Business ProfileforHy Cite Enterprises, LLC

The following describes a government action that has been resolved by either a settlement or a decision by a court or administrative agency. If the matter is being appealed, it will be noted below.

New York Attorney General Letitia James today secured $300,000 from a cookware company, Hy Cite Enterprises, LLC (Hy Cite), for failing to clearly disclose their refund policies in their contracts.  Hy Cite, which owns the brands Royal Prestige and Kitchen Charm and uses door-to-door marketing, told customers they only had three business days to return products when they tried to make returns. However, the Door-to-Door Sales Protection Act requires companies that do not have a refund policy to give consumers 20 days to make a return on door-to-door sales. The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) found that Hy Cite’s contracts failed to clearly disclose any refund policy and did not allow consumers to make returns within the 20-day timeframe. As a result of today’s agreement, Hy Cite must pay a $300,000 penalty and offer refunds to eligible customers who were previously denied a cancellation when they tried to make a return within 20 days of their purchase.

Hy Cite sold pots, pans, and other kitchen-related goods through door-to-door marketing by distributors.  The OAG opened an investigation into Hy Cite after receiving complaints from New Yorkers who were unable to return purchased products. The OAG found that Hy Cite did not have any stated refund policy and instead only told consumers they have three business days to cancel their purchase, a violation of the Door-to-Door Sales Protection Act. The law requires companies to have a refund policy and a three-day notice of cancellation. Companies that do not have a refund policy are required to allow consumers 20 days to return their products.

Today’s agreement requires Hy Cite to allow eligible consumers, who purchased goods between August 1, 2018 and October 31, 2022, and who had wanted to return their products within 20 days of purchase, to return them for either a cash refund or exchange for new products, depending on the condition of the products returned. In addition, the agreement requires Hy Cite to include a 20-day refund policy on its New York sales order forms for at least three years and requires Hy Cite, not its distributors, to collect consumer payments. Hy Cite must also pay $300,000 in penalties to the state. Individuals who purchased goods between August 1, 2018 and October 31, 2022, and who were denied a refund within 20 days of purchase should file a complaint online with OAG’s Consumer Frauds and Protection Bureau or call 1-800-771-7755. Hy Cite is also required under the settlement to review its records and notify eligible consumers by January 30, 2023.

Hy Cite Enterprises Statement on New York Attorney General ("NYAG") Agreement

Hy Cite Enterprises is a family-owned and Latino-led company built on the relationships we have with our Distributors and the relationships they have in their communities. When community members become Hy Cite Distributors, they join us in our commitment to integrity, trust, respect and teamwork.

Earlier this year, Hy Cite Enterprises made the decision to update our product return and cancellation policies nationally. This past October, after reviewing some of Hy Cite’s policies and procedures, the New York Attorney General (“NYAG”) asked that Hy Cite take some corrective actions, including ensuring Distributors do not collect on Hy Cite owned accounts and providing customers a more generous return policy. Additionally, some qualified customers who tried to return products after August 1, 2018 will be allowed to return or exchange their products if they so choose.

Hy Cite has openly cooperated with all of the NYAG’s requests and the changes required by the NYAG have already been implemented. 

We take the experience of our customers very seriously, and while our company operates in nine countries and across many localities, our team does our best to ensure that all of our policies fully meet the requirements of the government regulations where our customers, employees and independent Distributors live and work. Hy Cite is fully committed to deliver a high level of customer satisfaction. Customer Support is available via phone at 1-800-280-9709 or email, [email protected], from 7 am to 10 pm CST Monday to Friday and 8 am to 1 pm CST on Saturday.

About Hy Cite

Hy Cite is a leading high-end direct selling kitchenware company. Under the Royal Prestige® Brand, and with a 63-year history, it is uniquely positioned to offer exceptional cookware in nine countries, combined with an unparalleled business opportunity to entrepreneurs. Hy Cite’s mission is to help people better nurture their families through our products and our business model. To learn more about the company, visit www.hycite.com. To learn more about our products, visit www.royalprestige.com.