One of my goals during my recent vacation to Las Vegas was to attend a timeshare presentation. Somehow, during all my years on this earth, I’ve avoided being to one – and yet I’m extremely curious to experience firsthand the extremely oppressive sales tactics I’ve read about. Alas, even though we stayed at the Tahiti Village resort for several days, I didn’t have the opportunity to do it.
Walking by the Oro Gold cosmetics store at the Rio Hotel was almost as good – I got to experience the high pressure sales tactics and, as I was waiting for my husband to finish with something, not really waste time at all. And lord, are those sales tactics hard.
It all started when I walked by the Oro Gold store. A metrosexual looking guy with a hard Israeli accent stopped me to offer me a sample. He then somehow engaged me – I forget exactly what he said – and brought me into the store. He had me sit down and he proceeded to apply some sort of eye cream under my eyes. The eye cream was supposed to be for wrinkles, but I guess I didn’t have enough for him to fuzz about, so instead he talked about collagen and puffiness and so forth. My eyes were pretty puffy, I must admit, as I’d only gotten a few hours of sleep the night before and before I left that morning I’d gotten some sunscreen into my eye, so my eyes had been watering for half an hour.
The cream worked. After I used it my eyes were less puffy and looked better – or at least that’s what my daughters and my husband said. The latter never notices anything, so the difference must have been noticeable. That said, this is supposed to be a cream to use once a week, so I’m not sure why immediate concealing effects would be relevant.
He also asked me how old I was – I imagine meaning to tell me that this product would make me look younger. And while I think I look exactly my age, he may have thought I looked younger as he was pretty much silent when I said I was 43.
I guess I didn’t look convinced enough so he moved on to the next product, an exfoliating solution which he put on my underarm and then rubbed off taking a lot of my dead skin with it. Once again I had to admit that it worked, my arm was much softer and, actually, I think it still is. So he’s probably right that I need to exfoliate.
Then the sale pressure started. He asked me if I liked them or I loved them, and I didn’t know how to respond as I was pretty indifferent to the products. He also kept extolling the fact that they were 100% organic, but looking at the ingredients which included various chemicals, I didn’t think that could be the case. He hurried to move on with his spiel to stop me from looking carefully.
And then the sales tactics started. I knew the products would be expensive so I wasn’t surprised when he threw figures in the hundreds of dollars. He kept making different combinations of products and offering them to me at different prices (all in the hundreds), throwing extras, etc. I told him they were good, but I didn’t have my credit card so I couldn’t buy them. Still, he went on to show me on the computer how much they sold for so I’d see what a bargain they were. Of course, I didn’t believe for a second that those were the real prices.
I told him several times that I’d think about it and then come back. Finally he accepted I wasn’t buying and he sarcastically said “you’ll think about it” and pushed me (I don’t think literally, but it felt like it) out of the store.
I have to say that I totally understand how people succumb to these sale practices. Even though I wasn’t really interested in the products, and I knew this was a scam, after he had done something for me (spend time, made one eye look better), it was hard to say “no”. Indeed, I was happy I didn’t have my credit card with me as there was no way I could say “yes” even if I wanted to.
After I came home I read about Oro Gold and found that the products get high ratings on Amazon.com, but they also are sold for much less money (update, Oro Gold seems to have managed to get Amazon to pull lower-priced Oro Gold products, you still can save by buying on e-bay, there is no indication that anyone is actually making forgeries of the product). I’m never going to spend $75 on a 2 oz Collagen Renewal Cream, but it’s still better than the $248 it sells for on their website or whatever amount it sells for at their stores. I also read about the high-pressure sales tactics at other stores, and the fact that sales associates tell customers they can return the products within 14 days, but the receipts are stamped to say “no returns”. Given that you don’t get a receipt until /after/ you’ve made the purchase, that is very deceitful (and probably unenforceable, but really, who is going to sue?).
My advise would be to not buy Oro Gold cosmetics. Even if they work well, a company that intimidates customers and lies to them should not be rewarded. I’m sure there are many very good cosmetics out there. I’ve been using Avon Anew series and they’re much cheaper and I think quite good.
—
Dec. 4, 2012. Update.
I’ve done some more looking into Oro Gold Cosmetics, and it appears to be an offshoot (perhaps even a shell company) of the “Dead Sea Cosmetics” businesses that have been under investigation by the US and other governments, as revealed by a cable from the American Embassy in Tel Aviv released by Wikileaks.
These companies recruit young Israelis who have just finished their military service. They send them to America (and other countries) on tourist visas, put them up in apartments (for which they charge room and board) and set them to work on their stores and kiosks on a commission basis. I think this explains why the sales people are so aggressive and manipulative, and so willing to lie to customers. After a few months, the employees go back to Israel.
In addition to scamming consumers and exploiting workers, these companies seem to also be involved in organized crime, including drug trafficking and money laundering.
Here is an interesting article about how these kiosks work in England.
But it gets even more interesting than that. I decided to take a look at the ingredients for the peeling product that the salesman had applied to me. While I couldn’t find the ingredient list at the Oro Gold website, others listed water and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as the two main ingredients. It’s been a long time since High School chemistry, but Wikipedia was helpful enough to explain that PVA is used mostly for its film-forming and adhesive qualities. In other words, it’s a glue. A quick search for PVA and glue, quickly confirmed that PVA is the main ingredient in household glue.
Do you remember what happens when you get some glue on your skin and let it dry? Come on, give it a try and then rub it off! Yep, the glue you rub off looks very much like skin and your actual skin feels much smoother and softer. Their $100 peeling gel is just a trick.
It would appear that Oro Gold is not just literally scummy, but also scammy.
—
Dec. 15th update
I found a New York Times article about the lack of benefits of gold in cosmetics. It’s worth a read.
Also, apparently the Oro Gold peel does not contain PVA (or does no longer – see comments below). Instead it contains carboner, a thickener, which when combined with cetrimonium chloride and rubbed on the skin, forms white beads. The colorant in the product (which is not present in other Oro Gold products) is probably meant to make these look like skin. This combination does help remove dead skin, but then again, so does glue.
—
Jan. 22 update
Last week I had a long phone conversation with Judy White, the Costumer Service Manager with Mazal Enterprises, the company behind OroGold. This is what I learned from the conversation:
– Mazal Enterprises is the manufacturer and distributor of a number of different beauty lines, including OroGold, HerStyler, VineVera, Lionesse and Vivo Per Lei among others.
– They are a private, family-owned company and they are not related to Death Sea Cosmetics or another company.
– They have both company-owned stores and licensee stores. I think she said there were 200 stores world wide, but she couldn’t tell me which proportion was each or which companies were running stores with the Oro Gold name. She did say that their licensees agree to only do business with their company. But not knowing who the licensees are, it’s impossible to know if they might be the same people connected with the “Dead Sea cosmetic mafia”, to give it a name 🙂
– She blamed all the bad customer service to licensees who were not doing their job correctly She says they have been closing down kiosks (which she claims have never been operated by Mazel) as well as OroGold stores that have caused problems. She said all stores in Vegas have been closed down.
– She said they don’t have any stores in the Philippines. If there is a store there, they don’t know about it.
– She says they are trying hard to deal with the customer service problems in the company by making all their stores company-run. But she claimed that took time.
– She says that she will be happy to send a refund to anyone who contacts her. Her e-mail is judy@mazalent.com
Unfortunately, there were other things she couldn’t explain:
– How is it that OroGold sales people throughout the world use the exact same selling techniques, and how come those techniques are the same ones used by Dead Sea Cosmetics and other companies. She tried to argue that it had to do with individual sales people getting over enthusiastic, but couldn’t explain why they would all say the same things, show the same products, down to the same trick of folding the receipt so people can’t tell the products cannot be returned.
– She couldn’t explain why so many people throughout the world have reported that OroGold sales people are Israeli (or otherwise have an accent that might indicate that they’re from Israel).
– She couldn’t explain /why/ the chain had a “no returns” policy on unopened products. She brought up having bought some make up at Nordstroms – I imagine to make the point that she wouldn’t be able to return it – and was surprised when I told her Nordstroms would be more than happy to take it back.
As Judy kept emphasizing that the company wanted to change its image, but that would take time, I mentioned that they could eliminate most complaints if they accepted returns on unopened products (she says they will take back open products if they cause an allergic reaction). After all, the biggest complaints are that people feel ripped off. Accept returns and that goes away. She seemed to get the idea and said she’d bring up to her superiors. Personally, I think that the whole hard sale/overprice/lying/no-refunds method is the intentional modus operandi of Mazal, but she genuinely seemed to be unaware of that. Meanwhile, however, if you want a refund do e-mail her (and then let me know if you’ve gotten it).
May 2013 update
Despite Judy’s promises, as detailed above, comments below indicate that she has not been responsive to e-mails and has not offered refunds to those who’ve gotten a hold of her on the phone. She has not responded to my own e-mail either.
Clearly, Judy’s phone calls were just an attempt to damage control – but a half-hearted one. Perhaps she thought that sending me $500 worth of products (which equaled all of 3) would buy me off. If so, no such luck for her. Most likely, she wasn’t “in” on the scam – she probably honestly thought the company was trying to re-invent itself. She did sound very naive on the phone. You can continue writing to her, and if you do succeed in getting a refund by all means comment and say so, but don’t keep your hopes up.
If you’ve been scammed out of a lot of money by Oro Gold, this is what I suggest you do (again, no guarantees).
– Many local TV channels have consumer reporters. Contact all the TV channels in your area (if you live somewhat near to the Oro Gold store) and ask the reporters to cover the story. I, personally, think it would make great TV.
– If the Oro Gold store you shopped at is in a large city, check if there is a consumers’ affairs department at City Hall, a deputy City Attorney that handles consumer issues or a people’s ombudsman. If so, ask them for help. If that’s not available to you, check to see if there is a national consumers’ office (sometimes it’s part of the national ombudsman or national human rights commission) or contact your City Council or state representatives. Also contact your national and state’s attorney general.
– If neither option helps, perhaps a little self-help will. Write a story about your experiences and submit it to your local paper. The freebies, in particular, appreciate free content. If there is an AOL Patch in your city or a blog that covers news, submit it there as well.
– “Like” and “share” this blog post on Facebook and Twitter. The more attention they get for their slimy sales tactics, the more likely they are to stop. Or at least give you a refund.
– Check what the laws are regarding product returns in your state or country. They do vary. In California, where I live, for example, if products are not returnable, the retailer has to place a conspicuous sign explaining that. Oro Gold is trying to get around this by claiming that their products cannot be resold due to health considerations, but I personally don’t buy it, in particular if the product is still shrink wrapped. If your state or country has a similar law, you may want to go to the store at a time when the original salesperson is not present, or send someone over, and take pictures of any area where a “no returns sign” could be placed. This is because some people have claimed that when they complain, suddenly a “no return sign” appears out of nowhere. If they have violated this law, you could at least take them to small claims court (if available in your jurisdiction). Or you can just the photos to illustrate your story.
– Also check what the audio recording laws are in your state or country. In some places, you only need the consent of one party for a face-to-face recording. If that’s the case where where you shop, you may want to send a friend with a hidden recording device (e.g. a cell phone) so that you can get the whole “Oro Gold” treatment on video/audio. Make sure that your friend asks them whether the products are returnable. It’s often a game of “she says, he says” with Oro Gold. Assuming it’s legal in your state to do it, you can upload the video to YouTube. Definitely let me know about that if you do it.
Yeah the SCAM product ORO GOLD is spread out here in the philippines.
I am posting this reply at the top of these comments and again at the end. My sister was also scammed by these folks. She reported it to American Express and one of the reasons they denied her claim was that “they had not received any complaints on this vendor”. They go by so many names that this is not surprising…. But please, everyone who feels they have been ripped off, report it to your credit card company. Some people are writing “they didn’t MAKE you buy the product, so take some responsibility”…. This is not always the case…. My sister was convinced to get extras and multiples for heavy discounts (still a LOT of money” under the guise that if she buys everything now she can save a ton and if for any reason she changed her mind, she could just return them. I wouldn’t have but she did. The first product irritated her face terribly so she tried to return the rest right away. The “lovely” salesperson from less than one week prior looked her square in the eye, said “no returns” and denied ever offering same. DISGUSTING!!!!!
Oro gold, Vera skin products Customers beware of kiosk and store salespeople who do not understand the word “no” and do not plan to obey the laws of the state and United States. Returns/Refunds – non-existing, high-pressure sales tactics, rambling conversations in heavy foreign language (Italian). Products lines of $20,000.00. It has caused so much duress for me and time trying to get this resolved. Complaints to store mall, attorney general’s office, disputes with credit card company, Now threats of legal action against me. If they have a good product, then why are they doing such high pressure and “switch and bait” sales tactics. They will never stay in business this way. Advice to get out of this mess.
Marilyn, they are evil. I was also threatened by legal action. Look at the labelling. Do you see a USA address? Or where it is manufactured? If not, you can complain to the FDA. My credit card company is now doing a fraud investigation. The owner of the shop, Tresor Rare (aka Oro gold) is owned by an Italian, and the sales reps both Israelis, were from California. They scammed me, but I am fighting back.
I was recently scammed when visiting in San Diego and I am looking for support with how to handle this situation. I would greatly appreciate any advice.
Did you ever get your money back? They scammed me too. The store was closed after a few months I make a big purchase. Something that I have not even receive the products.
Try to call the home office and the mall, no one can help.
Did you ever get your money back? This Orogold store scammed me too. The store was closed after a few months I make a big purchase.
No notice ever given!!!
And they never deliver the products. I have not even receive respond/ the products as of now.
Try to call the home office and the mall, no one can help.
I plan to take the legal action gor this company
My wife and I are vacationing and passed by the Orogold store ,someone on the outside door lured us in with a freebie and we went inside.
We ended up purchasing a treatment package for $450.
Upon getting back to our hotel room I googled the product and saw multiple postings about it a scam.
Because of the concerns raised we went back to the store just a few minutes ago to return the product.
I was expecting to run into a problem since multiple posters had indicated that they would not take the product back.
When we went back to the store they promptly called the manager ,spoke in anothe language (Hebrew , I think ) and told him a customer wanted a refund. He came to the store and instead of him giving us a difficult time he was extremely friendly and cooperative.
He offered us a cold drink and told my wife to keep some of the product in the bag…
We are both pleasantly surprised and are questioning our decision to return the product. By the way there was nothing posted about whether the product works or not but many thought that they were not honest. We did not find that to be the case but returned the product because of the blogs…
Only you can judge weather a product works or not and what you mean my working. A lot of Oro Gold products have silicones. Silicones can help fill lines and wrinkles and give you a smoother look. However, they don’t help heal your skin and they can clog your pores, so make sure you wash your face well and use an AHA/BHA toner.
I work in a mall where there is a Oro Gold store. I was appalled and sickened today when a senior, approx in her 80’s & using a walker, came in to my store in a fluster, asking if there was a pay phone anywhere in the mall. Apparently she had purchased from Oro Gold yesterday and her daughter in law had told her to return it. She went on to say her purchase cost $1,000. and she still owes $2,000. She had been to the store to make the refund, and was given a phone number of a person she had to call about making a refund, even though her receipt said there could be a refund made within 30 days. I let her use my phone, she called her daughter in law, who instructed her to go back there and call her from there. If they refused the refund, the daughter in law was going to come in to deal with them. I learned from a co worker that Oro Gold had also pressured a high priced purchase from a foreign exchange student. Our store contacted mall customer service who immediately went to the store with the senior and got her refund. I dont know how or if this product works.
There are NO miracles to ageing. There is not a senior on this planet that NEEDS to spend $3,000. on skin care products. I would advise anyone to be very, very cautious with these high pressure sales tactics..and warn your seniors, and more vulnerable persons about getting sucked in to this scam. So totally upset about seeing this poor senior taken in by this crap!!
These are Israeli spies who were thrown out of the US after 911. Here is an Fox News report on these spies. Watch for yourself…
https://youtu.be/LbkQddEDPs0
yes indeed orogold cosmetics here at philippines is full of lies,this company must stop they are all cheater,the product is good but the price is so annoying.
Im the latest victim i guess. I thought the facial treatment is included in my purchased of a very expensive product. It turned out its not, that i have to purchased other things worth thousands of pesos. The amount is as much as a downpayment for a new car. Thank God my 2 credit cards didn’t work for the other purchases.
I had the same experience way back then I can’t remember the year, a young lady approached me. She gave me a sample then asked me to come inside, like a fool I did. She started complementing me, I knew she was trying to sell me their products. I told her no, maybe next time because I don’t have the money and that the products were expensive for me, said not to worry that I could write a check I could post date it on the date I get my paycheck or whenever I choose. So I thought, that was unbelievable, they’re allowing me to post date a check. I got sucked in, yes I ended up purchasing them for $145 to 150 no tax just to get me to buy it. Plus, she said it was 24 k gold so it says. I love the smell, I think that was really the reason I bought them. They’re based here in California, family owned. Whenever I go to the mall, I always hide now or just ignore them. Bu9 a couple of times they offered free samples, I took it because I ran out of cream to use, then the girl tried to do the same thing, I said no thanks, I walked away. Then my husband said go ahead, go in buy it if I don’t have anymore cream to use and he would pay for it. I told him no, they’re expensive. So we left. They’re too aggressive. A lot of salespeople do the same, they lie just like Brazilian hair products that makes hair straight, the ingredients has formaldehyde the same kind the morticians uses to preserve dead people. They lie and said only 1%. A tv show host who is a doctor did a test on the product, found that it does contains more formaldehyde than what they say, maybe 100%.
this company is scam im a victim also i think this orogold is operated by val-you philippines from israel i think the owner, i was so disappointed of these product specially the foreigner who approach me in eastwood mall name ronnie he is very arroagant the way he treated those filipino staff in the mall, the government must check this company because they give differrent prices in there product..
I too feel this product is a hoax. I was persuaded to enter their store in Brampton, ON Canada and coerced into trying the product. Initally said no, no, no but then a senior manager came along, substantially reduced the price and I was trapped. Very disappointed with the outcome. I don’t mind spending the money if the product works but I have not seen any results with the Oro Gold peel that claims to reduce dark spots. Beware!!!!
Hello,
We are contacting you from OROGOLD headquarters. We would like you to contact us directly or provide us with your information in order to resolve the issues you are referring to. This goes for the rest of the comments on here as well. We have a customer service number and an official Facebook page where you can communicate with the company directly.
We noticed some blogs in the past that where not genuine therefore we urge our loyal customers to contact us directly.
Regards
OROGOLD
Oh fuck nah! This just bullshit over your goddamn customer service. Fuck you!
I admit, I have my times of retail, too. 30 YEARS and running. I know not everyone problems are always the same, but you jiveass mothafuckers are hardly passing.
You harassed customers to a sexual degree, whine unprofessional dribble that’s none of the parties businesses, have broken so many laws that even the feds wanna flip you, and have traumatized so many people, especially young girls, to the point of them breaking down in the middle of your hostage scheme.
Now you have the gull to lie behind the goddanm machine, in front of all your victims for your so called, “integrity”.
Get the the hell out of here. You have no business or intention in fixing the damages you’ve ruins from these people.
I’m very happy with your products and have had several positive comments from people. However, now that I’m retired, I can’t afford them and need to go with cheaper brand. I ran out of deep wrinkle after two years of use and it’s price is just too expensive for someone on social security.
Please help me getting my money back I was allergic to the caviar product, and sales reps don’t seem to care, all the want is make their commission.
I really need your help I want to go to small claims but not with out giving Orogold de benefit of the dude.
Hello I did contacted orogold directly, and the girl at customer service told me it was out of her limits, and the manager of the store will be contacting me. Please help I need to get my money back.
Hi Maricela! In what state or country are you located? If you are in the US, I suggest that:
1) If the Oro Gold store you went to is in a large city, you contact the City Attorney for that city. Ask to speak to whoever deals with consumer complaints and see if you can explain your issue.
2) Contact the Consumers Protection Unit of the your county’s District Attorney’s office.
3) Contact the Department of Consumer Affairs for your state
4) Contact the Department of Justice for your state
5) Contact the consumer advocate for the TV news channels that service your area.
Hi Admi.
I am in California, I made my purchase at Cerritos, the corporate of office of Orogold says that this and independent store privately owned and this is out of their control.
You give Israelis a bad name. Israel is challenged enough as it is regarding public option. You make it far worse. Shame on you.
Sorry, but it’s Israelis who give Israelis a bad name by trying to scam people of money.
As for Israel, perhaps the world wouldn’t treat it as a pariah if it stopped killing and torturing Palestinians and did away with its apartheid system. Worth trying, don’t you think?
stopped killing and torturing Palestinians ???????????
WTF??????????
Hi
I’m in Toronto, Canada, am Jewish, so I’m not biased. But it’s true that for the last few years it was kiosks sellng Dead Sea Salt products in so many malls in the city.
Now I heard they’re being investigated by the US Government.
They seem to use different names like Dead Sea, Oragold, now I see Venable in my mall.Yesterday a young Israeli guy hands me a sample with the usual high pressure tactics. He asks me & another woman ” Are you Jewish?” He could tell we were, and seniors too.
The woman with me spent close to $200 with her credit card.I felt bad. I knew I wouldn’t buy anything but they really use different tactics.
And it is an Israeli company which hires young people just out of the military.They put them up in apartments and get them visas
What is the number???
