Scammers

 

I know we have all had our fair-share of scammers beating at our door – literally, the magazine hounds pleading for us to buy a magazine subscription so the seller won’t go “bad!”  Oh, how about Publisher’s Clearing House… does anyone still fall for that scam?  Are you still answering the emails from the Nigerians who would love to transfer to your bank 15 million dollars… just because? 

Ok, so we all smile at these stupid scams to part us from our money.  But listen up: due to COVID, we are buying more online because, you know, it is so dangerous to shop in person.  Did you notice how long it takes to receive items “Made in China?”  Due to COVID and restrictions on flights into the United States, most of the items shipped from overseas are being delayed.

So, a back story:  about two years ago, I ordered a pair of “water shoes” from a company called PearlYo.  I received them and have worn them a lot around the sands of San Diego.  I decided to purchase two pair, different colors.  In May/2020 I place my order through their website PearlYo.com and paid via PayPal. 

On Aug 5, 2020 I received one pair (must have taken the slow boat):  I opened the poorly wrapped package and discovered the wrong shoe.  A close inspection of the QR code showed the correct order, size and SKU number for the shoe I had ordered.  I went to the PearlYo website and confirmed a photo and order page for the shoe I had ordered.  My order sheet on the website showed the correct SKU number, etc.  I also found the shoe that they sent me ($17 cheaper).  

I received an email from PearlYo the following day noting that I had received my black and red shoes and “please leave 5 stars on our Facebook page!” 

I immediately started an email “back-and-forth” with Pearlyo.  The upshot was, quote: “You should be happy to receive one of our most popular shoes.”  I was told that if I wanted to return the shoes, I would have to pay the shipping back to China!  Then another email told be to give the shoes to a friend who would love to have them, and they would give me 20% discount on a future pair.

Today, I received my second pair:  THE SAME wrong shoe!!!  And a request for 5 stars.

I can picture this 40-foot shipping container arriving at the Port of San Francisco loaded with shoes.  Some poorly paid guy grabs a pair and throws it into a plastic bag, he grabs the label and prints out a QR code with the original order and throws it in the mail.   They have my money; they don’t care about the customer service and they won’t correct their mistake.   

I am urging you to be careful where you buy.  I’ve learned an expensive lesson:  Buyer beware!  Remember the name PearlYo… don’t buy from them!  “O” stars!

(Yes, I am trying to get my money from PayPal.)  

 

#fraud #china #pearlyo #scam #dropshipping #fraudulent  #theft  #stealing