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Important information

• Advertising Review:

  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 04/13/2023, 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. Also, the business was asked to substantiate and provide documentation regarding the as health claims for all products listed as required by BBB’s Code of Advertising.

  The business advertised the following product on their website:

  https://kratompoint.com/pages/kratom-strains

  “Kratom Strains

  There are various kinds of Kratom strains and each strain has a different affect on the body. One strain might be best suited as mood booster while another gives you energy and another helps you to relax.  Some even combine multiple properties such as boosting mood, energy, focus, reduces anxiety or stress and pain relief.

  Red- most powerful strain, helps with relaxation.

  White- energy boosting and focus properties.

  Green- balances between being a stimulant and pain reliever.

  Yellow- Longer lasting and increases energy, mood, focus and reduces anxiety.

  Types of Kratom:

  Maeng Da- Originates in Thailand and is a mixture of several strong strains and is long lasting. It acts as stimulant, energy booster. Typically comes in green, red and white strains.

   

  Indo -Originates in Indonesia, considered to be a mild strain for relieving pain, and increasing relaxation.

  Bali- Originates in Indonesia and works as a pain reliever.

  Malay or Malaysian- Originates in Malaysia, with low dose it helps with pain and focus while at higher dosage can be a sedative.

  Thai- Originates in Thailand, effects vary based on the color such as red, green or white.

  Borneo- Originates in Borneo, this strain is more heavily leaning towards sleep and helps to deal with anxiety and stress.”

  • List of health claims needs to be substantiated.

    https://kratompoint.com/products/bumble-bee-kratom-powder-60g-green-borneo

    “Bumble Bee Kratom Powder

    60g Green Borneo

    $21.00  $16.50”

  • Price comparison made without defining the base of each price.

  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.

   

  34. Claimed Results

  Claims relating to performance, energy savings, safety, efficacy or results for a product or service should be based on recent and competent testing or other objective data.

  On 4/17/2023 the business discussed the ad issues via phone call during the call we discussed: 

  - claims the website cannot be changed to address the COA price comparison issue as its a Shopify website
  
  The business states they aren't able to edit the website to add any wording next to the pricing such as "our price", "store price" or "regular price".  
  
  (This will not alleviate the issue, clear understandable pricing needs to be present for consumers per the BBB Code of Advertising.) 
  
  - claims the FDA is not allowing for any lab testing of this product, the business is not able to supply that information. Also they claim the disclaimer was enough of a warning to consumers about it not being regulated. 
  (therefore the business does not have any viable proof regarding health claims there are no lab test information for product safety regarding consumption.) 

  The business is not able to provide information that can substantiate the health claims made on Kratom Points's website about the products being sold. The information we are requesting allows the consumer to have more knowledge about the contents of the product to make an informed decision. Please see the FDA's warning about the use of the supplement Kratom and the Kratom industry here. 

  Since the BBB values transparency linking that information to the website would allow consumers to make an informed purchase. The BBB asks that the additional information be in the form of independent, peer reviewed, published scientific human studies.

  As of 5/1/2023 the business has not substantiated or modified the website.