alliesofskin.com

Run away if you're security and privacy-cautious

Worst skincare company ever! Not talking about their products, as I've been forbidden from buying/trying them by AoS themselves. Actually talking about AoS endangering your online security/privacy and making you lose money.Like any savvy internet user, I've been using a VPN for years; and as someone with skin issues, I've been ordering skincare online for years as well. I'm using a renowned VPN service; when I purchase anything online, I always select the EU country I'm living in as the country I'm virtually located in. And I've never had any problems!Here's what happened with AoS. I want to try one of their products (worth 137€) and they have a very nice offer on their EU website (a complimentary product worth 109€). So, instead of going through a EU-based retailer, I decide to order directly on their website. When I pay, I'm disappointed that there's no 3-D Secure protocol (mandatory in the EU). But okay, I've already ordered outside the EU before and so far (luckily) I never encountered any issues even without the 3-D Secure (but I was always using a VPN). The next morning, the money has already been taken away from my bank account, so I assume everything's fine. The day after that, I check my emails and discover with great disappointment that AoS cancelled my order. I write to AoS, they tell me it's because my online location didn't coincide with my shipping address. So, with AoS, you're not allowed to use a VPN (even when it's located in your own country), and I guess you're not allowed to order skincare while travelling either (for when you're back home). I explain to them that I merely used a VPN, just like everyone should; and that this VPN was located in my own country. They tell me they must check that people placing orders are real people and that they're not using a stolen debit/credit card. I get that, but then why not implement the 3-D Secure or a similar protocol? And if their security system detects a geographical inconsistency, why wait until after the money is taken away from the consumer's bank account before cancelling the order, instead of cancelling immediately? Doesn't make any sense to me. Then, I discover the amount of money they reimbursed me (132.96€) doesn't match the amount I paid (137€). AoS tells me you can have currency exchange rate fluctuations or banks deducting fees. Still, I'm very angry because AoS (not me) cancelled my order (when I did nothing wrong), and I'm the one losing money. Despite not being responsible for the cancellation, I must bear the cost of said cancellation. How is that fair?! So, in the end, I lose 4.04€ and I get nothing at all. Thanks AoS!Nevertheless, AoS tells me the next time I order, they will manually validate my order even if I use a VPN. They also tell me very kindly that when I placed my first order, I forgot to add a code allowing me to get a second free product (so product A worth 137€ + complimentary product B worth 109€ + complementary bottle of product A worth 137€ = 137€ worth 383€). This is very promising, so I place a second order. This time, I decide not to use a VPN. I'm very uncomfortable with this, but I fear AoS will forget to manually validate my order. Sadly, still no 3-D Secure. But my order is accepted, so I'm happy and hopeful. I go back to my life; but after a few days, I realise the 137€ payment has not gone through yet. I log on to my AoS account and discover with great rage that my second order has been cancelled too, even though I didn't use a VPN. I check: my bank account is sufficiently funded, and my bank ceiling is far from being reached. This time at least, I didn't lose any money. But the overall result of me trying to purchase AoS products is still: 4.04€ lost & 0 product received.What is wrong with AoS?! If they don't want to sell their products to EU consumers, why have a EU website? If they don't want to sell their products on offer, why have offers (and even tell their clients that they forgot an offer)? I'm going through a painful, long-term disease and even if it sounds shallow, skincare is currently one of my sole pleasures in life: it allows me to still feel like a woman. AoS ruined that pleasure, not once, but twice! As for the first cancellation, I see it as AoS sacrificing their consumers' security to ensure their own security: by prohibiting the use of VPNs, they are forcing their clients to make insecure payments; they want to save their own asses from potential fraud, but what about their clients' asses?! As for the second cancellation, big question mark, still don't understand; maybe AoS just wants to avoid clients they find annoying, even when the latter are just trying to ensure their basic rights to security/privacy!PS: always question companies that don't allow reviews on the world's most famous search engine.

Date of experience: Jul 31, 2023