The TV ad on 12/31/07 said "Buy one, get one free - and as an added bonus we'll add the shears, all for only $10 plus 7.95 shipping". I entered the order online and received confirmation that the mdse would be received in 4-6 weeks. On 3/4/08 I called to cancel but was told "the order shipped yesterday". The charges were deducted from my checking account on 3/5/08 for $51.80. When I called the customer service number for an explanation I was told I ordered TWO (with 2 free), and shipping was $7.95 EACH - so the merchandise was $20, but shipping was $31.80. I told "Kami" I would return the shipment unopened and expected a full refund. She said they'd refund $20. Then a circular arrived from Bed Bath & Beyond, which sells this item for $9.99.

The shipment arrived today. It was a small bubble-wrap lined envelope sent through USPS parcel post, weighed 3 ounces, and clearly didn't contain 6 pieces of merchandise.

From the number of complaints on several complaint boards it's apparent the scam is consistent for all merchandise offered: inflated shipping charges, shipping as soon as cancellation is requested, and an outsourced customer service group facilitating from scripts as co-conspirators. The amount of the total sales are just small enough that many who are burned just throw up their hands and don't complain, so they continue on their merry way.

But how many hundreds or thousands are losing $10, 20, $30 or more?

I just got off the phone with the supposed Customer Service for Samurai Shark. I say supposed because when I called in to lodge a complaint and asked for the address to send a written complaint to they told me they were a 3rd party and that they did not have an email or postal address to write or anything else of use. I find this absolutely mind boggling. Unfortunately, I did not read the postings about what a scam samurai sharks were ahead of time. I purchased 3 Samurai Sharks which were $10 each. Although the website mentions the $7.95 extra for Processing (not Postage) and Handling, nowhere does it clearly state that they will charge $7.95 for every item they throw in the box, 8 of which were FREE! This came to a total of $30.00 for merchandise actually purchased, and this by the way, is all the credit card states, with a P&H charge of $55.65. So, for a product that I probably didn't need, and arrived 2 months after I ordered it, I paid almost twice the price for P&H which was not explained in a lucid manner upfront. Now, I would like to file a BBB complaint and cannot even find a state, much less an address to use to file the complaint. NEVER EVER do business with these people. If anyone knows an address to use to file with the BBB, please post it. Thank you.

I called the phone number on the Samurai Shark television commercial to find out what the total cost would be. I followed the steps in their automated phone system menu, and it stated that my total cost would be ~$40.00. Their television commercial stated a price of ~$10.00. I did not place an order, and hung up the phone. A couple weeks later I received 2 Samurai Sharks. I called their phone number, and a rep told me that I did order them, and that I could return them, but I would have to forfeit their shipping and handling charges of ~$15.00.

I think it's time for a class action suit against this unethical company. I see false advertising and false order creation.

Darren McMahon,
Plant City, FL.