Information and Alerts

Ad Review

BBB promotes truth in advertising by contacting advertisers whose claims conflict with the BBB Code of Advertising. BBB asks advertisers to prove their claims, change ads to make offers clearer to consumers, and remove misleading or deceptive statements. 

On June 3, 2019, BBB requested the company to substantiate or modify the following claim(s) found on the company’s website, in accordance with the BBB Code of Advertising: 

A pattern of complaints alleges Slim Select does not uphold the “100% Money Back Guarantee” as advertised. Also, there is confusion on how consumers can qualify for the guarantee as no details are disclosed in the advertising. Section 20 (Warranties and Guarantees) of the BBB Code of Advertising explains that “satisfaction guarantee”, “money back guarantee”, “free trial offer”, or similar representations in advertising should only be used “if the seller or manufacturer refunds the full purchase price of the advertised product or service at the consumer's request.” Also, 20.3 states, “when ‘satisfaction guarantee’ or similar representations are used in advertising, any material limitations or conditions that apply to the guarantee must be clearly and conspicuously disclosed”.

In addition, the company advertises several health-related claims associated with their product. 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 or service should be based on recent and competent scientific or other objective data. Advertisers should be prepared to substantiate such claims.

Furthermore, BBB received complaints alleging enrollment in the company’s auto-ship program without their consent. Slim Select advertises free trial offers for its products. Consumers that sign up for the free trial period are enrolled in a monthly subscription for additional products but are not aware of the automatic membership program due to the lack of a clear and conspicuous disclosure of the process. Section 18, (Negative Option Plans, Continuity Plans and Automatic Shipments) in the BBB Code of Advertising 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 prior to a consumer providing personal information, and 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. 

Slim Select also references positive customer reviews in their advertising. After further investigation, BBB determined the same reviews were found on other websites belonging to similar companies in the industry. According to the FTC and Section 30 (Testimonials And Endorsements) in the BBB Code of Advertising, advertising that uses testimonials or endorsements must be honest and not misleading. BBB requested documentation supporting the authenticity of the reviews.

As of August 2, 2019, the business has not responded to BBB’s request for substantiation or modified the advertising.

BBB encourages businesses in any industry to employ to BBB’s Code of Advertising as a standard, and consumers to do some research, such as checking with BBB, before doing any business.