Complain about a product or service

Royal Prestige Cookware "Party"

Marina of Lake Elsinore CA (2/21/05):
I bought a set of cookware at a cookware "party show" and I was given a price of $950.00 to pay by monthly installments. When the merchandise arrived, they sent me the purchase order by UPS. I didn't sign for them. When they gave my so-call purchase order, the price for the items was almost $2000.00. I decided to return them immediately (within a 30 day period).

Royal Prestige Consumer Complaints • General Complaints Company Response • A Message from Hy Cite Corp. The Pitch • Bridal Fairs • Cookware "Party" • "Free Prizes" • "Free Trip" • Longtime Owners The Deal • Cancellation Provisions • Contract Language • Returns Policy • Repair Service • Unauthorized Charges News • Complaints Resolved, Company Claims • Hy Cite Settles Calif. Suit • Texas Settles with Royal Prestige In-Depth Report: A Royal Rip-Off? • Promises, Promises (Espa�ol) • Complaints Resolved? • States Take Action • Tips From the Chef

The guy then started calling me and harrasing me, telling me that if I didnt pay my credit will be ruined. He says that he's going to take me to court and return my order. My order was the wrong order and now he's really threatening me to pay for something that I never used. He told me that there is a contract which states that there's a period of 3 business days to return the merchandise otherwise we are stuck with the purchase. Now, 3 days is not sufficient to even look at your purchase and make sure it was the right item. Also, I didn't received them, somebody else did.

And there's another problem, the invoice says that the reverse side has all the rights of the consumer to return the merchandise anytime we want, but there is nothing written down.

Cassandra of Staten Island NY (12/12/04):
We are very unhappy. With the lure of a free vacation, my fiance and I were roped into a sales pitch involving "healthy cookware" for the mind-boggling price of $3,000. We signed a contract, leaving a deposit of $250. Upon leaving we realized that it we may have a problem getting out of this contract even though we entered into it less than 4 hours ago.

Salesman scared the attending couples with tales about SIDS, alzheimer's, cancer and other life-threatening diseases brought about by common cookware. We did research online after feeling uneasy and found many articles about this company.

Melissa of Janesville WI (11/24/04):
Took out a line of credit for kitchen ware totaling $1200.00. Over the course of the loan I fell behind on a couple payments, but always caught back up by doubling up the next month. I paid the last payment on 02-27-02 of $146 and some change. The cookware was to have a unlimited lifetime warranty on it. When my house burned down in July of 03 I called them to start my claim to get new cookware. They said that they would replace it if it hadn't been for the fact that my account was in repo because I hadn't made a payment.

Because I knew I had paid it all, I asked the gentleman to send me a statement of the payments I had made. He quicky told me he didnt have anything like that and told me I would have to prove I paid. After speaking several times to a lady in the Royal Prestige office with no luck, I am at a stand still. My bank tells me I need check numbers in order to get copies, and because of the fire I only have a few carbons.

Jared of Roslyn PA (8/16/04):
I was scared into buying Royal Prestige by Ken ... His numerous references to Alzheimer's, cancers, and SIDs (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) made us believe that we would die at an earlier age if we did not buy his products. The $500 gift certificates were nothing short of comical, who really wants a cheap generic $45 pen that you could go buy at the $1 store. Not to mention Ken repeatedly said that shipping would not cost more than $75 for the $500 items but the website says the shippings is $140+.

Danielle of Minneola FL (7/1/04):
In May 2004 we were invited to a presentation at the Orlando Marriott. We went and were subjected to nearly three hours of scare tactics and terrifying "facts." We were told of how our pots and pans could be killing us, how they could kill our baby, and how Teflon had been linked to Alzheimer's. We believed this information, and we purchased $1700 worth of merchandise and paid a $650 deposit upfront. We signed a contract, and were told we had three days to back out. Still convinced three days later, we did not cancel our order.

After doing some research and finding that we had been lied to, we called our distributor before the items had arrived, and asked to be released from the contract. The distributor informed us that he could not release us from the contract; he said that the items had been sent and if we did not pay he would sue us. We didn't want to start an argument or make accusations, so we just told him we needed the money back, not wanting to outright call him a liar. The items arrived six days later.

Then a representative from Global Financing began calling us, even though the financial company had not yet paid Royal Prestige for the order. Now the two men are trying to strongarm me into agreeing to pay the remainder of the $1700 and accept the merchandise, despite the fact that I don't want it, haven't used it or even opened the box. In late June the distributor called me and informed me it would be "illegal" to release me from the contract. When I refused to succumb to his scare tactics again, he yelled at me.

