What would you do/what can I do?

[sapnupuas]

I ordered something from a Facebook page. It was my first order, but I had hoped to order more as her items always look lovely and really well made.

The items arrived and I'm extremely disappointed. The colour isn't what I ordered and the quality is just a bit shit.

I've messaged the seller and I've let her know the issues (the big one being it's not what I ordered!), and she has offered to send out the correct colour if I return the wrong set (presumably at my cost but she's not confirmed), but can't guarantee the quality will match my expectations. Now she's stopped replying.

Where do I go from here? Do I just suck it up and accept I've lost that money. I paid via PayPal - do I raise it via them?

The photos on her page you're going by might not be actual pictures of her work, and there are ways of getting lots of page followers and likes so I wouldn't necessarily take that as a sign that she's got a good business going. Most fb business pages have star ratings and customer feedback so that could ring alarm bells.

I wouldn't faff about with trying to get her to adjust the order, I would just ask to return it for a full refund including postage (not sure if you're legally entitled to a postage refund, you might have to take the hit on that.)
State the facts to PayPal and see what they say. Say you weren't trying to blackmail, you were trying to come to an amicable resolution and that you've got photographic evidence you can provide of the product and the messages. They usually side with the buyer so hopefully you'll get a refund.

@sapnupuas

Oh shit. The photo posted. I thought I'd got rid of it!

Oops.

as if you posted the picture by accident op... you CF in all seriousness, I wouldn't have thought the badge thing was acceptable at all, it's completely off-centre. What did she say when you asked if the pattern would be cut off? Can you post that picture on her facebook page? You should definitely get a refund and/or redone free of charge!!

They’re faulty and you’re owed replacement ones or a full refund.

But I think it’s odd that you won’t report her because you want to support small businesses. What about the social responsibility of ensuring we support legal, ethical businesses? This woman has no redeeming quality I can see. She’s ripping off JK Rowling by pirating Harry Potter and she’s only to happy to rip off hapless customers like you who order from her online in good faith by sending out crap and then accusing you of criminal blackmail and refusing to refund you. She’s a scam artist and you would not be a dick to report her but doing the world a service.

Cross post - there must be a deadline by which she has to respond to PayPal. If she doesn't then they might just decide regardless.
I raised a PayPal complaint once and both me and the other party had the opportunity to respond with a message.

Thank you

@PlanDeRaccordement you've made a very good point, actually. And you've definitely given me something to think about.

@Whyistheteacold initially we were discussing the blue fabric, which just says HARRY POTTER. I asked if the words will be cut off due to size. She asked whether I meant the blue or the black fabric, then sent a photo of the black. I asked which would work best. She said blue. That was the conversation. She didn't at any point tell me it'll be cut off regardless to safe wastage otherwise I wouldn't have bothered. Who wants an item that says ARRY POTTE, or whatever?

@sapnupuas ARRY POTTE I guess that is how she gets away with the copyright issues!! That is ridiculous though, and sounds to me like she actively avoided answering your direct question!

I've since blocked (after she accused me of harassment!) but I've gone back through and I had asked a few times why she didn't tell me about the pattern placement issue before ordering and she didn't answer.

She's accused me of blackmail but I've not said anything of the sort! I don't know what's wrong with her but she's making things up.

I wish I could post the whole conversation as she's accusing me of changing my story to suit myself but she's not sent me what I ordered.

I just don't understand.

You’ve done nothing wrong OP. She’s scammed you and is going on a bullying offensive so you’ll give up and she can keep your money. Hopefully PayPal will approve your refund.

Are you contacting her directly? If so, please do not. Raise it with PayPal. Say you want to return item due to wrong colour and poor quality. And wait for PayPal reply.

@MushMonster not any more. She told me to stop harassing her so I raised it with PayPal. Then she escalated before I got the chance (because I was at work).

I need to stop dwelling on it now but she's really upset me. She's accused me of things I've not done and lied to PayPal that I'm blackmailing her.

All I said was I thought I was getting blue and had bought some additional bits that would go better with the blue fabric.

She then questioned why I wanted more of the black if I’d bought blue accessories to match.

I said they weren’t accessories, just blue packaging which tied in better with the blue fabric but as it’s all HP themed I was happy to accept the black if she remade two, as I thought that would have been easier for her.

She said I was changing my story to suit myself.

Lesson lerant OP. Next time, Paypal directly.
Do not let it bother you now and wait for reply.
Paypal will not bother with what she said. Only whether the transaction is done, the items are returned, and that is all.

Any reason why you didn't take the advice to ring Paypal? It might lower your stress levels, they can be very helpful.

Honestly, because I've been swamped all day with work and the landline is in my husband's office. Fewer meetings tomorrow so I will try then.

In the grand scheme of things, it's not a lot of money. I'm just upset by the things she's said when I purposely tried to do what was easier for her; not what was best for me.

She sounds an absolute James Blunt.

Did you pay friends and family through PayPal?

It's through my husband's account as mine got hacked, and he can't remember but we don't think so.

Is there a way to check? Would I have been able to raise a dispute if I'd paid via F&F?

Any ideas what else can I get for my SIL? It's secret Santa so I can't ask!

The problem with this is that people see little businesses selling on Facebook and think 'I could probably do that!' but then don't have either the business mindset or the skills to actually do that to a high standard. They just look at it and think how easy it must be to make a living by selling on Facebook - and then they actually make the products and they're just rubbish.

I really hope you get your money back.

Thank you @LindaEllen

If anyone is interested in the outcome I'll update.

When there is an update, I mean. Nothing to report so far.