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Original poster

Don't buy from lightinthebox.com

24 replies

viewoftrees · 10/03/2022 10:45

I bought a pair of shoes from there recently. The shoes are a very different colour from how they looked online, and I ordered my standard size and the shoes are much smaller than that.

I have contacted the company about returning the shoes and they have stated that the shoes have to be returned to China, and I will be responsible for the return shipping costs and it will take a long time for the refund to come through. (The website does say that customers are responsible for return shipping costs, but nowhere does it say that items have to be returned to China.)

The company has emailed me to say: "Taking into consideration the long time in can take to receive a refund and the high return postage, we wonder if you would consider to keep with a partial refund." They have offered me either a refund of 20%, or 30% off my next purchase (obviously I will not buy from them again!!).

I'm about to contact Trading Standards to see whether they can help, but wanted to alert people not to buy from this company. (I just came across them when searching online for shoes.)

OP posts:
Aroundtheworldin80moves · 10/03/2022 10:48

They are still around? They were considered by many a massive scam when I worked in the wedding industry 12 years ago...

Original poster
viewoftrees · 10/03/2022 11:19

Ah, I had not heard of them before! They are definitely still a massive scam!

OP posts:
Hoppinggreen · 10/03/2022 11:22

Unfortunately as it’s not a UK site there probably isn’t much Trading Standards can do.
The site does look like it’s a bit crap though so it shouldn’t come as a total surprise.

ChickensForTheHound · 10/03/2022 11:27

The website does say on the return policy that you have to return the items to China.

Original poster
viewoftrees · 10/03/2022 11:31

Does it? It must be tucked away somewhere! I read the return policy and did not see that!

OP posts:
Original poster
viewoftrees · 10/03/2022 11:32

Ah yes, just looked at it again, and I've seen it now!

OP posts:
SylviasMotherSaid · 10/03/2022 11:34

Did you purchase on a credit card as you could get a refund that way ? A family member of mine bought something off a similar site last month and their credit card company refunded with no problem

Original poster
viewoftrees · 10/03/2022 11:34

I wonder whether to return the item to China, or whether it will get lost in the post, or they will claim it got lost in the post... Don't know whether I should just cut my losses, chalk it up to experience, and go for the 20% refund?

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Original poster
viewoftrees · 10/03/2022 11:35

Sadly I paid with a debit card. (Paypal was not an option.)

OP posts:
TabithaTittlemouse · 10/03/2022 11:35

They are well known for being an awful company.

thisplaceisweird · 10/03/2022 11:37

Suck it up, save yourself some time and just get the 20% refund.

thisplaceisweird · 10/03/2022 11:37

Next time you online shop from an unknown store, google '[shop name] reviews' and have a read first.

Original poster
viewoftrees · 10/03/2022 11:38

Good tip. Lesson learned!

OP posts:
cherrytree63 · 10/03/2022 11:41

I recently bought a pair of trousers from there, and they were much bigger than the size chart showed.
They too offered me a discount on a further purchase, which I was happy to do but the price of the trousers had trebled!
I had paid with PayPal and there is the option to return the item and get a refund for the postage through them.
Anyway I argued the toss saying if they're size chart was accurate there wouldn't have been a problem and they did send out a smaller replacement pair and I didn't have to send the original pair back.
You may be able to do the same with your shoes? I used their Facebook messenger to communicate.

Original poster
viewoftrees · 10/03/2022 11:51

@cherrytree63 That's interesting. I just checked my online banking and it turns out I did in fact pay with paypal. (Misremembered that!) How did you go about getting PayPal to refund the postage? Did PayPal actually arrange the return in some way? Thanks!!

As the shoes are a horrible colour, I wouldn't want them even if they were the right size!

OP posts:
Bramshott · 10/03/2022 11:57

I had to return some stuff my work bought for a show and it was a nightmare! I sent the stuff back to China as directed, at our expense, and we did get a refund. However, then the stuff was returned as undeliverable and we had to pay for the return postage too. Never again.

cherrytree63 · 10/03/2022 11:57

Sorry I wasn't clear, I didn't return them in the end, just got another pair sent out free of charge as the size chart was incorrect.
But while I was waiting for the company to respond I contacted PayPal and they said to raise a dispute, send them back and claim the postage back from PayPal.

Original poster
viewoftrees · 10/03/2022 12:19

@Bramshott How bizarre that the stuff was returned as undeliverable, despite the fact that the company issued a refund - so they must have received it!

OP posts:
Original poster
viewoftrees · 10/03/2022 12:20

Were you told why it was “undeliverable”?

OP posts:
Bramshott · 10/03/2022 12:34

I emailed them the proof of posting, which is when the sent the refund, so I don't think they ever did receive it TBH. No info on why it was undeliverable but didn't want to try again in case we got stung for the return postage a second time! We just donated the stuff to a charity shop.

Fashionesta · 10/03/2022 12:39

Pm if you like. I've done this with two companies (didn't learn my lesson) and successfully got all my money back through PayPal. It is possible and yes it's a scam. They reckon with people not being arsed to return to China and accept a small refund meaning they are still quids in.

Original poster
viewoftrees · 10/03/2022 14:05

@Fashionesta Thank you - I will PM you. Yes, it’s the blatant scam of it - the fact that they know they have sent out shoddy stuff in the wrong size, but are making a profit on it - that annoys me!

OP posts:
Boood · 10/03/2022 15:39

Yes, they’re shocking. I bought something very cheap from them a couple of years ago as a test- was absolutely nothing like the description or photo. Went straight in the bin and I will never bother again. It also took about 100 attempts to unsubscribe from their attempts to flog me more crap.

Phantom1 · 10/03/2022 22:11

If you paid through PayPal go through them.

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