On a holiday from Australia to Las Vegas,I to found myself sitting in a ORO Gold shop and not knowing exactly
how they got me in there. Although I like the product I was really angry that everytime you said no thanks the hard sell got hard and you started to feel if you don’t
buy something they were going lock the door and not let you out until you do. So yes I did buy some and then came
the first price $2,300 and I said no way & started heading towards the door, then next price $1,800 I still
wasn’t buying, next price $1,500 and I was still heading
towards the door and then another reduction $900.They
could see me still looking at the door so they came up
with another price $540, I gave up and brought the 4
products they wanted me to buy.
I should have left the store feeling good after spending
so much money on skin care, but I felt pissed off and worn down and happy to have made it out of there.
I don’t care how good the stuff is i’ll be keeping as far away from there shops as I can,I not going through that again.
I am well pissed off with this company, they have intimidating , fake and extremely rude staff. And like to make you feel as uncomfortable as possible. They were standing outside the store as I walked by, and offered me a sample, I said yes and stopped to take it, they then went on to try and pull me in the store selling me products and begging me to go inside. I was almost eatin alive! I ran away and said the sample wasn’t worth it.
If orogolds
*if orogolds products are so good, why must they force new customers to come try there products and have to be so heavily convinced? This gold Idea is a scam for gullable people. The formula is extremely basic asside from the “gold” hoax ingredient
Yes, exactly my expérience today 28 December, (Köln, germany). “Do you see the difference on your eye ? Hum, ont really, I’m sorry”. I try to ask a question but the salesperson cuts me short: “are you listening to me? Let me tel you what I want to tell? Do you know what collagene means? ”
I ran as fast as I could out of this
OMG! Disgusting.
I beg to differ people, I love the product and the customer service, they drew me in also but of my own free will (were u dragged in?) and I’m glad they did!! Other shops wouldn’t care if u r there shop or not, I think retail would work much better in Australia if other shops copied them by spending time with customers and offered discounts!!! Great 😉 by the way the stuff on amazon is a cheap copy, ask my chemist
I very much doubt your chemist did a full chemical analysis of both products to be able to determine any differences 🙂
Cathy is obviously a TROLL !
Hi I think you work for them. Don’t lie.
OMFG,
I kept on saying “no thanks, not interested” but I ended up buying the products altough I really didn’t want to. (the exact same story like yours) Sitting in the train I saw the “NO REFUND” written in samll print on the receipt.
This happened in Helsinki, Finland. And do you know what? Honestly, they met the wrong person. I will not give up until they are kicked out of the mall. I will contact the mall’s management, persons working for customer rights, and even the police if it is necessary.
NO REFUND. BULLSHIT. The products can’t be worth anything at all.
Good luck Orogold. Let the war begin.
Scamm no doubt, I’ve experienced the same sales tactics and I thought for a minute I might be on “Hustle” program!
the products are rubbish, no doubt! A real joke!
“I’ve done some more looking into Oro Gold Cosmetics, and it appears to be an offshoot (perhaps even a shell company) of the “Dead Sea Cosmetics” businesses that have been under investigation by the US and other governments, as revealed by a cable from the American Embassy in Tel Aviv released by Wikileaks.”
Is this true? That both Orogold and Dead Sea are part of Mazal Enterprise? The mall didn’t want to cooperate with Dead Sea anymore so they did let Orogold take over. What a success!
This seems to be the case. If you google Oro Gold and Mazal and Dead Sea and Mazal, you’ll get plenty of hits that suggest they are all the same thing.
Wow…there are 3 sides to every story, some good, some bad, some ugly. I own http://www.InFashionSense.com, a Canadian based online beauty product supply. Our company provides only superior and very exclusive product lines to our valued customers. Extensive research goes into each and every product line we provide on our store. We have taken the time to research 57 potential product lines and carry only 7, Oro Gold 24K being one of them and one of our top product lines for highly effective and proven skin treatment for Healing, Beautifying & Anti-Aging Benefits.
I must agree, i don’t approve of high-pressure sales. A valuable product sells itself there is no need for pressure. This is not the first time i’ve heard this about kiosk sales (not only Oro Gold kiosks). There are all kinds of salespeople in this world…when the goofy ones finally learn that “high-pressure” is not the right approach they will then be successful. In addition they should be upfront about “no refund”, honesty is the best policy in this case. For hygienic reasons most buyers can understand a “no refund” policy. I do speak with experience regarding that subject as a retired successful Finance & Insurance sales manager.
As far as ingredient in the product line; What is it?
Polyvinyl Alcohol is a polymer of vinyl alcohol. In cosmetics and personal care products, Polyvinyl Alcohol is used in a wide range of products, including makeup, skin care products and facial masks. Why is it used in cosmetics and personal care products?
Polyvinyl Alcohol increases the thickness of the lipid (oil) portion of cosmetics. It may also be used as a film former or a binder or to create a gelling affect as in the case of a facial peel. Scientific facts:
Polyvinyl Alcohol is a synthetic alcohol that can occur as a white, tasteless and odorless powder. Polyvinyl Alcohol is produced by the controlled hydrolysis of polyvinyl acetate and normally contains some level of unhydrolyzed acetate groups. Polyvinyl Alcohol has a variety of noncosmetic uses including its use in solutions for the eyes. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) includes Polyvinyl Alcohol on its list of basic compounds allowed to be used in food contact surfaces. Polyvinyl Alcohol is also allowed to be used in coatings in contact with food. The safety of Polyvinyl Alcohol has been assessed by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel. The CIR Expert Panel evaluated scientific data and concluded that Polyvinyl Alcohol was safe as used in cosmetics and personal care products.
As far as Mazal Enterprises (Oro Gold) and Dead Sea Cosmetics. The “Deep Sea Cosmetics or DSC” company is an entirely different entity not owned by Mazal. I have been involved with this manufacturer since 2008 and carry 3 of their product lines and have been a part indirectly of every product line they carry…Deep Sea Cosmetics is not one of them. Mazal product lines both; Oro Gold 24K and Vivo Per Lei are composed of dead sea minerals therefore this can easily be confused with the DSC name i’m certain.
As an official distributor of Mazal product lines since 2008 i can honestly say I’ve encountered several customer complaints about counterfeit, refurbished (in the case of hair irons), and expired product, pushy salespeople, untruths and many other circumstances i’d rather not go into. Much of these complaints are part of the uncontrolled world we are living in. Some feel the need to lie and push to make a sale in many industries not just Oro Gold kiosks, many high-end products are being reproduced and counterfeit product is rampant and a sleazy salesperson won’t hesitate to sell you expired product, unfortunately. That’s why there are warnings on Official Distributor websites such as we have stated on our store, “Buy Authentic Products at Official Distributor at Lowest Manufacturer Discounted Prices Allowed. Beware of Non-Authorized Retailers selling counterfeit, refurbished & expired product.” This statement is to protect the consumer who is unaware of the indecency in the marketplace. At 46 years of age i still feel pretty naive some days when i hear such activity is possible. The simple truth is “if the price is too good to be true, it probably is…”. I wouldn’t pay 5 cents for something that is a COPY of a product valued at $100. There are no health benefits nor nutrients in such an under-priced product, only lies and deceit not worth the 5 cents.
Oro Gold products are highly effective and superior to any other dead sea with pure 24k gold mineral product line, therefore definitely worth the price to improve the health & beauty of our skin and combat aging. However, no different then a BMW, amazing vehicle… no need for a sleazy salesperson. Buyer beware is all i can say, buy from a reputable outlet with your best interests at heart. If you are looking for a better priced product don’t buy cheap knock-offs or someone’s expired product (who couldn’t sell their product before stale date as they are a turn-off to deal with) talk to us regarding your needs and budget, there are superior products for every budget, don’t waste your hard earned money (regardless of your personal budget) on some criminals junk. I’m not posting here to promote our business I’m posting to raise awareness for those unsuspecting or unaware buyers, I hope this information is helpful.
Hi Brenda and thank you for your very comprehensive comment.
If you read the cable from the US Embassy, you’ll see how it mentions that the dead cosmetic companies operate through a whole network of shell companies. If the US government is unable to sort out the relationship between these companies, I’m definitely not going to be able to do it. Indeed, just a quick search through the fictitious business name databases in California, show that Oro Gold is doing a good job of hiding its tracks.
But ultimately whether Oro Gold and the Dead Sea Cosmetic kiosks are operated by the same indicate doesn’t matter too much. The point is that they have the same “business” model and use the same “business” techniques, including the corporate mandated hard sale techniques.
Now, are the products good? Well, they get pretty good reviews on Amazon. The ingredients I found for the peel (though, they may be different in newer products) seemed there just for show. But their eye serum does contain a number of ingredients that have been shown to be anti-aging: alpha hydroxy acid (exfoliates/softens), palmitoyl oligopeptide (increases elasticity and sodium hyaluronate and sodium PCA(humectants) and others.
The “gold” in Oro Gold cosmetics, OTOH, is useless at best and an allergenic at worst. The New York Times had a pretty good article on the effect of gold on the skin.
I thought i’d add a current ingredient content label below…
INGREDIENTS IN ORO GOLD 24K DEEP PEELING: AQUA, GLYCERIN, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, CARBOMER, ASCORBIC ACID, CETEARTRIMONIUM CHLORIDE, NUT SHELL POWDER, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, GOLD, DISODIUM EDTA, METHYLISOTHIAZOUNONE IODOPROPTNYL, BUTYLCARBAMATE
My point earlier was to explain the reasons for PVA in cosmetic product. I should have been more specific in the actual product content…my apologies.
To clarify, there is no PVA in Oro Gold 24K Deep Peeling.
Thanks Brenda! I looked up all the ingredients (isn’t the internet wonderful) and this is what you get in the peel. There doesn’t seem to be anything in it that is actually a cleaning agent, but the glycerin will make it feel soft 🙂
Not being a chemist, I can’t tell you how the peeling process is achieved, but by what I’ve read about it seems to be a combination of the cabomer with one of the other chemicals.
One thing to note, however, is that three useful ingredients are extremely cheap.
Useful ingredients:
skin softener: glycerin
antioxidant: ascorbic acid (vitamin C), Tocopheryl Acetate (vitamin E)
skin conditioner: Tocopheryl Acetate (vitamin E)
Additives:
penetration enhancer (propylene glycol, Disodium EDTA)
thickener (carbomer)
anti-static, emulsifier (steartrimonium Chloride)
colorant: nutshell powder
Preservatives (Methylisothiazolinone, Iodopropynyl butylcarbamate)
Gimmick:
gold
Hi Marga,
No disrespect, i must beg to differ with Gimmick: gold? Perhaps a matter of opinion? The nutrients in Gold mineral among other “useful ingredient” has been a major part of Oro Gold’s success since it began. The use of gold-based products activates the skin cell structure which results in rebuilding broken down cells. Gold is also known to assist in increasing skin elasticity by slowing the depletion and the breakdown of elastin, resulting in firmer, less sagging skin producing a visible lifting affect. Gold mineral treats the skin by not only improving and stimulating circulation, it increases radiance and stimulates skin cells, gold slows down collagen depletion and reduces the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, sun damage and age spots. Gold prevents premature aging of the skin by fighting off free radicals. Gold also has the ability to lighten the complexion. Gold mineral is also known to be used for joint and bodily aches and pains. Gold mineral fights acne and aids in the treatment of scaring by speeding up the healing process. Gold aids to smooth wrinkles and firm the skin and treats skin discoloration. Therefore, the cost of pure 24k gold mineral found in only the purest rivers in the world justifies the authentic product price. Do you have any idea how many travel to the Jordan river daily for the healing and beautifying benefits of the purest dead sea minerals. I could go into the benefits and necessity of all other ingredients in this particular product, but you’ve done a clear job of laying it out above to some extent as many enjoy the benefits of Vitamin C, Vitamin E and a skin softener in their skincare. Simply stating “preservative” is a bit unclear…Iodopropynyl butylcarbamate and Methylisothiazolinone are added to prevent bacterial growth, mold and/or fungi, another additive i’m certain customers are thankful for. Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR), an independent panel of physicians and scientists that assesses cosmetic ingredients, thoroughly reviewed the research on these additives and found them to be safe for use in personal care products at the recommended levels. Furthermore, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which regulates the ingredient safety in cosmetic products, backs their use when incorporated at concentrations determined safe and effective.
I initially responded to this post only to assist if and where i could and raise public awareness as to why some may be “pushy” as I as well as so many others who have taken the time to post on here absolutely dislike to be put in the “pressure sales” position. My concern for the customer facing the pushy, sleazy salesperson is to provide awareness of those providing counterfeit, expired or refurbished product. Those salespeople have a need to be “pushy” as they need to unload their junk. I agree and sympathize as it is such a lousy approach and devalues an incredibly valuable product line. When the price starts out high and the pressure builds and the price drops and the pressure builds then the price drops…that is not an “authentic” product, that is a HUGE red flag as authentic product has mandated pricing from the manufacturers which would be impossible for an official distributor to reduce to those extremes given cost vs. retail pricing. “Buyer beware” was simply my concern for buyers that are unaware as the scams in this world are out of control in many areas and sadly many are unaware of that. Mazal Ent.(Oro Gold) does incur the major expense of a legal department to maintain control of counterfeit and refurbished product on the market. An ongoing costly and unnecessary battle compared to the massive amount of reproduction that comes out of China every day in every industry.
However, enough said.. it seems your “opinions” have taken over this post. Stating “PVA” is in a product when it is not and insinuating that is a bad thing. Unsupported/unwarranted “opinion” that two companies Deep Sea Cosmetics and Mazal Ent. (Oro Gold 24K) are somehow affiliated when they are not. In addition stating Gold is a “gimmick” is again an “opinion”. Truth be told it is human nature to create negative “opinions” where we don’t have all of the facts, fair enough.
I have over 700 repeat Oro Gold customers since 2008. I would personally, (I’m certain i speak for my customers also), find it difficult to spend $100 – $1000 on a skin care product once let alone repeatedly if it weren’t highly effective.
Hi Brenda,
Unfortunately the link to the New York Times article on the use of gold in cosmetics didn’t work, so here it is: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/27/fashion/27skinWEB.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
According to the article: “Dermatologists speak with one voice, saying that gold cannot help you, but it absolutely can hurt you, causing inflammatory reactions like contact dermatitis”. That’s not my opinion, it’s theirs.
And btw, regardless of what you’ve read in the literature of cometic companies, gold is an element, classified as a metal. It is not mineral and it has no nutrients. It’s just gold. That would not preclude it for being useful to the skin, but research doesn’t show that it is, and instead it shows that it may be an allergenic for some.
Now, dead sea minerals and in particular clay from the dead sea, can be beneficial to the skin, though they aren’t present in this particular product.
The purpose of preservatives /is/ to prevent bacterial and fungal growth. All cosmetics containing water need to have preservatives, otherwise they can seriously harm you. But while preservatives are necessary for the product, in themselves they don’t do anything for the skin.
My point in pointing out that the product had PVA (which I didn’t make up, it was listed on a website that sells the product, which suggests there may be two versions with different ingredients), was not to say there was something bad about PVA, but that the “peeling effect” is most likely based on the product, rather than on any skin coming out. I found it pretty interesting how both Oro Gold and Dead Sea Cosmetics sales people throughout the world demonstrate this particular product, saying that it’s your dead skin coming out. In any case, this combination of carboner with cetrimonium chloride, creates beads when applied to the skin. Now, as you rub it, you will rub off some dead skin – but not as much as the product seems to. That said, glue will do the same thing 🙂
You are right that I’m only speculating that Mazal Enterprises are related to Dead Sea Cosmetics. But do you actually know that they are not? Do you know who owns these two companies? If you haven’t, read the cable from the US embassy. It doesn’t name the companies in question, but it does say: “A key player in the industry has a holding company that has
more than 50 companies connected to it–shell companies are not unlikely.” It goes on to describe the methods used by these companies, and they pretty much describe the business models of both Oro Gold and Dead Sea Cosmetics. But again, it’s just speculation.
I wrote this posting because this was quite an interesting experience for me. I was curious as to whether my experience was unique and whether the products were that good to stay in business, so I researched it and added that information to my posting.
Then, after people started posting complaints on my blog, I decided to do some more research, and again I posted that. I’ve tried to be as factual as possible.
Seems to me, this is a scam! why so many bad practice on selling this product? I don’t think all the non experienced sale people all treat custom like shit!
My wife has also just bought some oro gold products and now I don’t know how to feel when reading all these comments. No doubt, the salesman was skilled. But all the negative comments refers only to the salesman and not to the actual products. Many reviews of the products on amazon are positive so I guess we will have to decide for our selves.
We have bought the peeling product which according to the article above should have polyvinyl alcohol as a main ingredient. According to the box it is not included as an ingredient at all. I will rather trust the actual source (oro gold) instead of an independent website which sells the oro gold product. My conclusion is that the peeling might be over prized but I don’t think it contains PVA
Klavs, would you be willing to type up what the ingredients on the peel are?
Marga, according to the box the ingredients are: aqua, glycerin, propylene glycol, carbomer, ascorbic acid, ceteartrimonium chloride, nut shell powder, tocopheryl acetate, gold, disodium EDTA, methylisthiazolinone, iodopropynyl butyl carbamate. That was it 🙂
Apart from that there is also a certificate which says:
Basic Characteristics:
Beaten metal leafs with a thickness of 0.07 microns. The material was produced and analyzed according to the European food colorants specifications and can be labeled as E175 (Genuine Gold colorant)
This product contains Pure 24K Gold from Italy.
Let me know if any of the above raises a red flag. I just want to know if we can use the products we bought. I do however believe that gold is present in the products as I don’t think they would be able to sell their products if it was untrue. If the gold works is another discussion….
What a horrible way to do business! It seems that Perth Western Australia has now been infiltrated. My only experience was to be given a sample, then comes the old question “have you got a minute?” to which i gave a most definite “NO”. The face on the sale’s girl was a picture, not happy one little bit. i had to laugh to myself.
The product is not bad, just the sales technique.
And yes, we have those annoying Dead Sea set ups in our shopping centres too. I give them what my husband refers to as “the look”, this usually stops them. Who are they to wave things in my face, and ask me intrusive questions. I saw one girl the other day literally block some guys way and proceeded to wave a piece of paper in his face. HOW RUDE!!!
Sorry to rant but these sales techniques irritate me big time.
I currently work for orogold and the Dead Sea kiosk and as I read these articles I think wtf are these people saying because look this is how it works retail prices are a suggested price for the company to sell it for but as a company and manufacturing corp. we know what it costs us to make the product and therefore can sell it as low as the price it costs us to make the product
U all think that because we lower the price it’s face or a scam
But u haven’t looked at it in our eyes if we sell it at cost to one or two people
They will like the product and price and then tell there friends and relatives about the product so in our shoes we don’t make profit in 1 person but he or she will bring in more ppl
It’s not a scam it’s that we c the after effects unlike most ppl that just look on there one experience plus u all mostly complain about the pushy sales tactics
Me personally I don’t pressure ppl if they tell me no I just simply tell them were always here come when ur ready 🙂 and have a nice day and move on
U guys gonna also understand its our job to sell and we have to follow certain systems that our boss tell us or if not like any other job u get fired
//Obviously your poor writing sells it so well, your father.//
I’m American but llve in London. They have an Oro Gold store near Bond Street, exactly the same sales tactics!! My friend walked out being suckered into spending over 200 pounds and was told that you got a discount by a saleswoman who claims that she’s a skin doctor!!
How interesting all of this is. I am a 60-year-old male, and I am currently staying in a hotel in New York, due to a work situation. I was in the mall, and as I passed the Oro Gold kiosk, a person for whom English is a second language grabbed my attention and told me she had a suggestion for a Christmas present. When she showed me what it was–this tiny jar of some sort of skin cream–I told her I currently didn’t have a female companion to buy this stuff for. She was undaunted and she stated that men can use it, too, and she insisted I give her my wrist so she could demonstrate the benefits of this wonder cream. It was the exfoliating stuff. She applied a small bit to the inside of my wrist, rubbed it in, wiped it off, then applied another cream to it. She showed me how the cream was absorbed into my skin. She applied that same second cream to the other wrist, and showed me how the cream wasn’t absorbed as it was in the first wrist, which had been exfoliated.
Now, though I’m a man, I do in fact exfoliate every so often, and I do it because it allows me to shave very closely. I am compulsive about a close shave. When I mentioned that I exfoliated, her sales pitch went into overdrive. She knew that I understood the concept. Then she tells me that she can offer these two things at this incredible low price. Okay. Depending on how much it is, I’ll give it a try. I asked her the price. She answered, with a straight face, that the price was $149–for each cream, the exfoliating stuff and the moisturizer. $300 for two tiny bottles of stuff. She emphasized that I wouldn’t be using it every day, so the supply would last a year. I still wasn’t interested. She asked me how much I’d be willing to pay for a good pair of shoes. I told her about $160. She said, “Well, this concerns your face, and that’s more important that shoes.” This was all spoken in her musical accent, and her attitude was insistent, put always pleasant. I told her that I just wasn’t interested in it at that price, that I doubted it did what she claimed and I’d go and research it more, and if it did what she said, I’d come back. She did not want to let me go. She said she’d give me a very special deal. She’d give me BOTH items, which originally were $149 each, for a TOTAL of $149. That she dropped the price so drastically so fast told me that this was some sort of scam product, and it wasn’t worth anything near what she was trying to sell it for. I told her again that I wasn’t interested, even at that price, and that I’d research the product on my own, and if it did what she said, I’d come back and seek her out–I’d ask for HER by name–and I’d buy it from her.
