Beware of "Hand Stamped Pendants.com"

[jenlad]

"Handstampedpendants.com" has had several group buys on various sites. I purchased a voucher in February with delivery stated to be 2-3 weeks. 10 weeks later I had heard nothing from the company. After weeks of trying to get some sort of response, I got an email from the company telling me to get a refund because they would not be filling my order. What!?!!
BEWARE!!!! Stay away from this company!

[jenlad]

Anyone else getted sucked into this deal? It's another scam, but on a much smaller scale because it appeals to a lot fewer people.
I received an emailed from Open&Save saying they've already paid Handstampedpendants and would look into why the voucher isn't being honored. I know this company also ran a buy on Groupon so I'm wondering if anyone else is getting the run around....

[jenlad]

Just as a follow-up, Open&Save daily deals (they are the same company that distributes an envelope full of flyers to your home) has gone under. They won't refund and now haven't replied to my last 5 or so emails.
Handstampedpendants refuses to fill the order, and won't refund either.
But, it looks like I was alone on this one... Lesson learned :)

[mboi978]

I ordered in April and still haven't gotten it. We had it here in Vancouver under Dealfind. Did you eventually get anything? I think it's a scam...she doesn't even have an address or phone number!

[BaxterP]

One of the worst businesses I have ever dealt with. She took 6 months to process 2 orders, but never ended up making the orders and just cancelled them without notice. No appology or explanation. I had also cancelled an order that was taking far too long for her to make (so much for her 4-6 week turn around), she confirmed the cancellation and said she refunded the money...but in fact she has stolen my money and never given me the merchandise or a refund and refuses to see anything wrong or reply to me anymore!. No address or phone number to contact her. Deal find in investigating the 2 orders that she cancelled as they involved the vouchers I bought and of course she doesn't refund the voucher! and surprise surprise she is not returning their e-mails either! buyer be very very aware...there are way better businesses out there that deserve your money and that stand by their ethics and that are not thiefs!

[mom3girls56]

I am the owner of 'Handstamped Pendants'

I have done several deal sites in the past year to bring in traffic (its cheaper than google!) and received a total of 3,000 orders since January to be exact.

My original processing and shipping time WAS initally 2-3 weeks, however I was unaware of how POPULAR my items would be so when hundreds of orders came in - obvisouly I would need much more time to complete.

I have found some deal sites better than others...

When a retailer participates with a deal site - they typically get 50% of the price paid by the buyer - so on a $14 for $30 deal, the seller/vendor (me) will recieve roughly $7 per order. A loss leader.

NOw some deal sites will charge HST and credit card fees on top of that. so when you do the math you will see that there is NO PROFIT - and most times a LOSS. I must really love what I do to offer my items with no charge for the time and labour that goes into them !

Now the real problem is when the deal doesnt pay the seller/vendor for a deal that is already deeply discounted - that can be a HUGE LOSS.

I never got paid from openandsave.com - they promised me 3x that the check was in the mail. eventually, after waiting over 2 months I had to cancel the orders from that deal site because I didnt have the money to fulfill those orders - because I WAS NEVER PAID. However I did refund buyers from openandsave.com any MONEY they paid ON MY WEBSITE. I couldnt refund the voucher price you paid on openandsave.com - because I never received any funds from them!

There was a 2nd deal site that I partipated in that only paid me a portion of the sales, and after 4 months - I cancelled / refunded orders to cover the $400 they owed me, and never paid me.


I get hundred of emails per week. I have to answer each one personally. the more time I spend on email - the less time I have to make and process orders. earlier this year I was getting 250 orders per week - that is going to take time to make each item by scratch !


If I miss an email, i do apologize. feel free to send another email - or call my cell 705-321-4467

Im sorry you had difficulties with certain deal sites - as did I.

http://handstampedpendants.wordpress.com
All my Best,
Liz

[mom3girls56]

i operate my business from home - for the protection of my three children I choose not to post my address.

earlier in the year I had 2 men show up at my house to pick up an order that I hadnt even started yet, they NEVER told me they were coming to my house, cause i wouldve told them I dont allow pick-ups!

