What looked like a bargain from an American retailer became a costly reminder for one shopper to be wary of potentially misleading social media ads.
Only after completing the purchase did a shipping notice reveal that the item was coming from China and might take four to six weeks to arrive, the shopper told WCPO.
Here's what to know
After responding to an online ad, consumer Gerry Broerman assumed the seller was based in the United States.
"I'll get an email that tells me that it's shipped, and that it will take 4 to 6 weeks to get here because it was coming from China. And I didn't know I was ordering from China. I thought I was ordering from somewhere in the U.S.," she explained.
According to WCPO, e-commerce watchdog MousePrint.org pointed to a website called Harper and Wells Boston, which promotes steeply discounted fashion items and uses images suggesting an upscale storefront with the Boston skyline behind it.
However, there is no evidence the company actually runs a store in Boston. The address listed on the site appears to point to an old apartment building rather than a retail shop.
TCD Picks » Quince Spotlight
💡These best-sellers from Quince deliver affordable, sustainable luxury for all
MousePrint also questioned the site's "30-day Money Back Guarantee."
In the fine print — the "mouse print" that gave the organization its name — the seller noted that returns to China can cost $30 or more, which might cancel out savings on a well-priced deal.
More background
A Boston-themed brand name, polished storefront photos, and deep discounts can make it seem like a shopper is buying from a familiar American retailer.
In Broerman's case, the biggest surprise was not just the long shipping window but also that the seller's true location was not made clear upfront.
Even when a site advertises refunds, shoppers can still come out behind.
On a $25 sweater, for example, paying more than $30 for international return shipping leaves the guarantee with little practical value.
What can be done?
One sign the Better Business Bureau says to watch is the delivery estimate.
If shipping is measured in weeks instead of days, that can indicate the product is coming from another country.
The BBB also recommends looking beyond testimonials on a seller's own website and checking reviews from several independent sources. That can give shoppers a better idea of whether orders arrived as promised and how the business handled complaints.
Shoppers can also search the Better Business Bureau website to review ratings, complaints, and customer experiences.
Doing that before paying can help verify whether a retailer is legitimate.
Where can I learn more?
Similar complaints have surfaced across online shopping platforms and fashion brands. These stories look at surprise sourcing, counterfeit goods, and quality problems that caught shoppers off guard.
• On Depop, shoppers found clothing sold at huge markups that were sourced cheaply elsewhere.
• Online buyers blasted a seller after a ridiculous AI-generated sweater arrived looking nothing like advertised.
• Amazon shoppers warn that counterfeit and mislabeled products can slip into everyday orders.
Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
