My Arysta Scam Experience

I want to share this experience I encountered to give warning to people, especially to my Igorot kababayans unknowingly becoming victims of these deceptive sales malpractices of Arysta Marketing located at the Porta Vaga building Baguio City.

November 4, 2009. I was just strolling around Porta Vaga not even thinking of buying something, when a lady in semi formal attire approached me and gave me a card stating a free item offering. She convinced me to follow her to claim that free item. Of my curiosity, because it is free, I went up with her in the upper floor and we entered a room labeled Arysta. I saw several staffs in formal attire; some were in semi formal that made them look somewhat respectable. The staffs were polite, that almost everybody shook hands with me. (Ngem props gayam amin dagijay. Para di mahalata na may kalokohan sila gagawin sa akin sa pagbebenta ng kanilang mga products). Their being friendly, neat-looking, and respectable looking are just coverings to mask their bad intentions to part from the hard earned money of their customers.

I was led into a chair, they were calling a massage chair, and as soon as I sat, they turned on a switch which made its mechanisms move and I felt something’s massaging my back. At first, it was irritating, I tried to stand but they told me to sit first for a while. They gave me the free item that I was to claim. Somebody demonstrated how it will be used. They explained that it was a door alarm. There were at least three staffs talking to me, helping each other gave explanations about its use. They even told stories of them being attacked by thieves during the night. Some asked me personal questions and gave flattering comments like, “taga saan kayo sir?”, “anung trabaho nyo sir”, “malapit ba kayo sa sagada sir”, “may asawa na ba kayo sir” “ang pogi naman ni sir”, “ang sipag naman mag-aral ni sir”, and many more phrases just to make them look friendly and get me closer to them. As I was to walk away, they insisted that they want to show me their products and introduced me some whereabouts of their company. They said that they have 33 branches in the Philippines, and many other branches in Asia, showing me a magazine picturing out the locations. Somebody demonstrated the induction cooker, which made me say “wow” “it’s great”. They said that its price is P73,000. I was discouraged and said the price is too high. I stood up again and was about to go when they asked me if I want to try their company raffle offering. I said ok, (dito na nagsimula ang kanilang mga kalokohan at pag-aarte) and somebody immediately brought an envelope and they told me to open it. I heard many comments like “lilibre mo kami sir”, “sa jolibee”, “sa mcDO”, “kapag walang nakalagay jan wag mo kami sisihin sir” somewhat like that. As I opened it, more staffs came shouting and clapping, even jumping, shaking hands with me, as I pulled the gift certificate worth 2000 pesos from the envelope. “Napakaswerte nyo naman sir”, “Kayo pa lang sa branch ang nakakuha ng ganyan”, “yung iba five hundred lang”. I was about to stand as I was saying “tara na ikain na natin yan” but they said “tignan muna natin mga conditions na nasa likod” one of the staffs read to me some phrases in a very fast way.
These are some of what I can remember:
“The gift certificate may be used to purchase any of their participating products”
“It is not convertible to cash”
“If used the purchaser is entitled free samples…I can’t remember the products”
“That the gift certificate is valid for that day only”

Almost everybody were already talking, clapping, shouting, jumping, to distract me and just focus on the big prize which they were trying to figure out to convince me, GIVING ME NO TIME TO THINK. DISTURBING ME. I was really thinking at that time that I won. I was already convinced by their acts.

Then another staff came running to inform me that I hit again a jackpot because I won a T.V. cabinet Home Theater, and a beautymate massager, they even computed its price showing high prices for the T.V. cabinet P50,900 and the beautymate massager I can’t remember the price. “Sir may ireregalo ka na sa girlfriend mo”. One staff came screaming that it’s confirmed that I won and everybody again came shaking hands with me, clapping, shouting, (Mga artista talaga. Napakagagaling nila umarte, Paniwalang-paniwala na talaga ako sa mga oras na yun sa ginagawa nila, I was thinking at that time I am very lucky, I even texted my brother that I won a big prize). Somebody shouted “Ikaw lang ang jackpot winner sa branch at may pag-asa ka pa makasali sa raffle ng Toyota Innova”, “Dalhin mo kmi sir sa sagada kapag nanalo ka ng Innova”.

