I thought something might be wrong when I didn't get my order 2 weeks or so after placing it on March 22, 2010. I emailed her asking what was going on (very nicely, I might add- we were "friends" on Twitter) and got a prompt, super apologetic response about her being sick and she told me my order was going out that day or the next... except it never went out. 2 more weeks passed, and nothing. At this point, it's been a month and the 45-day Paypal window to file a claim for non-receipt is quickly drawing near. So I opened a Paypal dispute, because in past experiences with non-shipping sellers, this has gotten them to either send me my crap, or refund my money. Then, I went to Google to do some research. Lo and behold, there were others who shared my story- I realized it WASN'T just me, and that this woman had (seemingly)taken us all for fools.
Heather at Eyeconic Makeup also had pretty much the same experience as me, only she laid hers out in a nicely organized timeline on her blog. I only WISH I could be that organized!! In the comments on that blog entry, you'll find others who've had pretty much the same experience as I did with Metamorphosis Cosmetics (I also made sure to leave my story there). I felt both relieved and angry when I found that blog post, because it meant I wasn't the only one Julia had failed to deliver an order to, but sadly, it also meant that I wasn't the only one Julia had failed to deliver an order to.
I don't have an awesome timeline like Heather does, but I do have the text from my open Paypal case. I escalated it to a "Claim" on 5/4...Here's what's been said in the Paypal dispute so far (you'll have to start at the bottom and read your way up):
- 5/4/2010 06:03 PDT - PayPal: Buyer escalated this dispute to a Claim.
- 5/4/2010 06:03 PDT - Buyer: The seller provided me with a USPS tracking number, 2308 3250 0000 2510 5671, which shows a package delivered to WASHINGTON (where the seller lives, incidentally). I live in CONNECTICUT. I have absolutely no reason to believe that the order I placed and paid for was sent and I'd like to escalate this to a claim. It's been well over a month now since i placed my order. A quick Google search shows that this is not the first time she's scammed buyers: http://eyeconicmakeup.blogspot.com/2010/05/my-dealings-with-metamorphosis.html PLEASE, Paypal, shut this "seller" down before she rips off any more consumers.
- 5/2/2010 07:44 PDT - Seller: Hello Becca, I am sorry that the post office is being such a pain at the moment, we have seen this happen where there is no tracking information until the item is actually delivered. If you truly want a refund then please mark the package return to sender and we will initiate a refund once we get the package back.
- 5/2/2010 07:38 PDT - Buyer: I still have not received any package, and when entering the tracking number into the USPS website I get the following message: Label/Receipt Number: 2308 3250 0000 2510 5671 There is no record of this item. If I can just get my money back I'll be a happy camper. I don't want the product anymore and have grown tired of dealing with this. We all have better things to do.
- 4/23/2010 07:29 PDT - Seller: Hi Becca, I am Julia's boyfriend and I am trying to help her get the shipping issues resolved. We have your package ready to go out in todays mail. You will be able to track it with the following number at USPS: 23083250000025105671 I hope this will resolve this matter to your satisfaction. Have a lovely day.
- 4/22/2010 14:04 PDT - Buyer: I REALLY hate to do this, but seeing as emailing you hasn't gotten my tiny little order shipped, and it's been over a month since I ordered, I'd really just like my money back at this point. I'll shop elsewhere.
FUN FACT
FUN FACT about my Paypal Dispute- the day I filed it, Julia took a break form her Twitter hiatus to tweet "If you have ordered from me and have not gotten your order, I'm sorry. Please don't start a paypal dispute, I've been sick and will work..." She hasn't been back since. I hope that nobody who saw that actually listened to her pleas; she's just trying to push you to wait until the 45 day Paypal time limit for filing non-receipt claims has come and gone.
