Another ASA referral

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TheManWithNoName said:
Annnnnnnnd another.

Lindsey Carr is flogging a reed diffuser. It comes with a Tiger pendant (base metal at a guess).

Lindsey shows the tiger pendant and says "How much would you pay for this on Bond Street - you'd be paying 20,000 plus".

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And the ASA has also responded about this one too.

"Thank you for contacting the ASA with your complaint about an ad seen on Gemporia for a tiger pendant.

We contacted the advertiser to raise our concerns with the ad, and the advertiser has now provided us with assurances that the have spoken to both the presenter and Compliance team to ensure such comparisons are not made.

On the basis of the advertiser’s assurance we have resolved your complaint informally and as such, basic information including the advertiser’s name will be published on our website www.asa.org.uk."

Two useless responses in one day. Bearing in mind that Lindsey Carr was already supposedly 'spoken to' earlier in the year, and assurances were given then too, this should have, in my opinion, been a warning.

Absolutely toothless and useless organisation.
 
I was watching Adina last night and she was singing the praises about watermelon agate and how rare it was for them to get hold of such rare colors. She stated several times that the colours and markings in it were very rare and valuable. She even said that it was an extraordinary Brazilian discovery at one point but the point was that this was just an artificially dyed agate. How is the channel allowing such blatantly misleading information to be repeated constantly? Yet another for the ASA for sure.
 
TheManWithNoName said:
And the ASA has also responded about this one too.

"Thank you for contacting the ASA with your complaint about an ad seen on Gemporia for a tiger pendant.

We contacted the advertiser to raise our concerns with the ad, and the advertiser has now provided us with assurances that the have spoken to both the presenter and Compliance team to ensure such comparisons are not made.

On the basis of the advertiser’s assurance we have resolved your complaint informally and as such, basic information including the advertiser’s name will be published on our website www.asa.org.uk."

Two useless responses in one day. Bearing in mind that Lindsey Carr was already supposedly 'spoken to' earlier in the year, and assurances were given then too, this should have, in my opinion, been a warning.

Absolutely toothless and useless organisation.
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Abysmally useless. Almost like if you do it again we’ll slap your wrist with a feather.
 
Ostrichkeeper said:
I was watching Adina last night and she was singing the praises about watermelon agate and how rare it was for them to get hold of such rare colors. She stated several times that the colours and markings in it were very rare and valuable. She even said that it was an extraordinary Brazilian discovery at one point but the point was that this was just an artificially dyed agate. How is the channel allowing such blatantly misleading information to be repeated constantly? Yet another for the ASA for sure.
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That's shocking. I don't know how they get away with it!
 
TheManWithNoName said:
The ASA with their usual uninterested attitude:

"I understand that you raised concerns about Gemporia TV and misleading claims made during their presentation between 1pm and 2pm on 24 November 2024. We have reviewed the ad in light of your concerns and considered all the issues raised.

On this occasion, having taken our prioritisation principles into account, we have decided to resolve your complaint through the provision of advice. Therefore, we have explained your concerns to the advertiser and provided them with guidance on how to ensure that their advertising complies with the Codes."
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'Provided them with guidance?' Oh, well, that's OK then - of course they'll listen and make sure it doesn't happen in future - and was that a low-flying pig I just saw? What a toothless set-up the ASA is, couldn't run the proverbial in a brewery is the phrase that springs to mind.

So many posters on here (myself included) have reported them to ASA in the past, and I know you've picked them up on misleading claims on many occasions. A litany of complaints deserves better than this kind of response - if the ASA check their records (assuming they do have any?), then they would see that it isn't the first time by a long way, and they should have some kind of sanction they can impose. What a useless organisation they seem to be - about as much use as a chocolate fireguard is the other phrase that springs to mind.
 
historymystery said:
'Provided them with guidance?' Oh, well, that's OK then - of course they'll listen and make sure it doesn't happen in future - and was that a low-flying pig I just saw? What a toothless set-up the ASA is, couldn't run the proverbial in a brewery is the phrase that springs to mind.

So many posters on here (myself included) have reported them to ASA in the past, and I know you've picked them up on misleading claims on many occasions. A litany of complaints deserves better than this kind of response - if the ASA check their records (assuming they do have any?), then they would see that it isn't the first time by a long way, and they should have some kind of sanction they can impose. What a useless organisation they seem to be - about as much use as a chocolate fireguard is the other phrase that springs to mind.
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They don't even need records because in the vast majority of cases I've referred them, more ofen than not, its the same member of staff from the ASA that responds - Celia Howarth.

It makes me wonder whether those at the ASA deal with companies like Gemporia so often, then get a bit 'chummy' with the person/people they deal with - and then don't want to take action.
 
TheManWithNoName said:
They don't even need records because in the vast majority of cases I've referred them, more ofen than not, its the same member of staff from the ASA that responds - Celia Howarth.