Sort of creepy.

I do work odd hours so am not always able to deal with customers by phone. BUT Here is my PHONE NUMBER 705-321-4467 feel free to call anytime!

I also do have LIVE CHAT on my website.



thanks for understanding.
LIZ

[Canuck_2005]

I am the owner of Handstamped Pendants.

I have done several deal sites in the past year and received 3,000 order to be exact.

I have found some deal sites better than others...

When a retailer participates with a deal site - they typically get 50% of the price paid by the buyer - so on a $14 for $30 deal, the seller (me) will recieve roughly $7 per order.
some deal sites will charge Hst on top of that. so when you do the math you will see that there is NO profit.

Now when the deal doesnt pay the seller for a deal that is already deeply discounted - that can be a huge loss.

I never got paid from openandsave.com - they promised me 3x that the check was in the mail. eventually, after waiting over 2 months I had to cancel the orders from that deal site because I didnt have the money to fulfill those orders - because I was never paid. yes, those openandsave.com buyers were infact refunded any portion paid on MYwebsite. I couldnt refund the portion you paid on openandsave.com - because I never received any funds from them!

There was also another deal site that I partipated in that only paid me a portion of the sales, and 6 months later I still wait for funds...

I get hundred of emails per week. I have to answer each one personally. the more time I spend on email - the less time I have to make and process orders. earlier this year I was getting 250 orders per week - that is going to take time to make each item by scratch ! I also offer Expedited Shipping and Rush processing as well.

If I miss an email, i do apologize.

Im sorry you had difficulties

I assure you I am not a thief, but am dependant on the actions of the deal sites that I participate in.

Best,
Liz


Here is a suggestion, either hire more people to grow your buisness and keep current with your orders or stop participating in group deals and accepting new orders until you clear the back log. The "RFD" effect is going to destroy your buisness since this post is now #2 on google search.

"I get hundred of emails per week. I have to answer each one personally. the more time I spend on email - the less time I have to make and process orders"

If I was a potential customer and read this I would run in the other direction!

It looks like they may be rebranding to " Rustic Metal Creations "

[mom3girls56]

That is not what I meant. You are twisting my words to make me look bad.

I answer emails every morning, except weekends.. every email I respond to usually requires a response back in return - thus by evening, some nights I have DOUBLE the emails that i started with, then some wonder why it takes longer to respond.. lots of emails. the part YOU left out was the part that said - if 250 orders come in, and I have to spend Hours answering emails - what do you think would occur? YES A BACKLOG!

I had a part-time assistant during the summer, but she was not well versed with email, and actually required more training, more than I had the time or money to invest in. so i had to let her go.

I have dealt with a couple of really reputable sites - some are just awful, unfortunately I lend my name to these sites, and then I look like the bad guy/girl.

I do love what I do and I love to create. In exchange for these deals - i offer my jewelry at next to nothing - I offer my time and labour at NO CHARGE.

I am gratefully for my wonderful customers who come back and order more - they keep me going... and I look forward to creating many more custom pieces.

Best,
Liz oxox
liz@rusticmetalcreations.com

[TinyTank]

If these smaller sites are taking 50% why would would you not go with the bigger players - groupon, wagjag, livingsocial etc?

[mom3girls56]

the big sites are the ones taking 50% off the price YOU pay for the voucher - and some are also charging credit card fees and HST on top of it all.

I must really love what I do to offer my items with no charge for the time and labour that goes into them !



Best,
Liz

[JAC]

Eventually people are going to figure out that these group deals are a huge scam, to both customers AND vendors. I wish RFD would URL-block them all.

[Canuck_2005]

That is not what I meant. You are twisting my words to make me look bad.

