To think she owes me another perfume?

[GettingMiff]

Colleague at work has started selling perfumes that smell like big names but don't have the packaging. They're lovely and I was really pleased with the samples.

I ordered a favourite of mine and was told it would be with me within the week. Fine. That's great. Wasn't fussed even if it took a few weeks for the price.

Anyway, I had to self isolate for 10 days because of DC. I returned to work yesterday to discover no perfume so knocked and asked if it would be soon, I was excited to try it etc. She said ''Oh, I left it on your desk Monday?''

I said there's nothing there... She said someone must've moved it then or taken it. I asked why she didn't keep it with her until I got back? She said ''Your office is usually locked isn't it? I thought you were back because it was open'' to which I replied no it isn't, because its shared all the time with another colleague! A very laid back man with a very kind way about him. There's no way he's taken it, I would've thought.

AIBU to want another perfume? Before I left she said she would ask around to see if anyone's seen t and that I should do the same

@ZoomRoom

I think asking around is a very good idea, and to be honest I'm a bit torn whether she should give you a replacement.

She thought your door was locked so it's a genuine mistake, but then if it was me, I'd be making sure to give you the perfume in person and I'd automatically offer you another if after asking around no one had seen it.

She could also be fibbing I suppose!

so how did she get in then ?

She never delivered the perfume. If your office door was locked, how did she get in?!?! She's lying through her teeth.

I'd say to her that you're going to alert HR to the possibility of there being a thief in the office. It might miraculously turn up then...

In every circumstance it is the seller's responsibility to ensure the goods are received by the customer. That is not get to wherever the customer is but actually received by them.

So, setting aside the MLM aspect, she owes you a perfume or a refund. Her error, she pays for it. YOU did nothing wrong, have no responsibilty for her choices.

You could tweet/facebook post on the product page...

The perfume is bound to be counterfeit.

True ''big names'' rely on their packaging and bottles as part of the whole experience.

Beautiful packaging and exquisite scent.

She should have given it to you in person, or put it in a secure place.

She needs to replace the perfume. If not and you've already paid contact the company in question and say you have not received your item. I don't think I would involve HR. But on the other hand if it's been taken then it's theft. What if money was taken from a person's desk. That would be an HR issue.

@ChrissyPlummer

If your office is locked then how did she get in to leave it there?

As pp said it’s an MLM so unless it was £££ I’d write it off and not go near buying anything from her again.

The argument was that OP locks her office when she's not in so because the office was unlocked, the colleague thought she was in. But, the door isn't locked (whether OP is in work or not) because it's a shared office, so it was unlocked even though OP wasn't in.

I would ask around gently, and then take the loss.

I might then have a quiet word with HR. Perhaps frame it as a potential problem with MLM at work. Admit you should not have got involved, and that you have learned your lesson. Don’t make accusations.

I have twice come across office stealing. In both instances HR were all too aware, but felt unable to do act, at least in the short term. One was a long standing employee, whose husband had a gambling problem. It turned out that just about everyone knew and were very careful not to leave wallets in jackets or money in desks. People generally did not want her to lose her job, as the income was her lifeline. The second was odder. A crucial IT guy appeared to be a kleptomaniac, and all sorts of office supplies would vanish. (I happened to recommend the security consultant they brought in - not information I ever shared with colleagues.) Key pad locks were installed on all the doors etc, and strong warnings to be careful. The guy was on secondment from a European office. I guess they wanted him to complete the project and go.

The general rule with office problems is if you have issues, other people will as well. Add to any circumstantial evidence, but it often better not to be seen as the accuser, especially when you don’t know for sure.

Nope. She is selling stuff, she needs to ensure it's delivered. If she left it on your desk she should have sent you a message. She can't expect to be taken seriously with her 'side hustle' if she can't do something as basic as that.

MLM the scourge of farcebook and many workplaces.

Just say no!

I’m really surprised that people are suggesting the MLM hunbot never left it in the first place. That makes less sense than a cleaner binning it, or a colleague stealing it. This woman will be wanting to build her Boss Babe Business up - it would be very shortsighted to just steal from her customer. I exit the it’s gone walk about for whatever reason.

