Has The World Of “Influencing” Completely Jumped The Shark? (A Look At My Cherrybetty Purchases)
We’ve all seen it. The internet has been overtaken by “influencers” who are trying to sell us stuff in order to make a commission. Look. I get it. I often include links on my blog posts for items I’ve purchased, and they’re items that I’ll make a commission off of if someone makes a purchase through my link. And I always disclose when those links are affiliate links.
But I’m not an “influencer”. I’m a DIY and decorating blogger. Since I started my blog 17 years ago, I’ve never had a desire to be anything but a DIY and decorating blogger. Over the years, I’ve seen so many people who started out as bloggers like me, sharing their projects and their home renovations, and then they slowly made that transition to just hawking products in order to make a commission.
I’ll be honest. I find it hard to completely trust people who have made that transition to full-time influencer. And then there are thousands more who just jumped straight into the world of “influencing” without those prior years of at least trying to gain credibility and trust with their readers or social media followers. But I think the whole world of “influencing” has jumped the shark now. I think the temptation to make as much money as possible by hawking products has caused many people to leave their integrity behind for that almighty dollar.
I do understand that sometimes there’s just a different of opinion, or a difference of personal taste. I might genuinely like something, provide a link in my post to that product, and another person might buy it and not like it at all. That’s always a possibility. But I try my hardest to give my honest opinion and not recommend absolute junk just so that I can make a buck. It seems that with thousands of “influencers” out there now, that’s not the case at all.
About three months ago, I started seeing ads all over social media for a clothing company called Cherrybetty. Initially, I didn’t even consider purchasing anything from them even though the website was filled with pictures of really cute clothes at reasonable prices. Since I wasn’t familiar with the brand, I didn’t want to take a chance.
But then I started seeing more and more influencers talking about Cherrybetty and showing off their cute tops that they had purchased from that store. They would actually say the name “Cherrybetty” in the videos, so it didn’t appear that the videos were stolen. The clothes actually had labels in them that said “Cherrybetty”. And the clothes looked exactly like the pictures on the website.
So after seeing these ads for about two months, I decided to give it a try. I chose two tops that I thought would be cute to have during the holiday season. The first one I chose was this red plaid velvet top with the ruffled collar.
I know that colors can vary from what appears on the screen and what it looks like in reality, but I do expect companies to at least try to get it close to the real thing. The thing that I loved about that top in the first place was the dark red color. But here’s what I got.
Not only do I hate this red, but it’s so cheaply made. The red velvet has a white background, so anywhere that the velvet is folded, you can see the white background fabric underneath it. It looks work and old.
The ruffled collar isn’t as full as the picture, and when I put it on, the ruffled collar wants to stand open just like it is here on the hanger, so the serger seams are on full display.
But that one looks like a high end top compared to the other one I got. This is what I ordered, again thinking it would be cute for the holiday season…
And this is what I got.
It’s not even close to being the same print, and the whole thing is garbage from top to bottom. The ruffled collar shows the backside of the fabric. What the heck?
And this print is probably the ugliest thing I’ve ever seen. It does weird things to my eyes when I look at it. The print is very blurry and it makes me feel like my eyes won’t focus properly.
It’s probably the ugliest print I’ve ever seen, or close to it.
And it is so poorly made that I’d literally never wear this.
So what the heck is going on here? Why are there so many influencers, like this TikTok influencer whose whole account is nothing but her reviewing and hawking clothes and accessories, trying to sell Cherrybetty to us?
And these influencers hawking Cherrybetty are all over TikTok and Instagram. Why? How? It’s certainly not because it’s great clothing at a reasonable price. It’s garbage clothing that come straight from China and takes a month to get here. And then it looks nothing like the pictures on the website, and if you want to return it, you have to pay shipping.