Yesterday, the distributor and loan officer called offering me a deal - if I allowed the distributor my $650 AND sent back the products, he would release me from the contract. When I called the Royal Prestige Customer "Service" (if that's what you want to call it) line, they informed me that everything was up to the salesman and that I was "lucky" that he was making such an offer.

I had discovered I was pregnant with my first child just a few days before the presentation, and I bought the items because I was convinced that my current pots and pans could kill my baby. When I found out I'd been lied to, I was sad more than anything. We really need that money, but we spent it on cookware because we thought we were making an investment in our family's future.

Danielle didn't just write to us, she kept hounding Royal Prestige and also contacted local television stations in the Orlando area. She also wrote to Royal Prestige's corporate headquarters in Wisconsin. the company offered her a complete refund and also said that its salesmen have been warned not to mention Alzheimer's in their pitches.

Cassandra of Staten Island NY (12/12/04):
We are very unhappy. Tempted with the offer of a free vacation, my fianc�e and I were roped into a sales pitch involving "healthy cookware" for the mind-boggling price of $3,000. We signed a contract, leaving a deposit of $250. Upon leaving we realized that we may have a problem getting out of the contract. The salesman scared the attending couples with tales about SIDS, Alzheimer's, cancer, and other life-threatening diseases brought about by common cookware.

We did research online after feeling uneasy and found many articles about the deceitfulness of this company. As of right now, we want this contract rendered null and void, immediately!

Melissa of Janesville WI (11/24/04):
I took out a $1200 line of credit to buy kitchenware (knives, pots, pans etc.) Over the course of the loan I fell behind on a couple of payments, but always caught back up by paying double the next month. I paid the last payment of $146 on February 27, 2002. The cookware was said to have a unlimited lifetime warranty on it. When my house burned down in July of 2003 I called Royal Prestige to start my claim to get new cookware. They said that they couldn't replace it because my account was in repo since I had missed a payment.

Because I knew I had paid it all, I asked the gentleman to send me a statement of the payments I had made. He quickly told me he didn't have anything like that I would need to prove that I had paid. After leaving several messages with a lady in the Oregon office and receiving no response, I am at a standstill. My bank tells me I need check numbers in order to get copies, and because of the fire I have only a few carbons. I believe that these people have a bad sense of business and would never recommend that anyone buy their products.

Jared of Roslyn PA (8/16/04):
The salesman's numerous references to Alzheimer's, cancers, and SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) made us believe that we would die at an earlier age if we did not buy his products. The $500 gift certificates were nothing short of comical; generic $1 pens are offered at nothing short of $45. Additionally, the salesman repeatedly said that shipping would not cost more than $75 for items totaling $500, but the website says the shipping is over $140. We are having trouble canceling our order.

Marsha of Louisville KY (6/18/04):
We ordered a set of Royal Prestige kitchenware in 1999. First, we never got the full package we were guaranteed. Then, recently when applying for a home equity loan we found out that our credit report shows an outstanding balance of $1400. This in spite of the fact that we have statements and copies of paid checks showing the account paid off as of October 2002. When we called the Royal Prestige office in Wisconsin they told us we must contact our salesman in Tennessee because our account was turned over to collection. The checks were made to, and cashed by, Royal Prestige.

We have never been notified of this debt or had anyone attempt to collect this money. The only reason we are now aware of it is that we have applied for a loan and it has appeared on our credit report. My husband and I have repeatedly tried to contact the Tennessee office but have yet to speak to anyone other that the receptionist, and the Wisconsin division refuses to discuss.

Tiffany of Baltimore (5/18/04):
My husband and myself went to a seminar by Royal Prestige kitchenware and purchased a set of pots. When the pots got shipped to us via UPS, we reviewed the total cost and returned the set. We notified Royal Prestige's customer service that the pots were being returned. They told us that we couldn't return them because we had only two days after signing the contract to cancel. Now after all this time this is showing up on my credit report and I need to get it resolved. If I don't have any other choice then I'm willing to pay some of the total on a payment plan but not the full $983. I will do this only if they are willing to resend the pots.

Wanda of Lawrence MA (4/23/04):
A Royal Prestige kitchenware salesman came to show me a demonstration of a water filter. I wasn't interested in buying one until he told me that every time I needed a filter change I would get one for free. About six months later I needed a new filter and called the company to receive a free one. However, when I called I was informed that I would need to pay $100 every time I needed a new filter. I feel that I have been cheated; I will never again buy anything from this company.

