While watching TV the other night, MrConsumer saw a tiny disclosure at the end of a baby products commercial for The Honest Company. (That’s really their name.) It went by so quickly, and was so small and faint in color, it was very hard to read:
Click ad to see commercial.
Here is what it says about their “free” trial.
*MOUSE PRINT:
*Only $5.95 for shipping and handling. You’ll be automatically enrolled in our monthly service. Cancel the service at anytime.
Their website gives more details.
*MOUSE PRINT:
*With your Discovery Kit, you’ll be enrolled as a member of The Honest Company. You have 7 days following receipt of your Discovery Kit to cancel your membership at any time, for any reason. We will remind you about your membership options. If you choose to not cancel, you’ll be charged $79.95 /month for the Diapers & Wipes Bundle, $35.95/month for the Essentials Bundle, or $39.95/month for your Health & Wellness Bundle (plus shipping & handling).
Basically, this company founded by actress Jessica Alba offers (among other things) a book-of-the-month-type service for baby supplies, shampoo and detergent, and vitamins. You will keep getting automatic deliveries every month, starting after seven days following receipt of your samples unless you cancel.
While their website makes clear that this is a monthly plan with monthly charges for these packages of goods, why do their TV commercials hide that fact particularly when they call themselves The Honest Company? Their television ad also seems to run counter to what their statement of principles claims:
Create a Culture of Honesty
We are serious about honesty – both as it applies to the integrity of our relationships and in being true to you. And, it’s a standard we encourage throughout our staff, stakeholders, and customers. But, that’s just the beginning. In all we do, we want to make each day a little more fulfilling, inspired, and downright better.
Mouse Print* asked the company twice to comment about their use of such a small disclosure and on this seeming contradiction of their corporate philosophy. We are still waiting for their response and will post it here… honestly.
And she is going to make a fortune from this.
You’ll get an answer about the time the next ice age rolls around. This has become so common with buying crap that appears discounted – the automatic enrollment in something totally overpriced. The opt out and automatic are buried.
I seem to have noticed a number of TV commercials in the last couple of weeks that include automatic enrollments, but you really have to look closely.
I will never sign up for something with automatic enrollment. I would immediately demand that my credit information be removed if I have to. If someone offers you a free trial they shouldn’t need to know any information about credit cards because you haven’t agreed to pay anything yet.
Please people, do not sign up for things with automatic enrollment unless you are confident the goods are worth the cost. Why not just buy baby supplies as they are needed? It’s not like baby supplies are in limited supply and this company isn’t giving a discount.
I would also avoid doing business with a company named “The Honest Company”.
Well they have the right idea. If they never say anything at all, they will be the most honest company in the world. But it is bad enough the print is small. It’s a light colored font on a white background. That’s a double whammy.But they are still honest. Also a little tricky, but still honest! Of course is there anything that might tip you off when it says “Free trial”. Translated loosely this means, “Watch out!”. I still remember receiving a “free” can of moist snuff when I was 13. I had to check off a box stating that I was not a minor. So easy and it was free. I estimate that “free” can cost me about $16000 over the next 31 years until I finally broke free of that addiction. But everyone likes free don’t we!
And, they only give you 7 days to cancel after receipt of your ‘free’ sample. Do they have tracking numbers and can actually tell when it was delivered? That would mean that you have to start using their product immediately in order to decide if you like it. Is this like some of the other free offers? “CreditReport.com” rings a bell. One of the hardest ‘free’ offers to cancel.
As Tim mentioned, light font on a white background. Sure sounds like they are hitting the letter of the law, not the spirit of the law. I haven’t seen the commercial so I can only guess that it is not shown for very long. Kind of like the paragraph that the automakers present when talking about a lease…
Honestly, Edgar, you’re not going to get a response.
They are too busy suing anyone else with the word “Honest” in their name to be concerned about your inquiry.