Leyna Evf
map-marker Greenville, South Carolina

Optimacigs....Unethical & Dishonest Company

I ordered Optimacigs under their Free Trial advertisement. I received the initial "starter kit" and I paid the asking price. I was then charged $119.00 and NEVER received the follow up shipment....I spoke with company representatives several times over the course of 2 month's. They asked me to send back the starter kit and gave me an RMA number for a refund of the $119.00. I did that. I received delivery confirmation that they did indeed receive it. After several hours spent over the course of time, trying to secure my refund, they assured me that it would be processed within 7-14 days. That was 2 month's ago and I still do not have my product OR my money. Buyer's beware. This is not a reputable company. Very dishonest and unethical.
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Loss:
$119
Anonymous
map-marker Blaine, Minnesota

FRAUD - Charged account WITHOUT authorization!

I bought the $4.95 trial and refused all other offers yet Optima charged my account $117 WITHOUT authorization! I never contacted Optima nor authorized any purchases outside of the $4.95 offer. A couple weeks later the company charged my account. I have to go to the bank to straighten this out and my account will be on hold for 10 days. Way to go Optima - you are quite the unethical company and I will shout it to the world. I hope everyone reads this and runs from your company and you go under. You will be investigated by Wells Fargo and others.
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Loss:
$117
1 comment
Guest

Thankfully, my credit card provider was on the ball and called me to verify this before processing it. I have to destroy my card, and wait for a new one to be issued.

Aalayah Pql

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ

Verified Reviewer
| map-marker San Francisco, California

DO NOT FALL FOR THE FREE TRIAL

So I seen the "free trial" offer somewhere online and decided hey, why not try it? I had submitted my free trial order and literally MINUTES after I had, I decided to cancel. I called their customer service and got someone pretty quickly over the phone. He asked for my order#, name/info and why I was cancelling. After a few minutes of this, he told me that he'd cancelled it. No cancellation# or anything, just his word. After a week of checking my bank account, I had not seen a reversal of the charges. I said okay, let me give them one more week. TODAY was the 13th day since I had ordered/cancelled and guess what I've just received in the mail? The supposedly cancelled order! I've sent them an email already and I've been on hold with them for the past 20 minutes with the message "Your estimated wait time is less than two minutes" repeating over and over again. I abhor shady companies like this. I've only lost the $4.95 for shipping SO FAR but who knows if they're going to charge me the $116.00 in a few days.
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Loss:
$5
Anonymous

E-Cig Free Trial Scam

Their clearly illegal advertising completely fails to inform the victim of the obligations incurred at the time of acceptance of this "trial offer". You are told you are being charged $4.95 for shipping and handling. You are emailed an invoice for $0 for "Optima Basic Starter Kit Trial" and $4.95 for "Shipping & Handling". You are not told you will later be charged $30 for the starter kit plus $80 more for your next automatic refill order of replacement cartridges you didn't know you signed up for, which show up about a week after the starter kit, when your 15-day trial period is up because the starter kit took a week to ship and the cartridges somehow get there in 2 days and your trial period starts "when it ships". To see the terms of the offer, you must click a very tiny "terms" link you can barely see at the very dark bottom of the page. Their "Money-Back Guarantee", which you can read at optimacigs.com, states "If for any reason you are not satisfied with your purchase, we offer a 100% Money Back Guarantee on any product (except unsealed cartridges). For a full refund of the purchase price, minus the shipping and handling charges you must return your item within 30 days of delivery." But if you call for an RMA you're told you can't return cartridges. You see, they don't seal them when they're packaged, so they're "unsealed cartridges" and clearly not covered under the guarantee, even though you didn't unseal anything. Everything about this offer is intended to deceive. This is in clear violation of FTC rule 251.1(c), which you can read at ftc.gov. "When making ``Free'' or similar offers all the terms, conditions and obligations upon which receipt and retention of the ``Free'' item are contingent should be set forth clearly and conspicuously at the outset of the offer so as to leave no reasonable probability that the terms of the offer might be misunderstood." I'm stopping by here on my way to the FTC, my State Attorney General's Office, & the BBB websites, and then in the morning I'm calling my elected representatives to complain about these scammers.
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Loss:
$117
1 comment
Guest

I have the very same complaint. The $4.95 "SPECIAL," is very deceptive.

People don't realize they are agreeing to subscribe and will be subsequently sent (WITHOUT NOTICE) cartridge refills, etc. and their bank accounts drafted. I was overdrawn one day only to find out a shipment, that i had not ordered, and was not expecting, had been shipped out to me, and that my account had already been drafted.

