Bashing my head against a brick wall

Did you use your credit card to pay for it, if so they may be able to help.

I bought a pair of ‘well known brand’ tennis shoes from a site advertising as the brand outlet which I after realised was probably a fake. Checked with the brand and they confirmed by email it wasn’t its outlet and they’d follow up on my report. Credit company refunded my costs even tho it was below £100. I think the email helped. Lesson learnt was sometimes looking for the best price opens the door to these dodgy sites. Several months later a small parcel arrived with my order number on it - ‘ray ban’ sunglasses.

I had a similar experience last year. I ordered a sweater that turned out to be all wrong. The sleeve holes were tiny and the sides were not the same length. The entire thing looked like it had been made by a twelve year old! I did manage to get a credit for the item, but I had to pay (lost) $7 for return shipping.

Lessons learned....know the return policy, make sure they have at least 80% positive reviews and avoid businesses and brands that you aren't familiar with.

Hetty that's always good advice and it's what I do. If it goes to the charity shop it's not wasted.

I agree about the Gransnet pop-ups - I do think they should police them properly and not allow rip-off merchants onto the site.

I get adverts constantly from Damensein. It sounds German, but when I searched, it was Chinese and reviews were abysmal. It is advertising to me at this moment.

It is a pity, because I really like the clothes they are advertising. I have tried to download pictures of some of the sweaters, because with a picture I could probably work out a pattern anyway.

Amazon should never have stolen its name from that mighty forest. Always try to find another source for online buys. Wordery is good for books. U.K. based. I’m a customer not involved with them. Just always found them reliable, free postage, helpful.

I never buy online without researching reviews on at leadt sites... At the risk of being banned I think its time GN policed their pop up advertisers better...
Just fashion now
Irisruby
Luvyle
Dresslily
.... to name a few..
All questionable when you check out customer reviews...
Why does GN allow them?
Oh.. that will be money then!!

Sadly a lot of stories/photos online about these fashion outlets that turn out to be based in China and promise Chanel and deliver Chantelle! Always good to have a quick Google (other search engines are available!) before ordering!

Luckygirl I ordered 2 dresses from Topsdresses possibly the same company (apparently they change their name regularly). The two dresses in the photo are the “same size”. I reported them to trading standards and got a refund from my credit card company. Never again!

Sandelf- I did the search with .ch (for Switzerland) and that is my whole issue, it looked like a Swiss site, prices in Swiss francs, paid in Swiss francs. Recently had an article in our equivalent of WHICH - where they explained about 30% of .ch sites- are foreign and goods sent from outside Switzerland, and even outside EU- so attracting high customs duties.

I get JustFashionNow adverts constantly when I am on GN. Time for HQ to ditch them.

I have long avoided buying anything from China, or any other overseas country outside the EU. It just isn't worth it.

When I have taken the risk it has always been for low value goods. I have twice succesfully bought £10 items from the US when I couldn't source the goods elsewhere, but I always buy through ebay so that I have some protection.

I rarely buy clothes online unless I know their sizing is reliable and their goods of a known quality. So far Woolovers and Landsend are the only two retailers to pass this test.

I tried to deal with it via PayPal, but they can do nothing unless my OH verifies the account by speaking to them on the phone, as he set up the account. I could have phoned PayPal whilst at the nursing home, but he would just have spent the time telling them he is being killed (he has paranoia) - might have been interesting.

I have now set up a PayPal account of my own.

I have bought a couple of items from China via Amazon. Good reviews and I followed the size recommended chart. I am a 10 but ordered Large, as advised and both items a perfect fit.

Can I add a warning about Irisruby.com. All the negatives already listed about some other on line companies in China, plus not getting all the items ordered. I ordered seven items and after 9 weeks have received the two cheapest on the list, both poor quality. My emails to customer services are dealt with by automated responses asking for the details which I have just supplied. But no action. £100 down the drain and an expensive lesson as my request for refund is being ignored.

Sadly you have to put it down to experience pass it on and give it to a charity shop maybe someone will benefit from it.

Did it once lesson learnt, always read the reviews now. It is a pain though!

I usually put UK at the end of my Google searches - so generally the results will at least have an office in UK and often are British companies - may be less cheap but you are helping to keep employment in this country and the customer service is much better.

We bought a set of WiFi boosters from a Swiss site, paid in Swiss francs. 2 weeks later we got a letter from Customs to ask for the bill. The parcel came from Singapore, with a false customs declaration stating 'commercial samples $9) - when had paid about £70- so just over the import tax threshold. Had to pay tax, vat and a charge for them opening anc checking the parcel and admin fee - so an extra 50% on top. Worse of all, it made us part of a fraudulent declaration

I ordered what was supposed to be three solar lamps from a company based in China. What I received was three useless light bulbs and no actual lamps. I wrote to them and after getting nowhere with them, I took my complaint to PayPal. They were great and refunded my money. The company in China had the cheek to write and demand I return the light bulbs at my expense! They went straight into the bin.I am another one who won’t ever order from China again.

I've done the same - bought a 100% linen dress from Buykud and it wasn't linen at all, just cheap sweatshirt-type fabric and also shapeless. Attempts to return it were met with threats about having to pay postage to China and then possibly not getting a refund. I gave up and it went to the charity shop. It was only then I looked at the reviews. I suppose it was extraordinarily cheap - that in itself should have been a warning.

I posted on a different thread that companies can now pay to remove bad reviews for holidays so presumably they can do the same for other purchases.

I have two well made cotton waist slips supposedly XL but more like our size 6/8.

I also got a refund from PayPal for a top I bought from JustFashionNow, it wouldn’t have fitted a twelve year old, be very wary.

As far as I know there is as yet no way that trading standards can be enforced if you buy online from a company that is based in another country.

Once bitten, twice shy here, I am afraid.

I only buy from firms based in my own country or other European ones and I do a little research into the firm before ordering. I find it worth the time and the slightly higher prices, as I haven't been cheated yet.