I know that these days you really take a chance when you purchase products that are being advertised online from a company you’ve never heard of before. It’s like playing the slot machines. But I’d like to think that with so many influencers promoting this brand all over TikTok and Instagram, it would at least be decent quality. I just don’t understand all of these influencers promoting this brand when it’s clearly garbage. Is the company sending these influencers the good stuff and then sending the rest of us the garbage? Are the influencers getting the same garbage as the rest of us, but they’re somehow able to disguise that in their TikToks and Instagram reels? In their Tiktoks and Instagram reels, they’re not disclosing that the company has given them the clothing. They’re insinuating that they made the purchase just like the rest of us would have to. So how is it that they seem to get the piece as it’s pictured on the website, but I order two tops and get absolute garbage?
I don’t know what’s going on here anymore, but I do know that I don’t trust “influencers” anymore. And that’s starting to include the ones I’ve followed for years — the ones that started out as bloggers like me and then slowly transformed into almost full-time influencers. I think somewhere along the way, the money just becomes too much of a temptation. And as they start seeing those bigger and bigger paychecks each month from their “influencing” efforts, the integrity gets left behind somewhere along the way. And believe me, there’s a TON of money in it for those who have huge followings and do this full time.
Addicted 2 Decorating is where I share my DIY and decorating journey as I remodel and decorate the 1948 fixer upper that my husband, Matt, and I bought in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do physical work, so I do the majority of the work on the house by myself. You can learn more about me here.
OH, all these ads are becoming problems for me. A while back I bought something I saw through Google that I had been looking for. After weeks and weeks I had to put a claim in against the charge, and wait for a while before they did give me a credit. Then something I saw on Pinterest that looked so sweet I ordered. I should have know better because I had a bad experience from Pinterest before. For some reason my Credit Card payment didn’t work so I tried a different card…then another. It was totally a scam, and all three cards got hacked within hours…the real reason they didn’t work…the first bank blocked the payment because the company was a know scammer to them. Of course all cards had to be closed and new cards issued. Screwed up lots of auto payments, etc. Can’t trust Pinterest either…and there seems to be no way to notify them to remove these ads. More innocents will be hacked…some will never get their money back I’m sure. Those clothes are AWFUL, NOTHING like the ad. So sad that someone recommended them. The world is crazy…protect yourselves and watch like a hawk! PS) I have purchased some of your recommendations…everything was great…thank you.
Thank you. I have had a similar experience with the credit cards being hit several times. I just don’t trust the ads anymore.
Ditto 🙁
So glad you posted this. I don’t have the money to take a chance on any purchases from random sites. Thanks for the pictures. Sorry about the shirts, they would be great dust rags.
I’m not even sure about that!
I’m sorry that you had such a terrible experience. The pictures from the website look really cute. The tops you received are horrible! You have issues with symmetry, I have issues with plaids and stripes not being centered or matching at the seams. Guess that comes with years of sewing and being a clothing and textile design major. I hope the return shipping isn’t too expensive.
Yeah … I am always leery of any clothing I see on the internet. IF I am really interested I look at reviews and sometimes even the reviews sound fake. I like to be able to see, touch, and feel fabric and look at the workmanship first hand. I have ordered a few things online after a lot of research and have been lucky. But I have also ordered online from a large, respected store and gotten junk. At least it was easy to return. Nice blog, this was good to hear or at least a nice reminder.
Yes! I have completely become a “see it, touch it, feel it” buyer! Maybe that’s a good thing for “brick and mortar” stores 😉
I can only say, they’re working magic with that camera. I’d like that photographer to take pictures of me 😄
I think they find a nice blouse like the first one, photograph it then have some poor kids in a sweat shop churn out thousands of them and send them out.
Actually, my youngest g-daughter is in a F.I.T. program at college. From what I understand, the Chinese will find something really pretty by a designer, use the designers picture online, then put out the crap we see here.
Those tops are incredibly bad. The fabric and workmanship is downright insulting.
Thank you for posting this! I have been so tempted with Cherrybetty but now I am glad I didn’t order from them. I have ordered from another company from China too and the quality is just not great but doesn’t look bad and it was cheap. So thank you for saving me some $$$
I did the same thing. I ordered what I thought was a cute sweater but it was awful from the same company. The material is horrible and it is so cheaply made. Live and learn I guess.
