Leery of Epila Laser at Home Device
Monday September 15, 2008
Last month I asked for reviews of the Epila laser at home device selling for $199 after getting an email from a reader, and curious myself on if it worked. After checking out the Epila website I found some pages that were unavailable, including no direct contact information, and the go ahead to use their diode laser on dark skin tones. A big no-no for diode lasers because they can burn, scar, and blister those that don’t have light skin. A comment was posted about Epila’s confusing, and somewhat arrogant return policy.
What I didn’t tell you in the blog post is that I contacted Epila (through an email form) asking to try their laser to review on this site. I know they received the email, because I got one of those automated reply messages. It’s been one month since my email, and no word from the company. That really makes you wonder if they stand behind their product. So if you have tried Epila, please post your review in our hair removal forum.
Quite the contrast with two other companies that have FDA cleared devices (Epila isn’t FDA cleared), like Tria Beauty Company which makes Tria, and HomeSkinovations that makes Silk’n. Both have complete contact information and have always called or emailed me back, answering all of my questions. Tria Beauty took me up on my request to try their home laser, which you can read about in Testing Tria Part I and Testing Tria Part II.
More on Laser Hair Removal:
What I didn’t tell you in the blog post is that I contacted Epila (through an email form) asking to try their laser to review on this site. I know they received the email, because I got one of those automated reply messages. It’s been one month since my email, and no word from the company. That really makes you wonder if they stand behind their product. So if you have tried Epila, please post your review in our hair removal forum.
Quite the contrast with two other companies that have FDA cleared devices (Epila isn’t FDA cleared), like Tria Beauty Company which makes Tria, and HomeSkinovations that makes Silk’n. Both have complete contact information and have always called or emailed me back, answering all of my questions. Tria Beauty took me up on my request to try their home laser, which you can read about in Testing Tria Part I and Testing Tria Part II.
More on Laser Hair Removal:
Comments
Fellow hair removers,
I am trying to get the word out on this Epila product as best I can, to help others avoid the mistake I made when I purchased one. Let me be absolutely clear to anyone considering Epila:
THIS PRODUCT IS A COMPLETE SCAM!!!
Make no mistake, this product does not work and the money back guarantee will not be honored. If you buy this, you are throwing your money away.
My wife found this hunk of junk online from a link on Facebook, which I guess is why she thought it was legit. We ordered through Paypal, thinking we’d have good buyer protection that way (also a joke). The product arrived quickly enough, and the first thing that concerned us was that it shipped from Korea. We opened the box and inspected everything, and aside from the fact that the directions were printed in horribly broken English, it appeared to be a decently constructed piece of equipment. The device emits a tiny red laser beam the width of a pin, which one must direct at each hair individually. Our second concern came when we saw how easily the laser burned a hole through a piece of black paper, even at the lowest setting, which was the recommended method of testing the device. The laser had the same effect on black hairs, burning into trails of stinky smoke any visible hairs above the skin’s surface. And it had a similar effect on skin, burning the flesh into a blister at the point of surface contact, with zero evidence of sub dermal penetration. The instructions say to aim at the root of the hair beneath the skin, and claim that the laser will penetrate the skin layer and destroy the follicle beneath. My wife and I attempted this in every conceivable way countless times, and the only way for this laser to penetrate the skin is by burning right through it, leaving a hole in it’s path and searing the hair, follicle, and flesh together in a terrible burn blister. That’s it! Any hairs that appeared to be destroyed or significantly damaged enough to pluck out easily, grew back, same as ever, with no change in frequency, thickness, or pigment. Anyone who claims this thing works is probably selling one, all B.S. All the bad reviews are consistent with its true performance.
After a few weeks of this, we decided to return the product. I contacted Epila by email, and requested information on returning the item. When I did not receive a quick reply I opened a “item not as described” buyer dispute with Paypal against the transaction, requesting a refund. Over two weeks later, shortly before the dispute expired, Epila responded, asking me to mail the item and promising an immediate refund. I emailed them again directly and they finally responded with mailing instructions.
I sent the item in the original packaging on Sept. 18, via USPS. After sending, I made the mistake of letting my Paypal dispute expire without escalating to a claim. As soon as the dispute closed, Epila stopped replying to my emails, and I have not heard from them sense. They promised the refund within 10 business days of receiving the item. It has been 2 months. No one answers the customer service number (416-840-5433) or returns messages, and no one returns emails, save for an automated response promising a reply from a representative within 1 business day. My last email to info@epilahairremover.com was returned, because the mailbox has been closed.
Paypal cannot reopen a closed dispute, so my so called “buyer protection” is nullified and I no longer have any recourse with them to seek the return of my money. I will never use Paypal again, because I get better protection from my credit cards.
So please, please, please, please, please, if you are looking at the Epila and you read this, trust me. I am trying to help you. Don’t put yourself through this, no matter what, or you’ll regret it. I only wish I’d read my own review before I bought the stupid thing.
BEWARE! Epila is a SCAM!