At that point, her attitude changed. She became very cold and a bit angry. I guess she knew what I’d find once I began researching the stuff. She printed out something from a cash register which had her name on it, which she referred to as her business card.
At any rate, when I want that close shave, I’ll use that apricot scrub, which you can buy at any drugstore or Wal-Mart for, like, $4. And after the conversation with the young lady, I was reminded that I was in fact out of the apricot scrub, and had been for a month. So on the way back to the hotel, I found some at Walgreen’s.
This is so strange, I just walked past the store in Perth and was given a sample by a young woman, she asked me if I had a minute (which I did not as I was rushing back to work after being at the gym on my lunch hour) however to not seem rude I said yes, she started to give me the full benefits of using gold on my skin and asked me to come into the store, I then told her I really did not have the time but would be happy to try the sample and if I liked it I would make the time to come in. As soon as I said this her smile dropped and her eyes went cold, she stared at me for a few seconds before turning her back to me and walking away.. I have spent a lot of money of skin care products in the past and using based on the customer service provided and after using samples for a few weeks.. I now have no intention of bothering as the hard sell treatment makes me uncomfortable and I refuse to deal with it..
I totally agree, and all the above customers who keep complaining, should grow up and take some responsibility. The staff spend 12-13 a day, explaining and demonstrating the fabioulus products to the customers. It is obvious that not all attempts end up with a sale. This is simply a marketing approach. Do you really second judge all commercials you watch and being brain washed about ? Do you really believe that the shampoo that promises Anti-Freeze or whatever, is really better than the other brands ?? Come on people, there is NOTHING wrong with the sales approach.The only thing that’s wrong here, is that you try to avoid taking responsibility for your own decision to buy ! Companies all over the world market their products and try to convince everyone that their products are better. Don’t try to blame a young sales representative who is working hard, for ‘forcing’ you to buy ! In addition, because you feel like you were trapped, you decide that you hate the product and make up all these false accusations. Why don’t you give it a try and see how wonderful it really is ?
A sales approach that is based upon lying to customers is unethical and therefore wrong. Now, I’m not particularly surprised that kids right out of the Israeli military service may not see the ethical problems with what amounts to committing consumer fraud, I’m sure they’ve had to do much worse. But perhaps using them as arbiters of right and wrong is not the best of ideas.
You have comments from people all over the world objecting to those business practices. Yep, these are the opinions of good, ethical people who expect others to behave in a similar manner. Rather than prey on them and try to blame them for the company’s lack of moral compass, why not use them as a role model? Do you really want to be a scoundrel?
And pray, what “false” accusations are you talking about? I don’t think there has been anything said here that has not been documented.
There is a difference between marketing and pure quackery. I did take responsibility by not buying anything from Oro Gold. The sales tactics was tacky and the ingredient list did not justify the exorbitant price. I am a chemist and this is pure quackery. You can get the same benefit from drug store products that cost 10 bucks.
Have you been to one of their shops. I double dare you to go in and experience it for yourself.
I’m having a problem with the oro gold deep peeling product. I have used it twice and both times it gave me a huge allergic reaction. First time it burned my face and my both eyes swelled up and i had to take antibiotics, cortisone and allergy pills to get back normal. I still had my doubts that maybe it wasn’t because of the product and I wanted to try the expensive product again. Second time almost same reaction. Face burned and got totally red and itchy again.
Does any of you (maybe Brenda or someone who works for Oro gold) have ideas why I’m getting that kind of reaction of the deep peeling when all the other products seem to be ok for me? Are there some different, really strongly allergenic ingredients in that product?
I use oro gold eye serum, eye cream, day cream, body lotion and body scrub as well and those all work well. I have bought all products bought from real oro gold shops, so im not expecting them to be cheap copies.
My bet would be on the nutshell powder. Check to see if the other products have it. It’s used as a colorant, so they may not.
I have had issues with OroGold as well. Yes, their sales tactics are awful, but as another reader said above, we can always walk away. What I have a problem with is the fact that if the product does not work, you will not get your money back. They offer you exchanges only, but this is ridiculous when you have paid hundreds of dollars for a product that doesn’t work (at least for me!). My mother, not knowing I had previously tried this product, was thrilled to buy me and my sister “the whole shebang.” Mom also bought products for herself. When I opened my gift and found it was OroGold, I told her about my very negative experience with the product and the company. She then told me that she had been using the product for about ten days, and she didn’t think it was working for her. I asked her if she had been told there were no refunds, which she had not. I asked to see her receipt — of course, I knew it would say “no refunds” on it, and it did. She has been in contact with the OroGold store in Las Vegas where she bought the products. The store manager is emailing a label so we can ship back the products, and they will give us “a better product at no additional cost, in exchange.” Mind you, none of these products (the gift ones) have been opened.
So, in summary, I don’t like their products. They don’t work for me, and they are not working for my mother or my sister. I would like for my mom to be able to get a refund. But this is not going to happen, apparently.
I am considering selling them on eBay, or as a reseller on Amazon… or I may even contact some of the people who have left glowing reviews for the product directly, and make them an offer they can’t refuse…. Or maybe I will go and stand in front of the store with my products in hand, and offer them at half price… or maybe I’ll file another complaint at the Better Business Bureau.
I bought genuine products from one of your store-fronts. For your information, the toll-free number listed on your website 877-554-1777 does not work. It doesn’t even ring; it seems it is always busy. Is there another number to call? I appreciate your post here. It shows you care. It would be helpful if you could provide real customer service, including contact information that functions properly. Thank you.
I, too, experienced this hard sales tactic on January 6, 2013 in Honolulu HI. Now, I have heard of the benefits of all the ingrediants, supposedly, used in these products…I ended up purchasing $500 in products [presumably at 1/2 price because of my stay at the Hilton Hawaiian Village].
A day later, a fellow worker [with her husband] were in the same store, did not purchase the items, but the amount they were offered was substantially LESS then what I paid. Had I had the time to return to the store and discuss the matter I would, but I was there on business leaving 1/9/13 and did not have the time.
As I read through all of these posts I keep hearing the same story over and over. These sales people are ruthless. I am so upset that i did not walk away from these people., but instead i allowed myself to be coerced into buying these bogus products, and I take full responsibility for that.
Honestly, if you want real results, go see a good dermatologists, instead of these con artists, who frankly are being pressured by their higher ups to meet a certain quote. They are desperate, unlike people that have some moral form of ethics by which they live by.
I just returned from the mall. I always avoid a high pitch sale. However, this time, I succomed to their insistance. The one eye that had the eye serum and eye cream applied definitely looked better than the other.
When I went straight in for the million dollar question, I was quoted $199.00 each, but wait, I can get a discount today. $199.00 for one, the other free and a coupon for a facial. Bla Bla Bla Bla Bla. I walked away feeling like I avaoided a bad deal. I am 52, I look 52, do not want a face lift or botox. They can’t schmooze me enough to convine me I really don’t look 52. I’m a realist! Hopefully those that have the product can enjoy their purchase. I will stick with Clinique.
Ok, I am back (again!).
“- She couldn’t explain why so many people throughout the world have reported that OroGold sales people are Israeli (or otherwise have an accent that might indicate that they’re from Israel).”
She is nothing but another liar! Please, take a look at Orogold Finland on Facebook. How come Orogold speaks Hebrew? And most of Orogold’s friends are from Tel Aviv? The Dead Sea Cosmetics and Orogold do have the exakt same selling techniques (throwing in “free gifts”, asking why you can afford to buy expensive clothes but don’t seem to care about your skin, etc.).
I have spoken to a professor in Commercial Law (well known in Finland and abroad). He told me that if the customer gets the feeling that the company is unethical and illegal…. well, IT PROBABLY IS!
And yeah, their homepage: http://www.orogoldcosmetics.com/contact-us/. Only a phone number (people all over the web have reported that they don’t answer). Complaints can be e-mailed to the company. But NO ADDRESS. All business students know that this is a big RED FLAG!
I don’t think she’s a liar, I think she’s a low-level employee that doesn’t really know the details of the business. I’m sure that’s in a “needs to know” basis.
But here is the address of the company & phone numbers from her e-mail:
Mazal Enterprise
19849 Nordhoff Street
Northridge, CA 91324
USA
Toll Free: 1-877-554-1777 X132
Tel: 818-886-3200 \ Fax: 818-886-3257
A couple of days ago I received three products from OroGold, so that I can give them a try and report on what I think of them. I intend to do just that and I will report in a few weeks when they’ve have time to work.
This is what I got:
Oro Gold 24k Vitamin C Booster Facial Serum
(see ingredients below). This serum, as far as I can see from looking at the ingredients, does two things: provides your skin with vitamins A, C and E and deposits a ultra-thin layer of silicone on your skin. The vitamins are great for your skin, helping fight off free radicals and even regenerate cells. The silicone, however, is a bit more controversial. What it basically does is seal your skin, temporarily filling out your fine lines and acne scars – so that your face appears smoother. The silicones also prevent moisture from escaping your skin, so it states hydrated. On the other hand, they also keep dirt and bacteria on your skin and pores from getting out, so if you have skin that is prone to acne, silicone gels may not be the best thing for you.
I’m a bit too old for acne, but I do have a tendency to get whiteheads, so I’m a bit weary of using this serum. OroGold’s instructions are to use the serum after washing the face, as part of the night routine or under its moisturizer. However, given that the serum will seal my face, there is no point putting it under the moisturizer. I also don’t feel that comfortable using it at night, as I like my skin to breathe when I sleep. So I think I will try using it during the day, by itself or over a moisturizer.
Oro Gold 24K Deep Day Moisturizer Cream
. As far as I can tell from the ingredient list, this is a run-of-the-mill moisturizer. It has a very grown-up/European scent, which I really like, and a nice light texture, but it doesn’t have any magical ingredients or anything that would justify its prize. It does include several ingredients that are toxic and can be allergenic, and I would not use it on broken skin. While it is a day skin, it doesn’t have any sun protectors, so I’ll use it at night or if I’m not planning to be out.
I also got the 24k Gold Intensive Eye Treatment Cream
, but I haven’t analyzed its ingredients yet.
Oro Gold 24k Vitamin C Booster Facial Serum Ingredients
Cyclomethicone: silicone, carries perfume and ads powdery feel
Dimethiconol: silicone, emolient
cyclopentasiloxane: silicoen, fills wrinkles
isopropyl palmitate: moisturizer, thickening agent
glyceryl dibehenate: fat, viscosity-increasing agent
gold: gimmick
tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate: vitamin C
ascrobyl palmitate: vitamin C
retinyl palmitate: retinol/vitamin A
tocopheryl acetate: vitamin E
triticum vulgare (wheat) germ oil: has vitamin E
phenoxyethanol: preservative
ethylhexylglyxerene: preservative
fragrance
Oro Gold 24K Deep Day Moisturizer Cream Ingredients
Aqua: water
Glycerin: humectant
Propylene Glycol: penetration enhancer
Helianthus annuus seed oil: sunflower oil
caprylic/Capric trigyleride (fractioned coconut oil): emollient
Betaine (trimethyl glycine): anti-aging & whitening
isopropyl myristate: emollient and makes cosmetics feel less oily
cetearyl alcohol: emulsion stabylizer
tocopheryl acetate: vitamin E
cetearyl glucoside: emulsifier
butyrospermum parkii (shea) oil: skin conditioner
glyceryl stearate: emulsifier/thickener
peg-100 stearate: emollient/emulsifier
dimethicone: silicone
petrolatum: petroleum jelly
sodium pca: humectant
ascorbic acid (vitamin C): anti-aging
carbomer: controls viscosity
triethanolamine: pH balancer
ployacrylamide: binder/thickener
c12-14 isoparaffin: solvent
laureth-8: surfactant
fragrance
gold: gimmick
disodium edta: preservative
bht: antioxidant/preservative
methylsothiazolinone: preservative
Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate: preservative (allergen/toxic)
Note: some ingredients have multiple uses, I’ve listed what seems to be the primary one.
These are the ingredients for the 24k Gold Intensive Eye Treatment Cream
I will say that I’m impressed. They seem to be exactly the sort of things you want to put under your eyes, in particular if your problem is puffiness. Indeed, I bet this is the product that they tried on me at the store – which did, significantly, reduce the puffiness in my eyes.
I will try using this in the morning and, if indeed it reduces the puffiness, I’ll probably put it on then.
aqua: water
glycerin: humectant
c12-15 alkyl benzoate: emollient, skin feel modifier
caprylic/capric triglyceride (fractioned coconut oil): emollient
cetearyl alcohol: : emulsion stabylizer
cetyl alcohol: emulsion stabilizer and opacifier
gold: gimmic
palmitoyl oligopeptide and palmitoyl oligopeptide 7: increase collagen and production of connective tissue
caffeine: anti-inflammatory (reduces puffiness)
tocopheryl acetateL vitamin E
retinyl palmitate: retinol/vitamin A
glycine soja oil: soybean oil
simmondsia chinensis oil: jojoba oil
olea europaea fruit oil: olive oil
camellia sinensis leaf extract: green tea extract
glycyrrhiza glabra root extract: licorice root extract: humectant
aloe barbadensis leaf extract
polysorbate 20: emulsifier
ceteareth-20: emollient and emulsifier (toxic if used in damaged skin)
allantoin: anti-inflammatory and anti-irritant
chrysin: anti-inflammatory
n-hydroxysuccinimide: activating reagent for esters
butylene glycol: solvent/thinner
carbomer: controls viscosity
acrylates/c10-30 and
alkyl acrylate copolymer: thickener and stabilizer
triethanolamine: pH balancer (toxic)
disodium edta: preservative
phenonyxethanol: preservative
ethylmexylglycerine: preservative
Marga, what were your longer-term benefits? Did you also try the eye serum, as well as research its ingredients? It seemed to have an immediate tightening effect when applied by the salesperson in the store (eliminate nearly ALL puffiness, bags and fine lines, which was scary incredible). Was horrified by their sales techniques, but man, this two-step eye treatment did produce results (was pulled into their store at a mall in Southern California yesterday).
I gave away the serum, but I used up both the eye cream and the face cream. To tell you the truth, I couldn’t see any results, but then again, that has been true of all other creams and lotions I’ve used. I have fairly normal skin and don’t usually have puffy eyes, and I continue to age and develop wrinkles and fine lines no matter what products I use or whether I use none at all.
I wonder if the product they use at the store is not an eye cream per se, but something closer to a primer.
I can only say that I am glad I am not the only one. I personally found the exfoliating product smelled gross and It took me more than a day to get it off. No exaggeration. And then I too found I couldn’t return it. I sent an email to Judy – I’ll let you know if I am successful.
Well, its really sad to see this kind of racism on the web because it is an Israeli product. What’s your grudge really? the price? Well, how many of your own American goods are over-priced may I ask….almost everything. And not to forget the high end designer garbage made in/ for America and Europe. Does a handbag (Louis vuitton) have to cost 3000 dollars? I don’t think so, but still people accept it as something of luxury and class and buy it. While our Israeli products are really good and helps you improve your skin and sourced from Natural resources- and you start off with your racist rant.
Ashley, according to OroGold, however, they are /not/ an Israeli product. They have no ties to Israel whatsoever. It’s just an unexplained coincidence that the OroGold sales people all over the world happen to be Israeli. And it’s just a coincidence that OroGold’s store sales tactics are the same as those of other “dead sea cosmetics companies”, which the always-so-anti-Israel US government has found to be money laundering scams.
And the “grudge”, Ashley, are the bullying sale tactics and the lies.
I too was suckered at the Las Vegas OroGold store in Caesar’s Palace. The products did seem to work and my skin was silky smooth & soft. I bought the Anti-Aging Eye Serum, Intensive Eye Treatment Cream, Facial Serum & Deep peeling product. I was wary of the high price and thought there was real gold (there is gold flakes)in the Facial Serum. I have osteoarthritis and inflammatory arthritis and people I know have gotten gold treatments for their arthritis, which is why I bought the products. I should have know better from the high pressure sales and he kept lowering the price every time I said I can’t afford it. The sales person was from another country. He kept telling me that Celine Dion and her husband Rene use the products. He said the products I bought would last a year. Start out using them daily for the first week and they twice a week after that. Since I’m stuck with the products I plan on making them last as long as I can to get my money’s worth. It should be illegal that a company can say there’s gold in the product when there isn’t (false advertising). Or maybe there is some kind of gold in the products. Guess we will never know for sure.
Hi I am unsatisfied with the product one of the associate did say I could not return my product. So when decided to return it they said no returns I was and am angry about the lie!!! WILL YOU PLEASE REFUND THIS PRODUCT!!!! My name katie
It’s crazy the things I read on here. First of all I am a customer of Oro Gold when I can afford it 🙂 the first time I was stopped I sat through the whole demonstration and did not buy the product because I could not afford it. Why in the world are people so upset about the sales tactics it is the sales persons job to sell to you. When I didn’t buy anything and walked away no body stole my card and charged me, no one screamed at me and certainly no body physically forced me to do anything 🙂 so the only thing that people are unhappy about is the price
Just want to let you know that I am going to send the following email to Judy to see if I can get a refund for the $600.00 CAN worth of OroGold products I recently purchased
“Hi Judy, I recently purchased a bunch of orogold products as a trade show in Vancouver, BC Canada. Spent approximately $600.00 CAN for products that seem to be drying out my face, and bringing out pimples. Does your company offer me a refund for the products I have, that seem to be doing more harm than good to my face.
Your prompt reply is greatly appreciated”
I’ll keep you all up todate if I get a response from Judy
I met a salesman in the mall at a kiosk. He tried to sell me a set of body butter and salt scrub for $250 and said he would throw in 2 sets for free. I purposly left my debit card at home that day because I was saving for a car. After I left him another salesman at another kiosk (both Orogold) stopped me. He wanted to see my hand and I told him the other man already showed me the product. I then told him how much he was asking and he told me not to go back to him. He was selling the same products for $29 a piece. I had $59 on me and he let me buy for that amount. He also gave me samples of the daily moisturizer for my face. I have rosacea and have to be careful what I use. I took the samples home and used them. I was amazed that it was helping so quickly. My mother even noticed the difference. I was so impressed that I decided to go back to him to buy the moisturizer. When I met up with him he said he was glad it was working and recommended the deep peel. He sold me the peel (the same amount it is sold for on Amazon) and gave me the moisturizer at no cost. I saw him again yesterday and he asked how it was all working for me. I told him the peel makes my face break out more. He recommended I keep using it only once a week and gave me the lotion cleanser at no cost. Not all the salesmen are bad…
These blogs are genuine because your product is a total ripoff and the salespeople should be charged with fraud which would make them criminals. I posted on Facebook and it was taken down within seconds. The only reviews on here are false just like everything else with your products and company.
You have stolen over $1,000. on my credit card and I will file criminal charges if you do not take care of this immediately.
I thought they were just some band of gypsies with the same accent and sales pitch. I have never felt accosted at the mall before I stepped into one of their lairs. They ripped me off, didn’t give me the product they forced down my throat, overcharged my credit card $1,000 and then threatened to call the police when I said I would write a review. They are crooks! Unless you have been double teamed by these fraudulent people you have no idea how much pressure you can be put under. Ridiculous! The malls should not allow this! Don’t we have a right to feel protected when we actually go to stores and purchase things we want and need? Have you ever had to negotiate a price in a real, honest store?
Ruth- Wow, you have anger issues and are racist. “some band of gypsies?” That is a pejorative. Look into the term, doll. While most of you are at it, look into the laws in your area. It seems most of you are angry because you lack will power. Instead of taking culpability for being talked into spending money you obviously don’t have, you blame the salesperson. How pathetic.
Ruth, how did you walk out of a store, physically, with the wrong product that they “forced down your throat?” Not buying it for a New York second. You sound like a house frau who was desperate to believe what a trained salesperson told you and read into the situation what you wanted … nay, needed to hear. You’re probably knee deep in cognitive dissonance.
If they “overcharged” your credit card for a felony amount (in most US states) why in the name of Zeus’s b**th**e did you not call the police and your credit card company? Don’t even try and tell me Visa, MC, etc does not allow that as I even am allowed to do so with my Chase Palladium and World MasterCard. So, they “threatened to call the police” of you wrote a review and you were naif enough to believe that? No wonder you bought the product.
YOU made the decision to “step into one of their liars” and now act as if you were forced. Yes, you made a bad decision and they were most likely high pressure sales people. The US is a capitalist society. I suggest you learn to function within that structure a bit better. Try using will power, learning to say NO and accepting YOUR part in a situation in which you played a role. Stop blaming everyone around you for YOUR behavior.
Lastly, just because a product does not work for YOU does not make it a scam or fraud. I have seen little to no evidence or cited sources that point to that premise. I was at a very exclusive shopping center this evening and had a young lady at Gold Elements stop me at the door as I was walking by for free samples.It is my birthday and I stated as much and told her how old I was. She didn’t believe me, as most people do not. She asked me to come in and I did, with my male best friend following. I had JUST spent over a $2,000.00 on Oud oil (agarwood tree) and some other essential oils as my BF and I make our own products. Yes, she was pushy but my friend and I played our usual banter that threw her for a loop and off kilter. By the time I left, I had a birthday gift, more samples than I need, and she was not about to push either of us … because we don’t kowtow to peer pressure, pleasing the world and societal norms nonsense. Take some culpability for your part in that transaction instead of trying to run the dozen as some Internet warrior. Unbelievable.