Yes, she should replace it as she didn’t agree with you to just leave it on your desk.

I think it’s petty of you to say that it’s her responsibility to ask around and not yours... if you’re going to participate in this friend-based informal selling, then why shouldn’t you also ask around?

It is all very unprofessional though. It’s your workplace, not a marketplace for knock off crap.

@oakleaffy

The perfume is bound to be counterfeit.

True ''big names'' rely on their packaging and bottles as part of the whole experience.

Beautiful packaging and exquisite scent.

She should have given it to you in person, or put it in a secure place.

I don't think they are counterfeit but it is an MLM which is problematic in a whole host of other ways. This will be FM perfume.

@Needmoresleep

I would ask around gently, and then take the loss.

I might then have a quiet word with HR. Perhaps frame it as a potential problem with MLM at work. Admit you should not have got involved, and that you have learned your lesson. Don’t make accusations.

I have twice come across office stealing. In both instances HR were all too aware, but felt unable to do act, at least in the short term. One was a long standing employee, whose husband had a gambling problem. It turned out that just about everyone knew and were very careful not to leave wallets in jackets or money in desks. People generally did not want her to lose her job, as the income was her lifeline. The second was odder. A crucial IT guy appeared to be a kleptomaniac, and all sorts of office supplies would vanish. (I happened to recommend the security consultant they brought in - not information I ever shared with colleagues.) Key pad locks were installed on all the doors etc, and strong warnings to be careful. The guy was on secondment from a European office. I guess they wanted him to complete the project and go.

The general rule with office problems is if you have issues, other people will as well. Add to any circumstantial evidence, but it often better not to be seen as the accuser, especially when you don’t know for sure.

Agree with this. Also, shouldn’t be buying and selling knock off perfumes in the workplace- because of incidences such as this. This has happened where I work and it turned out the cleaner had moved it off the desk on to shelving at the side of the desks, ‘clear desk policy’.

Ask for your money back. These counterfeit perfumes are made in little back street sweatshops, and have not been safety tested. The mix of chemicals could be extremely harmful to your skin. Save up and buy the real stuff.

The ethics of buying knockoffs is really dubious; I don't think you can claim the moral high ground. You've no idea how this was made, whether it's safe, and who's been exploited in the process.

As an aside, I think the emailer only receives an 'Out of Office' response in reply to the FIRST email they send - not to each one...

Yeah , I wonder too if she even left it.....

People in mlms get so tangled up

She's in an MLM and probably stressed out at how much money she's losing. I wouldn't be surprised if she's lying.

I had the same thing from an Ann Summers rep - £15 worth of products that she swore blind she'd delivered to my door when I know she hadn't. I think it's probably quite common.

I would assume a cleaner moved it, or maybe nabbed it for themselves.

Doubt your colleague kept it - I don't have any experience with MLM but I imagine they rely on positive feedback from customers to keep their business going and wouldn't risk their reputation over one piddly bottle of knockoff perfume.

@Cocomarine

I’d be a bit more professional and not get involved in knock off MLM products being delivered to your desk.

This - they're fakes, made god knows where, with god knows what.....

Why would you buy them?

Is there CCTV in your workplace? You can go to HR but just say you think that someone has stolen a perfume that your colleague sold to you. If HR thinks something's up, they themselves will tell her to stop selling without you having to get directly involved.

She should have handed it directly to you.

Yabu to support a pyramid scam...but i think the seller kept the perfume and your money Op.

She's lying imo she saw an opportunity to make an extra bit of money out of someone. She shouldn't be selling that crap in the workplace anyway. Why are you buying it op?

JunkCrumpet ah, I see. Good job I’m not a detective 😂

I'd personally would want a refund and tbh, a family member and loads of other people sells FM perfume. They smell nice for about 5 minutes and it goes, i only know because I won a perfume. I'd be pissed off if I paid for it, poundland perfumes last longer!