Then a phone was handed to me with a female voice on the other end. She told me to dictate the DTI number daw na nakasulat sa gift certificate or on the Jackpot prize document. She even asked me some questions like, “am I related to any employee of Arysta”, “do I know Janice”, Janice was the one who brought me inside their shop, I answered no to all the questions, then she congratulated me. All the other employees surrounded me, clapping, cheering, shouting, jumping, they were all acting very EXCITED, just to show me I was really very lucky, while others shook hands with me.

The drama continued. They let me show the logo of my cellphone to know daw whether I’m a globe or smart subscriber. Immediately somebody brought a set of stainless steel flatware saying that it was a bonus freebie supposedly worth more than P15,000. They even asked me if my bank account is over 50K or less than 50K. They asked questions if I have a credit card, ATM card, whether I have a car, cable connection at home, and many more questions. Then for every answer they allotted points like 1 point for this, 2 points for this, etc. Then another prize was offered to me because of my points. At that time I am feeling really lucky and I was thinking I really won a big prize because of what they were doing.

Somebody explained that they were doing such because it is a kind of an advertisement for their company, instead of paying it for T.V. ads, they want to directly endorse products to their customers.

Some papers with questions to be answered were handed to me. They said that I’ll just check the options written as my answers. As I can recall, survey questions like “What do you like most in our company?” with several options to be checked, etc. I can’t remember the other questions.

Then a lady staff came running showing me a printed paper stating that I was chosen as the company advertiser of their branch. As I was sitting down the turbulent massaging chair, everybody again came congratulating me, shouting, clapping, and uttering flattering words, while somebody continuously tested the massager on my arm and lower leg. “Napakagwapo ng magiging company advertiser natin”. “Napakaswerte talaga ni sir”. Their actions, and facial reactions really made me believe that what was happening was true.

I was already thinking of getting the prize I got. I again stood up but one staff told me that I have to choose one product to buy before I get the prizes. She asked me which of their products I liked most, I pointed to the induction cooker which she made a demonstration earlier. She showed me the price and it was P53, 900. She lessened P2000 for the gift certificate.

Actually at this time, I was already totally convinced by them, because of what they showed, their deceiving actions, their acts that made me believe I really won, all the prices, the freebies, the way they jumped, clapped, their acts of EXCITEMENT made me bring down my guards against them.

“Ano kukunin nyo na ba sir?” “Sige dalhin na natin sa bahay nyo?” “Samahan nyo na si sir magwithdraw”. “Ano samahan nyo na si sir magwithdraw, over the counter“. Lahat sila nagmamadali, minamadali ako, all the products were already ready and packed to be transported. They even took pictures of me in front of the scripted prizes I won. “Ilalagay natin yan sa magazine namin”. I was asked to pay them P51,900 and I willingly said yes. I told them I have no money yet and asked me to leave a deposit money. I gave P3000 which I took from my bag.

Until that time, I never thought negatively of what had just happened, instead I texted my brother and sister about winning a jackpot prize. I was really somewhat brainwashed by their deceitful acts that until that time I’m thinking I was lucky. Together with three staffs, we took a taxi and transported the products to my uncle’s house at Betag, La Trinidad. When we passed by the Land Bank just in front of the Benguet State University main gate, I went to withdraw P50,000 pesos using the ATM machine. I don’t know what happened to me that time where in fact, normally it’s very hard for me to withdraw even P500. We delivered the products, even tested each inside my uncle’s house, but we did not set up even though the staffs who accompanied me insisted of setting it up. After testing, the products were brought back inside their packages.