So now listen. Your 4 products is worth 40$ that is how much they pay for it. Now you have a real reason to get pissed.
I recently purchased ORO Gold products at a mall in Massachusetts, I felt like the sales person was very pushy and I did purchase some items and a “free” gift for $300, and your right I should have felt good about it but I was thinking…what the heck just happened!
Not only do they scam and are scummy but our local ORO Gold store employee, owner, etc took advantage of a vulnerable adult experiencing noticeable disabilities. The worker tricked the individual into thinking she was his girlfriend and within 1 hour took him to 3 ATMs and drove him to the bank stealing nearly $2,000 from him!! Her owner supports her actions and she was only “suspended” or so they say for a few days. She is back at work at ORO Gold and they support taking advantage of individuals ever piercing disabilities which is the lowest of low!
I just had terrible experience at the Oro Gold shop in Bond street in London.It was a nightmare but I liked the product for the eye care.The israeli salesman put so much pressure on us that at some point I felt completely unonfortable, i started to sweat and my heart started to pump fast.Thanks God i was able to excape but the salesman was viisibly upset.
Marga,
In response to your blog “- She says that she will be happy to send a refund to anyone who contacts her. Her e-mail is judy@mazalent.com” I’ve sent 3 emails explaining that I would like a refund of the Vine Vera products I purchased and why (product caused skin allergy) Judy White ignors my emails. This does not surprise me at all given the companies reputation and unethical business practice.
I sent an email to Judy as well and have not received a response. Has anyone had any luck or even a reply from Judy Whit at judy@mazalent.com ?
I have contacted this company via phone and explained my situation and difficulty in getting a refund for the products I purchased at the kiosk in The Oaks mall in Thousand Oaks, CA. I explained that I experienced skin irritation from the demo. Unfortunately, their response was that this was an individual business that has the right to set their own return policies. All they could do is contact this independent vendor and recommend that they work with me and allow the return of unopened and unused product.
I have contacted your company in Northridge CA. I explained that I had experienced an allergic reaction to the product Vine Vera. They told me that the individual Kiosks can set whatever refund/return policies they want. I was told they could only recommend to the individual Kiosk vendor that they work with me on my refund request. I have also contacted mall management and they are going to help me as well. They stated that they have had many complaints about the vendor Vine Vera and OROGOLD.
Orogold-
I was looking your company up online after my 12 year old daughter purchased some of your product. While visiting family out of state last summer she ended up spending all the money she just earned for “A’s” on her report card on your exfoliator that, at 12 years old, she absolutely did not need (and has scarcely used). I am not asking for a refund as this was a lesson learned for everyone involved. I hope this gets to your sales staff as to targeting children and teens. Granted, my daughter does not look her age (most girls do not now-a-days) but she obviously is not an adult.
I was shopping today and puchased the peel, night cream and face cleaner. After reading this, I do not want the stuff. Does anyone know who I can contact to return it, if that’s even possible to do? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
Hi, we have just had a great shopping experience at orogold in Garrick st in London. It is some of the best sales tactics I have come across in ages. Some might call it high pressure, but we were not made to feel pressured in any way. Of course these guys want to sell their product, why not? We had a wail of a time. Got two facials and spent a not unreasonable amount of money. Our experience was great. And to be quite frank if the level of service could be as good as this across the UK, the recession would be over much quicker. The product didn’t seem much more expensive than other high end brands. We will find out over time whether or not the quality is up to scratch.
Hi All,
Like all of you, I have experience the hard sales and intimidating staff, like you I have try to contact Judy, but no reply!!!!
Now it seems that they are in London!!!!
I guess I will never get my £250 back, but the question is how can we stop them and make sure that nobody do experience what we have experienced and shame them ?
All comment welcome, even from you Orogold!!! My intention is going to shame you!!
I feel lucky. I too was given the high pressure sale today at an Oro Gold kiosk in Florida. It started out with the eye gel and cream both for 199$ each. Then the exfoliant was thrown in for free. Then somehow just for me if I didn’t care about the box she could give me the 2 of them for 199$ because she couldn’t sell the one due to the damaged box. Then she would walk me over to the other store where she would sign me up for a free facial. I told her I had to discuss it with my husband and she seemed taken back and said, You have to ask your husband?. Of course I don’t have to but it gave me the opportunity to throw her off of her sales pressured pitch and allow me to regroup and walk away. I didn’t like where she said the gold starts working on the muscle etc. If it was that good a product they wouldn’t have to leave people feeling taken advantage of.
I was reeled into this store today at the Galleria…and damnit I bought the eye serum and the exfoliant…for a whopping $200. After reading this blog (which unfortunately I didn’t read earlier) I have decided I want to return for a full refund. I’ve emailed the above email to see if she will respond and I have high doubts she will. What do i do now? I have not opened the products…so can I get a refund even though on the receipt it says i can’t? That’s a bunch of BS. Please help out if anyone knows what the next step is.
hello,
I’m orogold representative in the Philippines.
i have noticed many of the concerns on this blog and i would be happy to clear a few of them, in behalf of orogold Philippines.
1. the sale’s staff in the Philippines is philippino only. sometimes we invite brazilian/ russain/ israeli managers to teach the philippinos about the products ingredients. we invite those who have experience with orogold international to guide us professionally.
2. we guide our sales personnel to be hospitable to our clients. they are approaching to clients, same as any real estate broker, perfume salesman, rustans sale people and many more concepts in manila. they do so because they believe they can offer a product with a great value for our clients. we were aware of ronnie’s incident and he is no longer connected with us.
3. orogold products are great, i use them myself. especially night cream and vitamin c serum. statistically, in our market, if a client will try it once, he will purchase again. most of you said so yourslefs
4. price – we have just been awarded best anti aging company in the Philippines. you are welcome to check it online philippinesbestcompanys.com golden globe annual award 2013, national data research and marketing services inc. we offer great value for our products, and our clients are very well aware of that
5. services – we give an amazing service – you can actually see what you get before you buy. say whatever you say, with us you can try, ask, check, the salesman will demo the product on your skin to try. you dont buy a box from a shelf – you buy something you understand. returning policy for our cosmetics products it is a little more complex. we cannot resale it after you returned it, unlike many other products. yet we do grant refunds in some cases. we are accessible for any concerns thru our website orogoldcosmetics.ph and our facebook page orogold cosmetics Philippines and any of our branches
6. we are aware that there are some concerns in some countries abroad about pushiness, and we are sorry if some of you got offended. we handle fast and direct with misbehavior with our sales staff here. i will be happy to reply or assist in the communication channels i suggested before. any comments and concerns will be received with much appreciation.
have a wonderful day
exactly. i could have answered “judys” questions as well and i am just a sales representative.
thank you for posting this, this is what people dont get.
hello
i was walking in the airport in Johannesbourg and I just had few hours of sleeping when a young girl went to invite me for her wonderful orogold product…. I sit, she started to put me cream for one eyes…and she started to confuse me with all her prices…I was to tired to understand the real price with my own currency and i just told her, i will see later, i m tired….and she left me. i called her back for my other eyes…She did it with a very bad face and did not talk to me again….No bye bye….
And you know what….i was looking at her properly and she had a very bad skin…..
hi Lauren,
please contact me thru email
info@val-you.ph
tnaks
I have contacted judy@mazalent.com and i actually got a reply from one of her customer Service team memebers :”Thank you for your email. We appreciate your feedback and your email to Judy White, the customer relations director. My name is Mary and I am a customer service representative and will helping you with your claim. Customer service is very important to us and we would like to address it. Please call me at 877-554-1777 or provide us with your contact information to provide us with more information, in order to process a claim. Thank you.” But just FYI, the number doesn’t work. I have asked her to send me another number to call her on and I will update you all if I manage to get somewhere with this!!
It sounds like Judy is no longer with them. I wonder if she was fired for reaching out to me, or whether she quit in disgust.
Asley!you do accuse ppl of racism while the matter does not have to do with anyones race! That a poor tactic as Orogold shops.
Today the guy offered me a demonstration of the cosmetics and then tried to make me feel guilty that he let me to try such an expensive products and I don’t want to buy it when in fact I didn’t ask him to demonstrate it. Not ethical tactics-no matter what nation!
Hi Marg,
WELL I must say I am also very confused over all this reading bad and good I purchased OROGOLD products
24K Vitamin C Booster Facial Serum (Using)I have found this to be quite good
24K Cell Renewal Night Cream (Using)This seems to be good on my face and complection
24K Deep Peeling (haven’t used this as yet)
I was actually going in this morning to purchase the 24K Moisturizing Cream and the eye Serum BUT now I unsure of doing this. I usually use OmeVeda and this has been great has really balanced out my completion I just thought with the changing of the weather winter time try anew one, the sales reps are from Perth Western Australia and have been up here in the North West Port Hedland I had a sales lady I didn’t find her pushy at all I did say to her that her sales pinch was great just like she was reading of a running script and yes it is expensive but haha they do drop the prices to get you interested I actually had a look at the receipt after reading this and there is no where on it that says “No Returns” I also was given a $99.00 dollar vouchert o go into the store Murray Street Perth WA (Customer copy receipt (DA Vinci Makeup)hmmm do I get the other products I was going to??????
Totally Confused
I would not buy the 24K moisturizing cream. Even leaving aside how slimy this company is, that particular product is way overpriced for what it is. I copied the ingredients in the cream in one of my comments. As you can see they are pretty common ingredients. It’s nice that the cream is based on sunflower oil rather than the mineral oil many cheaper creams are based on, but that’s not a particularly expensive oil either. The two main ingredients are water and glycerin.
My advice when buying a moisturizer is to look at the ingredients rather than the brand name and go for value for your money. I’m sure there are many local product lines in Australia that make great products for less than Oro Gold. I’d go for that.
Wow, same experience with hard sale and creepy sales people at a local mall today. I walked away without buying anything but only after the two for one offer on an exfoliator (which he claimed would last two years) and a moisturizer (which was supposed to last one year), and a “gift” of a lavender soap bar. I didn’t think it was worth 178 dollars, and resented the pushy sales techniques. Having said that, the store was packed, so obviously it works on a lot of people.
The Story – The Good – The Bad – The Ugly
Just finished my first jar of exclusive OroGold Day Creme. I am 62 and I was seriously thinking about visiting a Med Spa. I have good genes and have always had good skin tone and because of my oily skin, I do not have wrinkles or lines. But I hit the brick wall of aging and I was determined not to let my natural beauty go by the way side and look like the many eyesores of society that do nothing to better themselves.
I was in that mind-set while in Waikiki at the Hilton Hawaiian Village when I walked by the OroGold store. While I could not deny my needs and the sample results, I was appalled at the carnival actions of the people that were like gypsy style of tricky, hard sell, underhanded, conniving, low-life style of manipulation.
Even with how much I detested their sales methods and felt dirty when I walked out, I could not walk away from my need to do something for my loss of youthful sagging skin and to do it without surgery and injections. So, I bought the five jar Exclusive set and took it back home with me. I used it a little and then stopped because I could not figure out the best way to include it into my previous skincare line that is the best in the World ( Epecuren ). The set sat there for months and finally, I decided to just use the OroGold Day Creme, every morning. Every day my face was improving and right before my eyes.
List of Improvements:
Firmer fuller skin tome
Smaller pores
Full lips
Lifting
Supple youthful skin.
Acne scarring on right cheek completely disappeared.
Skin on throat improving.
Eye area overall improvement in skin tone.
I purchased this OroGold on 12/12/12 for my 62nd B.D. and only 3 months ago I began to use the Day Creme every day. It is 5/28/13 and I have been in Waikiki for 2 wks. and last night I ran out of my Day Creme and I was frantic. My Husband began to search online to find the best pricing but I told him, I need it NOW – I can’t wait. We are not at the HHV and we did not want to drive there so he went on line and found a Scoop posting which revealed OroGold to have also opened up in The Sheraton Waikiki.
WE WERE NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING TO DEAL WITH THE PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED TYPES OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE PRODUCT LINE. BUT THE PRODUCT WORKS AND IT CHANGES YOU LOOKS FOR THE BETTER.
WE decided to call first and when I called, I asked for a price match of $128. for another jar. I know there are other products for each part of the face and I have the but I have just been using the Day Creme for convenience of traveling with one jar.
The products i have are NOT related to the Dead Sea Mineral line. Mine are made in Italy. We all know that Italians can be hard nosed and very abrasive. Remember the Italian Mafia in the U.S. Just speculating that they really do not understand how to market to Americans.
My Epecuren brand of skincare is all plant and fruit based ad organic. OroGold has Chemicals but it shows visable improvement.
If you go to a MedSpa, you will get all kinds of chemicals, surgery and injections.
For me, I am sticking with OroGold and I deal firmly with the sales reps and outsmart them.
I read most of the posts and the one thing that is lacking in each one is they do not have the experience or confidence in having seen great results with the product as I have. Go for it if you want to stay out of the MedSpas and give your bank account a rest.
Do not fall for there junk sales routines and become informed.
I
Actually, the Israeli origin of Mazal Enterprises and Oro Gold has been confirmed. See the article below. And isn’t it interesting that they lied about it? When I spoke with Judy, she swore that the only relationship Mazal had to Israel was that the owners were Jewish.
http://www.jewocity.com/blog/oro-gold-cosmetics-thrives-in-global-cosmetic-market/8456
As for where the product is made, mine say “made in the USA”, but it’s not inconceivable that they may have multiple manufacturing facilities (or rather, contract with manufacturers).
Hi DC,
Since you seem distraught by the condition of your skin, I wanted to offer you my opinion on skin care: the best skin care is not in a bottle or at a doctor’s office, but simply in our diets. Lots of vegetables, especially fresh veggies on a daily basis will detoxify the skin and give you a glow. Add to this healthy fats such as coconut, avocado, olive oil, nuts, and chocolate (sugar-free only). Eat no sugar and no carbs. Protein in moderation. This diet will smooth out wrinkles and give you a healthy, youthful vibrance. I am 41, use no skincare products and don’t have any wrinkles. I’ve been curious to try non-invasive laser facials such as Skin Laundry, but that’s about it. I don’t know how I found myself in an OroGold store since I am the last person to buy a skincare product, but they have a very slick sales tactic (I had no trouble saying no just b/c I know what real skincare is all about, but I feel bad for all the people who get suckered!!) Google Carol Alt, who’s in her 50’s, and you can see the benefits of a good diet. I’ve heard her speak and she is really passionate about the importance of fresh food for good skin, so I’m fairly confident that she doesn’t do plastic surgery. Best of luck to you! 🙂
I have no doubts that a good diet does marvels for your skin. So do good genes. And, in the case of wrinkles, your past and present exposure to the sun. But I’m very weary of using any celebrities as proof of anything, mostly because we see them perfectly made up and through the eyes of a camera. So I looked up Carol Alt, who started as a very beautiful woman, and came out with this article: http://answerguy.com/2011/07/29/truth-advertising-carol-alt-julia-roberts-lancome/ What I didn’t find is any other photos of her without makeup. Now, it’s not like I doubt that a woman can look beautiful and (almost) wrinkle free in her 50’s, she actually looks a lot like my sister in law who at 50+ looks at least 10 years younger (and is very careful about her diet). But Carol doesn’t seem to feel confident enough to go out without makeup.
In regards to the owners being Israeli, who cares. It is known Worldwide that the Jewish People have the blessing of Abraham upon them and no matter what there tactics they will be leaders in everything good and bad.
In regards to the product being made in the USA, I wish it wasn’t because the FDA is the enemy of the true American people as they are killing us all with toxins they allow in everything. This is why I always use non-toxic Epecuren products. there are some things that simply can’t be done at this time with out adding chemicals because must people are not careful with their jars of products and because it is too costly to do things in a healthier way.
I know a lot about everything that is applied to the body or ingested in the body. No one is any worse than the FDA except China.
Before I purchased this product i went on line and did my research.
I too have mixed feelings about OROGOLD andI recently experienced the same “joyful” sales tactics as many mentioned above at an OROGOLD store at the Galleria Mall in Dallas, TX. After several “no’s,” I ended up spending $300 on three products (eye serum, exfoliant, and facial moisturizer). I left the store with a sick feeling of buyers remorse and almost felt bullied but justified the purchase to myself because it seemed the product worked and I felt as if I got a deal.
Well it’s now two weeks after my purchase I have really noticed a difference on my skin and more importantly, MANY of my family and friends have all commented on how “radiant” I look. I’m a mother of a 10week old and 18month old , so sleep is something of a luxury these days. Point is, I am really enjoying the products, my skin feels great and I love the way it smells and I truly see a difference.
I struggle referring friends to the OROGOLD store due to their sleazy sales tactics. I wish they would just sell the product like most reputable cosmetic companies. If I will buy the product again is yet to be determined. I was emotinally drained after walking out of the store.
Hi I got scammed at Oro Gold at Outrigger Reef on the Beach Honolulu whilst on holidays a couple of weeks ago. Had just checked in after a 9 hour flight and decided to check out the shops at Outrigger. I was called over initially to try a sample – big mistake! Next thing I know another lady appeared and I’m seated in a chair while she applies cream around my eyes! Granted I did see an improvement , under my eye looked less puffy. I said no not gonna buy then she offers me a “free” facial. I told her I would come back tomorrow – no only on offer if you buy something now. Probably because I was tired after my flight she eventually wore me down(it’s what they do!!) and I walked out with about $300 worth of products! I immediately went up to our room and burst into tears I felt like such an idiot. I didn’t go back for the facial and spent the rest of my holiday avoiding the shop! To be fair I DO like the products but have seen them much cheaper on Amazon. In summary it’s the hard sell tactics I hate and for those if you who say to just walk away its not that easy! I should be a me to browse through the mall without being accosted by these crooks! We also have them over here in Australia but as the Dead Sea or Seacret products. I have seen them at various Westfields and have managed to avoid them. I have never ever ever seen this sorts of sales tactics in my whole 52 years! Never again!
hi ..im a costumer of orogold for years and i can tell you that from reading about the company most of the compline is about the service and about the refund policy. non of those about the products.. because the products are amazing and the actually work have you ever hard about the problematic mask for acne??! it gave my child a smile on his face when he needed to go to school so not everything is bad. I also got a full refund when I needed in south moulton street and they were nice about that.
its funny, i have easy answers to most of those questions you asked judy. they’re really very simple and i now wonder if you made up that conversation and judy for that matter. i mean really i do. im 21 years old born and raised in america. i work at these kiosks, i sell these products. i work alongside these terrible jews everyday eleven hours a day. i also look up to these terrible jews and am now open minded, keen in sales, and in love with the product as well as the high commission vigorous sales.
you know what the problem is? its not us, and i say US bc use the same vigorous sales techniques the “israeli’s” use. the problem is YOU and BUYERS REMORSE. these people are classy, intelligent, driven people. i’ve learned so much from them and hope to in the future.
i also hope to stop you, make you feel a little less alone, because obviously this purchase has excited you to the point of making very serious accusations and therefore you have no life, and sell you hundreds of dollars worth of products in the near future:) bc i can do so easily and the product is good. seeyou in your nearest shopping mall soooon:)
What they sell is plain quackery used to fool the naive and gullible masses. With the exception of gold, which does nothing chemically or medically to your skin, all other ingredients are typical for cosmetic products. How much are they paying you to post here?
the salesperson told you it was good, now this lonely blogger is telling you its bad. now you are extremely conflicted. not only are you the perfect customer because your blatant inability to try the product that you bought and create your own opinion, you are gullable lauren. try it instead. you’ll be happy with it.
Wow! I’m absolutely amazed! Here I thought I got a good deal. Yikes!
I was approached by a male sales person in the Mall here in Southern California this past weekend. I thought him a bit aggressive BUT not rude. I told him to hurry and bottom line it for me because I had somewhere to go and I was in a hurry. I gave him a few minutes because I didn’t want to be completely rude; and like I said he was not rude to me.He told me he was an Israli and asked my ethnicity and age. I said was African American and 62. I was not offended by him asking at all. While he was applying the face peel on my wrist he asked how much I would pay for a good skin peel. I told him I don’t use a lot of products on my face and people tell me ALL THE TIME, I have good skin. I told him . . . AND that is BECAUSE I don’t use a lot of products on my face.
Long story short, I did buy a jar of the peel. I was sucked into being amazed at the dead skin, i.e. glue =:-( being rubbed from my wrist and the area looked lighter! But an oatmeal mask will do the same thing!
Anyway his quoted price was $75 for the face peel but because he ‘liked me’ he would sell it to me for $65. He did not pressure me to buy anything else. AND, then he gave me another jar ‘free’. ‘Free’ means I paid $33 for both jars.
If he had quoted a price of $149/per jar initially . . I would have been soooooo out of there! Because isn’t there a number or a limit to what you will spend/pay on the ‘to good to be true’ stuff? I know I have a walk away number! All things considered, I only paid $30/per jar AND I said ‘yes’ to that. I was willing to live with that. Because I could have just as easily said NO THANK YOU, I’m not interested and did my about face!!! I’m gonna finish using the peel to take whatever dead skin it does take off of my face and chalk it up to ‘lesson learned’.
As far as the unethical sales and customer serivce tactics that some have experienced,you have the responsibiity and right to walk away from rude people! ‘Just say no’.
