Business ProfileforDigistore24 Inc

In August 2021, BBB contacted the business regarding its advertising of free trial periods of its products. Consumers that sign up for the free trial period are enrolled in a monthly subscription for additional products. BBB requested the business substantiate that the claims meet the standards outlined in BBB's Code of Advertising (Section 18, Negative Option Plans, Continuity Plans and Automatic Shipments). The Code maintains that "Any advertisement for a product or service that includes an offer to sell or provide consumers with additional goods or services under a negative option feature must include a clear and conspicuous disclosure of all material terms of the negative option feature." Material terms that should be clear and conspicuous include the existence of the negative option feature, the cost of the additional goods or services, how consumers can cancel and avoid future shipments and charges, and how consumers can return items that they do not want. The Code continues that "advertisers must avoid making disclosures that are vague, unnecessarily long or which contain contradictory language."

Additionally, BBB asked the company to substantiate claims made on its website about the efficacy or results of using the company's products. BBB requested the business substantiate the claims per standards outlined in BBB's Code of Advertising (Section 34, Claimed Results). Claims as to efficacy or results which will be obtained by or realized from a particular product should be based on recent and competent scientific or other objective data. Advertisers should be prepared to substantiate such claims.

In Spetember 2021, the business replied to explain they are an online sales platform that offers direct-to-consumer e-commerce retailers an integrated online store to market and sell a wide range of products and services, including digital products, software and electronics, health and beauty products, dietary supplements, home furnishings, and other physical products. One of Digistore24's several dozen clients or vendors is Meticore, who markets and sells a dietary supplement targeted at healthy metabolism support through its website www.meticore.com.

In the past, Meticore sold these products via a one-time purchase option as well as a monthly subscription option. In March 2021, Digistore24 identified that it had received BBB customer complaints (ultimately, seven in total) that concerned Meticore's monthly subscription option. Digistore24 promptly directed Meticore to cease selling on subscription, with Meticore then promptly removing the subscription option in March 2021. Active subscriptions continued. Thereafter, at the end of April 2021, Digistore24 proactively cancelled over 2000 consumer subscriptions for Meticore's products.

If a consumer selected the subscription option, the consumer was informed that he or she would only have to pay shipping and handling to purchase the initial product and thereafter the consumer would receive additional product each and every month at the standard price, unless and until the consumer canceled their subscription. The consumer could cancel their subscription at any time. To obtain a refund of prior charges, Meticore requested that a consumer contact customer support ([email protected]), obtain a tracking number, and return the product.