Swapper Complaints Thread (aka: BAD swaps!)

[yossarian]

Hi all, I'd appreciate some second opinions here. I recently bought an item off the swap board that was listed as 90% full. Her asking price was a little high, and another curly was selling the same product (albeit ~80%) for quite a bit less, but I had already communicated with her about it so I decided to work out a deal rather than start over with someone else. I even paid as a gift to save her the fee, as a gesture of goodwill for lowering her price.

The item shipped Monday and arrived today, so no problems there. However, when I took the bottle out of the package, I was immediately struck by how much less appeared to be in the bottle than what was promised. I took pictures to document what I had received, and measured the height of the product level so I could gauge how full it actually is. Donna Marie fills their bottles to the 6 1/2 inch mark, but the height of the product here was 4 1/4 inches.

I sent her a PM politely expressing my concerns, gently letting her know that underestimating the amount you're selling can leave people feeling cheated. She responded that nobody has ever complained before, and she always asks a number of people (roommate etc.) to "guesstimate" how much is in the bottle before listing, and she's sorry I'm not happy but hoped it works well for my hair.

So I'm asking my fellow NCers to judge whether the item is 90% full. Honest answers, please - I really want to know if I am being unreasonable (or have a poor sense of perception ).

Thanks for taking the time to read & respond.

[curlyberry]

Uuuh that's gotta be 75%.

[ggard85]

Originally Posted by yossarian

Hi all, I'd appreciate some second opinions here. I recently bought an item off the swap board that was listed as 90% full. Her asking price was a little high, and another curly was selling the same product (albeit ~80%) for quite a bit less, but I had already communicated with her about it so I decided to work out a deal rather than start over with someone else. I even paid as a gift to save her the fee, as a gesture of goodwill for lowering her price.

The item shipped Monday and arrived today, so no problems there. However, when I took the bottle out of the package, I was immediately struck by how much less appeared to be in the bottle than what was promised. I took pictures to document what I had received, and measured the height of the product level so I could gauge how full it actually is. Donna Marie fills their bottles to the 6 1/2 inch mark, but the height of the product here was 4 1/4 inches.

I sent her a PM politely expressing my concerns, gently letting her know that underestimating the amount you're selling can leave people feeling cheated. She responded that nobody has ever complained before, and she always asks a number of people (roommate etc.) to "guesstimate" how much is in the bottle before listing, and she's sorry I'm not happy but hoped it works well for my hair.

So I'm asking my fellow NCers to judge whether the item is 90% full. Honest answers, please - I really want to know if I am being unreasonable (or have a poor sense of perception ).

Thanks for taking the time to read & respond.

75% at the MOST.


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[asugirl]

I would say 70%.

[juanab]

70%-75%.

[CurlyMJ]

Originally Posted by juanab

70%-75%.

This!

[puppitypup]

70% full for sure... Not 90

[SpiralSpunk]

Yeah I was gonna say around 70-75% at most.

90% to me means like only been used once.

[murrrcat]

Originally Posted by SpiralSpunk

Yeah I was gonna say around 70-75% at most.

90% to me means like only been used once.

70%....t


I would say 90% if It was used once also, or twice.

[kathymack]

Some manufacturers don't fill to near the top of the bottle. That being said, it looks like a Donna Marie label--and she does fill it up pretty high.

Never pay for products as a gift. Now, you have no recourse on PayPal for dispute. Have to hope for sellers "good will."

[yossarian]

Muchas gracias for the feedback and insights.

I recognize that I took a risk in paying as a gift, and kathymack is correct to point out that I'm SOL as a result. In this case, since I did receive my product (most of it, anyway) and it arrived quickly, I would not have disputed the transaction anyway.

In general, however, it's better to be cautious. I have a lot of faith in human nature, which often manifests as naivete.

For the record, I don't think the seller deliberately shortchanged me. I believe it was an honest mistake, which could have been handled better but c'est la vie. In the future, I will ask for pics if they're not already in the listing, thereby eliminating any uncertainty. Likewise, I will include pics in my own listing, to ensure that I don't make the same error in judgment.

[DTurner32]

I purchased DMDCC here on 11-16-2012 smooth transaction, good communication, super fast shipping. Well I got the product opened and was like hmmm it looks different and smells different. I checked it against the tiny bit I had left. I figured well let me give her the benefit of the doubt...maybe they changed the formula. This past week I purchased DMDCC from Sage Naturalceuticals. So when I received it I compared it to the product I received in the swap. Conclusion: I dont know what is in this jar but it aint DMDCC (Donna Marie Dream Curling Creme). I filed a dispute through paypal. Wish me luck ladies. I havent had any swapping problems here...I hope this is the only one.

[yossarian]

Originally Posted by DTurner32

I purchased DMDCC here on 11-16-2012 smooth transaction, good communication, super fast shipping. Well I got the product opened and was like hmmm it looks different and smells different. I checked it against the tiny bit I had left. I figured well let me give her the benefit of the doubt...maybe they changed the formula. This past week I purchased DMDCC from Sage Naturalceuticals. So when I received it I compared it to the product I received in the swap. Conclusion: I dont know what is in this jar but it aint DMDCC (Donna Marie Dream Curling Creme). I filed a dispute through paypal. Wish me luck ladies. I havent had any swapping problems here...I hope this is the only one.

