THIS BUSINESS IS NOT BBB ACCREDITED

Bite Size Deals LLC

556 South Fair Oaks Avenue, #101, Pasadena, CA 91105

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Description

This company's business is the sales of merchandise via the internet.

BBB Accreditation

This business is not BBB Accredited.

Businesses are under no obligation to seek BBB accreditation, and some businesses are not accredited because they have not sought BBB accreditation.

To be accredited by BBB, a business must apply for accreditation and BBB must determine that the business meets BBB accreditation standards, which include a commitment to make a good faith effort to resolve any consumer complaints. BBB Accredited Businesses must pay a fee for accreditation review/monitoring and for support of BBB services to the public.

Reason for Rating

BBB rating is based on 16 factors. Get the details about the factors considered.

Factors that lowered this business's rating include:

Length of time business has been operating324 complaint(s) filed against businessFailure to respond to 203 complaint(s) filed against business11 complaint(s) filed against business that were not resolved1 serious complaint(s) filed against businessOverall complaint history with BBBGovernment action(s) against businessBBB does not have sufficient background information on this business. BBB made at least two requests for background information from business. BBB has not received a response from business and/or has not been able to verify information received from business.

Customer Complaints Summary

324 complaints closed with BBB in last 3 years | 0 closed in last 12 months
Complaint Type Total Closed Complaints
Advertising / Sales Issues 106
Billing / Collection Issues 17
Problems with Product / Service 137
Delivery Issues 64
Guarantee / Warranty Issues 0
Total Closed Complaints 324

Additional Complaint Information

It appears that this company has ceased taking incoming orders online. Customers who have not obtained their products or refunds should consider filing a chargeback request with your card carrier. Some banks require the request to be made in writing. In any case the request should be made within 60 days following the date of the first statement on which the charge appears. Complainants allege false advertising, non disclosure of costs associated with shipping, shipping delays due to out of stock items, and defective merchandise. Some complainants allege the company's advertising purposely implies they are a UK based company and directs internet traffic to potential UK customers causing added shipping fees, delays in receiving orders, and warranty problems for UK customers. Other customers complain of difficulties with refunds and exchanges. Some complainants report that merchandise is delivered defective, and that due to delays by the company to send a RMA tag, the 30 day return period expires making them ineligible to return the merchandise. The company responds to some complaints by agreeing to issue refunds or send RMA's for returns or exchanges. Some complaints are unresolved meaning the company failed to properly address the complaint allegations or their response was inadequate.

Complaint Details | Definitions | BBB Complaint Process | File a Complaint

  • Government Actions

    Agency: Federal Trade Commission (FTC)Los Angele
    Description: On July 20, 2009 the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed a complaint naming this company, it’s principal, and various dba’s, charging them with deceptive sales practices due in part to the company’s deceptive use of Web sites ending in “.uk”, The complaint alleges that consumers in the United Kingdom were duped into purchasing goods that carried no manufacturer warranties, were misled about their rights to return or exchange goods under U.K. regulations, were denied the option of cancelling orders, and were sent goods that were different from those depicted on the company’s websites.

    Using the Web site names www.bestpricedbrands.co.uk and www.bitesizedeals.co.uk, the company allegedly tricked consumers into believing that they were buying from a company operating in the United Kingdom and were protected by manufacturer warranties that were valid there. When consumers received the cameras, video games, and other electronic goods, they discovered they had been charged unexpected import duties, were left with invalid warranties, and would be charged draconian cancellation and refund fees if they attempted to send the merchandise back.

    The FTC also charged the defendants with deceiving consumers about their participation in a program in which U.S. companies assure customers in the European Union that they secure the customers’ personal information, as required by European law. Known as the EU/U.S. Safe Harbor program, it is administered by U.S. Department of Commerce. The complaint alleges that although the defendants claimed to participate in the EU/U.S. Safe Harbor program, they did not.

    On July 31, 2009, the court entered a temporary restraining order in which the defendants agreed to halt their deceptive representations and provide an accounting of their assets.


    Date of Action: 7/31/2009

    Agency: Federal Trade Commission (FTC)Los Angele
    Description: On May 20, 2011, this company entered into a stipulated settlement agreement with the Federal Trade Commission to resolve charges previously filed in a complaint by the commission in July of 2009. The settlement reached was designed to put a stop to the deceptive tactics used by the company to allegedly trick British consumers into believing they were based in the United Kingdom by using foreign websites ending in “.co.uk.”

