Sorry I supported local sellers

[Still1nLove]

I saw some nice personalised bits being sold by local sellers, I think mums making some money. They are on fb abs recommend by people I know.

Anyway, I’ve just opened them and I am disappointed. I bought 4 items from 2 sellers and there is a problem with each of them.

I bought two mini hand sanitiser bottles with my kids names on them. The letters are just stickers, I thought they would be printed somehow. One letter is torn and one letter is creased/crumpled. £2.50 each

I bought a cami-short set, beautiful colour and the lettering is perfect but there is a mark on the back of the shorts, it looks like something spilt, it’s about one inch square. £15

Finally, I bought a cushion which has stick figures wearing Christmas hats to represent each member of my family and our names under each character. But of the 6 figures, 2 are in the left and the other 4 are squashed on the right. £20

I feel I should contact the vendors and let them know, but what if they tell me to do one? Ideally I would want the items replaced, especially the cushion as looking at it is really annoying me and the off-centredness (not a real word, I know) is making me feel funny! But what if they say I’m to return the items for a refund and no replacement, I don’t dislike them that much. The vendors are a 20 minute drive from me.

Yabu- homemade stuff being sold on Facebook is usually tatt. Do you really expect a refund or replacement? Just suck it up and don’t make this mistake again.

Yanbu- all items being sold should be of a good/decent standard. You should contact the vendor and they should offer a replacement or refund.

Sorry you're dissapointed, but tbh I think most FB stuff is tatt and have a very low expectation, hence I don't buy any of it.

Contact them all and tell them why you are unhappy. If they don’t rectify it or refund it - leave a honest review so people are aware before they spend why money

It is usually just tat, but if you pay good money for it then it should be of a decent standard. I think you should be asking for a refund.

If they’re selling a product there should not be anything wrong with it, if it were a normal shop you’d be able to go back and ask for it to be fixed/exchanged or get a refund, same should apply here

I'm amazed to hear that someone has actually bought this stuff in the first place. I don't know what I'd do, but hopefully you've learned your lesson and won't bother again!

By the way, supporting local businesses isn't the same thing as buying random crap from someone on a facebook group. I think the legit businesses tend to have their own websites and their own facebook pages etc. You'll probably find much better quality stuff there.

It's maybe slightly different but I sell my art via social media..

I go through quite a process making sure the buyer is happy with the product before I post, send pics, work in situ so size etc doesn't look overinflated.

Depending on how much the cushion cost in terms of time and resources, it may cost them more to do a new one so may just want to give a refund.

If you're not happy send it back (re the cushion) the hand sanitizers I'd probably just let it go.

Sorry your products weren't great but thanks for supporting wee businesses.

Oh and yes to the PP - I have a website etc so you know I'm legit and nae just Buddhas belly, trying to get a few extra quid for something that I've bought online and then repuporses as homemade.

The cushion and the pyjamas should be fixable. Contact the sellers. I’m presuming the example cushions weren’t off centre, so that’s an error.

The £2.50 hand sanitiser... I think it was a bit unrealistic to expect printed words for £2.50, but that sounds a lot like random Facebook tat to me.

I’ve sold a lot of handmade items in the past (not since my twins were born but before that). They weren’t cheap and were a lot of work, but I always made sure the buyer was happy with them.

Honestly, for £2.50 it’s not going to be good quality for a handmade item - I was in the Co Op earlier and a small bottle of hand sanitiser was £3. £2.50 would barely cover materials, let alone any time.

Quality hand made items cost a fair bit.

You bought tat. Don’t do it again!

If they say you’re to return them for a refund you can just refuse and accept them as they are. But there’s no harm in asking. Even if they do tell you to do one (unlikely) you’re in no worse position than you are now. And they’re more likely to be helpful because they know a bad review could hold a lot of weight.

Bit of both really. Stuff sold on fb is almost always tat.

So the letters on the hand sanitiser i wouldn’t expect to be printed for that price, but I would expect them to not be torn or badly applied. But I also probably wouldn’t be arsed complaining over £2.50, although if you’ve bought a few then it’s more worth while.

The shorts I would ask for a replacement, it’s not ok that they’re stained.

The cushion, depends on the example photos. If it’s just personal preference over layout they probably wouldn’t refund or replace. If it’s really badly done and doesn’t resemble the samples YANBU but getting them to refund/replace may be tricky as it’s less objective than a stain or wrinkled letters like on the other items

I've ordered six things from Facebook and five of them were not what was being sold and the sixth I was blocked when they didn't send what the item was meant to be so I don't even bother looking at the marketplace for the few years.

I wouldn't ever buy from anyone asking me to send cash via friends and family instead of goods and services and they all seem to want you to do this. If you paid goods and services and they do tell you to do one you can claim your money back through PayPal.

The hand sanitisers is what you'd expect for £2.50 bit you wouldn't be unreasonable to complain about the other stuff.

There is a lot of tat to sift through and I think you have to be realistic about how much money decent items will cost.

This is why I use etsy

I always find things on Not On The Highstreet, and then try to use their own website so they don't pay commission. So still supporting small business but it's less likely to be tat!!!

You can’t expect anything sold on Facebook to be of any good quality; it’s usually just a load of SAHM making tat. Nothing professional.

And Etsy like above poster mentioned.

Unless it was an established business, I wouldn't buy anything from facebook.

If you want to support small independent sellers then go through a reputable platform like Etsy where you can check out the reviews. Low effort or low quality sellers don't tend to do very well on there.

I would ask for a refund. I'm not sure you would get one but worth a shot. Etsy is amazing for buying hand crafted items and supporting small business.

I ve bought a couple of beautiful handcrafted items from Facebook but I they were friends of friends who could vouch for them.
There are some good ones out there.

I feel I should contact the vendors and let them know, but what if they tell me to do one?

what if they do? youve lost nothing by asking but could gain something if they replace for better quality stuff. also, if they tell you to do one you are well within your rights to leave negative reviews on ther facebook pages.

OMG if they tell you do to do one you go nuclear on them! Don't let them get away with it. Email them asap.

I shop on etsy too to support small businesses. I've bought quite a few Christmas gifts from their this year.