It makes me wonder whether those at the ASA deal with companies like Gemporia so often, then get a bit 'chummy' with the person/people they deal with - and then don't want to take action.
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She's probably the sole employee, sitting in a broom cupboard (bit like Andi Peters many years ago, in his past life on Kids' TV, although in his case it's a pity they didn't lock the door and leave him there). There seems to be no accountability whatsoever, because there's zilch point in ASA just continuing to issue slaps on the wrist all the time - if the channel ignore the first few slaps, then they're hardly likely to suddenly decide to toe the line. And if giving slaps on the wrist is all the ASA want to do, for whatever reason, then it might just as well be disbanded, because it serves no useful purpose whatsoever.
 
Ant7t said:
It's actually a shame there isn't a Shopping TV-Specific Watchdog. If there were, there may be more done than by the ASA.
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Agree. There definitely should be more oversight of what claims these people are making - and some proper sanctions if they continue to ignore any reprimands they get. It seems the public do their job for them, and then all the channel gets is a tap on the wrist.:rolleyes:
 
Not sure if it can be placed here, but here I will place it. Watching with one eye, CBD and as I write, it's the second time I've heard them say, paraphrase, we can't say so and so because of the ASA, and 'do your research'. And in general, they have been very 'cautious' with their 'cure all' type comments. Toby hasn't even (on my watch) mentioned directly why he started taking it.
 
Ant7t said:
Toby hasn't even (on my watch) mentioned directly why he started taking it.
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He has - multiple times. Perhaps not very recently, as brand awareness has grown on the channel and the backstory hasn't needed to be told. Quite open, specific, honest and frank about it. Not at all deceptive. They have never, ever suggested anything close to it being a 'cure all'. It's one of the reasons that I give Toby a lot more slack than anyone else.
 
AndyW said:
He has - multiple times. Perhaps not very recently, as brand awareness has grown on the channel and the backstory hasn't needed to be told. Quite open, specific, honest and frank about it. Not at all deceptive. They have never, ever suggested anything close to it being a 'cure all'. It's one of the reasons that I give Toby a lot more slack than anyone else.
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Yeah I agree. Toby has openly shared his Cancer story many times.

Toby isn't totally immune from criticism - but he's one of the more genuine ones on the channel.

He's quite a likeable person too. He seems a genuinely nice chap and I think what you see is what you get with Toby, unlike most of the fake shysters on Gemporia.
 
The Cavills are good, obviously a lucky family to be born into. However, not sure why the sapphire expert was flogging FISSURE FILLED Thai ruby last night?! It’s the same as selling man made.

I just noticed the proportion of relatives at this company, unlike any other I know. Cavill kids, Ange and her husband, Steph and her husband, Katie and Shippy, Ellis and her daughter, Steve and his kids, wife, son in law, Jeff and his sister that has now left. Nepotism alive and well😜
 
"Nepotism" is probably a bit harsh. Gemporia was set up by a family and friends for sure but it is a just business, like any other. I'm not sure that anyone is being given particular privilege over anyone else, with an unfairness that is detrimental to anyone else.

I really don't have the impression that Debbie Cavill is the sort of lady who has cosseted her children. Like 'em or loathe 'em, I feel as if both Toby and Cherry are independent, hard-working people who have earned their stripes on their own.

As to rubies? Never been a real fan. Not often are they truly red and I don't find the usual hues and tones very attractive. Totally natural rubies are probably rarer than most other well-known stones but even those, expensive as they can be, lean towards a funny sort of pink. Certainly Gemporia wouldn't be the first place to source one - although Toby himself could be, I expect. Toby sells what Gemporia offers.
 
Jojo1 said:
The Cavills are good, obviously a lucky family to be born into. However, not sure why the sapphire expert was flogging FISSURE FILLED Thai ruby last night?! It’s the same as selling man made.

I just noticed the proportion of relatives at this company, unlike any other I know. Cavill kids, Ange and her husband, Steph and her husband, Katie and Shippy, Ellis and her daughter, Steve and his kids, wife, son in law, Jeff and his sister that has now left. Nepotism alive and well😜
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Not really sure what relevance relatives within a company makes.

We can beat Gemporia with a stick over many things - but this one is pointless. The Bennetts founded the business as a family. Some of the others you've mentioned met / got into relationships through knowing each other at Gemporia. They weren't together when joined the company. Ellis clearly helped Millie get her foot in the door at Gemporia - but Millie has also been made redundant three times by Gemporia too, so there's no favouritism there. Nick was also made redundant twice - and then re-employed at later dates.

The only gripe I have is Jake Thompson - who seems to have got the role of MD simply because he's married into family. His CV is on LinkedIn - and his previous roles include working at Little Chef and in the warehouse at Gemporia. Not sure how those minimal skilled, likely minimum wage jobs, made him a suitable candidate for managing a multi-million pound turnover company.

As for Rubies - totally agree Andy. I don't get the hype. Unless someone is prepared to pay tens of thousands of pounds for a 'pure' Red, top clarity stone, then the majority of Rubies are a pinkish-red or purplish-red, full of inclusions, and usually treated (at worst, filled, at best, heat treated).

I'd rather have a really nice Garnet for a fraction of the price. Garnet is a much nicer stone, and very affordable.

Emeralds are another stone I don't get the hype about either.
 

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