This costed me a 35 dollar overdraft charge from my bank, in addition to the hassle of returning the product AT MY EXPENSE! I do not wish to do business with this company.

Esco Yqk
map-marker Myakka City, Florida

Optima deal

In looking at all the complaints that people have had with the company, I too have had some of the same issues except. I calle about the over charging and was refunded the $70.00 like most. They also sent me 10 free cartriges. The next thing was the battery failed and they replaced it and was recived in 6 days. Now 6 months latter, I have bought several 20 packs at 39.99 and have had a usb and several more batterys fail and have recived the FREE replacements. I checking over 10 other companys no on offers free replacement on all parts with no time limit. Yes ther customer service was bad and there shipping was worst, but like any company that is starting out and growing it takes time to work thing out. I will stay with them as they have been way over the top in taking care of all my problems. And by the way you can refill the cartridges and I use wicket e-liquid. I use and refill the units 4 times and them just get new ones. The old saying people will work with you ONLY if you try to work with them I guess you can play being the victim as its sad but in todays world its everyone else fault for everthing, but never your fault.
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Anonymous
map-marker Parsippany, New Jersey

Optimacigs $4.95 trial is a scam

I ordered the trial kit of 5 electronic cigarettes for $4.95 in February 2013. Nothing in the fine print indicated any other obligation. In March 2013, I received 20 more cigarettes. I called and cancelled all future orders, and obtained an RMA (returned materials authorization) number. As instructed, I put the RMA number on the outside mailing label. I also wrapped the two packages together and put on another label with the RMA number on it. This was mailed March 16, 2013. I called on April 5, 2013 and spoke to Tekina. She wanted to know if I had a tracking number from the post office. Unfortunately, my post office receipt was misplaced. I told her I had an RMA number. She said she would "escalate" my refund with "them", which would put it on the "fast track". I heard nothing until April 25, 2013, so I called again. I spoke to Lewis, who said there was no record of the "escalation", and the items were not back in inventory. He did not hold out any hope of resolving this. I have written to my credit card company to reverse the charges on my credit card. When you call Optimacigs, they are very interested to know whether you have a tracking number or not. I believe this is because they are trying to avoid federal mail fraud charges. If you do not have a tracking number, they will stonewall you.
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Loss:
$122
2 comments
Guest

I posted the above. Here's an update:I did three things.1.

Initiated a chargeback with my credit card company.2. Reported Optima Cigs to the Federal Trade Commission3. Reported Optima Cigs to the Better Business Bureau of Southeast Florida & the Caribbean.Things started to happen.The credit card company opened a dispute with Optima cigs.Optima responded to the BBB, and they refunded all my money (except for the return shipping, which I had not requested). They made it sound like they were doing me a favor, and that i was somewhat unreasonable.

They blamed a software issue in which returned items didn't "show in their system". But the best part was, I got the contact info for the person who responded to the BBB. Here it is for all of you. I do urge you to report them to the FTC and the BBB first, both are very easy to do online.You may reach me by email at k.ganning@***.com or by telephone at (877) 634-**** or by fax at (888) 796-****, Monday through Friday, 9AM to 5PM.

Thank you, K. Ganning Supervisor, Consumer Relations Contract Services for Optima Cigs

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-651482

Don't know why an emoticon is concealing a digit of the fax number above, but it is:

(888) 796-****

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Anonymous
map-marker Houston, Texas

Free trial offer 4.95 billed additional 116.93

Fell for this scam on a free trial offer of $4.95 but billed an additional 116.93 for replacements which I did not order, there is a "small print notification" that if you do not cancel you will be charged for the replacement. Called by credit card co to cancel. Optima states they will cancel the billing (less shipping charges) when I return the replacements. I will be out the shipping charges and what it cost me to ship the product back if I ever get the replacement that shipped. ANOTHER SCAM BE CAREFUL BEFORE GIVING OUT YOUR CREDIT CARD INFORMATION TO THIS COMPANY.
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Loss:
$117
2 comments
Guest

Shipping charges? What shipping charges?

Their web site says free shipping.

Contact your card issuer and file a fraud complaint. Then contact your state attorney general and file a fraud complaint.

Guest

same got ripped off im so upset

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Dalana Caf

Ms

Updated by user Mar 31, 2013

after filing with the B.B.B. and a month long battle, the company returned my money. it was a constant battle with them!