I'm all for supporting the little guys. I'm all for buying from new sellers. I'm all about buying way more makeup than I'll ever wear. I won't let Julia sour me on any of that. But I will be wary from now on of buying from sellers who tweet about how their utilities are about to be shut off, and who have "donate now" buttons in their webstores. I think I'll steer clear from them from now on :) Thanks for reading my rant, guys! <3 Here, haz a kitteh:
UPDATE: Talk about timing!! Guess what I got in the mail today? An envelope from Metamorphosis Cosmetics, much to my surprise. It was sent out on May 3rd, the day after I complained again to Paypal but the day before I escalated the dispute to a claim (it was STILL weeks after Julia's boyfriend told me on Paypal that he was taking care of things for her and my package would be shipped immediately- see above). Anyway, the envelope is sitting on my countertop, unopened. I'm debating whether or not to risk sending it back for a refund- not feeling too confident I'll actually get my money back. I just know I won't be able to use these products and be happy about it... anyone want them?
I've edited this post to reflect changes to certain bits of information- the tracking number that magically changed delivery locations, and I took out a lot of the "scammer" stuff- seeing as I did get my package I guess it's not fair for ME to call her a scammer. If you haven't gotten your stuff though, it's still okay for you to do so.
ADDITIONALLY: If you're only here to start shit, don't bother, I'll be deleting any more RUDE comments, thanks. This post has been backdated so new visitors to this blog don't have to be subjected to this drama the instant their page loads.
seeing that you blocked my twitter. Please return the package unopened if you want a refund. You and your slander and nastiness have caused me to set up a minimum order requirement, put up a 6 to 8 week processing time notice this week and in a good way, set up back up systems to handle things if I become ill again. This whole thing, on my end, was handled via email and paypal and was handled as fast as I could from the date of your dispute. That you took this here makes me sad. The package you do not want contains your order, extra samples and a full size product as an apology for the lateness.
ReplyDeleteHow dumb are you?
ReplyDeleteQuote
5/4/2010 06:03 PDT - Buyer: The seller provided me with a USPS tracking number, 2308 3250 0000 2510 5671, which shows a package delivered to WASHINGTON (where the seller lives, incidentally). I live in CONNECTICUT.
End Quote
I have dealt with USPS priority mail dozens of times. The tracking didn't show "Delivered to Washington" It showed that the Seller had dropped the package off at a Post Office in Washington. USPS Tracking is not like UPS tracking. They don't show you all the in between steps. Especially since this was a package going cross country.
Learn how tracking works before you claim someone is ripping you off. Three days to get from Washington to Connecticut isn't that bad.
I am so sorry that you have had a run in with such underhanded people. There are alot of people in this world that try and take advantage of others. I know it must be hard to get rid of them and hopefully paypal and etsy have a good system for ridding themselves of fraudulent people. When I first started my esty shop my first sale didn't go over to good as to the buyer hadn't recieved his package. When he contacted me by e-mail I noticed that his physical address was different than the one I had mailed his purchase to. I did not confirm his address and come to find out he had moved and had not changed that in his paypal account. It took a couple of weeks to trace the package down and he finally recieved it. I was so worried about my reputation but everything worked out at the end.
ReplyDeleteWear what you bought proudly that she could not pull the wool over your eyes. Wear it as a sign of Victory.
Velma M.
Wow, the first two comments here are REALLY rude. You're not being nasty, nor is this slander. I'm extremely disappointed in Julia, and it's safe to say I will NEVER be ordering from her if this is how she acts. She should have put up the processing notice in the first place, or y'know CLOSED DOWN SHOP. Continuing to take peoples' money if you cant fulfill your end of the bargain is just rude.
ReplyDelete@GambKind: the USPS website showed that number as "DELIVERED TO ABERDEEN WASHINGTON" as of 3 days ago. I, too, deal with the USPS and tracking numbers on a daily basis and I know how they operate- I don't need an explanation. I know what I saw- I didn't screencap it, I didn't feel it was necessary. At that point I was not expecting to receive a package, as it hadn't shown up weeks after I was promised it was shipped (yet again) and the only tracking number I had been sent showed a package that had been delivered elsewhere. I'm not sure why it's been changed now- it showed "delivered to Washington" as late as yesterday.
