Archive for June, 2010

Does Tat B Gone take off tattoos risk free , painlessly , inexpensively and altogether? And, does the company stand behind their product: can you get your money back if you are not their product’s performance ?

 

The initial question is difficult to determine by doing a simple Google search because there is so much conflicting evidence. After countless searches and the frustrating lack of a definitive answer, the question whose word do you take ?

 

I found the customer reviews of Tat B Gone on Amazon.com to be interesting. When I checked on May 20, 2010, there were a total of 12 reviews of the Tat B Gone creams that Amazon offers for sale . On a scale of 1 to 5, the results were: three 5s, one 4 and 8 1s. Those are pretty bad results in and of themselves, but Tat B Gone seems even worse when you take a closer look.

 

First off , such extremes of opposing opinion are not usual to say the least, but what’s even stranger , the positive reviews had a bit too much in common–virtually as if the supposed customers who penned them had been coached in what to say (i.e. Tat B Gone works great if you stick with it, and anyway, it’s not as steep as and more efficient than laser treatments).  

 

Then I was completely taken aback by something : a sponsored link paid for by the Tattoo Removal Institute.org. It’s strange enough that a dot org–supposedly a nonprofit organization–would be paying to advertise on Amazon.com, but when you look more closely into the matter , the stranger things become . The website of this “institute,” supposedly staffed by the generically named “Dr. Steven Hammond” (there are no other names given, but there are what appear to be stock photos of three uncommonly good looking doctors) provides those who visit the site with ratings of different tattoo removal methods. Their determination:

 

“The fade away method  is the only method that we know of that does not scar, cause a permanent change in pigment, or cut into the skin. With this method you do not have to worry about post-treatment infection or irreversible damage to your skin. Only patience is needed.”

 

So, the Tattoo Removal Institute’s recommended method of removal is fading creams, and which tattoo fading cream do they recommend? Well, they provide a link to a press release for Tat B Gone, which in turn has a direct link to the Tat B Gone website, and according to their “Tattoo Removal Comparison Guide,” Tat B Bone rates “superior” in all categories but one, in which it is merely “excellent.” The only other product to get such a high rating is one called “Tattoo-Off” which I strongly suspect is a sister product made by the same company that makes Tat B Gone.

 

Here’s a fascinating experimentation. Do a Google search for “Tat B Gone” or “tattoo fading cream” and have a gander of the  sponsored links on the right side of the search results. I’m pretty sure you will find a sponsored link with this url: “www.tattooremovalinstitute.” I don’t know about you, but that’s the kind of thing that makes me go “hmmm.” Or, for an exercise in futility, try googling “Dr. Steven Hammond” and see if you can find any dermatologists who go by that name.

 

As far as a money back warranty, Tat B Gone seems to have recently changed their policy on this. According to the website:

 

                                            “Try TAT B GONE RISK FREE”

                                                  “Money Back Guarantee”

 

“After almost 10 successful years on the market, customer satisfaction is so high we decided to offer a 100% money back guarantee minus shipping charges.

 

Place your order for Tat B Gone and in the comment section write a short description of the tattoo(s) you will be treating. Use Tat B Gone for a minimum of 6 months and if you are not satisfied just email a before and after photo of the tattoo you are treating and a short reason why you are not satisfied. We will then issue you a return authorization number and will credit you back in full the purchase price minus shipping. All orders with free shipping will be charged $14.95 USA and Canada, all others $19.95. Guarantee valid on all orders dated after May 12, 2010.”

 

But on the frequently asked questions page, you can find this:

 

“Is Tat B Gone guaranteed?”

 

“TBG has been proven to be highly effective. Our studies show that over 95% of TBG users reach SATISFYING RESULTS, but some situations require a longer treatment period. Because of this and contamination concerns (we cannot assure the integrity of product that has out from our control) we are unable to accept returns or offer an unconditional guarantee.  We know of no serious medical treatment, prescription, or even laser treatment that offers an unconditional guarantee.”

 

That’s rather contradictory isn’t it? But it does seem that they offer a conditional guarantee. As long as you plan ahead and describe the tattoo you want to remove when you buy their product, take before and after pictures, and they accept your reason for wanting a refund, you can get one–minus shipping, even if there was no shipping charge. Of course it’s impossible to find any feedback from customers as to whether Tat B Gone honors the money back guarantee as it’s a new policy. 

 

Conclusion:

 

It’s difficult to give 100% sure answers to questions concerning both the efficacy of Tat B Gone tattoo fading cream and the ability of consumers to try it “risk free.” On the other hand , It seems to me that by creating the obviously fake “Tattoo Removal Institute” in order to surreptitiously push its products, Tat B Gone has made clear that it is a company that is lacking in scruples and business ethics. Considering further that there are no details available on the Tat B Gone website (or anywhere else for that matter) about the ingredients of their creams or identities of the people running the company, and I have to conclude that Tat B Gone would be a risky purchase indeed and more than likely turn out to be nothing more than a waste of your time and money. 

 

For more free, unbiased information on tattoo removal methods, check out this website: http://www.tattoo-remove.net.