What would you do?

Ladies,

I have a question for you. I ordered an item back in January and have never received it. I paid for the item immediately, up front and with Paypal so it was instant. Sad to say, it was a boomer woman I ordered from. Now I read the site wrong...notice I said that I READ THE SITE WRONG and thought I was ordering a finished product. It was NOT a finished product but is advertised as a KIT. Okay, I can live with that. Right? My bad.

I have sent emails since January asking about the status and have been told this, that, and the other. I was even made to believe that one of the reasons I hadn't received it was this person wanted to make the item "bigger" for me and was buying extra material to do so. I said, please don't. Just send the item. I read the site wrong and so now I know. Just send whatever I purchased.

But she insisted. To her credit, she did not want an unhappy customer and wanted to MAKE THE KIT for me. I thought that was nice and at the time thought it would mean adding on a few more weeks. No problem.

Here it is APRIL. Still no product. I have requested a full refund and feel like I have been lied to, duped, and hornswaggeled. (Is that a word?)

If you were me, would you carry it further and report this person to the BBB in her state?

Personally, I think I have been rather patient. I'm sure she doesn't see it that way. I really don't give a rip. She has my money, I don't have a product.

Addendum: I have heard from the seller and supposedly I am receiving a refund. If I do, this post will be deleted and that is the end of the matter as far as I'm concerned. We shall see.

I honestly believe the refund will come. I want to give this person the benefit of the doubt.

Ouch, ouch, and ouch

Not even going into the issue of honesty here, that's just plain horrendous business practice. I always try to get my orders out within one week of receiving them. If I'm out of certain materials, I'll write the person with the date I expect to get the item, and when their finished product will be sent.

3 months is way too long. Paypal has a seller rating system, and you should complain to them no matter what, so no one else will be led through this. Just paste this post, OK? And ask them if THEY can do anything.

Wow, almost 16 weeks? You can get stuff from China sooner than that these days. I say you have been more than patient.

Perhaps telling the person that you are going to report them if you do not get your refund in hand within X number of days would do the trick.

Thanks gals. I'm giving it a week to 10 days to see if she comes through. I just sent the demand for a refund today and then posted here. Quite frankly, I never expected to hear back from her but she responded right away, to her credit. So we'll see. But I do so appreciate your reply's and until I sing, it ain't over, you know?

A week to 10 days??? She ain't walking it over, is she?

It takes less than 5 minutes to move the funds through Paypal. 3 days is more than generous, and then YOU have closure.

And I'd still file a seller's report.

Well, I did give her the option of snail mail, so since I did, I'm giving the week to 10 days. I know, I'm an idiot. Maybe she'll do it though. We should start a pool to guess which day the money arrives. No wait, we could all be dead before it does and then what? Nevermind.

Stay tuned folks...

JJ, don't know how people function like that. I wouldn't be able to sleep nights; I'd be so full of guilt feelings.
You know the Valentine's contest that I won? I was supposedly supposed to have won a weekend trip somewhere in the USA. They forgot to mention it was a fantasy weekend...because it's still in my fantasy.

This happened with my so-called publisher. She had the pre-order site up in December last year and encourage me to get people to pre-order the book, which I did. After a great deal of badgering on my part, including getting an editor for her which she hasn't paid, I finally got books in mid-March. I felt so bad for the people who ordered on my recommendation and did offer them refunds in February and even sent one woman an extra book when they did come out. It made me very angry because it was so out of my control and I did feel guilty.

For me it's a matter of honor to keep my word. I don't know how else to live.

Queenie, I agree with what everyone said. I wouldn't have waited until April to ask for my money back or to make a complaint. You have certainly given her the benefit of your doubt and have been more than patient. To the gallows with her! Wouldn't it be awful if the package came as soon as her head was in your hands?

JJ, please keep your emails in the event the refund is a no-show, too. Perhaps you could write your credit card carrier and file a complaint asking for a refund. Best of luck!

Let's see if I'm following this straight --
The women who shoveled one bad excuse after another at you for 3 months, is sending you a refund check.

I'm giving 2-1 odds that the check DOES NOT arrive in 10 days. I'm giving even better odds that she says the check was lost in the mail.

And if in some alternative universe the check actually does arrive, I'd be leery of cashing it.

