Kimkins was busted way back in October 2007. Fraud, fictitious stories, near-starvation dieting... I thought it was long over - apparently not. A colleague forwarded this email to me:
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[...] I'm writing in response to your inquiry about the Kimkins scandal. The "scandal" is only a scandal to those promoting it as such. Two years ago we admitted to making errors in promoion and they were corrected.
What didn't change is Kimkins: a very inexpensive weight loss plan that allows members very quick weight loss. Kimkins is a lean low carb diet with up to 6 servings of leafy greens daily. Less fat than Atkins, fewer carbs than South Beach, low glycemic with superior blood sugar control. This is why our members often report losing 5% of their TOTAL body weight in 10 days or less.
And more...
Apparently we've developed a small but devoted internet hate group who spend hours daily posting malicious and untrue "facts". One person is a former Kimkins affiliate who was earning $1,000-2500 monthly in commissions from our banners on his blog. He is most upset that the hate group forced him to withdraw as an affiliate due to a mass email campaign to his other sponsors. The hate group also sent mass emails to Paypal to try to force them to stop processing our payments. However, Paypal reported our credit card chargeback rate is only .001% (one thousandeth of one percent) which is incredibly low. Clearly the majority of people who join Kimkins are satisfied customers. Paypal ignored the hate group and have partnered with us for 3 years. The hate group also contacted Amazon.com (we are their affiliate), who also ignored them.
What is most peculiar about the controversy and ensuing lawsuit is the extremely low percentage of participants. Kimkins has over 40,000 paid members, yet in 2 years of widespread internet, newspaper and TV media coverage about the controversy, less than 20 people have signed up for the lawsuit.
I can't believe that this very unhealthy diet is still being pushed!! By putting this email out there on your blog, you are giving it more air time. Very bad idea!! :(
ReplyThe lawsuit is still pending. These things take time.
My question to her lie-filled response is... if she has 40,000 satisfied customers how come her website shows no traffic, hardly anyone posts, and according to websitevaluecalculator the site is worth $119? And if everything said about the website was a lie, then why did she say what she did in her depositions? (http://winningweight.blogspot.com/2008/03/update-on-kimkins-part-2.html) And if her diet is so good, then why does she look like she does? (http://www.slamboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/kimmer1btext.jpg) And if it's safe and healthy, why did so many people get sick? (http://kimkinssurvivors.blogspot.com/)
Also, there are far more than 20 people signed up for the lawsuit. The small group she refers to is the group of lawsuit principles. There is a difference. She knows this, of course.
ReplyIt's a lie that only 20 people have signed up for the lawsuit. Only a handful of people are the PRINCIPLES on the lawsuit. The rest of us are just waiting to see what happens.
Oh and did I mention that Heidi Diaz weighs 300 lbs and didn't ever lose the weight she claimed to lose? She didn't make errors in promotion, she flat out lied about her entire life. She still isn't and hasn't lost weight. That's not errors in promotion - thats fraud.
Most people can't sustain their initial weight loss because no one can eat at the starvation levels necessary to lose the amount of weight she claims you can lose for very long. Even she can't. The private detective that got pictures of her saw sugar cookies with sprinkles on them on the front seat of her car. Another person got a photo of her in the liquor section of the grocery store buying liquor.
These aren't just rumors by bad mean people bent on destroying a poor housewife's life. This is a dedicated group of consumer activists trying to stop an experienced con artist.
ReplyUnbeleepable, just unbeleepable.
ReplyWhat's the latest on the Kimkins Diet?
http://www.scamtypes.com/whats-the-latest-on-the-kimkins-diet.html
ReplyPlease help spread the word:
http://saynotokimkins.wordpress.com/2009/11/10/notice-of-pendency-of-class-action/
Thank you!
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