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Cash4Gold a Scam? Watchdog Site Says So

Consumerist named, along with ex-employees, in lawsuit

By Will McCahill,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 4, 2009 9:14 PM CDT

(Newser) – The consumer-watchdog blog Consumerist finds itself among the targets of legal action by Cash4Gold.com, an outfit that promises consumers a good return on unwanted jewelry. After following up on a whistle-blowing complaint posted by an ex-employee, Consumerist has been accused of “a false and defamatory posting” about Cash4Gold, and its writers have tried to set up interviews with the company’s CEO—only to get the legal department time and again.

Consumerist says its investigations jibe with those of others, and with allegations from former employees who say that, despite claims it offers “top dollar,” Cash4Gold often mails customers much less than 20% of the jewelry they send in. “One core mission of a consumer-oriented news site is to alert its readers to bad deals,” Ben Popken and Meg Marco write. “Everything we've learned about Cash4Gold’s offer so far places it in that category, in our view. That’s why we have resisted the legal efforts to silence our reporting.”

Cash4Gold's home page.
Cash4Gold's home page.   (Cash4Gold.com)
A screen grab from Cash4Gold's Super Bowl ad.
A screen grab from Cash4Gold's Super Bowl ad.   (YouTube)
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Cash4Gold's Super Bowl ad.   (YouTube)

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 17 comments
Thinker
Sep 5, 2009 12:15 PM CDT
It's about freezing free speech. Why should consumers who talk about poor business practices or warn others about shoddy businesses be sued? Should all business be immune to bad press by customers? Spreading the word about scams has become a crime. Isn't free market the American (capitalist) way?
Kookey90
Sep 5, 2009 12:07 PM CDT
You folks really miss the boat on this one. Any commercial with Ed McMann as its pitchman has absolutely NO credibility with me. I’m still waiting for my million dollars from Publisher’s Clearing House.
Mad
Sep 5, 2009 5:37 AM CDT
Hard to believe anyone over 40 uses "U" for "you"....

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