Do a Google search of Smart Subs Fraud and you'll find many negative reviews.
Smart Subs is a drop-shipper - when you place your order, they then order your item from another retailer, typically an Amazon seller, then it comes from that source. So they have no control over when it actually ships and there are often problems with this step - delayed orders, shipped to billing address, etc... And if there are problems, you'll have a hard time getting someone to answer their phone or return your message left. If you do reach a live person they will basically just tell you anything to placate you and keep you from canceling. Keep in mind you cannot order more than one item at a time from Smart Subs - each order comes with its own free trial and can't be shipped together because they don't come from the same source.
The subscription offer is really not hard to handle. The companies they deal with all allow you to cancel the free subscriptions - it's just a hassle to deal with. Since the companies expect a lot of cancellations, the process of canceling was easy in my case and in others I've read about.
I had no problem with receiving my item in a timely fashion - the #1 complaint I've read about. The problem came when I had to return the item because it didn't work consistently - this was a cable modem. The website doesn't allow you to get an RMA and you have to call to get a return authorized. I got through to a live person without problem (apparently a rare occurrence) and he did send the email promised with a shipping label. I simply boxed it up, applied the label and took to Post Office - the label included prepayment. The label doesn't send the item back to Smart Subs of course, but to the original Amazon retailer and their name is coded so you don't see it. I used the tracking info online but was surprised that no progress was shown - it just says when the item was picked up for delivery.
And I wait. A month passes and no credit on my card - which I finally notice. So I call and again get right to a live person - which seemed normal to me as I hadn't researched company. The person tells me that they're very sorry about the delayed credit but they had changed credit card processors and that 'somehow' my credit had dropped out of the system. He promises to send a check right away and confirms my mailing address.
The statement about the cc processing change rang some 'scam alert' bells for me and I finally looked up the company's reputation. Oh man oh man - not good at all. You can read many poor reviews about them - mixed in with a few 5-star obviously shill reviews. Most had problems with receiving their order - it comes very slowly, never arrives or is eventually canceled before being shipped. Clearly some folks had a lot of trouble ever talking to a live person at Smart Subs. I actually didn't find anyone who had tried to return an item but what I read was enough to worry me.
So I kept a close eye out for this check they promised to send. Nothing. I wasn't too surprised about this - mainly due to the suspicious 'you dropped out of the system' type answer they gave about my credit charge. After a month, I contacted my credit card company and filed online for a dispute - giving all the details: dates of each contact, names and promises. I was very surprised to get my credit within 24 hours - I guess they know all about the problems with Smart Subs and didn't even bother to contact them for an explanation. This to me really seals the bad rep the company has.
So... Conclusions! If you want to actually receive the product you order, don't get it from Smart Subs. And if you anticipate being able to return it or deal with Customer Service - think again.
Pay the market price and save yourself a lot of hassles!
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