Karri of La Mirada CA (3/11/04):
I ordered a pan set from Royal Prestige kitchenware on the premise that the order could be cancelled within seven business days. I called to cancel on the seventh day and was told that I was ineligible for a refund. I argued with the lady, telling her that the form I had signed had no disclosure stating no refunds. Apparently, after I had signed the purchase agreement, the salesman had stamped my purchase agreement with a red stamp stating that no refunds would be allowed. He then slid the paper into an envelope. I didn't see the stamp until the lady on the phone told me where to check. I was completely livid.

This should be in the purchase agreement, not on a cheesy stamp some sly salesperson can add to a form. Our salesperson said we could call at any time with questions. So of course I called about his little tricky move; he never returned my call, and the company did nothing to try and resolve the situation.

We ended up paying approximately $3,000 for a set of kitchenware. Two days' worth of free vacation promised to us cost $150 to book, and there were additional fees at the resorts. I had to leave work early the day I tried to resolve the issue with the company because I was so upset that I broke down crying. $3,000 is over one months' salary for me.

Eric of Jarreau LA (3/7/03):
My fianc� and I received a call stating that we had won a free trip for our honeymoon along with other "cool stuff" and that all we had to do was attend an event that showcased Royal Prestige cookware. We decided to attend the event and see what we could get. After a wonderful display of what these pots and pans could do, we decided to take an offer giving us $300 worth of cookware for free. We found out that the free cookware only came if you bought a set. We were both leery about it until the salesman pulled out a calculator and said we could get the $1700 set for about $1350 after the $300 rebate.

After paying a $150 down payment, I had $1200 left to pay at a "low" interest rate. He told me my payments would be $50 dollars a month for two years which didn't seem like too bad of a deal. Well, this "low" interest rate ended up being over 18 percent and I have now paid $50 a month for almost one year but still owe them almost $1000. Not only that but we were promised 100 percent satisfaction guaranteed. Well, after one week we were very displeased with our purchase and after a number of calls to Royal Prestige about our problem, we were told that we were well beyond the timeframe to cancel an order, which is three days after the original purchase. I didn't even receive the cookware until two weeks after the original purchase!

Kia of Raleigh NC (2/14/03):
I wanted to purchase a set of Royal Prestige pots and pans in exchange for an all-inclusive trip to two or three locations. I was told that we would receive our merchandise after two weeks. After two weeks had passed we did not receive anything, so we gave the representative a call to ask what was holding things up. We were told that they tried to get us financed through a company and it was declined. They wanted to check with another finance company; at this point we told them not to send it to another credit company and to simply return our deposit. They agreed, stating that we would have our deposit back at the end of the week.

Last night we received a phone call from a finance company stating that we had been approved for the set of pots and pans! I will be calling them today because I am sure that there is not a refund check in the mail.

Colleen of Wilmington DE (1/27/03):
My fianc� and I attended a seminar by Royal Prestige cookware. We were promised a free vacation (which ended up being just a free hotel room) for attending the seminar. The salesman started by telling us that he was a registered nutritionalist and that doctors from around the world have agreed on the health benefits of this cookware. He told us that using aluminum causes Alzheimer's. He also told us that Teflon emits toxic fumes and can be dangerous to your child or any kind of small animal.

He went on to say that any other kind of cookware besides the Royal Prestige cookware causes heart disease, diabetes, and memory loss resulting in an early death. Well, needless to say, by this point we were scared. We felt we had to buy the cookware or else we would risk the chance of getting any one of these diseases. Everything he said just seemed to make sense. We, along with every other newly engaged couple, bought the outrageously expensive cookware. When we got home, we decided to find out a little more about Royal Prestige. We found out about the numerous lawsuits against the company for false claims, misrepresentation of the product, scare tactics and high-pressure sales. Interviews with various doctors revealed that there is no proof that aluminum causes Alzheimer's and that Teflon does not emit toxic fumes. I also found out that they prey on newly engaged couples.

I immediately felt sick to my stomach; how could I be so stupid as to fall for this? We don't have any money to waste! At the seminar, the representative who sold us the cookware did not fill out the notice of cancellation and told us that it did not apply to us. I know that by law everyone has a three-day period in which to cancel any kind of contract. I sent the certified letter notifying the company of the cancellation. I read articles about many customers having trouble receiving their refund and having to file a lawsuit in order to get their money back. Hopefully, I will have luck getting a full refund, but I am prepared to take further action if need be.

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