I went online about a month ago looking for some ephedrine which I use to enhance my bodybuilding and weight control practices. I found what I was looking for at www.internationalsupplements.com, and authorized a purchase of $45.90 for a bottle of 'weight loss package' which contained a sizeable, reasonably priced amount of ephedrine. Checking my credit card online a few days later, I saw that I had been charged for the (unauthorized) amount of $140.19. I immediately became suspect and called the credit card company, who made a note of my call, and advised me to first contact the company and try to resolve the issue.
I called the company, and they said the increased charge was because of a routine 'minimum order policy' that applied to all international shipments. He showed me where it did actually mention this in the fine print on an 'about us' page, but my point was that they increased the amount of the charge without my authorization (which seems illegal to me, but...). He suggested that I try the product anyway since it had already been shipped out the day before, and assured me that I would receive a full refund if I didn't like the product.
At this point I am very skeptical, but I saw no harm in trying it. The three bottles of product arrived a few days later (postmarked the same day as the day of the phone call when he told me it was already shipped), and I began taking it. I am reasonably familiar with ephedrine, so I knew what to expect in terms of results, but there were none. So I doubled the dosage (compared to the dose I have usually taken when bought from local sources) for a couple days, and then even quadrupled it for a few days.
On quadruple dosage (which should have been 200mg of ephedrine... Pretty hard to not notice that!), I still saw no expected effects, but I did begin to experience headaches, muscle aches all over my body, as well as stomach aches and a bit of nausea. At that point I concluded that the product did not contain the additives I had paid for, and furthermore because of that fact, the product likely contained nothing useful, and quite possibly could even be harmful, or extremely harmful, which could explain the physical pains and symptoms I had experienced. So I decided to not put anymore in my mouth.
Then I emailed the company and said I had tried their product and now definitely wanted a refund. They became quite defensive and difficult with me, trying to argue semantics and details. I played along for a few rounds of emails for a week, and then finally lost my patience and decided to resolve the issue with my full attention. After a final frustrating phone call in which they suggested that I hadn't given the product a fair chance (yeah right... 200mg of E!), I decided to start investigating them on the internet. (Absolutely shame on me for not making this step #1, but I originally thought I'd just try a bottle for $46).
It didn't take long for me to find that there are dozens of consumer complaints and testimonials surrounding this company (even including comments about death threats). Just google "internationalsupplements.com" or one of the names they use - Michelle Kaplinger - to see for yourself. At that point, I realized I'd get nowhere with them, so I turned back again to my credit card company. They were very helpful, and supportive, and asked me to fill out a dispute form and cancel my credit card, both of which I have done. They told me there is a 95% chance I will get my money back. So now I am done with internationalsupplements.com, and hopefully I will get my $140 back.
Here's the thing. They are charging credit cards for more money than authorized for stuff that isn't what they say it is. There are testimonials around since 2006 that would suggest that this individual or small group of individuals has been successfully deploying this strategy from their home in Las Vegas for years. Either it should get them fined or behind bars, or if people allowed are to do this, then it's what I need to start doing so I can live in a nice big house like them.
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