This report published in Apple Daily (蘋果日報) in February 2008 revealed that Perfect Shape (必瘦站), Dr. Louis, and the now defunct So Easy (瘦得起) are all controlled by the same individuals. Easy Fit (纖得掂), endorsed by Miss Hong Kong Pageant, and Royal Body Perfect (皇室纖形) fronted by Carina Lau, are in fact group companies; further proof is that both websites feature the same 'Fit Fit Club', and the same two customer testimonials!
So Easy was once endorsed by "Twin" Gillian Chung (鍾欣桐). After being out of the limelight for the best part of the year following appearance of the Edison Chen photos, Gill is back with several lucrative endorsement contracts. There are posters of her everywhere, and she looks stunning! However, unlike her fellow "ambassadors" (see previous entry), it was disclosed that she would get a 7-figure sum for the endorsement of Botox treatment clinic. I am wondering if she will get a free supply of botox...
The allegations of wrongdoing I read about at one of these chains are quite serious, and the other chain doesn't seem much better. The practices occur because they are either not strictly illegal, or are difficult to prove. Sometimes, the sales reps manage to intimidate and bully the client, who may not relish the court fight over a few thousand dollars. I'd also guess that many Chinese would hate to admit publicly that they had been cheated. The Apple Daily exposed practices at one such chain:
- Baiting and switching - the widely advertised 'Janice Vidal promotion' was denounced by sales staff as 'too cheap to be any good', the punter is persuaded to take a more expensive plan
- upselling - once on board, sales rep proposes enhancements or more treatments
- badgering/harassment - constant attempts to calls and harry, messages aimed at increasing spend.
- fraud and deception - attempts to sell expensive but ineffective or medically unproven products; consultant tells client her lymphatic system is blocked, and needs lymph drainage
- financing - applying for financing of tens of thousands on behalf of clients to pay for treatments
- overcharging - personal hygiene products (e.g. Nioxin shampoo) sold at twice the going rate compared with other shops.
Apple's stable-mate Next Magazine recently ran an exposé which accused the chain of
- illegally cold-calling - people have been called on their mobile phone, telling them they had been selected to be ambassadors - it's often clear the caller knows not who is on the other line.
- misrepresentation - advertisements and sales reps verbally guaranteeing weight loss, while the small print of the contract stipulates "療程不保證任何成效" (results not guaranteed); disclaiming any verbal warranties given ("無任何口頭協議").
- intimidatation - refusal to sign up results in scoldings and insults
- unsustainability - their dietitians propose short-term and potentially dangerous crash-diets
Another complaint alleges:
- refusing to give customer copy of contract signed, claiming confidentiality
- confidence trickery - "Trust me...", "We are a big reputable company...", "The contract is there to protect you..."
- using inaccurate scales which overstate weight loss
This complaint alleges a variant of the bait and switch:
- Customer is lured to the salon through advertising for "limited special offer"
- Sales rep tells client special offer quota is filled
- client proposed a contract with "special offer" $380 treatment (supposedly 90% discount); client asked to pay $380 before treatment
- demands payment for $3,800 (full price) after treatment
- explains breakdown is $380 for treatment, $1,500 for body fat analysis， $1,500 for consultant's fee，$420 for contract admin fee
- on refusing to pay, client was told she was in breach of contract, therefore no refund would be given. Client told to 'get the hell out of here.'
Perfect Shape, which claims to be the #1 slimming centre in the territory, was the subject of controversy in May 2008 when the undeclared controlled anorectic drug Sibutramine was detected in samples of its product 'More Slim', which the chain was selling without prescriptions in violation of the law. Four months later, as a result of customer complaint, authorities found 'Ener Day', another product containing the same compound had been routinely given to clients as part of their slimming regime.
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