The product is not Israeli. It is manufactured in the USA & the gold is from Italy. Many of the salespeople are Israeli. The ones I dealt with were very nice & not at all pushy. They did speak a lot of absolute crap about the products. Fortunately I had already checked out all the ingredients and they are all really effective. I don’t believe for 1 minute that the gold penetrates the skin & does all things the sales lady said it would do. But the other ingredients are fabulous – collagen, vitamins, herbs, aloe Vera, dmae etc. nothing wrong with Israelis selling the product if they are approved to work legally. Someone just taught them some very crappy sales techniques that will only do long term damage to the brand image, no matter how good the products.
Wow, you have a chemist? I doubt you can “have” a chemist the same way you can have a butler.
I don’t think racism means what you think it means. Everybody hates fraudulent practices, it doesn’t have anything to do with ethnicity or religion.
Another victim or good value for money bargain.
At this stage don’t know. Walked passed kiosk in Westfield down-town San Francisco, half an hour later bag of items, peel, day and night scrub another bottle not even sure what that was and two polished up fingernails with the kit to do the rest myself and $300 less on the credit card.
Been overworked and my 49 year old skin was showing it. Puffy eyes from too much computer work and late night’s. Skin looked better. Price is not unreasonable if it’s a good product.
But hey ten out of ten to the hot Israeli chick that served me. Yes it was pushy. Yes said no multiple times, yes got the “free samples”, look what others paid tactics.
Hopefully the snake oil works, but Adi was a real charmer.
I give the product the benefit of doubt and will use it. I’ve wasted more money in my life for less than the half an hour of flirting and pampering I received today.
Many people do report that the products work. And even if they are not miracle workers in themselves, now that you spent $300 on them, you might as well use them. And using the products is likely to be better than not using anything at all. And if you’re spending $300 to put things on your face, why not go the extra step to help your skin by watching what you put in you a bit more? Drink more water, eat more food with vitamins A, C and E, and your skin will look better 🙂
Thank you for posting. I had the exact same horrible experience (as described by so many of the other posters) at the Mall of America earlier today. I felt so violated and ripped off. I literally felt like I was being “mugged”..but without a gun. Sadly, they got my fifty bucks and I left the mall feeling violated, defeated, and cheated. Not only that…but gross…as the sales man kept telling me what a sexy woman I am and standing uncomfortably close. These people disgust me!
These folks ran the most annoying kiosk in our local mall for months before graduating to a store… But the salespeople still lurk outside the entrance and try to rope in everyone who walks past. A coworker of mine asked, just for fun, what qualified one to work there… She used to work for Sephora and is a very pretty, intelligent, elegant, stylish and well put-together African-American woman. The salesman asked her how old she was, then proceeded to say that everyone else was “much younger,” so she would feel very out of place. Here’s the kicker: she’s twenty-three!!
Is this related to Vine Vera? I got douped into buying a $59.99 peeling product and $15 body soap. As soon as I walked away from the kiosk I looked up the brand and immediately saw several scam and ripoff google results. I immediately marched back to the kiosk and requested a refund. I was told they don’t allow refunds (he actually said there was an FDA rule which is complete BS) and I responded with a request for him to call his manager because I felt very uncomfortable having been victim to their aggressive tactics and that he would not offer a refund minutes later. It was not surprising that the refund was refused again. The hilarious thing was that he encouraged me to try the product and if I wasn’t satisfied to return and exchange it for the $1200 mask product (a $1200 mud mask – ha! I seriously hope no one actually buys into that ridiculous price). I walked away and told them I would be calling my credit card company. Moments later Bank of America informed me that they would process a refund and that the only way that a refund would be denied was if I was given clear written notice of the policy before my purchase, which obviously never happened. I will be getting a refund. I suggest everyone go directly to their credit card companies as well.
Thanks for this advice-
I purchased Vivo Per Lei Dead Sea Minerals Facial Peeling. The woman who sold me this product utilized the exact same approach as many of you have mentioned. She was from Israel (I asked) and the ingredients on my Vivo product match the ingredients on the Oro Gold product, with the exception of ‘gold’ being replaced by Dead Sea Salt and Dead Sea Water.
I didn’t want to buy this product- it seemed questionable to me how so much ‘skin’ could be rubbed off with virtually zero effort from a small section of my arm. It is summer time and my arms are exposed every day, any dead skin would naturally flake off gradually throughout the day, in the shower, etc. I knew it didn’t make sense. In addition, I’ve never used any product on my face other than soap and water (not even a moisturizer). I was sucked in. I’ve never bought a beauty product from a kiosk. After I bought it, the first thing I said to the Israeli woman who sold it to me was -‘I can’t believe I bought this; I don’t even want it’. She started the price at $89. and sold it to me for $30. I was aware of all her sales tactics the entire time. Yet somehow, I still found myself purchasing it. I found this product to be questionable before I even purchased it and the little research I have done online is confirming my initial inclination. I would like to do something about this. Advice appreciated.
I will just repeat what I wrote before. I think I would go to them and say you want a refund. If you don’t get it contact 1) the City Attorney for the city where the kiosk was, in particular if it’s a big city where the City Attorney might deal with consumer complaints (e.g. San Francisco), 2) your state’s Attorney General and 3) the consumer reporter from your local TV news. When you contact the latter let them know about this thread.
This thread seems to have gotten quiet, but I would like to say thank you for putting together such a informative blog post.
Yesterday I went to my local mall in Massachusetts (US) and got stopped by one of their kiosks. If you are an average human being who is respectful to people it is really hard to tell these very demanding and pushy people off. I got the stare down, inching closer and closer, non stop talking and the whole deal with the lower of the price and whispering “deals” into my ears. And actually pushing the product onto me and making me hold it. They do guilt trip you an try to manipulate you.
Yes my sales person was also Israeli.
I did not get warped into the buying facial product because I just started seeing a dermatologist and using medicated soaps. And I would never ever spend that much for beauty products. She did bend me and I bought one of their manicure sets for $20 after the sales lady priced it first at like $70-60. She was trying to sell the peel and moisturizer to me for like $124+, claiming to give me the moisturizer as a free gift.
Yes I am young but so cheap that I saved myself from being totally ripped off. I know scams exist, but didn’t give much thought about them being in more what I thought were legit places like malls and being this BAD. I used the buffer from the manicure set and I feel like it did not work as well as the one the sales lady demonstrated.
I am also questioning if I was even sold the REAL product. The nail file, nail buffer, and cuticle oil does not have the company’s name on it like I see online after researching.
So – I bought the Vivo Per Lei (Dead Sea Minerals) manicure set green apple, the name on my receipt and bag said Vine Vera, and their computer said Oro Gold.
For $20 I learned a valuable lesson and found lots of interesting articles to read. And well I will use it up because I do my nails a lot.
I will pass the word on and may even go write a complaint to the mall. I don’t have much of a claim but there plenty of complaints and reports out on the web.
I was just pulled into the 57th street store in NYC. The sales guy did the same thing that you talked about in your article. He even tried to sell me the product with his fake employee discount. I said no. Product just too expensive. When people are so pushy you know something is not right. Will never buy their product. I want to bring this article and leave it at their store.
I believe another branch in this convoluted mess is Vine Vera which is reputed to be an associated product line. The same kiosk and aggressive tactics applied, the same words used etc. I was lured in despite having a background in sales…perhaps my vanity and my recent transition to my late forties played a part; however, did purchase the product under the false impression it was refundable. Also the product I received did not resemble the product demonstrated and when I asked the salesman about it he brushed me off by saying the product package he used was a sample one. The small print of “No Refunds” only showed up after my credit card was swiped! I requested a refund to no avail. I then emailed as per the Vine Vera website, within 30 minutes I received a text message Smishing Scam requesting information on a bank credit card….the very bank card I had provided to the kiosk salesman. I attempted to call the phone number on the site and reached what sounded like a teenage kids voice mail. A reputable company stands by their products and offers refunds because they understand that good customer service is the cornerstone of good business. A dissatisfied customer is bad press and can ruin a business very quickly by vocalizing their unhappiness. I think the company hopes that most of us are too embarrassed to openly admit they were taken in by false claims and that we all chock it up to just a bad lack and move on. I am tempted to let it go, but I work hard and I resent being taken advantage of in this way.
I wish I found this site earlier…I went to San Francisco for business for the past few days, I happened to have a few hours to kill so I walked into the Westfield mall. I have never heard of Orogold before as I don’t live in US. Yes my sales person was also Israeli. The sales practice was so strange, they will offer you huge discount and keep giving you freebies…I told the staff that I can’t afford it, but she kept asking me if I like it or not. During the whole process, I was not being told about their sales policy, no refund, exchange only until I looked at the receipt. I called their customer service and filed a complaint and also spoke to their manager at the booth on my last day in the city. I’ve also sent my complaint email to the manager that I spoke to today. I am so worry that I cannot get my refund back…
the products might be a good one but their sales practice is awful and it just entirely ruined my experience.
I am a Canadian and don’t live in US, what should I do now? Any help would be truly appreciated. Thanks
I still think going to the TV station – asking for the consumer affairs reporter for your local news – is probably your best bet.
Don’t trust this post this person works for the company. This company is the worst and refuses to give refunds though they promise if u don’t like their product they will
wow I read a lot of blogs and am always curious of the comments. This whole comment section is “sketchy” to say the least. The first lady wrote a book on this product just because she felt the sales people were pushy. She went thru a whole lot of trouble on her comment with follow up for being a passerby “lost customer” upset with the sales tactics. I am gonna call a spade a spade. The comment section is a hoax, they all occurred close to the same time and the length of the post was ungodly long for such a pissy complaint. ORO gold has either a competitor, an enemy or something. This is not normal for so many comments like this. I read high profile articles all the time and get disappointed for lack of comments and then I see all this! HAHA nope something is going on here. I have been by these kiosks several times and I am in my 40’s and the first lady who said she was 43 YES you looked your age or they wouldnt of stopped you in the first place. But this seems like personal issues of some sort. My gf bought this stuff has had it for less than 6 months and it has changed her skin she is a health freak and knows her stuff and swears by it. Are the sales people pushy? Yes! But thats how the Israeli’s are and that is why they are some of the wealthiest people on the earth.
I hesitated before approving this comment because it seems to me that it’s likely to come from Oro Gold itself. It has an untraceable IP address, which suggests someone trying to hide their real identity.
Be that as it may, I figure there was no harm in answering the “suspicious”.
This blog is under my real name and, as far as I know, I’m the only Marga Lacabe in the world. I’ve been online for twenty years, so it’s easy to find everything about me, including the fact that I am not a competitor and that I say what I think. In my professional life, I’m a human rights activist. While taking advantage of customers is not in the same league than torturing or killing people, it’s a pretty horrible thing. And doing so by harassing, humiliating and lying to customers is particularly contemptible. The least I could do when I learned about this, is follow up and try to figure out what Oro Gold was really up to.
As for the comments, they have been left during a period of a year. How many are posted at any one time depends on Google. At one time this article made it to the first page of Google if you searched for “oro gold”, and there were lots of comments. Now, it’s pretty buried, so there are few. Instead you can find comments like these ones on this more recent blog post.
I bought several of these producs and felt scammed. So I googled “orogold” + “scam” and this blog pops up. And I swear, everything she writes …. SO TRUE!
And I think the people behind Orogold write comments everywhere… on Amazon, blogs, yelp.. you name it! I also believe that they write plenty of comments on their own Facebook page. Most of the comments are the same “uuuuh, I loved person X at the X mall today”. Bullshit.
I had an awful experience with this store last night at the Galleria in Dallas. They offered me a sample as I walked by with my daughter, and I accepted. Saleswoman then asked if she could show me something else. I consented and let her apply eye products and ooh and ah over the immediate difference (it looked moderately more hydrated). I thought her explanations of the science were hilarious, but no different than other cosmetic company puffery (hint: collagen doesn’t penetrate skin. It’s too big!). She then explains the two products are $250 each but they are on special today for buy one get one free. I asked how long the promotion lasted, and she said just for today. Alarm bells started going off, so I told her it was simply outside my budget. She then insisted on showing me other things. She then asked for my favorite. I told her, and she then dropped the price further. I told her no, and she dropped it again. At that point, I thought it was insane that a mall store would have a product that supposedly retailed for $250 that she was willing to sell for $75. There is no way they expect to see it for that much, and I think it is highly deceptive to inflate a price in order to make a customer believe it is a bargain. I scooped up my child and hightailed out of there. I then googled it when it arrived home and found this and other articles with the same complaints about the high-pressure, unethical tactics. I’m glad I didn’t hand over my credit card.
Avoid this place. If the products are as good as they say, they would have up-front pricing and clear disclosures of any special promotions – it wouldn’t be a “buy right now or the offer goes away” type of offer. No retail establishment does that. There are many good skin care brands at a variety of price points from companies that offer returns and do not have high pressure tactics.
I called the general manager of the Galleria to complain today. This can’t be the environment it wants to offer its customers.
I had an awful experience with this store last night at the Galleria in Dallas. They offered me a sample as I walked by with my daughter, and I accepted. Saleswoman then asked if she could show me something else. I consented and let her apply eye products and ooh and ah over the immediate difference (it looked moderately more hydrated). I thought her explanations of the science were hilarious, but no different than other cosmetic company puffery (hint: collagen doesn’t penetrate skin. It’s too big!). She then explains the two products are $250 each but they are on special today for buy one get one free. I asked how long the promotion lasted, and she said just for today. Alarm bells started going off, so I told her it was simply outside my budget. She then insisted on showing me other things. She then asked for my favorite. I told her, and she then dropped the price further. I told her no, and she dropped it again. At that point, I thought it was insane that a mall store would have a product that supposedly retailed for $250 that she was willing to sell for $75. There is no way they expect to sell it for that much, and I think it is highly deceptive to inflate a price in order to make a customer believe it is a bargain. I scooped up my child and hightailed out of there. I then started googling and read this post and others detailing the same unethical business practices. Thank you for posting this!
To anyone reading, Avoid This Place. If the products are as good as they say, they would have up-front pricing and clear disclosures of any special promotions. There are many good skin care brands at a variety of price points from companies that offer returns and do not have high pressure tactics. I called the general manager of the Galleria to complain today. This can’t be the environment it wants to offer its customers.
I had a very similar experience at the Oro Gold store in New Bond St, London, England on 21 Nov 2013. Prices seemed to be completely flexible, but in the end I still paid an enormous amount of money – I’m embarrassed now to say how much. In theory, of course, I could have simply walked out, but it was all a terrifically hard sell and the saleswoman had been trained in the same manipulative techniques that others have mentioned when complaining of this brand (e.g. ‘I’ll give you my employee’s 50% discount, but don’t tell anyone else’).
I thought for a while it may not have been an actual scam, but just a very poor business model: i.e. reducing prices for first-time customers could work as a hook for expensive products, but I was surprised that they were not interested in keeping client details, as if they knew I’d never come back. Clearly there’s no long-term plan, other than finding new people to dupe.
A bit of googling revealed an astoundingly young group of people behind Oro Gold and nothing official about the company itself.
Even if the product turns out to be better than average, I will certainly never buy another Oro Gold product.
CAVEAT EMPTOR!!
I was a victim of consumer fraud at the newly opened Orogold store in the Gardenstate Plaza mall in Paramus, NJ. Although I have now disputed the charges with my credit card, I want the warning to go out there to all consumers in New Jersey and all around the country to avoid this compamy at all costs! They are a bunch of slick con artists who have absolutely no regard for doing business in a legal or ethical way. Last week., I was at the mall buying something I had planned on getting for my upcoming birthday and I was in a relaxed and unguarded mood when I was approached by this man with an accent. He spoke to me as if he was my friend which I did not buy into but my defenses were down and I agreed to let him apply eye serum to my one eye. He went into his whole schpiel and even though I kept saying no, he kept saying how the product was not that expensive considering it would last for 2 years. I hesitated and he then asked me if I was a nurse.I said no and he looked at me knowingly and said, “Answer me again. Are you a nurse?” I said no again and he shook his head and said, “Come on. Are you a nurse?” So I kind of laughed and said yes because obviously he wanted me to play along. Then the product was 1/2 priced. So I agree to give it a try, thinking that I had gotten a decent price even though it was still kind of pricey. Then he was continuing to chat me up and saying I should come into their newly opened store so he could give me some more samples. So I reluctantly followed him into the store. There he had me sit and he examined my face very closely. He offered me first some water and then shook his head and suggested champagne since it was my birthday month. I laughed nervously and shrugged. He then gave me another schpiel how he was going to apply treatment to half of my face so I could see how well their other products work. I protested that I defintely could not spend any more money that day. He shushed me and started applying treatment to the right side of my face. At tis point, I was a little worried because I had an appointment in an hour and I wanted to get a bite to eat before I went. But he had already applied things to my face and had put a glass of champagne in my hand. Then he whisked me to the back, saying it was free there now and I could lay on the table and relax for a few minutes while the mask on my face did its magic. He then talked of Denise Richards who endorses them and said Dr. Oz recommends their products. All the while still talking to me as if I was a long time friend. When he took the treatment off my face, he gave me a mirror and was positively glowing about how incredibly better the right side of my face looked than the left! My head was a little light from the champagne since I had not yet had lunch and I agreed with him because it did look better. Then he told me the price of the package he put on me and my jaw dropped. No, I can’t! He protested, did I not like the product. I said I liked it just fine but I had to go and I couldn’t afford to spend that kind of money. He was then going, “What would you rate it?” I said, “Maybe an 8″ because at that moment I was impressed. He insisted hat he really wanted me to use their product so he would bring down the price and he proceeded to cut the price in half. It was still too steep and I said no. Then he whispered in my ear, “I’m not supposed to do this but I really like you and I want you to use our product because I know you will have good results and you will tell all your friends. But please do not tell anyone you got it for this price.” He then took a card and scanned it thru the machine and claimed it was his employee card for an employee discount. The price was now about 1/3. He then said he would minus the price I had already paid for the eye treatments I had already purchased. It was still too much money. but I was late and now I was a little torn. I thought to myself, “Maybe I’ll take it home and think about it. I could always return it.” Those were the thoughts in my head so I agreed and he took my card. My heart was thumping because I had just spent $1000 on skin products. Yes, maybe it was for 1 year or more but still, it was alot of money. Already I was starting to feel some buyers remorse but I was in a rush and after posing for a picture with them, feeling like I was in shock, I left.
When I got home later after my acupuncture appointment, I took out my purchase. Then I examined the receipt. I saw that it said “No Returns. Exchange in 14 days”. My heart dropped. He had never mentioned this no return policy to me once! Feeling depressed, I went online and googled Orogold. Behold the first suggested search was “Orogold scam!” My heart dropped more. I searched for a review and the first onethat popped up was, “Beward of Orogold”. And I kept seeing post after post of complaints about Orogold from all around the globe from the US to Canada to England to Sweden to the Philipines. Feeling depressed with being stuck with unaffordable skin care products I decided to open the treatment ad treat the other half of my face to see if I could see a dramatic change like they showed in the store. Guess what? There was no dramatic change and then it occured to me. They had tricked me. Everyone had one side of the face that is better than the other. The left side sees more sun if you drive so the right side is the better, less sun damaged side and thus has fewer blemishes or fine lines. The skin also looks brighter on that side. I was busy with other things too and I tried to go about my day while I also stressed about how I was going to pay off $1000 without my husband notcing since I did not want to upset him with the stupid mistake I had made.
But after pondering all the hundreds of stories and complaints from all over the globe about Oro-gold, I thought to myself that this could not possibly be legal! So I looked up NJ cnsumer protection laws and sure enough I found that I had been a clear victim of consumer fraud since they had misrepresented their prices, deceived me about the product and concealed the material fact that the products were non-refundable. I was in the right and they were in the wrong. I called my credit card company and they suggested I go back to them and give them a chance to make it right. So I did along with my friend who came for moral support. The moment they saw that I was upset with them they started acting like they were the victims and did not understand why I was so angry. I informed them that they had broken consumer laws and that I wanted to speak with their manager. The told me that was not possible because he was out of town. How convenient! They then kicked my girlfriend out of the store because she was trying to video the proceedings. THey then tried to reason with me but I stood my ground and threatened legal action. THey then threatened to call security. I am a petite Asian woman. Maybe they thought they could intimidate me since my friend was no longer in the store. I said, “Go ahead. You’re the ones who brok the law.” At which point, a customer slipped out of the store. They then changed their tack and said that they really wished to help me but could not do so themselves. I needed to call an 877 number, a number I had called the day befrore and gotten an automated message telling me to leave my name and number and that I would get a callback which never came! They promised me that this time the call would come.So I called and left a message demanding my money back in their presence.
I then left the store, upset and shaking but I had held myself together because there was no way I was going to cry in front of them. I walked away a bit with my girlfriend who was trying to calm me down and we called my credit card company to dispute the charge. This is when I burst into tears. I have never felt so victimized in my life. How do people just blatantly flaunt the law and then when faced with the consequences, behave the way they do. The credit card company informed me that since I had already given the merchant a chance that they would fight for me. I told them that these people must not get my money because they are a bunch of crooks. After I had calmed down, I also reported this incident to mall management. Mall Management was sympathetic but confessed they could not do much more than have mall security keep an eye on them. Why would they toleate a tenant that is committing consumer fraud? This is a lawsuit waiting to happen.
I plan to file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and report them to the Division of Consumer Affairs in NJ. I also plan to post anywhere and everywhere I can on the internet about what a shady bunch of scam artists they are. I feel foolish to have been conned this way. I will never again speak to anyone who tries approach me with any kinds of products in the mall. What they are doing is wrong and illegal and consumers need to be warned about Oro-Gold. Hopefully they will get kicked out of the mall.
