The skincare sample is free. What happens next can cost thousands

What BBN said about it

1. 

   Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorNPR investigated mall skincare stores where a free sample can lead to charges of thousands of dollars, and customers have complained for years about aggressive sales tactics.

2. 

   Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorJoining us from a yacht is publicist Sloane Hargrove. Sloane, is that a scandal?

3. SH

   Sloane HargroveVera, full transparency, I see a brand that gives away product and a customer who glows now.

4. SH

   Sloane HargroveThousands of dollars is just a very committed glow.

5. 

   Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorBut people say they were charged without really agreeing to it. So I'll ask again: is that a glow, or a bill?

6. SH

   Sloane HargroveFull transparency, a bill is a glow with a receipt. And yes, my firm may have taken a call from that industry once.

7. SH

   Sloane HargroveA small call.

8. 

   Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorA small call.

9. SH

   Sloane HargroveFull transparency, it was a long call, and it ended with them handing me a tube of this eye cream. Free, of course.

10. SH

    Sloane HargroveI've been dabbing it since spring.

11. 

    Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorSloane, if the sample leads to thousands in charges, and you've been sampling since spring, how much have you actually paid?

12. SH

    Sloane HargroveFull transparency, the yacht started as a sample. Vera, I'm in a very beautiful payment plan.