More proof of kathymack's wisdom: had you paid as a gift, you would not be able to file a claim.

What happened to you is a particularly nasty problem, because it's almost impossible to prove what the contents are (or are NOT, as in this case). This is not as unusual as you might think: there was a discussion about this very issue at CurlyNikki. A number of people purchased items off of the CN board that turned out to contain something other than the advertised product. Worse yet, this can also happen in stores that accept returns, when unscrupulous customers buy an expensive product, empty the contents into another container, refill it with something much cheaper that looks similar and bring it back to the store for a refund. Many stores will place it back on the regular shelves, while others will discount it since it's been returned.

This definitely makes me think twice about buying a product that I've never used before off the board. If you weren't familiar with the DMDCC, and had a standard of comparison, you probably wouldn't have known that it was fake.

I'm crossing my fingers for a successful outcome for you, DTurner32. In my experience, Paypal has always provided excellent customer service, and I hope they do the same in this case.

[DTurner32]

Thanks yossarian! She did refund.my money and left me a note to say she received it from the swap but in a not so nice manner. She changed her name here so I cant find her on the board (before my dispute). Lesson learned.

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[curvesncurls]

Originally Posted by DTurner32

Thanks yossarian! She did refund.my money and left me a note to say she received it from the swap but in a not so nice manner. She changed her name here so I cant find her on the board (before my dispute). Lesson learned.

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If a username is changed does the person show as a new member (i.e. new join date and posts)? I normally don't hesitate to swap with newcomers but if this person recently changed to a new name I might temporarily reconsider how I go about that....

[DTurner32]

It showed as anonymous user ...i never checked how long she was here

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[sKorpio1190]

Originally Posted by yossarian

Hi all, I'd appreciate some second opinions here. I recently bought an item off the swap board that was listed as 90% full. Her asking price was a little high, and another curly was selling the same product (albeit ~80%) for quite a bit less, but I had already communicated with her about it so I decided to work out a deal rather than start over with someone else. I even paid as a gift to save her the fee, as a gesture of goodwill for lowering her price.

The item shipped Monday and arrived today, so no problems there. However, when I took the bottle out of the package, I was immediately struck by how much less appeared to be in the bottle than what was promised. I took pictures to document what I had received, and measured the height of the product level so I could gauge how full it actually is. Donna Marie fills their bottles to the 6 1/2 inch mark, but the height of the product here was 4 1/4 inches.

I sent her a PM politely expressing my concerns, gently letting her know that underestimating the amount you're selling can leave people feeling cheated. She responded that nobody has ever complained before, and she always asks a number of people (roommate etc.) to "guesstimate" how much is in the bottle before listing, and she's sorry I'm not happy but hoped it works well for my hair.

So I'm asking my fellow NCers to judge whether the item is 90% full. Honest answers, please - I really want to know if I am being unreasonable (or have a poor sense of perception ).

Thanks for taking the time to read & respond.

Well I hope they're not in school for accounting because that is clearly NOT 90% and I would definitely have voiced my opinion

[SKEETER]

Ironically, I've had two bad swaps in a row for the SAME product (Darcy's Pumpkin Seed Conditioner) with two different swappers, so I have to call them out! This last one being the worst. I bought this from strawberryhoney who claimed in the ad that it's 85% (see pic). I got it today and it clearly is not that much, the product doesn't even come above the label. I politely asked her how to resolve this and she snapped saying she has integrity, she doesn't have to lie for $10, she's in the military, called me blind and a cheap bird, etc. THEN she had the nerve to insist that it's actually 90%?!?!?! The first time I bought a brand new bottle of this it was filled almost to the top. I asked for a partial refund ($2) but she demanded the item back while hurling insults at me. Of course I saved the PMs. People, please let me know who's in the wrong here. By the way, she added the pic to her ad days AFTER it was paid for and shipped!

[SKEETER]

Originally Posted by sKorpio1190

Well I hope they're not in school for accounting because that is clearly NOT 90% and I would definitely have voiced my opinion

Well, you'll have a good laugh when you see my pic above...and she continues to point out to me via PM that she's in the military?! *smh*

[yossarian]

Originally Posted by SKEETER

Ironically, I've had two bad swaps in a row for the SAME product (Darcy's Pumpkin Seed Conditioner) with two different swappers, so I have to call them out! This last one being the worst. I bought this from strawberryhoney who claimed in the ad that it's 85% (see pic). I got it today and it clearly is not that much, the product doesn't even come above the label. I politely asked her how to resolve this and she snapped saying she has integrity, she doesn't have to lie for $10, she's in the military, called me blind and a cheap bird, etc. THEN she had the nerve to insist that it's actually 90%?!?!?! The first time I bought a brand new bottle of this it was filled almost to the top. I asked for a partial refund ($2) but she demanded the item back while hurling insults at me. Of course I saved the PMs. People, please let me know who's in the wrong here. By the way, she added the pic to her ad days AFTER it was paid for and shipped!

Skeeter, I feel your pain - I went through this too But it only happened to me the one time, so I can only imagine how frustrated you must feel.

No, that's definitely not 85%. IMHO that's about 65%.

But don't be disillusioned. I've bought & swapped for a lot of products here (including the Darcy's pumpkin condish) and have had great experiences.