Brazil Botanicals identifies shifty advertising schemes on the internet used for Acai and other super juice products

December 22, 2009 (PRLEAP.COM) Lifestyle News
St. George, Utah. - Dr. Tim Hollingshead of Brazil Botanicals has noticed a recent trend among some online retailers to bait consumers with low-priced nutrition products but after the shipping cost is calculated in the shopping cart the prices aren't so low after all. This padding technique is most commonly employed by internet marketing companies looking to sell inferior products. These companies resort to deceptive practices such as this to grab a consumer's attention and take their money before the consumer can realize what has happened.

Take for example a current internet deal with a brand of Acai for sale by a major nutritional company for only $9.98 that normally retails for $29.95 that is a 70% price reduction. Then they add another $12.00 to $15.00 shipping and handling resulting in a final cost of $23.00 to $25.00. Compare that to a company that sells the same size bottle for $18.95 and gives the shipping and handling for free. At first most, consumers only see the $9.98 price vs. the $18.95 and immediately believe the lower price to be better. But with just a little homework and math you can find the real bargain with the $18.95 product with free shipping.

Also take note that some companies willing to deceive the consumer on pricing most likely will have no qualms to use inferior ingredients. The really sad thing about this other than the obvious deception is that these companies ruin consumers trust. Many consumers who fall for these tactics unfortunately also endure the bad taste of the inferior product. These companies tend to push sales while playing the odds to capture a one-time sale as opposed to developing loyal customers. They know if they spend X number of dollars on deceptive ads promising low prices that they will capture more sales.

How can a consumer know which companies are legitimate and which ones to stay away from? A first clue should be the price. If a company offers a sale price that is more than 50% below their retail price you can know two things; #1 the product was never worth the original retail price and #2 the product is made with inferior ingredients. Then look for the shipping and handling costs. Some companies hide it until after a purchase. Consumers should not buy anything if they cannot see what the shipping and handling fees will be before purchasing. With a little extra effort a consumer can find the real deals and best values without sacrificing quality or taste.

For the latest information on internet scams, please visit:

http://www.fbi.gov/cyberinvest/escams.htm