Gosh, those tops in the ads are so cute, how could you resist? Yet, receiving garbage like that is enough to make you cry. I am so sorry you were burned by that company. If you did pay to ship them back, you will probably not receive a refund. I have to admit that I have been burned several times myself,
when ordering clothing and other items.
Twice, my credit card info was stolen by two companies, and I went through hours of frustration and anger trying to settle the mess they made.
How are you at making clothes with your drapery-making skills? Maybe you could try your hand at making holiday tops for yourself. I am positive your creation would be so much better than those two pieces.
…and after all that, it takes 6 months and threats to get your money back, if ever! I keep getting burned on these kinds of things buying bras. THE BEST BRA EVER! YOU ‘LL FORGET YOU’RE WEARING IT!!
I fall victim to the ads and not so much influencers, but I get what you’re saying. My question is, what do they do with all these clothes? How do they get paid? I can’t pay the electric bill with a badly made blouse. Of course I’m in my 70s and I remember good ol commercials which a lot of young or struggling actors did before hitting it big. And they were creative for the most part. Yea, I’ll stick to shopping and tying on clothes where I can feel the fabric and test the fit.
You can even get scammed on Amazon. I can’t tell you how many things I’ve ordered on there and ended up sending back. But at least I’m not stuck with shipping fees or non-returnable items, thanks to Prime membership. And I did order once from a similar company as you did, but it was one item. I didn’t want to get anything else until I saw the quality, and it was junk. Always check how long it will take to get your item, pay with a card that isn’t tied in to anything (maybe open a card just for this purchase, to be sure you don’t get hacked!) I’ve thought of ordering from Bloom Chic, but it states that items may take 4-6 weeks to arrive! Nope! I’ve also seen sites that are almost, if not exactly alike, but with different names, and that seems fishy to me too! You see their ads on Pinterest – steer clear of them!!! And you never know how old the ads are on Pinterest either, as they don’t seem to remove them or recipe sites that are no longer available. (ads on your blog are almost obliterating your posts!)
I dont get ANY ads on Kristin post 😁
Yes I too get ads but usually able to close them. I don’t know if Kristi has any control on the ads, but sure don’t understand why some get ads and others don’t.
This is the crux of what we are dealing with when it comes to buying from the internet. Personally I won’t buy anything I haven’t seen in person beforehand and if it’s different to what I’ve seen then it will be sent back. I will not touch an online store that requires own payment for returns. I’m also less likely or probably completely disinterested in your product if you have aggressive marketing and I don’t even follow influencers so if they said to buy anything I would probably avoid that product like the plague. Sorry you had this experience and hope you won’t get caught again…
I guess I don’t follow “influencers.” I think I may have purchased a few small things you recommended. I did it because you are a real person with a real life and I trust your judgement. I have stopped buying clothing on Amazon. The last thing I purchased was so cheaply made I just dropped it off at the Salvation Army. I figured maybe someone could use it for something.
What I haven’t seen yet in comments is that those clothes are made in Chinese sweatshops where workers (some children) suffer terrible conditions. They have to crank the clothes out as fast as possible so no time to clip threads, match patterns, etc. I’m sure they have to meet a strict quota of garments each hour or day. Believe me, some items look really tempting but I try to remember the human cost of producing those things.
This exact situation is why I now won’t order from most influencers. How disappointing. I too, fell for a clothing bait and switch. I purchased a pair of Judy Blue jeans. What I got was a pair of knockoffs, NOT Judy Blues. The jeans smelled of heavy chemicals and took several washings, cheap zipper and over a month ship.
I did, however, purchase the SWEET step ladder you linked. Best purchase and have threatened anyone trying to use it for dirty work like painting!
Oh, how sad! Beyond sad really! I haven’t seen this site, but I have become very touchy-feely before I buy now, and rarely buy any clothing online. Buy local has become my mantra!
