Heated throws part 2 - the scam!

I knew about cloned clothes sites, but of course any pictures and details of nice things can be copied and used to to illustrate sales of inferior copies.

Since I looked at the pics of some very nice clothes on one site (it was Damensein, which turned out to have lots and lots of reviews that mentioned how people had been diddled that way) my internet screen is swamped by ads for similar sites with loads of attractive clothes, many of them showing identical pics. I don't trust any of them.

PS I was put off by the reviews and didn't buy anything from Damensein, so I have no personal experience of them. All I can say is that if they really sell all the quality things they say they do, I should have heard of them already.

Not on a throw itself but on some recliners. We thought we were getting a bargain, looked like some famous make but considerably cheaper. We were disappointed and luckily able to return but at our own expenses. The foreign websites often if not always includes a UK address which gives you a false sense of security. After that episode we headed straight for our local furniture store where we ended up buying the real thing. ‘You pays your money you takes your choice’, as they say!

Whatever I buy now I always email the company to ask for country of origin. Most times I don't get a reply but I keep on looking and asking.
I use Paypal wherever possible. I've found on the rare occasion where things have gone wrong to be very helpful in getting money back.

I tried to find the country of origin but no luck. This was afterwards of course! What showed up on my credit card statement was something else altogether. Looked like it was French.
I've been buying online for years and have obviously just been lucky so far. It makes me appreciate Amazon. They are very easy to deal with if there's a problem.
By the way you really have to persevere with the credit card company. They don't make it easy!

This is happening on ebay too. I have always looked at the bit that tells you where the goods are coming from and use those that say UK. But even those arrive with Chinese paperwork. Presumably they are setting up depots in the UK, which does not make the goods an better quality.

Elegran I too have been looking at Damensein and a number of other sites with totally different names but very similar clothes. I have been so very tempted by them during the summer and their winter range have some pieces that I would love. However, like you I have heard very bad reviews of them, so I am resisting temptation. Actually I think they came up on a thread earlier in the year, and the poster said that when the garment arrived it was inferior to that in the picture. I keep telling myself that if the price seems to be too good to be true, then it is.

Unfortunately, these sites are so convincing. I was taken in a few years ago, when I bought a pair of Ugg boots at a ridiculously low price. Of course, when they arrived ( from China) they were fake and it would cost £50 for postage to return them. Mr P still casts it up to this day.
Buyer beware, indeed.

I don't know where it is based, but the name makes it sound German. German quality of manufacture is usually good - perhaps that is why the name was chosen.

I know many don’t like Amazon but to be honest it’s the only place I feel safe to shop online. Also their customer service is excellent if anything throws up a problem and needs returned.

There’s a current scam on Facebook . It can be any brand name product but considerably cheaper. Lots of reviews etc etc. What turns up is something totally different for instance a glass cleaner instead of a heat press.

This happened to me. I paid by PayPal and although I got my money back eventually I had to jump through lots of hoops to do so - unfairly I thought as it was obviously a scam.

I ordered a puzzle from Amazon for DH Grannynannywanny. It took a while to come, the parcel was squashed and bashed and the puzzle itself was made of such thin card the pieces wouldn't stay in place. The writing on the package was Chinese although it wasn't apparent on Amazon that this was the country of origin.

I had no luck in getting a refund or even getting through to Amazon at that time (during the long lockdown) but the numerous firms offering the same puzzle were all taken down a while later.

It was less than £15 but very annoying all the same.

That’s disappointing to hear Callistemon. The very few times I’ve had to contact them by email over the years, I’ve always had prompt service. Maybe I’ve just been lucky.

I think it was an extra busy time, Grannynannywanny.

Had it been more expensive I would have persisted. He did do most of the puzzle before he gave in (with much muttering). It was a lovely picture of Sydney Harbour.

There’s a lot of these sites springing up, you have to be so careful nowadays.

It is very easy to be taken in by these websites - after all their sole aim is to get your cash.

When visiting a new website I always check Trustpilot reviews. With Amazon I look for who it is being sold by. If you click on the name it takes you to the address of the supplier - again I also check Trustpilot reviews.

Yes some have depots in the UK which was lucky for us as we could return the recliners via courier at an acceptable price. The names are often British German or Italian sounding ones.

A lot of (not all) Chinese origin sites are now running scam practices. Yes, they'll send you something (anything really) eventually - just so that they can prove it was delivered.

I always use PayPal (they're very helpful) and I'm instantly suspicious of anything that appears to be much cheaper than other choices.

For security, I'll pay (through PayPal) by credit card for anything over £100.

Recently, I'm making an effort to try to buy British, or failing that, European.

Damensein keeps changing its name...look at the advert on the right of this page and you have "Irisruby", which is the exact same company.
I dont know why Gransnet HQ dont ditch these charlatans. Their stuff is Chinese rubbish!
On Amazon, often the locations of the companies are hidden but their long delivery dates give the game away. Delivery can be as long as a month after purchase.
I've written to Ebay because it disgraceful that sellers can claim to be in the UK and actually be in China.
On Ebay, again look at long delivery dates and also at the bottom of the listing, see where the sellers contact details are given.
No UK seller should have delivery dates longer than a week.

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

Cupafful
All theses snide Chinese companies are owned by the same man.

This is a most disgusting practice which is probably so world-wide that you'd never trace the real culprit at the back of it all.
There's nothing worse than being fleeced/ hoodwinked by these sharks who are laughing all the way to the bank.

Sadly we'll see more of it as the economy suffers and people's jobs on the line. It's going to be more and more difficult to find a company who isn't all out to rip the customer off ,with money at a premium with many.

cupaffull, those ads on the side really got on my nerves. I installed Adblock Plus (it's free) so, thankfully, I don't see them anymore!

I started the original Heated Throw thread but decided in the end not to purchase one but if was to get one it would be from Lakeland. I first got the idea from a Lakeland leaflet that was in a magazine (I think). I have bought many things from Lakeland through the years - by mail order or from their shop in my local shopping centre and find their customer service excellent.
Sorry to hear about your troubles Jane10 - I hope you get your money back.