Hi everyone, I am in the same situation like what people post here. Today, I went shopping with my grandma and my mom. And then we saw a girl handing out free sample in front of the store. My mom and my grandma went to her to get the same and somehow when I looked back at them they were walking into the store. So i went in with them. The girl demonstrated the deep peel onto my mom’s hand. We saw the look-like dead skin come out and the girl kept commenting about how the product change my mom’s skin. Then she took us to the counter. I decided to pay for the deep peel as a gift for my mom bc she was still hesitate (plus I heard my friend bought a cream mix with gold in korean for her mom with much higher price and she said it was really good so I thought why not buying this product for my mom). Then I ask about the product for dark circle. And the girl introduce me to another lady who was told to work at holywood. The lady gave us a demo with a eye set. Then we asked for the price which was told to be $498. At this point we didnt want to buy them because it’s expensive. We say no but the lady kept give us promotion and freebies. But my mom said she didn’t want it so we turn and walk straight out. After going home there was some thing that urge me to google the brand and all negative comment appear. Now I don’t know what to do . Should I use it or not? Btw the girl who sold the deep peel for me was chinese not Israel a d I was not told about “no refund” until I got home and looked at tbe reciept?
I saw some comment saying that they contact their credit card and get the refund. Should I talk to chase to deny my transaction since I paid with my debit card not credit card which means they get money straight from my bank account?
Hi monica, just use it and enjoy it ;-). Yes, it may be overpriced and the sales people probably should adapt their sales techniques to local standards, but there’s nothing wrong with the products. I of course also fell for the horrible sales techniques, bought it, felt horrible instead of happy after, but the least you can do is enjoy the products…. U deserve it ;-)… I love using it, but morally cannot aupport a company like them… Try rituals, a lot cheaper and a great dutch company 😉 … With lovely sales people and good products….
I don’t know how a debit card would work as far as disputing a charge. Guess you can try. It worked for me because I got most of my money back (there were 2 charges and Orogold got back the smaller of the 2 charges). Definitely report them to Consumer Affairs Division or whatever equivalent you have. Were you in a mall? If so, report them to mall management too.
On March 10, I was lured into a brand new Orogold store in an upscale downtown Toronto location and given the royal treatment. I first purchased $360.00 worth of products (discounted of course to promote the products), then given a free facial and agreed to purchase more products if they could hold charging me the $600.00 more until the following month and explained my financial bind and they agreed. I had a lovely time, a very nice sales person from L.A., brought in to train the staff was full of trash science and free products. When I got home to check on line (my little voice told me to do this before I purchased and I got caught up in the spiel) I discovered the blogs and negative comments and my heart dropped. I called my credit card company and discovered that besides the $360.00 charge, there was one for $1,582.00 that I was unaware of. This was a total ‘carny hustle’ job! I called the police, the property manager of the complex ( who got on-line as we spoke on the phone to read the reviews for himself and pronounced it “scary”), I called the owner ( the only number on a business card I was given) no phone at the store but they are so afraid of the bad publicity that she immediately agreed on a full refund. I hustled down in a major blizzard and cleared the store at their peak time with my loud protestations. Of course it was a ‘misunderstanding’ but thank heavens I had read this blog and didn’t back down, I exercised my ‘bitch muscle’ , got a refund for $1,944.00 and was sent off with a handshake and a free 24K Vitamin C Booster Facial Serum. All in all, a very unpleasant experience.
I’m so glad this blog was helpful to you!
So glad to have found this blog. Knew I was being ‘sold’ snd I fell for it. Products and high pressure sales tactics are the same. However my experience was with Gold Elements,a retail store (not a kiosk) in Mall of America in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Company website is http://www.goldelements-USA.com. Anyone have thoughts on this company?
I have a video posted on my facebook page. I got my money back but I fought for it!! I also spoke with the mall management and they say it is in the contract to rent the kiosk to provide refunds within 30 days with a receipt. Feel free to watch and share!!It was taken on July 9, 2014 in Washington Square Mall near Portland, Oregon.
I have discovered 2 closed shops in Covent Garden, 2 dissolved Orogold named companies on Companies House register. They currently operate as ISOD Ltd on their website but are registered as ISODI Ltd on Companies House, same adress as the reply on their customer services email reply.I have done a week of not sleeping after my experience on 28 July 2014 in 155 High Street Kensington, trawling the internet in all the citizens advice, WHICH.com, TRADING STANDARDS, Consumer Association, and contacted them all. I was completely taken in. When I left the shop I was euphoric, in a heightened state of excitement and had a feeling of tremendous gratitude to the sales Lady Jessica who had pursuaded me to purchase a product package. This feeling dissolved within 30 minutes and I was left feeling sick as though I had come out of trance, wondering what the hell had just happened. It is testament to how many times I refused that it took an hour, while she kept me there, she had performed 3 demonstrations, offered me for free another 3 product package, a 2 product package, 2 free facials, and a day cream. She flattered me, professed to want to help me, do me a favour, give me gifts that would go on her personal account, all while chatting away as though she was my friend and I was the luckiest person alive. Last night I sat up researching brainwashing/ mind control & manipulation techniques and am so ashamed that I fell for them. In my defence, Jessica is a master, they use her to train their staff!. According to the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 Scehdule 1, Orogold use use BANNED TACTICS described under aggressive marketing techniques, including Lure & Switch, Limited Offer, and free Offer subject to purchase. I have registered this complaint with the Citizens Advice Bureau and The Kensington & Chelsea trading Standards office, who are very familiar with Orogold and customer complaints. ANY OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE FALLEN FOR THE SCAM: CONTACT K&C TRADING STANDARDS 02073415645. According to their receipts which state, underneath the ‘ no refunds if you change your mind’ disclaimer, that ‘Redress will only be offered in accordance to your statutory rights’. The sales tactics are unlawful and a breach of your statutory rights. We have rights and their are regulators paid to protect us. The more people who register their complaints, the greater case can be made against them. Do NOT be ashamed.
PLease post a link to this video, or link it to youtube. Thank you for sharing
Really give me the information for California head people and I would love to give them an email!
I visited the shopping mall today in Oshawa Ontario Canada. I walked pass a kiosk for Vivo Per lei dead Sea Minerals, the shopping bag has http://www.vivopl.com as a web address. The web site for Vivo uses the same 877-554-1777 number as Mazal Enterprise.
I experienced the same high pressure sales pitch noted in many other comments on this site. I also experienced the same demonstration of products on my wrist, eye and left side of face.
My sales people were not Canadian, one from Spain, one from Kiev Ukraine. Both were difficult to understand and both spoke very quickly.
I did buy a nail kit for $40 and have no concerns about this. But the Diamond Collection face products were offered at $1300 to start. Face cream for $600. the price came down to $299 as being their cost of product.
I stated early on during the demo that I was not buying and I never moved from that position which caused them some problems but they were polite about it.
I came home and researched the company and products, finding this site and others that discuss this company and its practices.
Now sitting here 5 hours after the demo, my face where the mask was applied feels irritated on my cheek bone area, where she was rubbing. It is not red and the feeling is a little discomforting, but not of concern at the moment. I will see in the morning.
My concern is with a business that starts out at $1300 for a product and is willing to drop to $299, then make a change to another product for $199 and eventually down to $60. I refused. But this seems very wrong.
As a small business owner, I could never make such a change in pricing and have any customer believe my words. How do these people get taken seriously.
I have traveled to Ukraine this year and know a few words in Russian and the sales clerk did mange to understand me. so I feel they were truthful about where they came from.
Also Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate is an ingredient as a preservative. But is has been mainly used as a wood preservative. The item is toxic even in small doses there are many other ingredients that could be used to accomplish the same thing without health risks.
I am 61, I do use some facial products for cleaning.
Its April 2017. I am South African and have had the exact same experience as so many of you!!! This is actually beyond weird! From samples to wrist to left eye to over friendly Israeli offering more and more stuff …… and allllll the rest. Unfortunately I fell for the whole thing. Products ‘obey your body’ ‘Deja vu’ placed in a ‘orogold cosmetics’ bag with ‘bare essentials’ on the hand written receipt. Bought mine in a different province and only once I got home I opened my purchase to find the very expensive jar of eye cream that was not sealed and looks half used.
I found her on Facebook …..what do you think I should do? I bought it just a day ago.
Omg, this shit made their way to the thriving land of Singapore. I am victim to these bully tactics and random offers/freebies a few times already and yet I can never say no because I always feel bad for the sales people and try to help them make a sale.
I lived in Canada before and bought Dead Sea products with a gentler sale tactic.
In Singapore around year 2010, I bought two 250ml? bottles of scrub for $85.
In 2013, I purchased from an Orogold Kiosk at the upscale mall of Marina Bay Sands for the 24K Gold Deep Peel for $185? even after a “discount”. You guys are so polite to explain the product like Glue. For me, it felt like “dried cum from sex”, but I couldnt see a product go to waste, ‘i use it as a body scrub now.
And just this week, I spent almost $500 at this new store at Vivocity (decent mall too) after feeling awful for the hardworking salesperson who spent 2 hours demonstrating the full blown sales tactics which I felt tired, emotionally drained yet awed to have witnesses such an “aerial display” of sales gimmicks and couldnt help but come back home to confirm my suspicions on the hard sell tactics and the strangely familiar packaging and bottling of products to that of Orogold’s, apart from a chic black and white decor.
I felt stupid the whole time especially after being lured in by a goodie bag that had only a $10 voucher and not even a free sample inside which i used to “offset my purchase”. I dont blame the sales girl, she was trained that way by her Israeli boss.
I cant believe the sales girl would dismiss the awesomeness of my SK2 products (because i said i have too many unused products at home) and tells me to stop using all that as their JEWELS skincare products (under MICA BEAUTY) are more expensive and therefore more superior (uhh?) And stupidly claim that Angelina Jolie uses the products too (wtf? what an atrocious claim).
I will try to use the products only because it seems that trying to get my money back would end up wasting my time and emotionally drain me further and probably wont get my money back.
I would do a full recount detailing my experience later but all the shit you guys faced, I have it all full fledge because I gave her my 2 hours willingly with nowhere to go and she used all the tactics on me.
Even when i commented that their bottles look like Orogold containers, they would not claim that relationship?! If it were so legit, and if I were the salesgirl, I would highlight the relavance and be proud of what i was selling. omg shady shit.
I even let her Israeli boss fiddle with my face and i had a painful pimple and he was so not gentle on my face. Grr.
Based on the same hard sell experience and research I have confirmed that Orogold’s “sister” has transformed to MICA BELLA or MICA BEAUTY. So everyone, watch out! I will let you guys know how those products work out. Because in the JEWELS skincare range, instead of GOLD, the claim is that there were DIAMOND powder in my “awesome” face product.
seems like they just rebranded a sister company!
Just to add on, i bought this product along with other freebies (in case anyone is interested).
http://www.jewelscosmetics.com/index.php/diamond/thermal-rejuvenation-mask
Refer to:
http://micabeauty.shopgate.com/category/3435
I really hope the mask along with the other freebies work. Tge reviews online seemed good..
am posting this reply at the top of these comments and again at the end. My sister was also scammed by these folks. She reported it to American Express and one of the reasons they denied her claim was that “they had not received any complaints on this vendor”. They go by so many names that this is not surprising…. But please, everyone who feels they have been ripped off, report it to your credit card company. Some people are writing “they didn’t MAKE you buy the product, so take some responsibility”…. This is not always the case…. My sister was convinced to get extras and multiples for heavy discounts (still a LOT of money” under the guise that if she buys everything now she can save a ton and if for any reason she changed her mind, she could just return them. I wouldn’t have but she did. The first product irritated her face terribly so she tried to return the rest right away. The “lovely” salesperson from less than one week prior looked her square in the eye, said “no returns” and denied ever offering same. DISGUSTING!!!!
January 2015 OROGOLD IS STILL IN VEGAS!
The metrosexual male stopped me too! I didn’t buy but he tried hard! We were walking through the casino at CEASERS PALACE and once we got to the Cheesecake Factory I had a dry white substance under my eye where he applied the eye cream. It was difficult to remove from under my eye. Had to put a warm wet washcloth multiple times before it would wipe away. He tried everything even “his discount” to get me to buy.
Also I had an opportunity to visit a time share. Wow those guys are hardcore! We didn’t buy either we actually pointed out all the BS and were moved away from the people buying. LOL then after trying to sell us again we told them to keep the tickets they offered to the BLUE MAN GROUP as we were leaving. We got the tickets and they were good seats.
All in all OROGOLD SCAM and WYNDHAM VACATION RENTALS SCAM!
Cheers!
I got sucked in with Vine Vera store in our local shopping mall !!! REALLY !!? Thought I’d check it out, hadn’t heard of it & used to sell skin car as a manuf rep to retail accounts … BIG MISTAKE ! I won’t go through the whole disgusting game they play – small West coast Canadian city and they are in a shopping mall pulling this sh*t !! I got sucked after 1/2 hr of trying to extricate myself out … what bothers me is that people who don’t HAVE the money to put out must be getting sucked in and as much as I don’t like losing my $ to those low down jerks, I hate to think of others who really can’t afford to. This is part of that Israeli connection … after telling my husband he showed me a eye cream tube that he was pressured in to buying at a kiosk @ the Calgary airport… and a friend of ours bought a bunch of stuff we was hoodwinked int o buying AND my husband recalled when we were in San Fran a few yrs ago there was a store in the mall that was the same — incredibly high pressure, Israeli’s ….HOW DO THEY GET AWAY WITH FOR SO LONG ??
GOT A FULL REFUND! THIS IS HOW YOU DO IT PEOPLE!!.
After getting the run around for 2 days and finally offered an in store credit….. I asked if they employed any Israeli’s. She said “No, what does that have to do with anything. I said in my research of the company, some others complaints had suggested this company hired young Israeli’s and got them tourist visas and sent them to work over in US. She said no, everyone is legal to work in US. I then stated I would be there every Friday evening and week-end to detour potential customer from the store. She said she would call a lawyer, I said then I would contact Homeland security and Immigration. She said “let me make a call” and walked away. The male standing there said” we want to give you a refund, but have to get approval first, there will be no needed for you to call anyone. She came back and said” they will call back in 5 minutes with approval.” I said I’ll be back in 5 minutes and walked to the mall office and filed a complaint……. Walking back to store, 2 of the male employees were walking towards me saying “we were looking for you, we want to give you refund”. I went back to store and got full refund. Don’t mess with my family or my money….!
There is a Lavo cosmetics on Robson street in Vancouver that is exactly like a Vine Vera kiosk with their aggressive tactics, deception, and policies. I bought a vine vera peel that made me throw up after applying it due to the smell or some ingredient in it and contacted the store to ask for its refund policy, expecting they would say no. They told me to go in and they asked how much i got the item for; the employee had used her ’employee discount’ to give me a discount. When i went in, there was a sign by the cashier that had not been there when i went saying they WELCOME refunds but not on discounted items. What!! I said the sign wasn’t there last time; there had been a sign saying no refunds on unopened items and of course that sign is gone. The manager told me he would give me a refund if I was to give him a doctor’s note saying I am allergic to the stuff. I took a picture of the sign with my phone while he was writing down he would accept my refund even after 7 days if i bring in a note and he must have heard the shutter because he immediately told me that he can get me a refund. Phew!! But some lady in front of me bought a bunch of stuff that made me worried. Get these guys out of downtown!! The manager seemed a nice enough guy but i am a terrible judge of character, and he might have just been a good actor.
I fell for the scam to a total of $1,415. I was walking with a friend on Madison Ave NY on 3/6/2015 and we were given the “free” samples and lured into the store. “Ben” was the salesperson and did the same demo on us as described in these posts. The eye serum did seem to make a difference. After going back and forth, my friend and I purchased the eye serum with moisutizing cream and the exfoliating solution. It was the buy two get two free total $616. It was sickening, then Ben broke out the cryogenic set. After the demo that didn’t seem to do much for me, the discount of so low as we needed to promise to “zip our zipper” Ben voided our $616 and charged $1415. For all of it plus 2 free facials. I asked him for his card and he gave me a brochure with his name Ben and some number. He also was to email us how to use the product. No email yet. I knew this was a scam and just got my annual bonus and thought I’d splurge on myself for once. So taken! I emailed the store tonight to return the cryogenic line and asked for a delivery and read receipt. Their server won’t acknowledge the receipt of an email. I am calling tomorrow and if I get the response I suspect, I’m calling the NY Comsumer Affairs and the Attorney General. The boxes are unopened so there is no reason they should not give me a refund. Anyone else have luck getting your money back without threatening a store sit-in?
I too fell for this scam. Yesterday they handed me a sample outside the St Christopher’s place store in London and that was it. Reading all the comments above I could relate to everything, same words from the sale person, same charm, same pressure.The worst thing is that I can’t find my receipt so I wonder if I even got one, all the time I had a wrong feeling. This is the 1st time I have fell for a scam and I still can’t believe it. After leaving the shop I had a horrible sick feeling, it was not just the money but the fact it felt so wrong. I spent £62 on a peeling, but they also tried to sell me some eye products “discounted” to £100 adding a facial etc but at this point I left, then is when I think my receipt got lost. I am quite embarrased but I will still go to the shop for a refund out of principle. After reading all the posts i don’t even want to use it. My husband has been v supportive and told me to either forget it or we all go outside the shop next weekend for a few hours to warn everyone about the scam!! Stay clear of orogold.
Same story, different day. I was schmoozed into the store at Stonestown Mall, San Francisco, by Matt, a cute boy with a Middle Eastern accent. I asked him where he was from and he proudly said Israel. I told him that I did not buy products from Israel because of the International Boycott of the Israeli Apartheid and that a good friend of mine had lost 21 family members in the bombings of Gaza last summer. He told me, no, no these products are from Japan. He worked it like a crooked used car salesman. I bought one item and I told him I would consider buying more after I researched the company. He was not happy with that news. It turns out it is an Israeli owned company with complaints from around the globe for poor and deceptive business practices. Matt proudly told me he was from Israel and lied about the company he works for? After serving in the IDF, I guess being deceptive comes easily.
I love what you said to him.
It just happened to me yesterday when I went to fix my Mac @ Apple Store in Stonetowns. I walked pass the store and the story happened as the stories I read above. I didn’t know why I and my husband got into the store, but after she was sure that we wouldn’t buy the cosmetics, she shuffled us back out of the store, that’s rude.
Lionesse in Maui is the same!!! What a scam!
My husband and I had the same type of experience as the ones mentioned above. Only our salesperson told us that he was the Orogolds owners son, that his name was Luis and that he was the promoter for the company. He was working with the store in Lahania, Maui. He applied the 24K Dame Deep Wrinkle Tightening Solution. I decided to go ahead and purchase the product since he was also going to give me for free the 24K Deep Peeling and the 24K Renewal Night Cream. He then took us into the application room. This is where he applied the 3 step face lift system – 24KTermica activation serum, energizing mask and the completion cream to both of our faces. He proceeded to tell us that if we would use this 3 step system every week, that in 2 years we would have obtain the final result and we would never have to use this system again. He would make us a fantastic offer as long as we both provided him with pictures of our results every 6 months. The system normally cost $12,000.00 but he would sell it to us for a very large discount, plus take off the $300.00 from my first purchase. He was also going to provide me with whatever product that I needed for life, free of charge. He was also was going to provide me with 3 free facials at a store that was close to me. He would send me by email a user guide of my products as to when and what to apply. I hate to say this, but we went for it. When he handed us our receipts we did not noticed the no refund policy nor did we ever see a no refund sign. If you can not trust the company owners son, who can you trust…. He also gave me his cell phone number, so that I could talk to him whenever I needed and obtain product as I needed. We left the store and after a few hours we both had burning sensations that lasted for over ten hours even after cleansing our faces. We went back the next morning and started sharing our concerns with Luis. He quickly took us back into the application room and seemed shocked that we had the burning sensation. We explained to him that we did not want to use the product. We also mentioned that we noticed that on the receipt the no refund policy. This also seemed to confuse him that this was stated on the receipt. The associate name was stated as Raz on the receipt and we asked him about this. This too, also seemed to confuse him. He couldn’t really explain this to us. He did get a little anger with us and said to try the product one more time and if we had the same reaction he would give us a refund. I said I have nothing in writing to that fact. He said we had his word. I kept waiting for the email to arrive, it never did nor or as of this date arrived. On Monday the 11th of May I called the cell phone number he provided and it is not in service. I called the Lahania store and was told that he was on vacation on Ohau and the person I was speaking with was going to text him and have him contact me. On the 11th we did receive a box of products. We decided not to try the product on our face do to the previous experience. Also, since he said we would get a refund we did not want to waste the product. I did find it interesting that none of the products had shrink wrap around them. I called the customer care number and filed a complaint. The agent said that the amount was large for her to give us a refund. She would have to contact the upper management of the store.
I received a call from Michael Elkayam who was the owner of the Lahania store. I started to explained all that Luis had said, he told me that he was not concerned with what Luis had said if it did not pertain to what he said about the “product”. I said the he said that he would give us a refund on the product, he informed me that that was not going to happen. He said that Luis was his partner and that he needed to talk with him, but that Luis was in Las Vegas. I mentioned that I was told yesterday that he was on vacation on Oahu. He said that he had 25 employees and that he could not be accountable for what had been told to me about Luis and where he was. He said that he would get back to me. Everyone that I dealt with in the store had a Israeli accent.