I have been following blogs for years. I have quit following several, when it seems like they spend too much time “selling” things. I guess that’s when they became influencers. Most of friends don’t understand when I tell them about a blogger (we are all retired).
2 of my friends have started following you and a couple of others when I showed them blog photos. I really got tickled when one of them called me a couple of weeks ago and said “Have you seen Kristie’s closet?”.
This has been my experience with TEMU & Shein too. Stuff looks great online and gets really good reviews but it’s nothing like advertised. Seems like Shein has a decent return policy. TEMU will ask you if you would rather just get 75% back and keep the item “to give as a gift”. LOL! No. Not even to my worst enemy. But I usually go that option rather than paying to return it (though I think the return was to a US address and they covered shipping). Sometimes the jewelry is not too bad, though I ordered a really cute piece from TEMU and it was hopelessly tangled. Even with Amazon Associates I see lots of things influencers give glowing reports for and when I click on it, the item has 4.2 stars or 3.8 stars. That’s a hard pass. I think the influencers know where to nip and tuck to make the items look good. They don’t worry about their credibility, I guess 🙁
Pictures that have some editing fizzing a background I do not trust well then the color can be adjusted. That green one you see the pattern is overlayed on the shirt the lines are too clear crisp to be true. the straight lines on a wrinkly fabric were my “nope”. The manakin is nice to see how it hangs, but the heavy styling hides how the seams lay. Also hides the underside- so you can’t see its a printed fabric.
I’m on dress 2 shopping for a holiday party this year I’ll have to go with it. Both were been cheaply made, the seams lay very differently. No depth/structure for real to hang as intended. You are lucky if the measurements are reflective of the sizing. The winner’s waistline is about 2-3 inches less than I like, with too much fabric in other places. Its also super lightweight cotton so there’s unwanted gravity defying volume. There’s enough fabric and it’s not a knit so I might try to DIY the waistline to adjust it and sew on some washers/beads to adjust how it hangs.
I received free items in the past, I was in Amazon vine. No commission on if it sold, but paid tax on its value as reported by the seller and no reselling for 6 months. It was hard to find something that was valued fairly and wanted enough to request, then review. Most items risked excess taxes on trash to review. I try to picture the seams, material, and construction to aid the buyers choose. To get invited to Amazon vine, answer Q/A ?’s in Amazon and write reviews that can get helpful ratings for AI to see/send an invite. 60% of what’s available is drop-shipped trash, and a significant of the remaining 40% gets grabbed by those who made personal programs/bots to sift the list over time. Oh and to stay in it, you got to do over a shifting amount of reviews a year.
Yikes. Thanks for the non-influence. 😀
If you look closely at the green picture, those lines in the plaid line up better than is possible. That definitely makes me believe they’re getting the same garbage you received and are just lying.
I, too, got roped in by the adorableness of the CherryBetty products on-line – my order actually arrived this morning! I haven’t compared what I got to the photos of what I ordered (it’s been so long!), but they look decent. Mine are definitely closer than yours. WHAT THE HECK?!? (And I totally had that red plaid blouse in my cart, but I ultimately went with a less holiday version.)
I love knowing that I can trust you! I have always appreciated your transparency.
Check the on-line reviews before ordering from a company you don’t know. Cherrybetty has *awful* reviews. I often use TrustPilot and Better Business Bureau to get honest reviews. LOTS of ‘new’ stores showing great photos of merchandise, but it turns out to be total junk. Buyer beware.
Yes! Googling “Cherrybetty clothing reviews” results in this summary: “Customer reviews for Cherry Betty clothing are overwhelmingly negative.”
Definitely buyer beware. A quick Google of *Company name* + “reviews” is always a good idea when buying from a new online company.
So I’m a reviewer for companies-an influencer of sorts I guess. Though I don’t do it for social media. In our community, it’s a well known ‘not really secret’ that manufacturers make a few high quality items to send out to the reviewers. Once the reviewers have turned in their reviews, they mass produce low quality garbage for people who order. It’s a total racket. We try to carefully describe what we’re actually reviewing so that when they change the listing, it’s obvious it’s not the same.
