BioPerformance
Encyclopedia
BioPerformance is a multi-level marketing
company that sells fuel additives, often in the form of "gas pills", which are claimed to increase fuel efficiency in automobiles. It is headed by evangelist
Lowell Mims.
Research has concluded that the "gas pills" are not effective with regard to fuel efficiency. It has also been claimed that BioPerformance made other false claims, such as that its pills are non-toxic (they are made primarily of naphthalene
, a toxic chemical also found in mothballs). The company was temporarily shut down on May 17, 2006 by the Texas Attorney General for being an alleged pyramid scheme
and also because of the company's alleged false advertising
claims.
It has been asserted by former Bioformance representatives now speaking out against BioPerformance that the company appears to have taken early precautionary measures to avoid refunds on the gas pill. The company accepted money order
payments or check payments through postal mail. Multilevel marketing companies selling faulty products have been known to not accept credit card payments due to charge backs from unsatisfied customers, which in turn create accrued charge back fees for the company.
As of May 2007, the company still does not take credit cards and is still selling a naphthalene
-based product. The headquarters is no longer in Texas, and the company no longer ships to Texas, where the owners were sued and ultimately gave over $7,000,000 to the Office of the Attorney General. Nor did they issue refunds or ship over 10,000 cases of product, although complaints arrived from all over the nation. To date, over $6.5 million in refund requests have been processed by the Texas Attorney Generals Office.
Multi-level marketing
Multi-level marketing is a marketing strategy in which the sales force is compensated not only for sales they personally generate, but also for the sales of others they recruit, creating a downline of distributors and a hierarchy of multiple levels of compensation...
company that sells fuel additives, often in the form of "gas pills", which are claimed to increase fuel efficiency in automobiles. It is headed by evangelist
Evangelism
Evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....
Lowell Mims.
Research has concluded that the "gas pills" are not effective with regard to fuel efficiency. It has also been claimed that BioPerformance made other false claims, such as that its pills are non-toxic (they are made primarily of naphthalene
Naphthalene
Naphthalene is an organic compound with formula . It is a white crystalline solid with a characteristic odor that is detectable at concentrations as low as 0.08 ppm by mass. As an aromatic hydrocarbon, naphthalene's structure consists of a fused pair of benzene rings...
, a toxic chemical also found in mothballs). The company was temporarily shut down on May 17, 2006 by the Texas Attorney General for being an alleged pyramid scheme
Pyramid scheme
A pyramid scheme is a non-sustainable business model that involves promising participants payment or services, primarily for enrolling other people into the scheme, rather than supplying any real investment or sale of products or services to the public...
and also because of the company's alleged false advertising
False advertising
False advertising or deceptive advertising is the use of false or misleading statements in advertising. As advertising has the potential to persuade people into commercial transactions that they might otherwise avoid, many governments around the world use regulations to control false, deceptive or...
claims.
It has been asserted by former Bioformance representatives now speaking out against BioPerformance that the company appears to have taken early precautionary measures to avoid refunds on the gas pill. The company accepted money order
Money order
A money order is a payment order for a pre-specified amount of money. Because it is required that the funds be prepaid for the amount shown on it, it is a more trusted method of payment than a cheque.-History of money orders:...
payments or check payments through postal mail. Multilevel marketing companies selling faulty products have been known to not accept credit card payments due to charge backs from unsatisfied customers, which in turn create accrued charge back fees for the company.
As of May 2007, the company still does not take credit cards and is still selling a naphthalene
Naphthalene
Naphthalene is an organic compound with formula . It is a white crystalline solid with a characteristic odor that is detectable at concentrations as low as 0.08 ppm by mass. As an aromatic hydrocarbon, naphthalene's structure consists of a fused pair of benzene rings...
-based product. The headquarters is no longer in Texas, and the company no longer ships to Texas, where the owners were sued and ultimately gave over $7,000,000 to the Office of the Attorney General. Nor did they issue refunds or ship over 10,000 cases of product, although complaints arrived from all over the nation. To date, over $6.5 million in refund requests have been processed by the Texas Attorney Generals Office.
External links
- State of Texas news release January 23, 2007 Attorney General Abbott Shuts Down Pyramid Scheme That Marketed Bogus Fuel Pill