fall into their trap like I did. Van Nuys California

I responded to an e-mail.  Gourmet Cooking was offering several items (herb seeds, cook books, etc.) at very (I thought) reasonable prices - cheap even!  As I went thru their pages choosing the items I wanted - all were $1 or $2 items - I figured I had racked up about $25.00.  

When I got the box and went thru the items, I was very disappointed in the shoddiness and cheapness of the items.  A packet of chive seeds with three seeds in it!  Sheeeeesh!  Everything was like that.  

When the bill for $83.55 showed up on my credit card, I was astonished, but I figured, well lesson learned.  I immediately called and cancelled the account.  I talked with a lady named Brandy and she said she cancelled my account but said nothing about any other charges.

Then a second charge for $83.55 showed up on my card and I again called the number on their literature.  After a couple of transfers, I finally got to talk to someone at Gourmet Cooking who explained to me that since it was more than 60 days since I ordered, I could not get any refunds and would have to pay the entire charge of $400+ at the rate of $83.55 a month.  

I was initially shocked by the $400 amount - I thought the lady (Samantha) was joking.  And she kept repeating that since it had been more than 60 days since my order, they would not refund any money.  I explained that the first charge didn't show up until after 60 days - but she was adamant.

She said if I wanted to return things, they would give me a store credit which I could use to buy other things on their website.  Why on earth would I want to do that?

I blame myself for not checking reviews before I ordered - for not calling them the minute the box of crap arrived, and for not reading all the fine print.  My bad!  But I do firmly believe this is a major scam and it looks like they've dinged many other people.  And judging from what I read in other reviews, it may be cheaper in the long run to go ahead and pay the rest of the $400 instead of sending things back and paying their restocking (?) fee.  Plus I don't want a store credit for their website.