If this EVER happens again (to anyone here), demand that the funds are reinstated into your paypal or credit card account. That way you're not running the risk of a bad check along with all the other garbage.

Well Meredith, you may be right. No check so far. If it doesn't arrive soon, and I mean VERY soon, I will be revealing this person's name and business for the world to see.

I've been pushed about as far as I can be pushed.

I'm sorry that you are going through this JJ! Good luck!

Here is what I would do. It's the process my lawyer has told me to do and it worked recently, but didn't work with one other person.

Don't wait send her a certified letter stating what has happened, what has been done to date and giving her 14 days to send you a certified bank check or money order or you will take legal action.

Get the letter certified. Send it.

Then if you don't hear from her in 14 days send a copy of the letter with a copy of correpondance noting where she tells you that she'll do the kit, send you refund, etc. to the BBB in her area.

AND put a complaint on a page on your website.

-----------------
Last year, I had a situation with a VA who lives in Randallstown, MD who lost 4 years worth of my database and owes me over $1K. Blows my mind how many awards and testimonials this person has on her site from "big names"...

However, not even the right thing, the process I suggested above, or a letter from my lawyer worked. She even lied to the person who recommended her to me who felt so bad about the situation I was going through that he acted as a mediator.

After talking to her again this year, and hearing her tell me more lies, I have come to the conclusion that this person is toxic and sick.

And I have learned not to send my documents to anyone without taking a copy first! Because people can get something (she agreed that she got it) and then decide not to return it.

PS. Paypal has a limit on the number of days you can complain to them (it's 30 if I remember correctly). I think that's because they know that someone who doesn't perform right away, is going to be a problem and may run away.

So if in the future you have a problem with something that has gone through payapal, initiate a complaint within 7 days.

So sorry you have had to go through this. It is horrible to deal with and an emotional strain.

JJ, anything new happen on this?

JJ I hope this all works out for you. I think you have been very gracious and patient throughout. I would definitely let PayPal know there is a problem.

I'm so sorry you are going through this. We've all enjoyed sharing our thoughts and careers with each other. Let's all determine not ot let one bad incident spoil our trust in each other. What we all have is so rare to find these days, I'd just hate to see it be lost.

I'm getting curious as to who it is. I for one will announce that Beverly never gave me the promised prize for winning the Valentine's contest. I know this is no comparison, since I didn't pay anything ... but never the less I feel ... punked.

Nothing new but I sent the email giving her until May 4. I just find it so hard to believe that someone would deliberatly cheat me. Especially a fellow boomer! I know, you're thinking, "what world do you live in?"

Anyway, I've saved all the emails from the get-go, so no problem there. Paypal's time limit has expired, but I can still complain about the seller, thank goodness and trust me, I will. Also, the Better Business Bureau, and here on the forums, my web page, and several other places across the Internet. I will make no bones about it once I start.

But still, isn't it sad? For such a small amount of money, too. This fact alone should tell me that she had no intention of fulfilling her obligation.

Anyhoo...life goes on.

What a shame. We have to be so careful who we deal with. JJ, I feel that it isn't the money as much as the disappointment and hurt. I'm so sorry this happened to you.

I have major trust issues and I'm getting a bit better at recognizing danger.

You are being more than generous, JJ.

Hannelore, have you contacted Beverly?

Saundra, I am wondering if you use your intuition to recognize danger?

JJ, I keep checking back, hoping you got the money..
I just got a call from the local bookstore and they want to return books to the publisher, but the publisher, who is going bankrupt, won't talk to them. Because they are local, I said I'd take them back. Another $200 out the door for this book...

Anno, yes I have contacted Beverly three times. Each time she apologizes, and says the voucher is on it's way. I have told her when it arrives, I'll let her know. Since I haven't confirmed anything, she knows I never received it.

This week the truth will come out for you, JJ. Hope it's good news.

Hannelore, what did you win?

A paid weekend in a hotel in one of 30 or 36 cities in the US, of my choice. I would have liked to have given it to my son and DIL, since they will be over there in June.
Oh well.

What's the update for you gals? Heard anything yet?

I did. Nothing. Then I sent her an email and informed her what I have planned to do and she wrote back and said she had mailed the check, but forgot to put the correct postage on it so it was returned to her.

She must think this is my first rodeo. She supposedly mailed it again and asked me to wait 4-5 days. Then she proceeded to tell me that I better be careful putting anything about her on the Internet, that the laws have changed.