Sincerely,
Nate C
I wish I read these posts before ordering my epilaser. I’ve sent them about 12 emails. Tried to call them. They don’t answer. I have not recieved my laser and just want to forget the whole thing and get my money back. Most companies who work with paypal are typically reputable so I didn’t think anything of it when ordering. Wrong. I don’t think this company really exists. He’s probably in a basement laughing at everyone sending him money.
Guys,
I am on the same opinion. They are not ligit I think. Is there anything we can do?
Here are more #s I found
http://www.epilalaserhairremover.com/contact.html
When you call the toll free number the operator tells me im gonna get a message in a moment. It’s been forever, never got anything.
Can somebody hire a lower?
I wish I could.
I agree with the above. I also got “burned” but not by their device but the “Guaranteed Satisfaction” policy.
I returned the unit but no communication and no cash.
They also do not respond to my e-mails, I think I am locked out for sending so many requests.
THIS PRODUCT IS A SCAM
I returned this product right away after I received it. It cost me 60$ to return it. I tried to contact the company in many ways, via their webpage and via PayPal but they never reply. They only have an automated message. PayPal did not accept to help. It cost me 375$ for absolutely no result. It’s a huge waste of time and effort trying to contact them. This is very frustrating.
I am in total agreement with all these comments. I too have tried to contact the company without any success of a return call or e-mail. All theproduct did for me was burn a few hairs, after pushing the button for twenty minutes. It is a total ripoff. Do Not Buy It!
I left a comment last night about the Epila. The more i think about it the more irritated I get at Pay-Pal. They are supposed to protect the consumer and not let us get used. I had bought this for my oldest daughter who is 27. She has so much hair under her chin down to her neck and has to shave every day. I can’t imagine living like that at her age. I believed in Pay-Pal and thought this would be hope for my daughter. I look at how depressed she is over this not working and I feel as though I let her down. I don’t have any faith at all in Pay-Pal.
I wish I would have spent a little more time poking around the web before I ordered mine in Oct. I did look for reviews but had kind of found mixed reviews, but everything said here is completely true. I have had REAL laser hair reduction, and this product is a complete rip off. From reading some of these comments, it appears I may be lucky because I didn’t experience any scarring or blistering, but it was beyond ridiculously time consuming to treat even one hair, and it would only singe it and did not make it fall out and certainly did not prevent it from growing. And like all the others here, I have absolutely not been able to get my money back and have been trying for 3 months. There is no info on their website about returns, nothing sent with their mailing and e-mails are ignored beyond the nice little form e-mail assuring that a customer service representative will respond to your inquiry within 1 business day. Yeah, right! Keep spreading the word that this company is completely unethical!
I finally was able to talk to someone from Pay-Pal and was told that because I did not purchase this on ebay they are unable to stand behind me. I was told though thar if i puchased it with a credit card that they may be able to help me.Bank America has opened a an investigation on the Epila and they said that they will keep me informed. So if any of you did purchase with a credit card call them, they may be able to help you.
Thanks everyone for all your posts. I was about to be lured into buying Epila ! Not any more. Thanks for saving me so much hazzel and money !
I was going to buy it, but i wanted to do some research before putting my credit card in there… HOPEFULLY i read this on time… thanks for saving me!! what irritates me the most is that it says that is approve by the CE, and a comments from harvard and other universities…
THANKK YOU GUYS FOR SAVING MY BLACK HAIRS,, SKIN FACE AND POCKET!!
What! No!! I bought one Epila laser off epilalaser.com.au. I have had it for a few months and works great. I think people should ready manual on how to use it and as it would be easy to make a mistake.
Thanks for putting this up I almost fell for Epila’s claims just like I did for Smooth Away’s load of B.S.Guess its the ole save the money and go to a salon route
I am truly sorry to read this. This is an illegal company i was nearly going to fall in the same situation after reading your comments, i wont think about it anymore, i better shave then burning my sensitive skin.
the epila also burned myskin when the laser caught the hairs on fire and singed them up to my epidermis. i hope they heal without scarring!!
i also regret not doing my homework before purchasing. also wanted to warn people: DO NOT USE THIS NEAR TATTOOS. I MADE THAT MISTAKE AND IT BLISTERED WHERE IT TOUCHED THE INK!
I’m truly sorry for all your trouble with this product. As a former powerseller, I know how PayPal and credit card companies work. If PayPal does not help you to get your money back, call your credit card company and open chargeback, as a consumer you can open chargeback within 90 days to 6 months from the transaction day. Good luck!
After reading all the negative comments on the Epila I refused the package way back on Monday the 6th day of July, and then they refused to acknowledge that you received same. Finally after several e-mails I was notified by PayPal that they had my money! After deduction $1.50 they finally agreed to release my money. Epila took me for over twenty bucks for the shipping and PayPal took another buck and a half for releasing MY MONEY.
Needless to say I consider both to be partners in fraud because I paid with a credit card and never joined PayPal.
I recommend you stay away from both!
Howard
The same thing happened to me. They won’t answer the phone or return emails. I’m still trying to figure out how to get my money back. I returned this 2 months ago. The product didn’t work at all.