Business Profile
Online Retailer
PublicGoods.comHeadquarters
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Complaints
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Complaint Details
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Initial Complaint
02/17/2025
- Complaint Type:
- Service or Repair Issues
- Status:
- Answered
I made one order of noodles years ago and was recently contacted by my credit card company to ask if a "membership fee" that was charged by the company was fraud. I said it was and my account was frozen. After a long call with my credit card company they rejected the charge and reactivated my account. I just looked at my account and the company has fraudulently charged me again! I have never signed up for a membership and demand that they refund the payment and cancel any fake membership.Business response
02/18/2025
The customer reached out to our customer service team on Feb 17, 2025, regarding their membership. Our customer service team responded and resolved the concern and explained the charge. Per the customer's request, the account was cancelled and refunded in line with our policy on the same day. The issue has been resolved, and an email was sent out in response.
We do offer a membership which allows us to offer everything at the best, direct-to-consumer prices. We try to be transparent that we are also membership-based company by including the free two-week trial in our cart on first orders, before checkout. Our membership was also indicated on our homepage, FAQ and About Us page.Initial Complaint
02/12/2025
- Complaint Type:
- Product Issues
- Status:
- Answered
Well well well, seems like PublicGoods has a reputation for charging people months after their first purchase without any notice of an active membership, agreed upon membership confirmation, and most importantly a notice in advance of membership charges.Much like their other victims, I bought a cutting board in January 2024 only to be sneakily charged in February 2025 for their stupid annual membership. No it was not a ********************************************************** a charge after said trial ended, it was months later. I suspect they prey upon people forgetting that they were forced into account creation after purchasing. I've even read that someone received a membership signup email after only completing the purchasing form even though they backed away prior to purchasing. My hypothesis: they are capturing any and all information you ever enter on their website regardless of your implicit consent or submission.I have also read another customer's anecdote about cancellation. Even after cancelling your membership and deleting your account information, this company still may force a membership charge or even charge your new credit cards without you updating it on their ********* believe if Public Goods tries any shenanigans I will be visiting your store personally and filing a lawsuit. I regret ever purchasing anything from you guys and not to mention the cutting board was extremely mid. Bought a $31 cutting board to get a surprise $80 membership a year later haha; PublicGoods you are out of your f'ing mind to treat people like this. They claim that the membership is offered in order to provide their customers with great products, even though several retailers big and small do so without such a scummy practice. Yes they resolved the issue, but the immediate refund email tells me they know what they are doing is wrong.BUYER BE WARE (screenshots attached excluding personal info)Business response
02/16/2025
The customer reached out to our customer service team on February 12, 2025, regarding their membership. Our customer service team responded and resolved the concern and explained the charge. Per the customer's request, the account was cancelled and refunded in line with our policy on the same day. The issue has been resolved, and an email was sent out in response.
We do offer a membership which allows us to offer everything at the best, direct-to-consumer prices. We try to be transparent that we are also membership-based company by including the free two-week trial in our cart on first orders, before checkout. Our membership was also indicated on our homepage, FAQ and About Us page.Initial Complaint
02/09/2025
- Complaint Type:
- Product Issues
- Status:
- Answered
Membership charges for membership did not request years after first and only purchase. Billed during holidays so not noticed. No way to remove payment details from website. Did two years in a row (12/2023 and 12/2024).Business response
02/09/2025
The customer reached out to our customer service team today, regarding their membership. Our customer service team responded and resolved the concern and explained the charge. Per the customer's request, the account was cancelled and refunded in line with our policy on the same day. The issue has been resolved, and an email was sent out in response.
We do offer a membership which allows us to offer everything at the best, direct-to-consumer prices. We try to be transparent that we are also membership-based company by including the free two-week trial in our cart on first orders, before checkout. Our membership was also indicated on our homepage, FAQ and About Us page.Initial Complaint
02/08/2025
- Complaint Type:
- Service or Repair Issues
- Status:
- Answered
The company has an extremely shady "membership" practice. Without my knowledge, or in very misleading language upon making a single small purchase on the website they automatically sign you up for their 80$ dollar a year membership. I made one small purchase with the company a few years ago, and come to find out they have been charging me the past few years. Luckly I found out this year because my creditcard expired and they sent an email for me to "update my payment method" Their practice needs to be looked at closelyBusiness response
02/09/2025
The customer reached out to our customer service team on February 8, 2025, regarding their membership. Our customer service team responded and resolved the concern and explained the attempted charge. Per the customer's request, the account was cancelled; no refund needed as the payment failed. The issue has been resolved, and an email was sent out in response.