    According to the FTC, the defendants, and several associated companies, sold cameras, video games, and other electronic goods to thousands of British consumers. Because the defendants used website names such as www.bestpricedbrands.co.uk, www.bitesizedeals.co.uk, and www.crazycameras.co.uk, consumers believed they were buying from a company operating in the United Kingdom, and were therefore protected by manufacturer warranties that were valid there.

    The FTC’s complaint, filed in 2009, alleged that when consumers received the goods, they discovered they had been charged unexpected import duties, were left with invalid warranties, and would be charged draconian cancellation and refund fees if they attempted to return the merchandise. The defendants promised fast shipping dates, but usually did not meet those dates. Without the prior consent of consumers, as required by the FTC’s Mail or Telephone Order Merchandise Rule (Mail Order Rule), the defendants allegedly shipped the goods much later than promised. When customers tried to cancel these delayed orders, they were met with stiff resistance, no response at all, or otherwise had difficulty obtaining refunds.

    The FTC also charged the defendants with deceiving consumers about their participation in the EU/US Safe Harbor Framework – a voluntary international program that provides a means for U.S. companies to transfer data from the European Union to the United States, and to assure European customers that they secure the customers’ personal information as required by EU law.

    The settlement order prohibits the defendants from misrepresenting: the location, quality, quantity, characteristics, and model numbers of products they sell; their compliance with or certification by government-sponsored information security programs; their policies regarding cancellation, exchange, or return; the existence of product warranties; and the total cost of the products sold.

    Under the settlement, the company also is banned from charging consumers for goods until they are in hand and ready to be shipped. The case was brought by the FTC under provisions added to the FTC Act by the U.S. SAFE WEB Act of 2006. SAFE WEB confirmed the agency’s authority to sue U.S.-based wrongdoers who harm consumers abroad, as part of a strategy to prevent the United States from becoming a haven for fraud.

    The FTC settlement order also prohibits the defendants from violating the Mail Order Rule, and it imposes a $500,000 judgment, which is suspended based on the defendants’ inability to pay. If it is determined that the financial information the defendants gave the FTC was untruthful, the full amount of the judgment will become due. This consent judgment is for settlement purposes only and does not constitute an admission by the defendant that the law has been violated. Consent judgments have the force of law when approved and signed by the district court judge. Upon entry the Order was finalized
    To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTC’s online Complaint Assistant or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357).

    Date of Action: 5/20/2011

    What government actions does BBB report on?

  • Advertising Review

    BBB has no information regarding advertising review at this time.

    What is BBB Advertising Review?

Additional Information

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100077003
BBB file opened: 12/16/2008 Business started: 8/29/2008
Contact Information
Jaivin Karnani -
    Jef Lofts (Director)Customer Service ()
Business Category

General Merchandise Retail By Internet

Alternate Business Names
Bite Size Deals LLCbitesizedeals.co.ukBalls of KryptoniteBest Priced Brands
Industry Tips
This company sells general merchandise and electronic products via the internet. Although the company's web address and related information indicate they are based in the United Kingdom, they are a non-UK company with their website registration in Pasadena California. Non US customers who purchase from this company may be subject to import fees or other costs associated with international delivery.

The internet has made it easy to shop for products almost anywhere in the world. However, many people are discovering that getting a foreign-bought item successfully delivered to their country is much more complicated.

When goods move from any foreign country to the United States, they are being IMPORTED. There are specific rules and regulations that govern the act of importing - and they can be extremely complex and confusing - and costly. Similar rules and regulations would apply regardless of the country of origin.

In other words, "Buyer, Beware." When you buy goods from foreign sources, you become the importer. And it is the importer - in this case, YOU - who is responsible for assuring that the goods comply with a variety of both state and federal government import regulations. Importing goods that are unsafe, that fail to meet health code requirements, or that violate quota restrictions could end up costing you quite a bit of money in fines and penalties. At the very least, such goods would be detained, and possibly destroyed, by CBP.

Knowing what is admissible is just part of the story. The other part is knowing how to import. Depending upon what you are importing and its value, the procedures can be very complicated. It does not matter whether you bought the item from an established business or, from individual selling items in an on-line auction. If merchandise, used or new, is imported into the United States, it must clear CBP and may be subject to the payment of duty as well as to whatever rules and regulations govern the importation of that particular product into the United States.