The Children’s Advertising Review Unit of the Council of Better Business Bureaus (CARU) has recommended that Toys “R” Us’ modify advertising for the Home Depot Work Bench with Lights and Sounds to better disclose that the product does not come with batteries and does require some assembly.

CARU, the children’s advertising industry’s self-regulatory forum, reviewed broadcast advertising for the product pursuant to CARU’s routine monitoring of advertising directed to children. The advertising at issue featured a young boy playing with a toy “Home Depot” work bench in a garage while he described the accompanying power tools. In the middle of the commercial, a white super appeared at the bottom of the screen, which stated, “Some assembly required. Batteries sold separately.” There was no audio disclosure to accompany the super.

n disclosures in the commercial were adequate to inform children that some assembly was required in order to effectively use the product and that batteries were not included. CARU’s guidelines note that “disclosures should be conspicuous in the advertising format and media used … in television, advertisers should use audio disclosures, unless disclosures in other formats are likely to be seen and understood by the intended audience.”

Following its review, CARU recommended that the advertiser use audio voiceovers to accompany the written disclosures so that young children can understand them. The company, in its advertiser’s statement, noted that it is a “strong supporter of the self-regulatory (more…)

Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona is alerting consumers to StoresOnline, Inc., an online company that is mailing invitations to Southern Arizonans inviting them to a “complimentary conference” to learn how to make money using the Internet.

BBB serving Utah, where the company is based, has received 787 complaints regarding StoresOnline, and the company has an “F” rating with BBB. In addition, attorneys general in Indiana, Utah, Connecticut, Wisconsin, Oregon, North Carolina, Florida, California, and Washington have filed action against the company, accusing StoresOnline of deceptive sales and marketing practices.

StoresOnline will host “Internet Marketing Conferences” on March 2-4, at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Sierra Vista, and at the Double Tree Reid Park in Tucson. The invitation offers a free dinner valued at up to $100 for attendees.

BBB Tips:

• Consumers who plan to attend free seminars should be aware that in most cases the presenters will promote products and services that are for sale.

• StoresOnline customers are urged to carefully read all contracts and materials received prior to purchase. Products and services sold by StoresOnline are not investment education materials, and the company does not consider its products a business opportunity, or a home-based business.

• Before responding to any solicitation to attend a seminar check the company’s BBB Reliability Report at www.tucson.bbb.org, call (520)888-5353.

Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona is warning consumers to be extremely wary of pervasive online ads offering the promise of a whiter, brighter smile.  BBB has received a recent onslaught of complaints from consumers who thought they were signing up for a free trial of teeth whitening products but were repeatedly billed for products and services they didn’t want.

The ubiquitous ads for teeth whiteners can be found on popular sites such as FoxNews.com, CNN.com and ABCNews.com. The ads typically link consumers to phony blogs and fake news sites that are designed to look like impartial 3^rd party endorsements of the products. The phony endorsements then direct the consumer to a main Web site that claims the product sold is “As seen on” ABC, Forbes.com, CBS News, CNN, and USA Today—and includes the logos of these news outlets.

“From the complaints we’ve received, it’s obvious that many consumers are unfortunately letting their trust in respected news outlets influence their level of trust in the products being advertised on their Web sites,” said Kim States, BBB President. “While it may be true that advertisements for the teeth whiteners were placed on major news Web sites, reporters for USA Today or CNN did not write stories (more…)