Jones & Smith "scam" - do not order til you read

[LemonLass]

Hello
I saw an advert for Jones & Smith (clothing) on here before New Year. Simple warning: DO NOT ORDER from them. Read on if you would like to know why...

I sometimes but rarely order online. The item looked appealing and "sale" price Inc post so ordered, having checked it had a UK address in case the item didn't suit me or something wrong.

I had a notification a few days after order confirmation about it being flown in. First red flag. Why (if they are in UK)? I wouldn't have ordered otherwise.

I waited patiently for delivery and emailed the business about "the flight" and they evaded my question about returning if not suitable . They simply hoped I liked it...

It arrived, is not "soft and warm", it is itchy - probably polyester but item has no identifying "front or back" of the jumper. It has no label to indicate counter of origin or fabric used, care instructions.

I contacted the company for a refund (repeatedly) and keep getting "offers" eg spend £9.95 more and choose something else) or have to pay for "expensive" (their words) return to Netherlands.

It seems the UK address on their website is part of a scam. They won't allow returns to it. The only way I would get a refund would be send item to Netherlands at my own expense, despite item being poor quality and not matching description. They need to accept and check before refund. I smell another scam that they will not receive it (allegedly) or something wrong with item (to avoid paying a refund).

Save yourself the hassle. AVOID. Item quality could be from a market stall in the 1980s. Cheaply manufactured and something nobody would buy in person.

Edited to amend a typo

Burgundy Shirts thread

Hi @Createausername1970, I haven't bought new clothes for at least a year and nothing online, not even with UK big names. I saw someone's post about their "capsule wardrobe" then saw ads for the brand the poster mentioned.

I ordered something based on the ad.

Hope that makes sense. I wasn't looking for something. I buy from charity shops, typically.

It wasn't a Facebook ad, it appeared on mumsnet (hence my comment "on here") following reading a post (and not commenting)

Judging by the amoint of different company names mentioned here this seems to be proliferating. I was caught out by a company called Harrington & Hale with a photo of a nice shop in London. I ordered nearly £200 worth of clothing before thinking twice and checking the company history online and then cancelling within 20 minutes. Only to be told the order could not be cancelled and I would need to return unwanted goods. I did email back quoting UK law on distance selling and the right to cancel which was ignored by their 'Customer Service' while assuring me they were there to help. This went on for months and when I checked the shipping reference I found it was from China. Fortunately it was delayed so much the shippers said it had timed out.

In the meantime I had found out the head office is based in the Netherlands (are they all the same company?) and repeatedly emailed requesting a full refund. When this was ignored I found out about chargeback which I had not heard about, just in time as there is a 90 day limit if you use a debit card. So I contacted my bank with all the details and they said they would investigate but it may take some time. I also emailed the CS again quoting the law and that my bank were investigating. To my surprise I got an almost instant refund of all my money but with no explanation or apology. That took over 3 months last summer and I do believe some one has used my details to try to get a credit card as I was notified of a credit search so we do all need to be aware of the other implications besides poor customer service or goods supplied.

And finally, when I went back to check if the website was still operating it had turned into an artsy photo of an elderly woman whi is closing down her hand made jewellery business. If thes companies operate worldwide they must make a fortune from customers who just give up on refunds.

Other giveaway signs are:

• models' heads all cut off the photos
• inconsistent images on the site (indicates pics have been stolen from other, genuine, retailers)
• images that are clearly AI

Thanks @Thereisaplaceforthis. Since this, I have put my credit card on "freeze" and looking to close the account after charge back is (hopefully) completed.

Hi @constitutionhill the ad was on Mumsnet having read (but not commented on someone's capsule wardrobe). I usually but in charity shops to "save the planet" so was sickened to have flight info on my item when the website showed uk address and contact tel. Trustpilot says contact tel rings out "international ring tone". Trust nobody.

Love u 😄

Oh seriously, no FB advert. READ the post.

@ohwhatakerfuffle if there was a laugh emojii, i would add it to your post. Utter c0ckmoble.

my post is to warn other. Thank you perfect person who never never made a mistake

Naive @ohwhatakerfuffle if there was a laugh emojii, i would add it to your post. Utter c0ckmoble.

my post is to warn other. Thank you perfect person who never never made a mistake⁸who the F would order if OBVIOUS 😄 🤣 😂 😆 😄

Well it's a scan if an item is not as described and they are expecting people to pay to return it. It goes against Consumer Law in England and Wales.

AS a PP said - never buy anything off social media.

my post is to warn others too. Calm down.

I can read. What do you think MN is if it's not social media?

I appreciate your post OP
as you say, to warn others
fraud, scam, idiocy, ignorance. However you label it you and others and myself have been duped
also thanks to the poster for the radio 4 article. Useful

It’s made me even wary of well-known brands. As there are copycat sites. I only order from the likes of M&S, H&M etc…

Literally just happened to me - teens Christmas list link. £40 for something not at all of the same quality as discription / photo, also with dirty mark on the front. Has to be returned with track & trace to China... Postal cost £20 (post office counter says they see this several times a day now) , but their customer service has spun it out so long now beyond 30 days, so do not trust them to refund. AI customer service utterly infuriating - so upbeat and polite whilst avoiding the question or any resdution. Never,ever,again...will also educate teen on this thread - very useful!

*resolution

Totally horizontal but trying to use small words with few syllables for you to compute.

Mumsnet can be positive - warning others of bad merch/experiences.

Mumsnet can also be a 8itchy playground for trolls.

Yes, and my post was the former. In what way does giving a few additional examples of signs to look out for (adding to a PP's helpful list) make my post a troll post or makes me a "cockwomble" as you so rudely said in your post last night? Are you sure you're replying to the right person here?

101 Lindon Rd is a terraced house…

I think this is part of the problem. That people don’t see Mumsnet as social media, but as some sort of big mother’s group that we all belong in. Partly because that’s what it used to be twenty years ago.

They don’t hand pick the advertisers because mumsnet is a big company that exists to make money. There was all of those AI images of famous people beaten to a pulp a few months ago for example.

I know, and it’s easy to discover that with a quick google. My point is they are trying to give the impression to anyone who scans the page quickly that they’re UK when a couple of clicks away shows they are a front.

I do agree that these things - the twee brand name, the pretend UK address - add up to deliberately mislead and that’s part of a scam.

Not a scam in the sense that you won’t receive ANYTHING for your money. But what you get will be crap nine times out of 10 and the same item available on Shein, Ali Baba etc.

I was going to say this too. Trustpilot is brilliant.

And now we know 😊