Royal Prestige cookware, water filters and other household goods are manufactured by the Hi Cite Corporation and sold through a nationwide network of distributors, who use the "party plan" and "person-to-person" methods -- meaning bridal fairs, "seminars" and so forth.
The company says it has instituted new policies to prevent unsavory practices by its distributors and has submitted a statement explaining its policies and practices (full text of the company's statement).
It's up to consumers to make the right decision. The company says it has improved its practices, but some consumers are still unhappy. Here are a few of the more recent complaints (and compliments) we've received:
Matthew of Grovetown, GA June 13, 2009
I too was engaged and duped into "just listening" to some salesmen with the prospect of a free vacation (minus air fare). I also paid and exorbitant amount for my pots and pans but, I love them. I watched the video and read everything that came in the box. I have never had any issues. These pans cook exactly the way those cunning salesmen said they would. I've cooked countless steaks, vegetables, burgers and nearly everything you can think of with the exception of eggs in these pans. I'd also like to add that all the literature said they were no good for eggs. I've had theses pans for nearly 10 years they have made several moves with me and even gone camping. You can still nearly see your refelction in them. If there ever was a 300 dollar pan this is it. They require a minimal amount of upkeep. I've had to polish them once and that was after a long run of cooking things covered in honey. I expect them to last another 10 years no issues. I'd like to thank those over pushy, greedy salesmen for duping me into the exorbitant price.
Kyle of Mishawaka, IN May 14, 2009
My fiance and I went to the presentation because she received a phone call. She filled out a registration for David's Bridal who sold it to Royal Prestige. The phone call said you had won a free vacation. She thought great, we can use it for our honey moon. We went and applied for the family size deal like 2300 line of credit. We were told there was no interest if paid on time. We had to put down 128 to "secure the deal" we were told. Plus if we bought the pans and dishes today we would get a free bonus cruise.
We received the papers for the "free" vacation and cruise from Odenza Marketing. They want you to send them 50 to 75 dollars to hold your reservation for something that is supposed to be free. I just read that guys interview, Erik something or another. Let me tell you he is a liar. We called the call center to get a refund on our 128 deposit because we could not get approved for the 2300. They said they will never give a refund for anything and said she would send us some spoons that are equal in price. Who spends 128 on spoons? Not us but they would not give us the money back.
A couple of days later I received some cooking spoons. After I sent in the money for the vacations by Odenza Marketing, they told us we could not use out dates and the only dates they had available were during hurricane season. Yes, please lets all go on a cruise during hurricane season. The whole entire thing from the pans to the vacations is a scam.
Estela of Bryan, TX May 18, 2009
This couple came to my house representing Royal Prestige. I purchased some merchandise and paid for it immediately. They assured me that I would receive my order by Monday and when I reacted I went to my bank to stop payment on my check, it had already been cashed. I have never received the merchandise and the distributor did not give a phone number or distributor number and on the company name they put the name of the company they are representing.
I have called the complaint number and spoke with Laura first, and then to Rosario, but they did not find anything on this transaction. They asked me to fax the order form and they would check into it. I advised Ms R that if I don't receive my merchandise or my money back I will proceed legally. Please advise. I have no merchandise and have lost 1500.00
Katie of Green Bay, WI May 18, 2009
I have filed a complaint through this same website previously this year regarding Royal Prestige because they would not stop calling me after repeated attempts at asking them to take me off of their calling lists. Each time they call it is a new representative and none of them listen when I ask to be taken off the list, they simply apologize and then hang up and about 2-3 weeks later I get another call.
After I filed a complaint through this website I received a letter that the issue would be addressed and if I had more problems to let them know. Well, I am letting you know that they called me again this afternoon, hung up on me when I asked to be taken off the list, and I JUST WANT IT TO STOP!
Please let me know what else I can try on my end or if there is anything you can do on my behalf because I am sick of being contacted by this company.
Danielle of Milford, IA May 3, 2009
The pans that I purchased from Royal Prestige are AWESOME!! We use them almost every day and look brand new. We've had them for almost a year and love them. The people that are claiming it's a scam and that they don't work are UNTRUE! If you would have read the instructions you wouldn't have a problem. These people who are saying that it doesn't work, they are dumb asses who don't deserve to use such a great product. I mean they are the best products on the market! Hello, they are on the Price is Right! DRRRRRR YOU ARE ALL STUPID!!
Emilly of Mobile, AL April 30, 2009
My story is identical to the others reporting Royal Prestige as a scam. I declined the pots and pans yet was treated very harshly and told "Ma'am, we don't have a catalog, but you could buy the cheapest thing in here." I tried to get up and leave and they threatened to process via my provided personal info. So I ordered a stupid potato masher. I made arrangements to pay 13.00 a month for the ridiculously over-priced utensil (89.00) and paid my 13.00 a month until it was paid off. The interest was outrageous at 25%, but at least I felt comforted by the fact that they were still, only getting 13.00 a month from me.
I recommend that this company be shut down.