Original review Feb 28, 2013
www.scambook.com/report/view/211440/Optima-Cigs-Co here are just a few of the complaints lookand see.....Very misleading company. Sells you a starter kit for $4.95 and then charges you $116.00 without warning for automatic refill. If you return the refills they only credit you $79. The company optima cigs charged my account before the 14 day free trial was over and then placed me on hold,so I guess they can say one thing and do another. It should be against the law to mislead people like that I wouldnt be surprise if later they ... Ordered sample of OPTIOMA electronic cigarettes for only shipping and handling of $3.95. Used my debit card and my bank account showed a Deduction of $116.93 on 02/14/13 listing thatEVERSMOKE had taken the money from my account. Eversmoke denied
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1 comment
Lenette Wzd

This so-called company should be put out of business for their shady scam on people . they have $116.93 charged to my account that they WILL NOT credit back to me so I am going to report them to FTC & FCC & ALL other agencies that I possibly can . They will not get away with this !!

Anonymous
map-marker San Francisco, California

Optima cig scam

I had the exact same experience as the others. I bought a trial kit for $4.95 and have received products I never ordered and additional charges of $116.93 and $86.94. I am sending back the products and disputing charges with my credit card company. I did call the company and they gave me an RMA number and asked me to include number with my returns and they would refund me 79.99. They claimed there was fine print somewhere that allowed them to charge me if I did not cancel. I asked for them to let me know where that fine print was and its exact word and she sreplied that she had no idea. I read everything carefully before I order anything online, so if there was some fine print, it was well hidden.
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Loss:
$204
Nayelis Lnz
map-marker Monroe, Michigan

Scam for 117 dollars from handicapped husband

he received the 14 day trial; was only 6 days actually; the 2 days after shipment; got charged the full amount for $116.94 and since 2-4-13 until recent 3-29-13 no result of money returned; talked to 5 different people for money returning; keep getting run around and someone says they are looking into it; was supposed to get return of money back at end of february; nothing yet; been almost 2 months now of promise something done; this company refuses to send refund; we even sent product back with tracking number and it was received on february 25th and no reimbursement for that neither was 17 dollars in postage also grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
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Loss:
$117
Anonymous

Don't fall for it

I got mine today. I followed the link off my local news website. I did not like the way it taste and saw where it was going to charge me $116. after trial. I called to cancel (sat on hold for a hour and 20 mins ...the girl told me I have to return it or I would be charged $19.99? No where in the terms and conditioners or on the website does it say I will be charged if I cancel before trial. It said risk free trial. I wish I would have found this page sooner.Guess I will go to bank and cancel my card. So far only out $4.99
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Loss:
$5
Anonymous
map-marker Norwalk, Connecticut

I'M ANOTHER SUCKER WHO FELL FOR THIS SCAM!

Optimacigs - E-Cig Free Trial Scam Optimacigs 3690 NW 53rd Street Suite 108 3**** Tamarac FL 1 85* 285 **** Company Optimacigs Category Advertisments and Cons Monetary Loss I fell for the $4.95 free trial.I contacted Optima Cigs after they took $116.93 out of my bank account for replenishment cartridges. "FREE 14 DAY TRIAL is a rip-off!" She said, the information was in the fine print". ! They are a huge scam and now I'm stuck with a $116".93 charge on my card for a product that I'm not even using!STAY AWAY FROM THIS COMPANY!
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Loss:
$117
Dalana Caf
map-marker Marshfield, Wisconsin

Ms.

so...this is the worst company ever! i have filed a complaint with the B.B.B they did the same thing to me...no warning, pulled 116.93 from my checking account! BUYER BEWARE!!!!! this is the worst place of "BUSINESS" i have EVER dealt with in my life. i noticed my bank account with a pending withdrawl... and they claimed that my order was in process and could not do anything. on top of that i should pay the return shipping. on the web site it states 100% satisfaction....PLEASE the are going to ripe off as many people as they can!
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Loss:
$117
Anonymous
map-marker Johnson City, New York

Laura

This company is a total rip off. They took 116.00 out of my account without permission then charged me 3.95 for a phone call to complain. Am still trying to get my money back. They lie and steal your money and talk all kins of ***. They said it would take 24 to 36 hrs to get money back in my account when I called, but no refund yet, just a charge for the service call. No supervisors available to talk to me. They said it was a 5.95 trial but that is just the beginning. They suck....
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Loss:
$120
Anonymous
map-marker Los Angeles, California