I have seen so many sites with outfits that look so cute, and inexpensive, but I’ve learned to always check reviews for that particular company. Not the reviews on the website! Most of the time the reviews are just what you have said. Junk clothes, not what was pictured, and so on. Some look like what is pictured but it is deceptive as in what looks like a heavier cotton or flannel is actually a very lightweight polyester. Looks cute on but wash it a couple of times and throw it away. Ask me how I know.
I appreciate this post, I find it so discouraging that so many people are lacking morals it is all about the money. It makes it difficult when many brick and mortar chains are going out of business, as I like to try on, touch, and feel. When attempting to order online from same stores, I find reviews telling me the clothing is no longer well made with thin fabric and poor workmanship. I have bought tops or pjs that looked good, but pilled after careful washing. Where can we shop?
Another area of concern, I have heard over the last few years appliances are not made to last. I came home after surgery and my old faithful refrigerator quit. I embarked on what I thought would be a simple journey to replace my kitchen appliances. The brands we have trusted over the past are getting terrible reviews and often problems from the beginning or right after the very short warranty expires. I have spent days delving into this and it is well known by repairmen and sales people. I do not know what to do. Thin plastics, drawers that are flimsy, compressors that quit, “motherboards” that go out. Even buying the more expensive brands is no guarantee. I get nothing will last like the oldies but months or five to seven years sales people tell me.
I decided to get a different vacuum and again was so surprised to find out even the better products have cheap plastics breaking off etc. Most are made to not have parts and cannot be repaired.
One more, I was told by a seasoned salesman that furniture is considered throw away now, People prefer to change out their furniture more often and thus cheaply made, poor construction and fabrics.
I cannot imagine the landfills across America, not to mention the drain on finances as we replace products within a short period of time.
I had also viewed multiple sites promoting this brand and thought they looked cute. I goggled them and immediately found multiple complaints regarding the poor quality of their merchandise. I always investigate products that seem to good to be true.
I’ve gotten better clothes from TEMU
Those are gross! Can you return them? I learned some years ago not to buy anything off FB or Instagram. First purchase, I got scammed with a Bait/Switch. That’s also why I don’t use Paypal to pay for anything except EBay purchases. Can’t get your money back easily. If I see something I’m interested in, I’ll ck Amazon first. Usually there and much cheaper. You are the only person in the world I follow online just because I know you don’t use crap in your renovations. I stick to 2 or 3 clothing stores online. Since I’m not Twiggy, I use Blair for pants and Uniform Advantage for pretty scrub tops with BIG pockets. Occasionally, I’ll find something on Amazon like nightgowns or underwear. Chinese sizes are not on the same planet as American sizes. I did buy 1 shirt I really loved in their Size 5XL (I wear 2 XL) and it was tight but . . . I knew that going in and planned to deconstruct it and make a pattern from it to fit me. . . . and add pockets!
Always look at customer reviews that include photos of buyers wearing the clothes. If the site doesn’t have those, then don’t buy from it.
Reviews can not always be counted on to access quality of items or customer service. Companies can choose not post negative reviews. They may post a few neutral or negative reviews here and there so the reviews look organic, but they won’t post many. I ordered a top that faded and bled to the point of being unwearable after one wash in cold water. When I tried (2 times) to leave an honest negative review with a photo, the company never posted it.
Oh my land! That green shirt made me think my retinas were detaching (or maybe it made me want to detach my retinas)! AUGH!
When I’m tempted to buy clothing online, I first go the “Contact” page of their website. If it’s just an email address, it’s a definite no for me. I’ll also google the photo of the item, and if it shows up on various sites that also have only an email address as a means of contact it’s a good sign it’s a scam company.
You’re shocked that the Internet lied and influencers only care about money? Also, good luck trying to get your money back–companies like that are masters of giving you the run around until you give up (ask me how I know!)