Before we went back to the shop, I even fed those staffs who accompanied me in a restaurant(Jacks restaurant). As we were eating, they kept on receiving phone calls which made me no curious about. Then we took a taxi, and as soon as we arrived at their shop in Porta Vaga , I handed them my P48,900 as an additional payment to the P3000 I deposited earlier. The transaction happened so fast. I didn’t notice that I have already spent that amount of money for things I don’t really need.

When I was already walking home alone, that was the only time na natauhan na siguro ako. I was already thinking of my money and the things that I bought. Nanghihinayang na ako. I kept on saying to myself, what happened to me why did I buy those unnecessary things. Until the night after that day I was thinking of what happened. I already realized that I made a wrong move. I was thinking of the products I bought and the way I earned my money. Sa isip-isip ko, saan ko kaya naman gagamitin yung mga nabili ko? Bakit ko naman binili mga yun? Para saan ba mga gamit na yun? These questions were some of the questions that kept crossing my mind.

My realizations made me decide to just accept what I did, and to console myself I just thought “anyway I have bought products that I may use in the future”.

It was November 5, 2009
From Baguio, I went down to Nueva Ecija but still I keep on thinking of what had happened to me. I felt that I was really tricked by the Arysta staffs. I recalled what happened and realized that I did not really win a prize instead I was fooled by the company staffs. As soon as I arrived home, I tried to search the internet about the company ‘Arysta’ and their products. What made me feel like hell were the search results I read which were all against Arysta and some other companies, I’ve also read web pages/blogs written by victims of other companies which stated almost the same strategies in luring their victims. The stories written were almost the same as what had happened to me. I googled for Inextron products because this was the brand name of the products I saw in my receipts. The results made me doubt about the products’ authenticity. There were no search results telling any local or international distributors carrying that brand. What I found were people trying to sell their units same as what I bought (maybe these people were previous victims also of these several deceptive companies). I even read postings telling the same story as what had happened to me.

I was very uneasy and anger is already bursting out of me, while thinking of what to do, I saw on the receipt they issued me a stamped 7-day money back guarantee. This boosted my belief that I can return the products I got to get my money back. By reading some forum postings about almost the same sales scams, I immediately decided to return the products I bought and to ask refund for my money. I texted my uncle in La Trinidad telling him that I’ll be going up and will return the products. I told him to get the items ready that as soon as I arrive there, we will take it to the Arysta shop. I rode my motorcycle and after 3 hours, I arrived at my uncle’s house in La Trinidad where the products were. We took the products to the the Arysta shop. With my uncle, we manually carried those heavy items from the parking lot going to the shop. At first, the staffs were just staring at us. Then somebody from them politely asked me what happened. “Ano po problema sir?”, “May sira po ba sir?”, “Bakit nyo po binabalik sir”. I just said I am returning the products bacause I don’t need their products. I told them we did not use any of the items. Then somebody told me that I should then have decided first before I bought the items (e ayaw nga nila ako pinag-iisip noong mga oras na yun, they kept on pressuring me and didn’t give me time to think and decide as they were bombarding me with their sales convincing tactics). I told them to give me my money back and i’ll return all the products I got, even the freebies. “Sir kailangan po kasi natin sumunod sa SOP ng company, di po basta basta na nirerefund ang mga returned products”, one of the staffs explained. They kept on asking me, “bakit nyo ibabalik, dapat kahapon pa”. I told them I am returning the products I bought because of a personal reason. I told them that what they did to me to let me buy their products was foolishness and that’s the reason I want to return the items. Then another staff approached me telling he is the OIC, and talked to me calmly because he noticed I am already getting angry that even my uncle was already arguing with another staff. He said “ok maayos natin yan makipag cooperate lang po kayo sa amin”. I even asked them about what I read from the internet. “Are you related to Home Sonic or AOWA?”. One staff immediately responded that they are not related in any way with those companies I mentioned. I even asked them why were their strategies/procedures/actings on how they convinced me to withdraw P50,000 without any hesitation were almost the same with what I read being done by Home Sonic people to their victims. Nobody responded and they just insisted that they can show us permits that they are allowed to perform game strategies in marketing their products. They let me fill up a complaint form. They said that it will be mailed to their customer service and it will not take long for me to get refunded. They assured me that by the next day I will be called by their customer service to update me about the status of my complaint. I insisted for them to receive the products we returned but they refused saying that they are doing inventory of items every day and we should first keep the items. So I agreed that we again get the items back and we were assured that their customer service will call me to bring back the items and settle the refund I am claiming. We went home that evening carrying again the heavy items.

