Yesterday this article
Beware the online discount wedding dresses: Angry brides share knock-off nightmares after buying gowns that looked stunning online but are HIDEOUS in real life
came us on my
Facebook news feed and it reminded me of a post I wrote some time ago. So, for those who didn't read it, I'm re posting ... forewarned is forearmed as they say.
It saddens me that Brides (and Grooms) get ripped off... especially on one of the most important days of their lives. Every now and again I have to post a reference to one of the worst cases of scamming I have ever come across... which I blogged about here. Kayleigh's was one of the first cases of scamming I had ever heard about.... but hers wasn't the last! I could fill my posts up with at least 1 a month and they are only the ones I hear about personally!
But... no matter how many warnings are posted on the Internet... still the scams pour in!
The Wedding Wire put out THIS POST about Chinese Knockoff - My actual DH Gate Trash the Dress Dress vs. what's advertised
Morilee have had to put up a HUGE list of fake websites offering to supply their dresses at a greatly reduced price! And I have to admit I was totally shocked by the crazy amount of fake websites... here....
And the problem doesn't end with Wedding Dresses.... even stationery can be a scam! I had a Bride come to me, who had not only been scammed with her dress... but her wedding stationery bought from 'Light In The Box' I wrote about Kayleighs horrendous experience HERE
Ollievision Photography have been having their own problems with a scammer that used their Photographs to promote his business. Their article
Ollievision Photography have been having their own problems with a scammer that used their Photographs to promote his business. Their article
Steve Jackson Photography – A statement from Ollievision regarding Steve Jackson’s unauthorised use of images taken from my portfolio tells the full horrific story.
And believe it or not... these are only the tip of the ice-berg!
Thanks to Social Media, we are now starting to see Facebook pages emerge warning Brides of what they can expect if they order from the Internet from unscrupulous companies.
There are hundreds (I'm not kidding either!)
of people who have been caught out
and left out of pocket.
Their only crime is to try and save a few quid at a very expensive time!
My advise to Brides on the whole is
DON'T BUY OFF THE INTERNET!
Or.... if you do... protect yourself as much as possible
and be prepared to throw away your hard earned cash
and have to buy the item again somewhere else.
I personally, can't believe how many young Brides (and some older ones too) will trust what they are seeing on Facebook and eBay and in fact, the Internet in general as being totally genuine.
FACEBOOK pages can be closed down and deleted at the click of a button!
EBAY - Many eBay sites nowadays state that the seller is from the UK... NOT TRUE! I myself bought a really large sheepskin rug from a company in London. It took 8 weeks to get here, it was unwashed, came from Morocco and was only large enough to cover my Springer Spaniel! (See even I get scammed!).
WEBSITES - No matter how professional and dapper the website looks... DO NOT TRUST what you see! Just because the URL states .co.uk or .com means nothing!
Truthfully... the safest way not to get scammed
IS TO BUY LOCAL! And buy from a company that has some history and feedback. Not just a company that has just started up, no matter how well intentioned they are... many companies fail within the first 2 years of trading! And if the company is local, make sure they have a valid business address on their website! And a land line telephone number... not some mobile number that can be switched off in a heartbeat!
BEFORE ordering ANYTHING off the internet
(and I mean ANYTHING!)
Check out the website
by going to SCAM ADVISOR .COM
and entering the websites URL!
Above all remember:
If it sounds TOO GOOD to be true,
it generally is!
And you'll be hard pushed to get your money back!
If you have been scammed... get in touch with your local
Trading Standards Office
Have you ever been scammed?
Leave a comment and warn others!
Have you ever been scammed?
Leave a comment and warn others!
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