Amanda of Louisville, KY April 20, 2009
Just as I have read about many other couples, my fianc and I were also 'scammed' by the high pressure sales and scare tactics of this company. Just as the others, we thought these pots and pans would improve our health, home and the end result of cooking. That was not the case. Everything sticks to the pans, and they are SO difficult to clean. Most times we are washing the pots and pans multiple times to get them clean. I have used everything from various levels of heat when cooking to using oil to lubricate my pans thinking that would help. It didnt.
The worst part about it was we were in a car accident 3 days after the pots and pans presentation. We ended up paying out of pocket for the repairs on the car and when I called to cancel the order on the 4th day due to being in the accident, I was denied and told to make the payments as best as I could. I was given the whole 3-day-cancellation-rule. I was shown no compassion for having been in a car accident on the 3rd day after the purchase and for calling on the 4th. The pots and pans were still packed up and I offered to pay for shipping to return them on that 4th day and was shown no consideration.
Royal Prestige and HyCite have done the absolute opposite to what they claimed to do. I was intrigued with the 'stack cooking' they claim to be known for however at my house, the pans stay stacked in my cabinet. I would still like to return the prodcut and I am still happy to pay the shipping. In no way would I ask for or expect anything in return from HyCite, like a free set of dishes.
James of Coal City, IL April 4, 2009
My fiancee got a call Thursday night 4/2/09 telling her that she had won 3 prizes and all we had to do to get them was sit down for an hour and a half demonstration on Friday 4/3/09 for a company called Royal Prestige. We went and the man selling the product used scare tactics and told us that teflon cookware causes cancer. We were also told that the way the cookware works, it's healthier than the pots and pans we would buy at Wal Mart. He also told us that everything had a no questions asked 50 year warranty, so that if anything ever happened to anything we ever purchased, we could send it back and they would replace it.
We decided not to buy the cookware, but purchased the plates instead because they told us that if we bought something that day, we would always have the 20 to 40% discount and we would have the all inclusive trip. As we sat at our table we heard him speaking to another couple that said they didn't have the money right now and he told them they could post date a check, which is illegal and if they turned down this offer they would never be asked to come to another Royal Prestige seminar again. The next day, I didn't feel right about what we did, so I went online and researched the company and found nothing but negative feedback from many other people and the so called service they received.
I called today [Saturday] 4/4/09 and they told me there was nothing they could do for me because the department didn't work on Saturdays and that I need to call back on Monday and send back our sales order and a reason why we wanted to cancel. None of this information was ever mentioned at our presentation, we didn't even know about the return policy until I did my research online. The so called free prizes are also a scam, they are not FREE. For one of them you needed to send a 50 non refundable deposit and the other needed 4.95 and who knows how much more is costs after that.
We are going to call back on Monday like they told us to do, we canceled our check for our deposit, and we contacted the BBB of Wisconsin. We might even contact our local news channel so that things like this stop happening to young engaged couples who might not know that this is what they are getting themselves into.
Mirriah of Wichita, KS March 30, 2009
When my husband and I were planning our wedding we went to a bridal fair. Royal Prestiege was there and we signed up to win a free cruise. When they called we thought we won the cruise because they said so, and that we would just have to go claim our prize. It turned out that we had to sit through a demonstration in order to claim our prize. As we talked to the other couples there they said they were told the same thing. We wanted the cruise for our honeymoon so we stayed for the demonstration. We were tired of the old cookware my parents gave us so we were easily convinced to purchase their cookware.
Also since we were getting married we wanted new dishware as well. They told us that their products were a little high priced but affordable and worth the extra cost. They also told us that everyone who works for the company owns the cookware. We were also told that we could cancel the order if we felt necessary. After we received the cookware two weeks later, I tried cooking with them and the food burned and the pot was scorched, ruined after the first use. I called to report it and see if I could return the cookware, cancel my order and was told that was not possible. The cancelation time was three days after ordering and no longer than that. They also dont do returns and we would have to get other products that equalled the value of the products we purchased.
We found out that it wasnt affordable and now in two days my paychecks will be garnished because we could not afford the payments. This is a huge problem because I have a five week old baby now and am already having a hard time affording food for him with full paychecks. I will have to decide to feed my baby or pay for [bad] cookware.
Tracie of Sallisaw, OK March 27, 2009
I recieved a phone call from a woman named Faith telling me that my fiance and I had won 2 vacation trips, one all inclusive and the other paying for only our hotel fees, and that all we had to do in order to get our trips was go to a cooking show at a local holiday inn hotel. The show was only an hour long and at they would be showing newlyweds how to cook healthier etc. I was so excited to go, a bit skeptical, but overall anxious!
When I got there it was obvious that it was a complete scam. The guy telling us about the cookware was dressed in dirty clothes, cussed throughout the seminar and kept throwing out shady answers when someone would ask a question. Thankfully, my fiance got online on my phone and instantly hundreds of hits popped up about how much of a scam Royal Prestige is. We left as soon as we read the first review, one of the salesman tried coming after us but we ignored him and headed straight for the car.
There were quite a few other couples in the room, many of which looked like they could not afford 3000 dollars worth of cookware. But because of the sales tactics used by the salesman, many of them were talking to each other about how they could get it financed.
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