My situation became more difficult because I still have a scheduled training the next day Nov 6, 2009, to be the lecturer. I went down again to Nueva Ecija using my motorcycle. It was already past 12 midnight when I arrived home. As soon as I arrived, I prepared the things I will be needing the next day and went immediately to our office where there is an available internet connection. I waited for the next day and spent the rest of the night reading related articles from the net on these sales malpractices being rampant in the Philippines. I didn’t sleep and even spent time reading the CONSUMERS ACT of the Philippines and found out several provisions violated by the Arysta people.

--> These were just some of what I've read:
"Under the Consumer Act, sales are deemed deceptive when there is evident misrepresentation of facts."

"A sale is also considered unconscionable when the seller, distributor, manufacturer or supplier takes advantage of the consumer’s physical or mental infirmity, ignorance, illiteracy, lack of time or the general conditions of the environment or surroundings to induce the consumer to enter into a sales deal that is grossly one-sided."

"A sales act is unfair when the price of the purchased item grossly exceeds the price of similar items in the market."

I went to my scheduled training, anticipating a call from the customer service of the company. For the whole day I never got a call, I called them 3 times and got the same answer. “Sir iveverify po ng manager antayin nyo po ang tawag namin mamaya”. I already suspected that they were applying again their delaying tactics. After the training I decided again to go up to Baguio, I asked my brother to accompany me and he even drove my motorcycle because I was so sleepy and I just back rode with him. We left Nueva Ecija 8:00 PM and reached La Trinidad almost 12:00 midnight.

The next day, Nov 7, 2009, at around 10:00 AM we again took the items to the Arysta shop. Some staffs who haven’t seen me the previous days, asked me the same questions asked the first time I returned the items. I told them I am returning the items and I just kept quiet. As I was settling things with the manager, I observed that there were again several would be victims inside the shop undergoing same procedure I went before. Maybe for me not to distract their customers and would be victims, the acting manager who talked to me the other day immediately told one of his subordinate staff to issue me a receiving agreement for the items I returned and a refund settlement agreement. The agreement stated that I will be refunded the same money I gave them P51, 900 and the check will be issued after seven working days.

On November 17, 2009, my brother Disuto and I went to claim the check from the Arysta office and deposited it on my bank account on the next day November 18, 2009. Although my money was returned in full amount, I spent and wasted my time transacting with them just to get it back. I was really disturbed by what they did to me. Imagine, they made me buy items I don't need and what's painful is the price is too high, doubled or even tripled. Thanks to the forum postings I've read when I googled about the name Arysta and the Inextron products I bought. What if I haven’t known that I can return the items I bought? How about those victims who haven't known that their rights were suppressed by these deceiving sales agents? Or those victims who realized that they were tricked but just stayed passive?

I think with the continued operations of this company many innocent people will become victims. This DAMN company is easily partaking with the hard earned money of the people.

Please help disseminate that these sales practices of the Arysta agents are illegal. I am currently writing my complaint addressed to DTI Baguio. Let's see what will be their action on this.

Notice this. If you happen to go to their shop it is always guarded by agents so that not anybody can enter, sometimes the door is closed. Their prospected victims(innocent-looking people whom the agents see to have money like me hehe, OFW's because they have money, basta mga mukhang may pera yun ang nilalapitan nila)are the ones just allowed to enter their shop. Notice also there are tarpaulins scattered around their showroom displaying about some of their products but I think its purpose is to cover the foolish things they are performing to fool their intended victims.