As I look back, I am so shocked at myself that I fell for this scam. Luis has to be one of the best story tellers of all times. At this point not only was his word not good but his handshake was also not good. We are not rich by any means….just to trusting.
For some people these products might work wonderfully. However, a persons word and handshake should be good.
Maybe we should all contact 60 minutes or Dateline to see if they would do an investigation on this company do to the deceptive business tactics that seem to be wordlwide.
Re: Ashley and Floydene. My wife and I were at the new Wailea store while killing time to meet friends for dinner last night. Big mistake! The first post here compares to time share sales. True, perhaps worse. After over an hour of being beat into submission, I foolishly offered my AMEX card (thank goodness) to just get the he’ll out of there. Only $180+-. Cheap exit strategy. This sales girl, Victoria, was good! Not to be complimentary. I woke this morning and googled Lioness after first calling AMEX to put hold on charge. I just got back from the store and DID get a refund from the nice young girl working there. She did call her manager and they DID try to try to put me off till Monday. I persisted and got the refund, but not after threatening to go to the mall office to complain about their tenants tactics and also offering to sit in front of the store and warn shoppers! After reading all the above posts, something REALLY needs to be done about this company! I got lucky and not much money was involved. Plus, having owned retail centers and shopping malls, I was perhaps not the right person to piss off as I would know how to retaliate. My advice: DON’T GIVE UP!
My sister and I were in the Lahaina store in Maui after being lured in by an attractive, young woman from Israel.
Interesting how the price drops considerably after you bring down the hammer on “NO NO NO”. Well, guess what? We bought into the eye cream that comes in a push up dispenser. When initially applied it seems to diminish dark circles and wrinkles, but believe me for an hour or 2 at most. When she realized we would not be buying anything more than the 240$ on the eye cream and Vit.C oil the sales pitch ended. She had other suckers to suck in.
Gosh….you guys are seriously so ridiculous. Take it from someone who has complete insider information on all brands in the cosmetics industry, and who is a specialist in marketing, this blog post is total crap. First of all, Orogold is not a “shell company” of other dead sea cosmetics. Way to get viewership by spinning false information!
There are hundreds of dead sea product companies, all owned by different individuals, and if you knew how to use the internet and do a basic search, you’d realize that none of the website domains are even owned by the same companies…..
If you want a REAL conspiracy, estee lauder owns TONS of cosmetics companies, but no one ever talks about that (la mer, clinique, bobbi brown, mac, aveda, origins, ETC).
The ingredients in orogold cosmetic products are above average quality, which I know, from having looked up ingredients in hundreds of cosmetic products, and even in the high end when it comes to cosmetics. Look up some ingredients from other products, and see what a load of crap that is. Compare with la prarie, very high prices, nothing special about it, but people like it.
If you don’t like the price, don’t buy it. the same way if you dont like the price of a porsche versus a honda, DONT BUY IT.
It is luxury skincare, it costs more than it costs to make.
JUST LIKE EVERYTHING IN THIS WORLD, that is what business is and how everyone makes a profit.
There is no scam…no conspiracy. the salespeople know how to sell, if you do basic research on sales on youtube, I guarantee you you can learn those tactics anywhere as well.
And if you look at any company, you will always find someone claiming it is a scam, pushy salespeople etc.
And if you don’t believe me, look up reviews from any of your “trusted” establishments that you shop at regularly. You’ll see similar stupid complaints because people love to complain.
And who cares if they are israeli? Why are there so many asian people working at nail salons? MUST BE A CONSPIRACY and they probably all know each other!
I really hope people have more sense than this….
If you don’t agree, do NOT email me, I don’t care. I just hope even ONE person reads this comment and realizes how dumb this blog post is.
On the off chance that someone here has some common sense, I’m willing to answer any skincare questions on any topic, I have been in this industry for 7 years.
beautyaddict20000@hotmail.com
-Jen
April 02, 2015
I was working in Honolulu when my sister-in-law passed away (April 1st) and was flying home on the evening of the April 2nd. I wanted to take some of the Hawaiian cookies home I had gotten the last time I was in Honolulu for work staying at the Hilton Hawaiian Village.
I looked terrible that morning and like all other posts I was persuaded to enter the store and was convinced their product worked.
I agreed to purchase a 280 dollar purchase have them my card and then the intense sales push began
The big gun sales guy was brought from the back and proceeded to give a so called face lift for free granted anything would be an improvement in how I looked and felt that day, boy was I an excellent target and regardless of me telling these guys I had just lost my sister-in-law the day before who was more like my sister since I had known her for over 45 yrs.
They used this information to their advantage and before I knew what was happening they were suggesting products costing 3Kbut of course they would ship it all to me. There would be products for myself, daughter, her husband, my husband and son.
It doesn’t stop there next another treatment that typically sells for 10,000 I could get that day for a more 8,000 because the orginal guy that lured me in called the main headquarters to see if there were anymore of these offers left and amazingly there was, what a scam!!
I got so upset that they were not satisfied with a $300 sale and their sale tatics were so pushy, almost scary that I demanded my credit card back and told them I was not purchasing anything.I left the store with no products in tears and they came after me apologizing and begging me to back in the store so they could credit my card. I told them they did not need me or my card to issue the credit.
A few weeks later I get my credit card statement and I have 2 charges one for $280 and another for $2882. I was furious,I called the credit card company issued a dispute and I am still waiting for resolution. It has been almost 3 months that this occurred, I do not understand why it takes so long it is simple I have no product this is fraud.
This company needs to be shutdown!!
That is just awful! I’m so sorry. Did you sign any of the receipts? If you didn’t, I think it’ll be decided on your favor. The credit card company should have credited you the money while the investigate.
I’m glad I found this Blog. I was scammed in Lahaina Maui at the Lionesse Beauty Bar. Exactly the same sales tactic as stated in the original Blog. They convinced me with the White Pearl Facelift filler. The product seemed to work immediately under one eye. Then he showed me the peel on one arm. The prices were ridiculous. When I started to leave a manager approached and said he wanted me to be his customer so I would tell my friends. He lowered the price in half and said he would give my daughter a free $300 flat iron. I really wanted the filler so I said yes. The products were brought to the cash register in nice big boxes. When I got home I was reading the box they never showed me in the store.Then I realized the eye filler in the nice big tube was less than one once! When you go to the website this product is $700 and it does not show you how many ounces your purchasing. When I called and said I wanted to return all the unopened products they said no refund. After reading all the complaints online I noticed Oro Gold Cosmetics down the street on front street with the same Israeli salesmen standing outside. They also have locations in the Shops of Wailea Maui. I wrote a complaint to (customer service@mazalent.com) I never respond to blogs but after I was scammed I felt like the more people who complain the word will eventually spread around.
Lionesse is by far the biggest scam product and sales tactics i have seen in many years! Exactly as the writer says they stopped me on East Bay Street in Charleston and started their sales tactics! I engaged them because I wanted to read the product contents as I am a pharmacist! First ingredient was Petroleum based , then EDTA then more preservatives, then simple glycerin. If i were to make this product, it would cost me 30 cents, their price was $200……they were trying to shame me into buying , i walked away unscathed, but i can imagine a less experienced or a younger woman being sucked into this despicable marketing scheme!
I live in London and was approached by an OROGOLD representative on the street with a sample and then – the same as everybody else – was lured into their shop. They stuck the 24K DMAE Deep Wrinkle Tightening Solution under my one eye – and the change was dramatic. My friend was with me and both of us couldn’t quite believe how much difference it made. But it also made my skin feel very taught and I didn’t like the female representatives pushiness and sales tactics, i.e, I’ll make an exception for you with a money off voucher – my last one – and I give you a free facial – I’m here only today etc. They said it’s a mask you put under the eye every day for the 1st week and then once a week and it would last me 2 years – so really a bargain for £350. On their website it’s not indicated for under eye use and it doesn’t describe it as a mask either. And it did almost feel as if it got something like glue in it – when looking closely you could see a film under the eye and when touching it you could feel it too. I’m glad I didn’t buy it although I was very tempted – I told her I wanted to research the product first – she kept pushing – saying she’s only there that day and so on – the last voucher blahblah. I washed it off when I got home and my eyes look just as puffy as before the treatment, I believe – but the skin feels still a little taught and a bit dry. When I had left the shop with my friend, my friend kept commenting how amazing the transformation really was and i thought I may go back and buy it anyway the next day or so. But I felt irritated and annoyed by the whole experience, and the tautness under my eyes irritated me even further. I won’t buy it now – wonder what the ingredients are in this one -why did they tell me it’s a mask when it’s not – is it save for use under the eyes? I’m left wanting a product now that will do something similar but I’ll give this one a miss.
Whatever you do please stay away from these hard pushy sales people. They take your payment then only after the receipt is printed make you sign to say no refund. If you went back to any other reputable brand in say Selfridges with unopened product you would of course get your refund. The prices are incredible . I was charged over £3000. It’s my own fault because I was stupid to buy. But it was like being hypnotised. I’ve opened up cases with the relevant people in the UK but don’t hold out any hope. Truly, if a product is worth this much then it sells itself and wouldn’t need hard sell at all. You can all say what you wish but in 2015 the consumer must be protected and this should not be allowed to happen in our high streets . DO NOT BUY. ever.
Adore cosmetics are also part of this scam…aviod
Same exact situation here. But my receipt states refunds within 7 days of purchase. Although I have no idea how effective this product will be, I just want to return the items tomorrow as I feel duped of having experienced the exact same sales tactic.
Hello!
I bought Orogold products back in September, they seemed to work when my lovely (read persistent) israeli salesperson applied them to me.
I was walking by myself in San Francisco, you see, and I happened to walk by an OroGold shop, they called me back and having a bit of extra time before meeting my sister I went inside, everything inside screamed legit and of course, expensive, I am 21 years old, working as a waitress with no other income, so imagine my surprise when they gave me discount over discounthe for a face peeling that will totally help me with the brown spots I have because of health issues in my childhood.
Everything came crashing down after the first no, he got insistent, guilt tripping me into buying it, saying that only because they found me nice and cute they would give me that discount, that it would work pretty much for the rest of my life, that should have raised flags in my head but I guess I was overwhelmed.
Then, another thing that should have been suspicious, they said something about free shipping, I was taking a plane, I only had a carry-on on me, so I thought that with that many bottles I would just be wasting money because they would throw it away in security checks, I asked if they could be delivered to my residence, and instead of replying they pushed me into taking them with me, so naive old little me got them at an ‘amazing’ prize of $257 for the set of 3 24k collection, I am quite glad I managed to hold onto the answer of not getting the mask, that shot was expensive.
I looked it up on the Internet and it has mixed reviews, some say is amazing some say is the worst, the first time I used it, it burned the sides of my eyes, hurt like hell and I spent like a week with my hair covering the sides of my face, should have stopped using it then but again, I paid for it so might as well use it for exfoliating.
Today I was at the mal, walked by a Vine Vera, same experience all over again, not as pushy mind you but still persistent, wanted to give me the employee price, I was quite taken with the Italian guy but I erased in my negative answer, he said that they wouldn’t be selling me anything when I first was stopped, then tried to sell me a package, I said that I would buy it back home, got pushy, tried to sell me another product but I had already experienced this technique once, wasn’t about to do it again. He had been really nice and charming during the whole exchange until my final rejection and then he got mad, and basically dismissed me without looking at me.
So ladies and gentlemen who want to buy something nice for a woman, I will tell you that our should look for something that is not from this lines!!!! Buy her a cook book if you must but never something from them!!!
Hi. I’m 27and from the Philippines. I have hoarded a TON of OroGold products. I got them in their branch at Newport Mall, Resorts World Manila. Upon reading the first few parts of this thread, i was starting to get disappointed with my purchases because, really, the products are waaaaay expensive! I was like, ‘WTF I got scammed’ — but then i saw some good reviews and realized, ‘WAIT, WHY AM I READING REVIEWS WHEN I CAN MAKE ONE MYSELF?’ So here i am.. I don’t really like engaging into these kinds of arguments but i thought i needed to say my piece. OroGold products are expensive and their selling tactics are a bit intimidating, but here’s the thing, NO is a NO. Just walk away when you don’t want to buy their products. As for my experience, i bought the products because they worked for me. The eye cream (24K dark solution) they put under my left eye was amazing! My left undereye was so much better than my bare right eye and it was just a sample trial. The next day, i hoarded their products. Been using them for a week now and all i can say is that I LOVE EVERY BOTTLE AND TUB that i got. Shout out to my favorite mask, 24K Collagen and Seaweek Mask. Hands down the best mask i ever tried! P.S. I am not a paid to do this review. Not a sales rep or anything. Not affiliated with them at all. I am a nurse, though. If that can make me a credible person for this post. And lastly, just take responsibilty of your actions. Live within your means. If you find them expensive, go find a cheaper dupe that works for you. If you think you didn’t get your money’s worth. Just move on and take your lesson with you. You’ll be a wiser buyer next time. Have a nice day.
At a weak moment when I had unexpected spare time (and had spent the last 6 weeks looking after a very sick mother and was feeling grim) I was seduced into an Orogold shop I was passing just off Oxoford Street in London, and had the same horrible pressurised experience so many people describe here. High high prices (much higher than the website) were quoted and claimed as the cost which was then quickly reduced ‘because you’re special and deserve a treat’ followed by freebies thrown in and a load of bs about it being a special favour to you etc etc with a huge pressure to buy an amazing offer I deal. My no thank yous and need to go met more and more offers and pressure, the door of the room I was in being shut behind me to stop me leaving and finally 12 ‘free’ facials were offered along with the massively reduced prices and free gifts. In the end I succumbed in order to get out of the room telling myself that 12 facials would cost about the same as the price they had come down to and I still had the products.
When I got home I felt cross with myself for having buckled under pressure – and after having the first facial I knew I’d made a real mistake, my eyes streamed all day and there was no way I was having another one.
It’s taken me 6 weeks of smart arguing and reasoning to finally get my money back – and that was only under pressure from my legal and media contacts who could prove all the lies they had told as well as hiding their no returns info etc etc
Even if this stuff works at other levels, don’t buy into it ever and don’t believe their lies and manipulation. Other products are just as good if not better and way less expensive and you don’t get misled, bullied and lied to by over zealous (Israeli) sales people, often slimy men, who basically treat you like cash cows and desperate aging women (which I certainly am. It) and don’t care … This company is really shit and who knows what they are really hiding or trying to do.
Hey same thing happened to me on Oxford street can you please give me advise on how to get the refund? I am shocked how i got pulled into and and they wouldn’t accept no I felt hypnotised I’m terrified to even try the product.
I would like to get a refund of the product I bought from your Gold Element store In the Valencia mall in the city of Valencia, California. They tested the product on my face and caused severe allergic reaction on my face and eye. The feeling is of burning sensations that affected my eyes making it very difficult to see. The product is like a nasty chemical burn. I do not feel safe with this product on my face.
I have not opened any of the products because I do not want to use it. I am scared to use the product because of huge allergic reaction. I would just like to return this product to get my money back. However, they refuse to refund my money.
It is horrible businesses do not shop there or you will be ripped off like me.
Thank you,
another victim
The sales tactics, yes I agree, are oriental! But this way I spend money for some excellent products indeed, which I never would have bought in the first place. Most amazing is the wrinkle tightening solution and I simply LOVE the 24K Vitamin Serum, the fruity natural smell and its silkiness on the skin. I had a complete deal – as once in Tunesia, where I bought a carpet for a price I could afford easily after 4 moka coffees telling the salesman ‘better to sell than nothing 😉
Daniela, check if the product you are using has cyclopentasiloxane. It’s a silicone that deposits a thin protective layer over your skin or hair and can fill wrinkles. However, there are concerns about toxicity and it does not actually provides nutrients for your skin. Read more about it here: http://www.thedermreview.com/cyclopentasiloxane/
ps why don’t you use their tactics: take your time, enter the shop and deal them down to their bare skin!! Have fun!!
I’ve been a ‘victim’ of the same sales tactic with brand Lionesse. Same approach, Israelian woman, spent two years in the army, “do you like it or do you love it”, asking what products I’m using, my age, big discount because I’m ‘special’, etc… Went from $700 down to $149 in 20 minutes.
To cut it off, I told her that I’ll come back tomorrow to buy the product if I still see the product’s effect. Needless to say it was all gone a couple of hours later.
MY DOCTOR SAID, WHEN I TOLD HIM THAT NO SKIN PRODUCT WORKED UNLESS IT HAD Salicylic Acid IN IT. I USED MIRACLE SKIN THERAPY TO REMOVE FACIAL SKIN RASH. IT NO LONGER IS SOLD. YET, IT WORKED, FIRST INFLAMING THE SKIN FOR A FEW MINUTES, THEN CLEARING THE SKIN WITHIN A COUPLE OF DAYS. IN IT WAS 2% SALICYLIC ACID. THE DOCTOR REPLIED: “RIGHT ! SINCE, I FOUND THAT DENEREX SHAMPOO HAD 3%, BUT IF LEFT ON OVER NIGHT LEFT MY SKIN PEELING. MIRACLE SKIN WAS $8.00 FOR 4 OZ. DENEREX IS ABOUT 8.00 FOR 6 OZ. TODAY, I HAVE STOPPED HEAD PSORIASIS WITH BI WEEKLY SHAMPOOS AND DROPPED THE MIRACLE SKIN THERAPY WHICH NOW IS NO LONGER FOR SALE. DENEREX IS NOT A SALVE LIKE THE OTHER, AND THE BOTTLE LASTS A LOT LONGER. FOR SKIN OR HAIR, I LEAVE IT ON FOR TEN MINUTES AND THEN RINSE IT OFF. ALSO, NO MOISTERIZERS WORK WITH WHAT IT IS IN EXCEPT THE WATER. I ONLY USE AN ICE CUBE OVER MY FACE TWICE A DAY AND MY SKIN LOOKS EXTRA GOOD FOR A 79 YEAR OLD MAN. I LEARNED THIS FROM A COLLEGE PRESIDENT WHERE I WAS A BUTLER. HIS WIFE WAS 80 AND HER SKIN LOOKED LIKE A 30 YEAR OLD.
Here my opinion, I was pressured to buy in Vegas…He started out a 400.00 for the filler face lift serum. I got him down to 200.00 …OI bought it because it works!! I saw my wrinkles disappear completely in a few seconds. And I don’t care what is in it. HELLO people, women get botox all the time…because it works and do you think they care what’s in it? do you think they care that its a temporary fix and not permanent…no! Women care to look good and younger. Why would I spend hundreds of dollars on face cream that helps with the “appearance of wrinkles” and it does nothing…I would rather use a “glue” or botox and see results.
Some Oro Gold products have silicones such as cyclopentasiloxane. These help fill fine lines and wrinkles and give you a smoother appearance. Basically, you can use them as primers. But you can also just use a primer or a cheaper cream with such ingredients and save hundreds of dollars.
The problem with silicones is that they can also clog your pores. Make sure you use a product with salicylic acid or similar if you’re using these type of creams.
Marga – since you received free Orogold products, did you use them? If so, did you feel they improved the condition of you skin?
Cheers,
If I recall correctly, they sent me a serum and a face moisturizer, and perhaps an eye cream? I did not use the serum. It listed silicones in the ingredients, which to me seem like a terrible thing to have in a serum. Silicones are great at filling up your lines, smoothing out your face and acting as a barrier to keep moisture in, but I always fear that they will clog my pores. So I’ll use products with them during the day (you can’t really avoid them unless you go all natural), but I don’t really see a point for them in a serum. They don’t really feed your skin. Do I got rid of that product.
I did use their moisturizer and it was OK. It didn’t do anything else than another moisturizer wouldn’t do. I most definitely would not buy it again even at a reasonable price.
I have fairly good skin, and my main issue is discoloration. Unfortunately, I haven’t really found anything that helps me with that. I used to suffer from red skin, but since I started a skin care regime that’s gone away. All in all, I’m not as concerned about the specific products that I use – I go through all sorts of brands – but I make sure that I use toner after washing my face, then I make sure I use a product that has BHA or AHA, preferably as a serum, one that has antioxidants of some kind, and then another one with retinol to treat areas where I’ve started to develop wrinkles. And, as I said, I try to avoid products with silicones at night.
Something else that I’ve become very fond of are sleeping masks. Basically, these are specially formulated lotions that provide extra moisture to your skin throughout the night. You wake up with unbelievably soft skin. I really like the Laneige sleeping pack (available at Target) and also the Farmacy Sleep Tight Firming Night Balm.
Finally, if you haven’t tried Korean beauty, give it a try. It’s a pretty exhausting regime in that if you do the whole thing it has lots of steps, but Korean beauty products are often very light and are meant to work well together. And they are just fun.
All hDead Sea companies including O’Rourke gold and lionesse Israeli companies
The products are cheap ingredients and they
Are not made in USA ,even if the boxy say made in USA it is not maybe the box but not the product The products most likely made in china but even if it is made in Israel its made is not in the Dead Sea ,it is in some far away factory.
There are only 2 good companies Ahava and you can’t find it in the mall but in certain stores or online also Premier is a good company but not worth the expensive price.
