Business ProfileforEBONYline.com / IONE, Inc

BBB promotes truth in advertising by contacting advertisers whose claims conflict with the BBB Code of Advertising. These claims may come to our attention from our internal review of advertising, consumer complaints and competitor challenges. BBB asks advertisers to prove their claims, change ads to make offers more clear to consumers, and remove misleading or deceptive statements.

On 05/15/2024, BBB contacted the business regarding their advertised products on their website. The business advertised a price comparison with slashed pricing without disclosing what the comparison is based on as required by BBB’s Code of Advertising.

The business advertised the following product on their website:

Upon review of the complaints about your business, we have identified a pattern: 

• Consumers allege they are experiencing difficulties returning items that meet the return qualifications listed on the website.
• Consumers allege having issues with receiving items from the business while consumers are left to contact the delivery service provider without any final help from the company.

Please provide a written plan of action to address the pattern of complaint noted above. This plan of action should provide specific information addressing each point along with dates as to when those changes will be made.

A review of your website https://www.ebonyline.com/  , we have found the following:

https://www.ebonyline.com/shake-n-go-organique-human-hair-blend-braids-deep-bulk-18-22.html

Shake N Go Organique Human Hair Blend Braids - DEEP BULK 18"/22"

$13.99  $8.99

https://www.ebonyline.com/red-by-kiss-men-s-silky-satin-durag.html

RED by Kiss MEN'S SILKY SATIN DURAG

$3.85  $2.38

-              Pricing is not defined for consumers (our price, retail price, store price, etc.) for various products.

-              All prices listed on the website are slashed, even the actual “sale” page. This indicated that all the products are on sale.  Sale products should revert back to the regular price after

The BBB Code of Advertising States:

2. Comparative Price, Value and Savings Claims

BBB recognizes that truthful price information helps consumers make informed purchasing decisions and that comparative price advertising plays an important role in promoting vigorous competition among retailers. At the same time, misleading or unsubstantiated pricing claims injure both consumers and competitors. The following examples offer guidance on ensuring that pricing claims are truthful and not misleading.

2.1 Advertisers may offer a price reduction or savings by comparing their selling price with:

2.1.1 Their own former selling price;

2.1.2 The current selling price of identical products or services sold by others in the trade area (the area in which the company does business or where the advertisement appears) (e.g., “selling elsewhere at $_______.”); or

2.1.3 The current selling price of a comparable product or service sold by the advertiser or by others in the trade area (e.g., “comparable value,” “compares with products or services selling at $_____,” “equal to products or services selling for $_____”).

2.2 In each case, the advertisement must clearly and conspicuously disclose which basis of comparison is being used.

2.3 When these comparisons are made in advertising, the claims must be based on the provisions in Sections 3 - 7.

9. Sales

9.1 The unqualified term “sale” may be used in advertising only if there is a significant reduction from the advertiser's usual and customary price of the products or services offered and the sale is for a limited period of time. If the sale exceeds thirty (30) days, advertisers should be prepared to substantiate that the offering is indeed a valid price reduction and has not become their regular price.

9.2 Time limit sales must be observed.

9.2.1 For example, products or services offered in a “one-day sale,” “three-day sale” or “this week only sale” should, as a general rule, be taken off “sale” and revert to the regular price immediately following expiration of the stated time.

9.3 Introductory sales must be limited to a stated time period, and the selling price should, as a general rule, be increased to the advertised regular price immediately following termination of the stated period.

9.4 Advertisers may currently advertise future increases in their own prices on a subsequent date provided that they do, in fact, increase the price to the stated amount on that date and maintain it for a reasonably substantial period of time thereafter.

9.5 If the advertiser, in good faith, decides at the end of the sale period to convert its sale price to a new regular price, it may do so if it no longer claims any savings.

9.6 The advertiser, in good faith, may decide to extend a time limit or introductory sale for a stated period. However, if that extension is for more than a short period of time, the advertiser must be prepared to substantiate that the offering is still a valid price reduction and has not become its regular price.

As of 6/3/2024, business has not responded to BBB emails or modified the website.