Again, she realllllllly thinks I believe her. Give me a break. This woman has no business doing business. She can't even lie good.

Oh and she said she sent me 10.00 more by mistake but just to keep it in hopes that this would be over. What kind of a business woman doesn't even know what amount was paid for what?

Who wants to take bets that the check will bounce?

If you ever get it...

Amen sistah...amen.

Anno, I think my intuition has kicked in again about dangerous people/situatons. If I allow my emotions to rule me I miss the signs. I watch the news and read about scams which has helped educate me. Gut instinct doesn't always work. Sometimes you know, sometimes you don't.

JJ, I am curious about who this person is. When I encounter a problem with a doctor, dentist or product I let people know what happened so they can make an informed choice. More often that not, those people tell me they've already been there/done that. Then I wonder why nobody told me.

Whether you get a good check or not, I think you should alert the BBB as a warning to others.

Thanks for your answer Saundra.

I agree, JJ, a disclosure may be in order to prevent any of the rest of us get sucked in. I know you are an honorable woman, but....

And watch the check. If it bounces, and you spend the money, you are the one who pays, not her.

Hannelore, anything new on your gift?

JJ, you could also report this internet scam with the Internet Crime Complaint Center, which is partnered with the FBI. Here's the link:

http://www.ic3.gov/

JJ, I think we could lay bets that she won't pay;...unless she's been following this thread, and then she would be pretty dumb if she didn't pay up.

Ann I would let you all know if and when I would receive my prize. Could be, though, that hell freezes over first….then again…with this global warming and all…

we're waaaaiting...

and waiting....

hmmm...toe tapping arms folded, whistling non descript tune.....

Sorry, gals...I did in fact receive payment, via PayPal. Why? Because when the check didn't arrive wayyyyy past the deadline, I blew a gasket. Especially after she sent me a threat. I wrote her back and told her what I thought of her and said if you had ever had intentions of doing the right thing, you would have refunded me my money instantly JUST LIKE I PAID YOU, through PayPal. She wrote back some lame excuse about the money not being in Paypal, well duh....of course it isn't, they take it out of your B-A-N-K if it isn't there. She must have thought I was really dumb. At any rate, she DID pay me through PP THAT DAY. And the very next day, I received the check in the mail. I kid you not. Did I cash it? I should have for aggravation, but I did not. I DID however, save it. As a reminder that people can fool you.

It was never about the money, for Pete's sake...it was only 30 bucks, but it was about doing the right thing. I had to force a grown woman to honor her commitment to her buyer.

Anyone who wishes to know her identity, drop me an email (not a PM) at gjawjaw1@bellsouth.net and I will gladly give you her name and her web site address. I am not putting it here because this is DOTSIE'S FORUM, not my own. And thanks gals, for supporting me!

I'm so glad you FINALLY got some resolution on this. Buyer beware!

Yea! I'm glad you got your refund...:-))

Me too.

Me too! What a nightmare...

I've still notified the BBB in her area. And its a shame to have to do that, too. But...

Hallelujah! I really hated to see someone messing with Da Queen.

I'm sure she's been lurking here while all this was going on. And JJ, fill out a seller's report at paypal too.

It's over and I am happy that you were finally able to resolve the situation.

So, you want to buy a bridge?

Wow, you got a bridge? Shoot yeah, how much? Can I pay you up front and you maybe send it to me later, like in another lifetime?

Wow, this is the first chance I've had to read this entire thread (where have I been all this time!!!) What a nightmare. I'm glad you finally got some resolution, but I think you've been very gracious and generous in protecting this person. While the last thing you'd want on top of all this is any more hassle from this person (in terms of possible legal repercussions) there must be a way of reporting this as an Internet scam so others don't get caught in this same trap with this same person.

Kudos, Queenie. She escaped the gallows and I bet she's mad that you forced her hand. Good. I'm mad that she did that to you or anyone else and still might try again in the future. It is about doing the right thing (morals & ethics). I'm delighted that you were successful!

The squeekest wheel gets the oil....You go girl!

JJ, sorry you had to go through that. I had a similiar situation with Ebay. Never got my money because it would have cost me more to persue it than I had paid them.

I now look to see how big the number is beside their name and check their feedback before I buy.

It's a shame.

Laurel