We do offer a membership which allows us to offer everything at the best, direct-to-consumer prices. We try to be transparent that we are also membership-based company by including the free two-week trial in our cart on first orders, before checkout. Our membership was also indicated on our homepage, FAQ and About Us page.Initial Complaint
01/10/2025
- Complaint Type:
- Service or Repair Issues
- Status:
- Unanswered
PublicGoods.com "Public Goods" brand Glass Microwave Popcorn Popper. Bought 12/11/2024. Reported to customer service 12/19/2024. It goes in the microwave, so I assumed the glass was good quality. They advertise microwave safe. It is NOT. The handle gets way too hot. Public Goods customer service suggested I should be using oven mitts to take it out of the microwave. I told them that it is not microwave safe then. All I want is to return this product. They refuse to accept my return. They say that the only way I can return is if the product was defective. I explained to them that means that either a) they sold me a defective product or b) they are knowingly selling an unsafe product.Initial Complaint
01/03/2025
- Complaint Type:
- Service or Repair Issues
- Status:
- Resolved
Last year they billed me for membership and I canceled, and they are now trying to bill my card again this year.I went to log into their site and used the forgot password link which is not working. I used this site once to buy noodles two years ago and want nothing to do with them all I want is my 79 dollars back.Customer response
01/03/2025
Better Business Bureau:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me and the matter has been resolved.
Sincerely,
******* ******
Initial Complaint
12/04/2024
- Complaint Type:
- Product Issues
- Status:
- Unanswered
We bought noodles from Public Goods on August 10th 2023 and I was never aware that apparently in the fine print they said we signed up for a membership. One year and two weeks later my debit card was charged for $79.00 without warning. I contacted my bank as I thought this was fraud only to find out that Public Goods has been doing this to many other customers and they won't refund my money. It is incredibly scary that they can do this and I had NO IDEA that they had my information and the ability to do this without my knowing ANYTHING about this. I would like them to CANCEL my "Membership" and refund my $79.00.Initial Complaint
11/21/2024
- Complaint Type:
- Product Issues
- Status:
- Answered
I purchased some product from public goods company several years back, one time purchase. A couple years ago, I noticed on my credit card that public goods charged a membership fee of $79 that I did not sign up for and disputed through the credit card company and replaced my credit card with new number. However, the public goods somehow charged a fee of $79 to my new account. I do not know how they found the new credit card numbers to charge against. These fraudulent charges without consent need to be stopped.Business response
11/22/2024
The customer reached out to our customer service team on November 20, 2024, regarding their membership. Our customer service team responded and resolved the concern and explained the charge. Per the customer's request, the account was cancelled and refunded on the same day. The issue has been resolved and an email was sent out in response.
We do require a membership to have access to our products, as this is what allows us to offer everything at the best, direct-to-consumer prices. We try to be transparent that we are a membership-based company by including the free two-week trial in our cart on first orders, before checkout. Our membership was also indicated on our homepage, FAQ and About Us page.Initial Complaint
10/28/2024
- Complaint Type:
- Product Issues
- Status:
- Answered
On September 20, 2023, I made a purchase from Public Goods for $26.90, order number ******. Without my knowledge or consent, I was enrolled in a membership and subsequently charged $79 on October 4, 2023, and again on October 4, 2024. I did not authorize these charges, nor did I use any of the membership benefits. When I reached out to Public Goods, they refunded the 2024 charge but refused to refund the 2023 charge. I had no intention of signing up for a membership, and the automatic enrollment was not clearly disclosed during my purchase. I believe these charges were unauthorized and deceptive, as I did not consent to a membership and have not made any further purchases or used their services. More than 200 consumers have faced similar issues, and submitted complains on BBB, with some successfully obtaining refunds after filing complaints with the BBB. I am requesting a full refund for the 2023 charge, as I feel this situation was handled unfairly, and the business practices are deceptive. I hope to resolve this matter without needing to escalate it further.Business response
12/24/2024
The customer reached out to our customer service team on, insert 24/10/2024, regarding their membership. Our customer service team responded and resolved the concern and explained the charge. Per the customer's request, the account was cancelled and refunded on the same day in accordance with our cancelation policy. The issue has been resolved, and an email was sent out in response.
We do require a membership to have access to our products, as this is what allows us to offer everything at the best, direct-to-consumer prices. We try to be transparent that we are a membership-based company by including the free two-week trial in our cart on first orders, before checkout. Our membership was also indicated on our homepage, FAQ and About Us page.Initial Complaint
08/13/2024
- Complaint Type:
- Product Issues
- Status:
- Answered
I bought from public goods company several years back. It was a one time purchase. I did not realize what I made the purchase and fine print. I had a 14 day trial membership and I did not notice in the fine print after the trial notice there would be a $79 annual membership fee. This has been going on for several years and I just caught it on July 23, 2024 for a billing charge on June 22, 2024. I sent an email to the company canceling my membership and requested a refund for the June 22, 2024 billing. The company acknowledged receiving my cancellation by email but has not refunded the $79 to the credit card company. I am using with them. I called the credit card company that public goods has the card number for and I requested a new credit card number so next year when they build, it will bounce back like a rubber ball .Business response
08/13/2024
As of this date, there are no records of this customer contacting our customer service team from the email address provided. The team will always be happy to assist and resolve these types of issues once the customer reaches out.
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BBB Rating & Accreditation
This business is not BBB Accredited
Customer Reviews are not used in the calculation of BBB Rating
Customer Complaints Summary
170 total complaints in the last 3 years.
29 complaints closed in the last 12 months.
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