I commented earlier today and it wasnt posted . Did I comment in a way I should not have? I did hit post a second time as it looked like it did not go through, but was told I was duplicating. This isn’t a big deal, just the time I spent and hoped to learn from others. Thanks Have a wonderful day
Oh my, does this touch a MAJOR nerve with me! I’m only on IG, not TikTok or FB so I miss a lot of the advertising, but I have come to loathe so many IG influencers! I tap-tap-tap right through their Stories because they have essentially turned into the equivalent of slimy used car salesmen — they will sell ANYTHING for a buck. It’s like watching one long loop of bad infomercials. They have zero credibility when they are saying some product is “so good!”, “life changing!”, “my favorite!” this week and next week they are saying the same exact things about a similar product made by a different company. How do people not see through this?
I think most people know influencers earn a commission from affiliate links. What I think they DON’T realize is those links plant tracking cookies in peoples’ devices. Even if a person doesn’t purchase the specific item the influencer has linked to, the influencer still has the opportunity to earn a commission on anything and everything the person buys from the retailer during the lifespan of the tracking cookies (which, apparently, can be up to 90 days in some cases!). This seems so wrong! IMO, the commission should be limited to the linked item only.
Supposedly, Amazon brings in roughly $1.7–1.8 BILLION in sales revenue on an average DAY. Think about how many influencers are linking to items sold on Amazon and how many people are making large purchases from Amazon, especially during the holiday season. The influencers can earn a commission on every person’s ENTIRE shopping cart purchase just because those unsuspecting people clicked an influencer’s link. This is the reason so many influencers bombard us with “Gift Guides” during the holiday season – Gift Guide recommendation for products they don’t even own and know nothing about. However, they do know the more items they show, the greater chance their viewers will see something interesting and click the link.
The newest influencer slimy sales tactic I’m seeing is preying on peoples’ innate curiosity and fear of missing out. Influencers are posting a picture of something random (maybe a picture of the Christmas tree) with text that says, “This is what we’re getting our kids for Christmas”, or “This product has saved my sanity this holiday season” and you have to click the link to see what the item is. People are curious. They fear they might miss something “so good!” or “life changing!” if they don’t click the link! Clicked link = tracking cookies planted in your device. Tracking cookies planted in your device = potential big commission for the influencer on anything and everything you buy.
Many of these influencers are earning more in a month via affiliate link tracking cookies than a lot of middle class families earn in a whole year! This is how so many influencers are able to afford multi-million dollar homes, beach or lake vacation homes, purchase multiple expensive cars, boats and motorhomes, take frequent extravagant vacations etc. They are bringing in so much money, I’ve noticed a lot of the female influencers’ husbands don’t even work.
I NEVER click influencer links.
And as far as on-line ordering, I have a hard and fast rule that I do not order from any retailer that does not offer free returns (i.e., Amazon Prime) or does not have a brick & mortar store (i.e., Walmart, Target, Macy’s, J.C.Penney’s etc.) in my area to return items that don’t meet my expectations. Saves me a lot of headaches (and money).
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. And thank you, Kristi, for allowing me to hijack your comment section to voice my biggest pet peeve. 😀
Wow! I had no idea! Thanks for the insight!
The way I audibly gasped when I saw what you actually received… Yikes. If I was wearing pearls I’d be grasping them. I figured it would be bad but that was.. bad BAD. I follow I guess what you would call a “deinfluencer” who buys stuff particularly if it looks to good to be true or if the photo looks like it was Ai, just to see what she ends up with. Most of it is crap false advertising but sometimes she is surprised. She claims a lot of these China companies will steal photos from designers (or whip a fake product up generated with AI) and in the event someone actually purchases said item, quickly assembles something that looks like it to send to you just to say they delivered. Not sure how much truth is behind that but it makes sense here. Can’t trust anything online these days. 🙁
Oh Kristi….you could have said that any better. I am SICK of these people…claiming false crap to us. I used to enjoy Instagram.. not any more. It’s completely gone to the birds.
EXCEPT for a few…like YOU. All I see are some that MUST only be in it for the money. Integrity is gone.
