Buyer beware

I might just be stupid and this could be common knowledge but in case its not...

I am a sucker for FB and IG ads and buy stuff all the time from those. For the second time, I got taken. Last Christmas, I got taken by a toy company and now it was Halloween decorations. I ordered them 10/11 and paid for expedited shipping. I checked out the website and it was a mid-west based company. It finally shipped on Monday...from China. It's still in China at an airport. They won't refund the money because it's "in transit". Last time this happened, I ordered the toys 12/1 and I got them in mid-February.

I went to go back to the website I saw the witches on and it is no longer operational. I'm going to dispute the charges and I'll get my money back but it's just annoying. AND I don't have my witches.

Buyer beware

Yeah, I've heard things about people having problems with the FB advertisers. Someone I know ordered these pumpkin decorations. They were advertised as outdoor and that they would be about 12 to 18 inches (or more - not sure) to put on the porch. When they came, they were cheap 3-inch pumpkins. And, she paid around $50.

It's such a shame how many scams are out there!

Re: Buyer beware

Another thing that is huge is that they steal pictures of items from legit sites.
I follow a woman who owns an online boutique. She models all the clothes herself.
I have found her pictures all over the internet on scammy sites from China.
She has even asked that if we see them to report them to her. She has a lawyer that sends them letters asking them to cease and desist as those are her pictures. But honestly, not much can be done and they don't care about getting legal letters.

The clothing you will get if you fall for this will not be what's in the pictures because the pictures are stolen.
I once had a friend post on facebook that she was so excited to get this shirt she ordered from like she chick or she wish or whatever scam site it was. The pic she posted I recognized right away from this woman's site. I told her that she'd been scammed and not to get her hopes up as the pic was stolen.
Sure enough the shirt comes, months later mind you, and its nothing like the picture.
It's really really bad that nothing can be done it seems.
So much of this goes on.

Message edited 10/30/2020 10:49:25 AM.

Re: Buyer beware

I was a sucker for this too. I cant resist, because the items looks so nice. If you show that you have make contact with the company and do not receive it, call the credit card company.
I am still waiting to hear back from a company. After I ordered it, it says it was coming from Hong Kong. My CC company called me after I made the transaction.

Re: Buyer beware

Some things to do when you see stuff online and want to check if the company is legit...

Google the name of the company and look for online reviews.

See if they have a US based customer service number to call- not just an email or live chat.

Look at the wording and the grammar of the site. Sometimes you can tell they are shady just by that.

Re: Buyer beware

I know a few people that were taken from these companies on FB. I refuse to buy anything from them. FB needs to do something about them already and crack down on them. Maybe after the election

Re: Buyer beware

I made the mistake, twice.

First was ebay, when the pandemic first happened I just wanted masks. I found them on ebay new in box. I chose U.S. only... After 2 weeks. I contacted the seller and it was from CHINA... A shipping label was created... and when I kept asking they kept assuring me it was on it's way.

They NEVER came.

couldn't do anything with ebay because it was over 30 days and same with pay pal.

So I was out $40...

I also bought a dress from instagram... So cute when I got it it was NOTHING like the picture. I will never buy unless it is from a reputable place.

Re: Buyer beware

I made this mistake on amazon. I did not realize that what I purchased was actually supplied by a third party seller. It was canvas stretcher bars. I waited six months, called amazon and did get my money back. Guess what came two days ago nearly nine months after ordering it. The stretcher bars, broken. So they did ship them, but they were broken when arrived. I did get my money back months ago so they just went into the trash.