ReplyDeleteAnd you're right- 3 days to get across the country isn't bad- BUT 6.5 WEEKS IS INEXCUSABLE. Not unless that was agreed to ahead of time, or the customers were notified by email that something had come up( neither of which happened). Did you not see the part about how I placed this order on March 22? Not to mention the lies I was told about when this package was supposedly shipping... I do have those emails saved. Don't come here again talking shit and calling names, especially when you aren't even involved (or are you just some silly sockpuppet? Wait, I don't care).
@Julia: I wish you luck with the business revamp- I won't be back, no worries there. I do have to wonder why you're now offering to refund my money; when I asked for it back, what was it, 3 or 4 weeks ago? ...you wouldn't send it. You promised my package had been sent already (it hadn't). Why not just refund my payment then, instead of opening yourself up to this kind of criticism? I asked you multiple times to just send the money back, and told you I no longer wanted the order, LONG BEFORE you actually packed it or shipped it.
It's NOT slander- to the best of my knowledge, we've all been nothing but truthful about these stupidly similar situations we're all involved in with you. None of us are posting this stuff because we are mean bitches out to bring you down- we're doing it because you failed to live up to your end of the bargain, so it's a way to warn others of our own personal experiences with you and your company.
It's really sad because I ordered a few samples with the intention of swatching them, posting the pics, and getting you some more customers. I wanted to help you grow your business, because I know how hard it can be to get going when you're just starting out. Now, I can't in good conscience recommend your product to anyone. Shame on me for trying to help you though, right?
I really hope your new policies serve any future customers you may have better than your previous ones did for the rest of us. I don't think a minimum order is a wise move, seeing as you're still super new, but whatever- it's not my problem. And neither are you.
Wow, the reply from Julia actually confirmed me not to ever make an order from Metamorphosis. It's not slander to share your observations with adequate proof but it's crappy business attitude to deal with your customers like this. If you aren't ready to ship the products you've asked payment for, don't offer any products for sale. Personal reasons are personal reason, I get that but if you're constantly unable to keep your end of the bargain, consider closing shop until you're well enough to continue business.
ReplyDeleteI don't see how my original comment came off as Rude, you obviously misread the tracking as anyone that has dealt with USPS tracking before could tell. It probably said "Accepted at Washington" which is exactly what it says now. The USPS doesn't go back into tracking and change it around. No surprise that the date on this was changed since you were obviously wrong.
ReplyDeleteYou dont see how it was rude? Because saying 'How dumb are you?' is totally polite and all. :|
ReplyDeleteThere, there, let's go easy on him/her... GambKind obviously has a problem with these little things we call "reading comprehension" and "people skills".
ReplyDeleteI already stated what I saw on the USPS site- it has changed since the first time I tracked it, yes, this a fact I am not denying. But I also stand by what I said I saw the first (and second and third) time I went to look- I didn't misread it and I didn't make this shit up- why would I? Regardless- the fact remains that "Julia's Boyfriend" told me on 4/23 that my package was going in the mail THAT DAY, and then it didn't get mailed until 5/3. Additionally, Julia had previously promised me in email that this package was going out "either monday or tuesday", and this was on 4/9. So, putting this USPS tracking number number weirdness aside, this couple is STILL a pair of liars.
I also already stated why I moved this post. I thought I did so in a clear manner, but let's try again. If I were embarrassed by the way the change to the USPS tracking number information makes me look, I would have DELETED THIS POST. But it's still up, because I'm not embarrassed by it. I don't want visitors coming here to read about my jewelry shop or my recent GOOD online purchases to have to see this garbage drama over some crappy makeup *looks at GambKind's overly defensive and offensive dribble*.
Maybe someone can explain all of this in (very) small words to GambKind? I don't have the time or the patience for it. Thanks! :)
The whole "donate now" part probably would have scared me off.
ReplyDeleteCute kitteh with his geetar! :D
Hi there. Not surprised about your experience with Julia. Could you please send me the physical mailing address that was used for Metamorphosis Cosmetics aka Julia Williams?
ReplyDeleteLong story short: I have a lawyer threatening to sue her by sending notice to my address in MO, and I'd like to provide them a correct address for her so that mine is taken off their information. (She was a person my ex-husband moved into my house over 2 years ago, who moved out to move in with her boyfriend in CA, then on to WA.)