Why would people pay hundreds of dollars for a cream if they can get the same result from $10 creams from wal mart
There is nothing special in this creams ,even if there is the amount is negligence and won’t make a difference
In the end the people who were ripped off can blame themselves as instead of going
to dep store to buy from known companies that stand behind the products
went to those kiosks thinking they got bargains
Who in the right mind spend hundreds of dollars from companies who don’t care about customers
Those people are young sales people who only care about your money they don’t care about you or if you are unsatisfaied
terrible company. They tell you that you can return the product if you do not like it. I mailed back the products after just one day, and never got refund, or a store credit, not did they mail the products back. The products themselves are
very over priced and MANY very bad things written about this company. VERY aggressive sales people that practically hold you hostage. Israeli Company in the USA to rip off Americans for sure. MANY things to complain about with the people and their products. they are hustlers for sure. They compliment people and really hustle people, won’t let
you leave!! I am very angry with myself for allowing these people to hustle me
Who in the right mind pay hundreds or thousands of dollars on salt and hand creams ???
those companies are Israeli companies , no matter what they say
…the company is from Italy or the usa …They are all companies from Israel no matter what name they call themselves. Also when it say made in USA it’s on the box so the product may not be made in USA. Only the box is made in USA !!!When you buy a cream from a ruputable company like Astee Lauder ,Lancome,
it always say on the product itself made in USA !!! made in France !!
not only on the box !!! I wouldn’t be suprised those dead sea creams are made in china and worth $3- $2 each.
This is why they start with high prices so stupid people or average people that have bad moments or weak moments suddenly that a $150 going down to $50 is a good deal.
$50 for a hand cream , face cream is expensive if the cream is only worth
5 dollars
The creams are very average or below average . They use regular ingredients.nothing special
The creams are not natural not organic and if They have any minerals it is in such a small quantities it will not make a difference.
You better go to health store buy stuff with natural organic ingredients
Even CVS or wallgreen has better products like Burt Bee good reliable brands.
In case you don’t mind to spend lot of money $200 for small eye cream or $1,000 for a face mask instead go to specialists dermatology or plastic surgeon to get fillers and botox.
The Israelis who sales the dead sea creams has no knowledge in skin care they are sales people and all they care is the money.
They will say whatever you want to hear ,lie after lie. It is a scam.
They are after your money
Of course all companies after your money but if you willing to spend money on cosmetics you should buy it from known Department stores who carried ruputable companies companies which stands behind their products and have years and years of research behind them.They will give you refund and if anything goes wrong will give money back.They care about their costumers.
Scammed by Oro Gold on Bleeker Street in Manhattan this week. Make them work for their money. Always stop your credit card so that they have to put time into clearing it up. If you have the time, slam them with a small claims suit so that they have to go to court.
Thank you SO much for providing this review and forum for people who’ve been burned, as I almost became one tonight. Doing some last minute Christmas shopping I got lured into the Orogold store at Stonebriar Mall in Frisco, TX==a pretty big and popular upscale venue. My salesman–middle eastern accent, definitely, although I couldn’t tell if it was Israeli, Turkish, Pakistani…really, but he (really everyone in the store) fit the profile: dark, metro-sexual and super smooth in his tactics.
I was on my way to grab dinner before shopping and was really hungry while I was listening to the spiel so my thoughts were, “just get out of here and you can get your money back later” but as I was eating I decided to look up the company to see if anyone had had a bad experience with them and your review was one of the first search results. I decided to not wait till another day and head back as soon as I’d eaten.
My guy was super surprised to see me back so soon, but was very cool about it, inviting me to sit down to see what the problem was. “Was it me? I thought you liked me. Did I pressure you? There was no pressure, believe me. And I know you saw the difference the product made, so why would you want to return it?”
My guard was up now, though. “Look, if I can’t get the refund now when I’m bringing the product back to you. tomorrow I’m going to call the credit card company and dispute the charge. Either way you’re not keeping the money but in the first case you’ll at least get your stuff back.”
He got the manager to void the transaction.
I feel 100% sure if I’d have gone back another day they would not have given the refund.
I was fortunate, there are plenty who weren’t, though. I feel like I dodged a really expensive bullet, so thank you again.
I’m so glad to hear! This is exactly why I posted the review in the first place!
Yesterday I was drawn in by their fancy décor. The sales lady asked me what products I currently use, and I told her Peter Thomas Roth. She had the gall to react like “what’s that” as if I’m using a third rate product. Mind you, Peter Roth also has a 24k gold mask, which was part of a sample of 5 different masks I’ve been using a week prior to discovering this Oro Gold Store. My skin has been improving tremendously from what I’ve been using from just one week, but not perfect. The sales lady tried to convince me that the peel would get rid of “spots” (they’re just acne scars that have been getting much better). She then applied the peel on my right hand, and I immediately asked if the “dead skin” was just residue from the product, since the product had so much “gold flakes” in it. She kept trying convincing me it was my dead skin. So glad that some of you posted it is just glue, which is what my intuition told me. I told her I’d just buy it for my mom some other time, and walked out. After I went home, I googled the prices, and there’s no way in heaven I would pay for these products, what makes them think they’re products should cost more than anything from Sephora?
I tried to post this comment a few minutes ago but let me post this again.
These Israelis are linked to a spy operation on us facilities in the United States and around the world. Many of these spas we rounded up after 9/11 and deported even though they failed polygraph examinations about their knowledge of the 9/11 attacks. There is a Fox News report that was part of a four-part series that disappeared off their website but is still available on YouTube about this. I was in the mall yesterday and saw all these people and started Googling and that’s when I remembered this report from years ago and I think everyone here could watch. They discuss the Israelis in the mall at the 3:00 mark. Everyone should watch this special.
https://youtu.be/LbkQddEDPs0
And here …
https://youtu.be/MjVXQpWEr3c
Interesting you mention they might be related with Dead Sea cosmetics because the Orogold store in Perth changed to Seacret another Dead Sea company with the same tactic. Lure you in by touching your arm then turning around and continuing the sales pitch unfortunately by human nature most people just follow and have no idea what’s happening. I have kiosks next to them and have watched exactly what they do. They know who to target and exploit them. When casually talking to the staff who all seemed to be from Israel on visas I learnt they all lived and worked together and seemed brainwashed by the company.
I found your article via google and thank you so much for posting ,sharing and updating it. OroGold now has a store in Sydney CBD and I was, unfortunately, stopped by a pretty girl who distributed samples in front of their shop and was introduced into the shop to a guy who was said their beauty advisor. The next 15 minutes in their shop was the most horrible shopping experience in my whole life. The guy was so aggressive, trying very hard to get my card to buy an eye serum and my personal info to sigh up to their database. He lowered the price of the eye serum again and again from AUD 500 to 120, by using “his own credit from the Australian Day”. He also wanted to give me a free facial. All I was going to do was to tell him I was hurrying to a meeting and tried to leave politely. The guy also told me that he had just landed in Sydney for 2 weeks (what?!…). Finally the guy realised he could not get even one cent from me and he said “Merry Xmas” and pushed me out of the shop. Yes that was really bad experience that I had never imagined I would get in Sydney ……by the way it was nearly end of January and Christmas was one month ago.
Thanks so much for this!
The review, but especially the comments, were a fascinating read.
I was lured in and got a pitch recently. It seemed so bizarre to me… Why would a product be $285, then 2 for that price, then 3? And NO I didn’t see any difference between the treated eye and the untreated eye. I instinctively knew that was product residue on my arm, and not exfoliated skin. A one-day only deal? Bite me. I was able to walk out.
But I have a HUGE amount of compassion for people who were suckered. I’ve been conned in my life, in other situations, in weak moments of distraction, or grief or depression. Don’t be so hard on yourselves. Live and learn–and leave your bad reviews EVERYWHERE!
Manipulating people in this way is pure evil. The company, in all it’s sleazy manifestations, needs to be put out of business.
And to the fake commentors: f*ck off, it’s so obvious you work for the company. Your stupid posts ALL stand out from a mile away.
Some try to take a friendly, informative tone… Even ceding that the sales tactics are “unpleasant,” but should be ignored so you can get your hands on these “fabulous” products.
Sod off. There are tons of quality skin care lines in all price points… why support a company that duped a young woman with Down Syndrome into buying $1600 worth of skin care products?? Or cheated a 12 year old girl out of all of her vacation money as soon as she had a bit of freedom from her parents? And refused to give refunds. And blamed this evil on “independent franchise owners.” Again, I say:
EVIL.
Some of the fake-comment Orogold/Mazel employees resort to the same nasty tactics that they do in the shops, but ×10 because of their anonymity: lying (naturally), shaming, blaming. Accusung people of racism for having a problem with the company’s tactics! O.M.G. and L.O.L.
Orogold you are f*cking pathetic.
I’m going to get you booted out of my local upscale mall. Watch me.
Orogold has stores as well as spas in Hong Kong and yes……I am the latest victim. Those sales people here are exactly the same as how others described, so no need for me to repeat (too angry and upset). I was weak I’ll admit but are the products at least safe to use?
I just have to say:
I was walking on the Upper East Side of NYC, which I rarely do. Cute girl offers me free sample, pulls me by the hand inside, does the eye cream thing…
Very interesting how they Do all have the same tactics.
I walked out and commented ‘you girls are such hustlers!’ to which they giggled. I now know why.
Fortunately I’m not one to spend a fortune on any such product.
I was intrigued, googled it, and couldn’t believe the experience the author posted above!
Just walked into OroGold in San Juan, PR. Was invited in as others posted, cute girl giving out samples in hallway; then offered a serum. Inside the salesperson talked about the puffiness in my eyes ( which I never noticed) and applied the eye wrinkle product. I must admit, I saw the difference. She then did the same to my grandmother, who has really noticeable eye bags (84 years old) and again, we could see the difference. Still she dis not talk of price and then applied it to my other eye, with another cream for the upper lid. She said I was still young (I am 37) but I was on time to start treatment. She said she used the products and so on. She said everything was natural and the company was from California, created by Plastic sugeons for people who opted out of botox or sugery for younger loooking/antiaging. Then the price, the wrinke cream was 600 and the eye cream 400, but ” if you buy today you get both for 458 plus the peel”. Again, she demonstratdd the peel on my arm and my grandmothers and we noticed are skin lighter and smoother. I was convinced it was a good product, but told her I had to discuss with hubby. Then she was like ” is it because of the price” and I was like ” yeah”. She again said it was a one day offer, if I cam tommorow it would not be valid, then threw in the vitamin c serum and started to talk about a card with point that she woudl use one me. AnywAy end of story I did not buy anything. Afterwards, even though hubby said ok; this was my analysis:
1-If your product is good, why give it at a discount? If you back your product 100% then no need to down the price like a used car. It felt like the bargaining that is customary in some parts of southamerica/Caribbean.
2- what do you mean this is a one day offer. If I go into the store tommorow willing to buy 500 in product, are you really going to say no? I have been in sales; you never turn away a willing customer. Maybe a special discount is time limited ( say 10, 15 or 20%, however usually high end cosmetics/ treatments don’t go on sale) but if you are a salesperson, you will make a sale to a returning customer.
3- the pressure to make a sale; not letting the customer think it through makes the product look cheap. If you are selling a thousand dollar product, expect your client to take their time, research, let them ask the questions, touch the product, etc. Again if it is worth it, that’s enough.
All in all, this companies sales techniques gives the product a bad name.
I was just in NY city and had the exact same experience you spoke about, and b4 reading your blog almost went online to purchase the ‘miracle’ eye collagen. Thank you for opening my eyes 🙂 this is def an expense I can do without
I had a few minutes to spare as I walked past the OroGold store at my mall yesterday (in Glendale, Arizona). I experienced the full sales pitch as others have been experiencing for the last several years – the demonstration and wording were identical. My salesperson was “Rafael,” from Italy.
One thing that caught my attention was he used the word “organic” to describe the ingredients. And he mentioned that it was approved by the FDA, which is not the same thing as a “seal” of high quality or that it does what it says. As for the product itself, I’m glad I didn’t buy anything because when I woke up this morning the eye that they put the serum under was red, swollen, itchy and crusty. My other eye was fine. So something in it made me react. I hope this reaction wears off soon – it looks like I’m going to be very uncomfortable all day.
The type of sales tactics they use I’ve seen with many other companies in the past, so that is nothing new. I can see how people can get talked into buying things they don’t really want or need.
But it does bother me that they make false claims about the product (there is nothing “organic” about it.).
I will not repeat everything that is said, because it is obvious (goes for Vine Vera, Venofye etc, the list can be found here http://www.trademarkia.com/correspondent-avihu-oded-1-1585278 ). My experience is from Valletta, Malta. Just to confirm the original post: I got to know one of the salespersons a little closer – they are Israelis with taken Italian names, claiming to be from Spain/Italy, but cannot speak the language and don’t respond adequately to any local references. They live in multiroom flats with fellow salespersons (Israelis, as there are texts/instructions on the doors in hebrew), offered by the corporation. They are all ex-military, which is inevitable, as there is compulsory military service for both men and women in Israel and attendance is high. They might be part of something else as well, as suggested in the original post (drug trafficking/other organised crime). Jews are a very closely bound community everywhere in the world but witnessing it all from the utterly superficial yet intence sales to their actual living arrangements was very disturbing.
I just had this experience. It is all true I saw it but didn’t listen to my inner voice. An evil company exploiting people. So evil it is scary. Can’t understand how come these businesses still exist. It makes me feel ill that I have been suckered. It is not the $100 I spent that bothers me it the fact that these companies are not being shut down but are continuing to spread like vermin.
To learn the truth about this and other Dead Sea Cosmetics companies just Google gold elements scam, dead sea scam, dead sea premier scam, orogold scam, kiosk harassment and make sure to read the Wikileaks diplomatic cable from 2010, which and here’s the title (DEAD SEA COSMETICS AND SKINCARE INDUSTRY FRAUD ) tells the whole sordid story about these cosmetics predators.
wikileaks.org/plusd/cabl
Manhattan, New York
United States
orogold.com
September 10, 2017 around 5pm
Manhattan around 57th street location
The promoter aggressively tried to persuade me to buy their products (3 for 600$-ish) and when I said categorically “NO” the promoter insulted me of my abilities whether I can count since if I could then I already calculated it how much cheaper they are than other brands.
He asked me if I am married or happy?
If I have many boyfriends?
How old I am?
The prices were not on their product so I could not compare if there was a promotion indeed. Then he offered me (after 15 minutes) everything half price. Now that was a red flag.
I did not want to buy anything and I knew I was not but I was “fascinated” about their fake tactic and what other reasoning the promoter will come up when I said I am not buying anything.
There was another woman sitting next to me who also left very upset.
And by the way, it looks horrible under my eyes since it is extremely dry and the whole cream/gel whatever it is pealing off.
Apparently all the stores have the same tactics, including the Paramus, NJ store. I got suckered into buying a few products, when I came back two days later they would not give me back my money claiming the products were “discounted” and there was a no refunds policy. Stay away from these people, they are bad news!!
These are same tactics (and lines) used by Adore Cosmetics at Miami location. What a nightmare.
I was walking around Key West Florida when I walked by the OroGold store. A very friendly and nice young offered to try the production on me. It felt soft and did make the wrinkles under my eyes smoother. He did try to use the sell techniques that some have spoke of. Problem with me is the more forceful the sales person the more I get determined not to buy. I told him Thank you and walked out. I realize not everyone can do that and can see the strong arm tactics work. I don’t agree with the sales tactics they use but overall the people were polite and nice.
RUN AWAY! Liars & Cheats! Will Not Refund!
I purchased $537 of Orogold products in Key West, FL, and Orogold has refused to refund my products, which I will gladly return, and I am issuing this statement.
I believe that the Store salesperson made false claims about the products I purchased and I’m finding several discrepancies when viewing the Orogold website and once speaking with Jackie, the CS product rep. I was misled and actually lied to about their products. Truth in advertising was not upheld. There were discrepancies in terms of service. The products I purchased were not as described to me by the sales staff.
1) Ingredients:
I made it clear to the sales rep that I have, for years, only used organic skin care products – Michael Todd True Organics lines. She assured me that the products she was selling me were “natural,” “organic” and I was told each product I was sold was “collagen based” … “collagen infused”. Upon returning home from vacation, I researched the products on Orogold’s website for the five products I was sold, and it does NOT say that. When I spoke to Jackie, the CS product rep, she said that no, the products I bought did not contain collagen, but they do have a (more expensive) collagen line, “24K Collagen Collection.” NOTE: when in the store, I was never introduced to this line; the 5 products offered to me were a mix and match from different Organic product lines, some of which are not even on their website anymore, and one Jackie told me she doesn’t think they even carry anymore!
2) Length of use/supply quantity:
I was told, “Every product lasts one year” … “you won’t have to replenish your supply for a full year.” I was also told that the 24K DMAE Deep Wrinkle Tightening Solution, when used ONCE A WEEK, WOULD LAST one YEAR, WITH RESULTS of wrinkles around my eyes being gone for 1-3 YEARS AFTER THAT. Well, my moisturizer, used as directed, is now GONE! I can’t tell about the remaining products, due to the packaging. If I can’t trust them on other claims made, I doubt I can trust them on eye wrinkles disappearing for 1-3 years after a full year’s use of this one product!
Again, the sales rep told me the 24K DMAE Deep Wrinkle Tightening Solution was a one-year supply. Per Jackie, the CS product rep, over the phone, “Use one to two times per week and on special occasions, and it will last 3-6 months. Quite a discrepancy!
3) “The OROGOLD Guarantee”
“OROGOLD stands behind its skin care products 100%. Our products are sure to make your skin look lovely and make you feel fabulous. Our staff is happy to help you with whatever you may need, whether they are the store staff at OROGOLD locations or our corporate customer service. Please contact us with any questions or comments – we are happy to assist you. So if you have any doubts, questions, clarifications or comments, please get in touch with us. We are always happy to assist you in any way that we can.”
If they stand behind their products 100%, and I was deceived in the products’ ingredients and how long they will last, then I should be able to return the products for a refund according to this “guarantee”!
4) Did I even get authentic Orogold products?
According to the website, “All products are wrapped individually in golden boxes and when you open them up, you find the products to gracefully lying in beds made out of golden colored satin.” Interesting! Mine weren’t! They are in WHITE cardboard boxes with NO “beds of golden colored satin” – just white cardboard! I’ll be glad to provide photos!
Apparently they have reinvented themselves…FENECHE Italy. I was approached numerous times this weekend in Las Vegas by Israeli’s pushing this crap. I don’t know how but one got me for $350 at a kiosk in the Miracle Mile then she referred me to the “dermatologist” who started at $4,700. The more I said no the lower the price went. I finally stood up and tried to walk away and the assault continued. I finally got away but their crap was still on my face and I looked horrible. My skin under my eyes is very irritated and red. I look much worse now than when I started.
I am so pissed I fell for it and my receipt says all sales are final.
Just came across them in East Bay St. In Charleston. They stand outside their store and lure you in with free soap. Once inside, their salesman asked me if I’ve ever used collagen. He then proceeded to put the collagen serum under my left eye. Immediately the puffiness went away and my eye looked amazing. My friends were standing outside the store calling me and telling me we had to be at lunch in two minutes – all true – the guy who put the cream on my face had a heavy accent and I recognized it as Israeli. I asked him if he was Israeli and he said no I’m from the Ukraine – what a laugh – I work with immigrants and he was clearly Israeli. It immediately made me suspicious – why would he deny where he was from? I then started to review the products online and came across this website – lucky for me.
I’m Margaret McHaney invoice #3220 and transaction #000839, amount $1376.86. The date I was at the Orogold Stonebriar Mall, Frisco, on December 11. This is not my first attempt of this solution/remediation. I was asked into the store by a nice gal who sold me an eye wrinkle solution. She tried to tell me about Sean’s high pressure ways but my experience was so positive with her that I agreed to experience the rest of the line. She told me that Sean was the best facial expert so I agreed.
More than 4 hours later, I left to go home, (I’m in my 70s and was extremely tired because of surgery the previous Tuesday, December 8.) After going straight home via LYFT, my face was grainy feeling and red. It wasn’t a natural red but a chemical red reaction. Even the tightening Sean performed was gone. Even worse, my wrinkles were more exaggerated until I applied my own regimen.
Here’s what I want:
I want to return the products.
I’ve spent the weekend and the rest of this week researching. Sean is not a franchise owner which he repeatedly told me. This revelation was documented and finalized by the business app, LinkedIn. I also found multiples of unethical business and customer tactics. I’ve contacted the Better Business Bureau. When the BBB was contacted, they assured this was not the first time they had heard of Orogold. They also said they have an ongoing investigation and a multitude of complaints. I have contacts with a local TV station who could be on this investigation, too. Oh yes, he (Sean) accepted $1300 after he told me I had to keep it a secret because other estheticians would want the same privilege but since he owned the franchise, he could do it. I am supposed to come in on December 22. At that time, I was supposed to bring another $1300, toward the rest of the sale, including the infrared appliance; the rest would be paid monthly.
I WILL NOT PAY ANOTHER PENNY.
I WILL NOT COME BACK. IF YOU WANT THE UNTOUCHED, UNOPENED BOXES, I WILL RETURN THEM, IF AND ONLY IF I CAN BE REFUNDED. Otherwise, I will sell the products on EBay, Poshmark, or another consignment sites.
Truly,
Margaret McHaney
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There is an Oro Gold store in Toronto (Scarborough Town Centre) pulling the same rubbing. They also operate out of another store called Lola Soap. *shake my head*
Rubbing = *rubbish
Israeli scumbags. They make my skin crawl.