I answer emails every morning, except weekends.. every email I respond to usually requires a response back in return - thus by evening, some nights I have DOUBLE the emails that i started with, then some wonder why it takes longer to respond.. lots of emails. the part YOU left out was the part that said - if 250 orders come in, and I have to spend Hours answering emails - what do you think would occur? YES A BACKLOG!

I had a part-time assistant during the summer, but she was not well versed with email, and actually required more training, more than I had the time or money to invest in. so i had to let her go.

I have dealt with a couple of really reputable sites - some are just awful, unfortunately I lend my name to these sites, and then I look like the bad guy/girl.

I do love what I do and I love to create. In exchange for these deals - i offer my jewelry at next to nothing - I offer my time and labour at NO CHARGE.

I am gratefully for my wonderful customers who come back and order more - they keep me going... and I look forward to creating many more custom pieces.

Best,
Liz oxox
liz@handstampedpendants.com

No one is twisting your words to make you look bad

Liz, what you should do is appologize for the late orders, send all the complaintants private PM's with the appology and send them out their orders asap wether it is on your dime or not. Then post a message on this forum when all their orders are sent out

These types of online issues will take on a life of its own. You can turn it around but you have to do it soon. People can appreciate an honest mistake or even issue but what they dont want to hear is excuses, they want to know how you will make it better.

Your the buisness owner, you agreed to the terms of the deal sites, it is not the customers fault.

[mom3girls56]

I am not making excuses. If people are making comments, I am going to tell my side of the story. I am simply stating the facts.

The original poster WAS refunded back in July and I have ALREADY apologied to her several months ago- she told me in an email that she was going to make it hard for me...

Im not sure who the 2nd poster is, the 3rd poster im sure I know who that is, and they were also refunded a month ago.

In a previous post you were implying that I am not shipping, that I am not complying, or stiffing buyers..

im simply saying I got alot of orders and I am filling them. the only error was UNDERESTIMATING the processing time and for that I apologize.

I do rely on return customers and referrals, which thankfully has been occurring. I also get alot of orders/sale for my ready2ship items.


I DO work with my customers, and every situation is different. I have posted my cell phone number and email address. If you have an issue you should contact me, and I will explain or offer a solution - AS I ALWAYS DO!


I will not be posting anymore, as I have orders to fill and emails to answer.

I will however leave you with this,

http://handstampedpendants.wordpress.com



Thank you

Liz

[weedb0y]

Unprofessional and it shows.

[mom3girls56]

thank you

[mom3girls56]

thank you

[Canuck_2005]

If im unprofessional - then buyers are getting spoiled rotten with daily deals, and now expect everything under the moon for next to nothing and then beat the merchant with a bat. A fault of daily deal sites? or the merchant? maybe both .. a new trend in consumer shopping? deal site price matching?

I would hate to see how you crucify merchants with big ticket items!!! ..Kind of starting to feel like a reunion special with The Real Housewives of Orange County.. shown on Bravo / Slice TV. Those ladies are really vicious.

If it doesnt work for you then why still participate in them? I can understand doing this once or twice as a loss leader to get your brand out there but if your not making any money why continue using them? its like the old saying "Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice shame on me"

[mom3girls56]

Most of you are not aware how deal sites operate, nor have you any idea how much time and work goes into creating HANDMADE PERSONALIZED Jewelry. I'm not going to entertain your comments anymore, if you have an issue - then contact me.

Note: Update; Dec 2012 - I got an email from Teambuy apologizing for this mess. remember they allowed 865 vouchers to be sold (A tad too late if you ask me!)


this thread should be called "OPENANDSAVE.COM went under and DID NOT pay merchants or reimburse buyers !"

If you have any further comments or have an issue with me or my business, i welcome your emails.

http://handstampedpendants.wordpress.com/

[MrsPotato]

Dear Liz,

You're behind in paid orders, yet you're doing a giveaway?

Really?