(GettyImages-185098355)
An online company that told consumers it would turn their jewelry into cash allegedly failed to honor promises, according to complaints filed with the Better Business Bureau serving Metropolitan New York.
Worthyfew, which is F rated by the Metro New York BBB® as of July 24, 2023, has received 35 consumer complaints since February 2023, as well as five BBB Scam Tracker reports, and additional complaints that appear to refer to Worthyfew continue to be received. Seven customers have also left reviews of the business on its BBB Profile, each describing a negative experience with Worthyfew and rating it one out of five stars.
“Whether there is an opportunity or the necessity to make some extra cash, offers like this can be tempting,” said Claire Rosenzweig, President and CEO of the Metro New York BBB. “However, if you don’t check on the company’s track record beforehand, you could end up in a frustrating and harmful situation.”
According to Worthyfew’s website, the company accepts customers’ jewelry through the mail and provides a free appraisal service. Customers reportedly believe they then have the option to decline Worthyfew’s offer to purchase their jewelry and choose to have their items returned.
However, many complainants told the Metro New York BBB they were not sent written offers for their jewelry but instead received checks that significantly undervalued the items they submitted or never received a check at all. Those complainants were reportedly unable to reach Worthyfew to return their checks in exchange for their items. In a few cases, complainants were allegedly told that the items they submitted to Worthyfew were counterfeit and had been destroyed “by law.”
According to a Metro New York BBB advertising review completed on April 11, 2023, Worthyfew failed to substantiate or modify several claims on its website following BBB requests sent on March 13 and March 23, 2023. Details about the ad claims in question, which BBB found to violate its Code of Advertising, are available on Worthyfew’s BBB Business Profile.
Consumers can visit BBB.org to submit complaints and reviews, check out a business, learn more about scams, and find additional consumer tips. Additionally, consumers can report scams to BBB.org/ScamTracker.
