Heated throws part 2 - the scam!

Damensein was recently on Bbc Rip off Britain! a lady showed pictures of what she thought she ordered and then what arrived!..........

I bought my heated fleece from Lakeland and would thoroughly recommend it. Still looks new and is quality in every way. Don't forget we are being asked to be locally whenever we can

The one I've ordered from John Lewis is also on the Lakeland site. I went with JL as I've bought from them before and I know they're OK. For all I knew the Lakeland site could have been as dodgy as the one I bought from! (I'm sure it wasn't but I've lost my nerve buying from somewhere new to me)

petra

OldWoman70
Don't believe all you read on Trustpilot.
www.seotraininglondon.org/can-you-trust-trustpilot/

WOW! This made interesting reading. I suspected Airydress or Airycloth had something dodgy with Trustpilot when Trustpilot kept asking me to prove I had actually bought from the companies or they would remove the reviews. They did this constantly and I eventually had to block emails from Trustpilot.

I fought and threatened Airydress with media exposure and said there was no way I would pay postage to return misrepresented goods. If I ordered a dishwasher and received a wheelbarrow I wouldn’t pay return postage. I got ALL my money reimbursed and a prepaid returns label. I also took lots of photos even of me handing it over to the post office in case they said I hadn’t returned their rubbish.

Update! My credit card company has temporarily refunded the money. The email said that they'll continue to try to contact the company (good luck with that!) and may subsequently withdraw the refund but if I haven't heard back from them by February I can assume that won't happen.
What a palaver. The credit card company didn't make it easy. They must be fed up with these cloned websites and mugs like me who thought they were genuine.

It seems to me that it would be helpful if GN could provide a ‘beginners guide to online shopping’ for people who are just dipping their toes into it.
I’ve been shopping online for many years and I know to only go to well known name sites, Amazon have always been very good at refunds, but I only ever buy through their Prime sellers and never directly from China.
But I stick to the main stores, such as Next, JLewis, Lakeland, MS.
There are very few real bargains online that I feel comfortable buying, because they are foreign or I feel they are too good to be true, if I can click and buy with confidence then I don’t fret that the item wont turn up and be what I ordered.
eBay is more difficult because they are allowed to use ‘stock pictures ‘ of something they are selling rather than a picture of the actual product, so unless we are collecting and paying cash for something I would never spend more than £20 on there.
TBH if I want something but can’t afford the prices then I don’t get it. There are too many so called ‘bargains’ out there, that are not what they seem. Id rather wait until I can afford to buy either locally or with a trusted name.

Thank goodness you paid with your credit card Jane10. Although that sounds like hassle you have a good chance of getting your money back. What a disappointment though waiting all that time for your parcel and then it’s trash. Thank goodness you’ve had time to order another one from a known reputable company. I’ve reached the point that I only try to order from companies I know - I always fuss that I have to have a password but I can see why.

I am Britain’s most convinced internet shopper and lockdown simply reinforced that BUT I am careful to buy only from reputable sites, JL, Lakeland and the long river company who have proved excellent at returns. Clothes websites like Joules, White Stuff, Seasalt and Woolovers are also reliable and secure.
Might I also recommend QVC (download the app - you don’t need to watch it on TV if that’s not your thing.) Their big advantage is a guaranteed no questions asked 30 day returns policy, currently 60 days - and items can be used, worn, washed and tried out in every way.
Internet shopping has to be savvy internet shopping!

I've been Internet shopping for years. This is the first time I've been let down. The fake website was up at the top of the Google list, was 'UKs number 1' supplier of heated throws and the website content was exactly the same as the real supplier. They must have just lifted all the photos, reviews and T&Cs from proper websites. It was lucky I didn't spend more. At least I've been refunded.