E-Cig Free Trial Scam

I fell for the $4.95 free trial. I contacted Optima Cigs and was put on hold for over 15 minutes. When I finally talked to a customer service rep, I told her that I did not have 14 days for the free trial and why did they charge my account for replenishment cartridges (which I still do not have in my possession). She researched my account and said the 14 day free trial starts when the product ships! I told her that I didn't even receive the starter pack until around the 14th of January - Today is the 22nd - they charged my card on the 19th so I had exactly 5 days as my "FREE 14 DAY TRIAL!" She even confirmed that the delivery of the starter kit was on the 14th of January. I told her so you have proof that I didn't receive it until the 14th and your company still charged my card within the supposed 14 day trial. She said, the information was in the fine print. I told her that yes, I read the fine print and the fine print also stated I had a 14 day free trial not a 5 day free trial! They are a huge scam and now I'm stuck with a $116.93 charge on my card for a product that I'm not even using! STAY AWAY FROM THIS COMPANY!
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Loss:
$117
32 comments
Guest

I returned (3) packages totaling $ 240.00 on November 7, 2013. To date I never received a refund.

I didn't realize it until I came across copy of the letter that I had enclosed with the cartridges.

However, I will contact my credit card company to inquire whether or not I have any recourse.

I will never order any merchandise that advertises free trial. This is the second time that I have been taken with these scams and I think I've learned my lesson.

Guest

Same thing happened to me but the immediately put seventy something back in my account. So, I get a shipment of cartriges everyother month at 40.00.

Since Im a member every problem Ive had from loosing the cig. Itself. They replaced it free.

So, so far its worked out well.

We stopped smokeing in our house bc we had a new grandbaby and I use the ecig in the house.

Resturaunts etc. The only place you really cant is in government bldgs.

Its amazing how having a little patients and to treat others like you want to be treated will help you.

Satisfied Customer

Guest

I was a victim of the "bait and switch" scam as well.I contacted Optima,returned two packages and waited for my credit card to be refunded.2 months went by without a refund so I complained to Visa.I got my refund but 6 months later they charged me $94. Because they claimed I only returned one of the packages they sent.I had a UPS receipt so they couldn't say they didn't receive anything although I returned both packages in one large envelope.The point is this: I returned their stuff and they still lied about not receiving it!This company has no shame and should be closed down!

Guest

Why not contact your credit card company. If you are not satisfied they will cancel the transaction and take the charge off of your bill.

Most CC companies do not accept the fine print excuse from businesses. They will take the money back from the store/company and the store can't really do anything about it. This is where the fine print works in your favor. When they agree to accept credit cards(especially Master Card Visa and AMEX) for retail sales they have terms and agreements that the seller must agree to or they can't accept credit cards.

There are longer and better explanations of this but the moral of this story is that if the credit card holder is not satisfied the cc company will remove the charge in most cases. You have nothing to lose but time to make a phone call to your cc company. I think you have a very good chance by doing so. I speak from experience.

This is biggest reason car dealerships won't take credit cards to buy a new or used car or use them for a down payment. You can buy accessories and warranties as long as it is done so in a separate transaction and or bill of sale.

Again I speak from very strong and long time experience when speaking about Cars and credit card policy. :)

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-753369

i had same scam but lost charger in move so really sunk. if you want to sell or trade for cartridges that would be great.

ruonst@***.com.

Guest

I TOO AM A VICTIM OF THIS HUGE FRAUD. BELIEVING IN THEIR "FREE TRIAL OFFER" I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GET ANYONE ON THE PHONE TO RESPOND TO ME AND TO THIS DATE THEY HAVE TAKEN $661.52 FROM MY ACCOUNT.

MY BANK IS INVESTIGATING AS WELL AS BETTER BUSINESS BUR. BUT I AM STILL OUT THIS MONEY.

WATCH OUT FOR THE FINE PRINT!! DO NOT FALL FOR THIS SCAM.

Guest

I love their product. I ordered through groupon, so they don't have any of my numbers.

I will get a cash visa with the amount I want to spend to order more. they have helped me so much. I don't even want another cigarette.

I hope they get it together. :)

Guest

I got mine using the Groupon. Not signed up for anything or have to pay any extra fees.

I love it so far! Best electronic cigarette that I've used yet.

Guest

The groupon works bought mine 1 week ago and got it today

Guest

Watch out!! They now have a Groupon going on as of today!!

I looked into it before purchasing and now I am very glad I did!

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