I LOVE YOUR ACCOUNT. Keep it up
Merry Christmas to you and your family
I’m glad you made this post. People need to be made aware of the new pitfalls of ordering on line. I have also been “taken.” I now check the return policy very closely on any item I buy, even Amazon. It seems, though I can’t factually back this up, if you ask for credit back on the credit card you used to purchase an item on Amazon, when you return certain items, you have to box it up and pay to send it back. I have even called Amazon customer service to find out why I am paying to return an item. They claimed I would not have to pay any shipping, but did need to box the item for return. I did box the item, but was charged for return shipping when I checked back on Amazon. Lesson learned: Read the return policy very carefully before purchasing anything on line!
It’s always “buyer beware!” ALWAYS google the company to 1) be sure the company is legit, and 2) read the reviews of others first, and 3) returns: what do they say and what reviews say actually happens, including getting your money back if you do return an item…sorry you learned the hard way.
That red plaid velvet top was beautiful in the photo and I’m sorry you didn’t receive one like it. I often see online ads with cute clothes but when I google the company name for reviews, the AI overview is usually negative. I also check Trustpilot, BBB, etc to see if what you see is what you get and it’s rare that it is. You’re right, it’s sad that most influencers seem to have lost their integrity in the grab for dollars.
Let me add to my own comment by saying that today is Giving Tuesday but please check out the charity on Charity Navigator before giving money. There are many wonderful charities that could use your help but there are also scams as well as charities that spend too much of the money on salaries, advertising, etc. and very little on the people they are helping.
Kristi,
Watch what AI is doing with DIY’ers…it’s truly amazing what we think is real is actually a LIE. Often, when the owner of the account is questioned about the DIY, it’s only then they’ll comp to it. I’m hoping we’ll start to see a disclaimer attached to their content so we’ll know it’s AI genertated. Makes me unhappy for all of you doing the real work. XO
Can’t you just dispute the charge on your credit card? This isn’t a “turns out I don’t like it,” it’s a complete scam. I’d at least give it a try.
Your tops look like they have been worn and washed. Even if you have to pay postage, send them back. Or you could donate them to the battered women’s shelter. That is maddening.
When JoAnn’s was closing, there was an ad on the internet for the big sale from JoAnn’s. We fell for it but found out the “seller” wasn’t selling anything and was a fraud group out of China. We did get our money back because we used PayPal.
Just last week there was a closing sale for Coldwater Creek. I love that store, so I ordered a king sized sheet set for $5.60 but paid $19.00 shipping. I am now beginning to think it is another scam. When will I learn? I’m a fool for what seems like a bargain.
Have a good week.
Oh my! What?!! That’s pure craziness they sent you those!
Isn’t there an email customer service you could explain, sending your pictures as evidence? Good grief you shouldn’t have to pay shipping to return them, they should just credit your account!
I had signed up for the Stitchfix? Where you’d be sent an outfit or a few articles of clothing in your selected time frame…for the most part it was alright, but there was one button up shirt I had purchased and could only wear it a couple times because we had such a hot and humid summer that year. When I laundered it as directed, it seemed to come out fine, but when I went to wear it the next time, it ripped apart, like the material had dry rot or something. I reached out to Stitchfix but because it was past the 30 day return they wouldn’t honor any refund or exchange. I was so bummed, it was a great shirt. So, I cancelled my Stitchfix subscription, and I contacted the shirt brand manufacturer, Billy T, and explained the situation, including pics. Unfortunately that shirt was no longer available, had cherry blossoms : ( They did say though that I could go online and pick out another to replace the one I bought, even though I paid a bit less through Stitchfix. I was so thankful they honored their brand.
That green plaid shirt is the ugliest thing I’ve ever seen. The deception is egregious!
I saw some ads from them and looked at a couple of shirts a while back – thank you for sharing your experience – I am SO GLAD I didn’t order! The red one was bad, but wow… that green one is unbelievably horrible!
🤣🤣🤣🤣 OH MY GOSH!
So sorry for you, those are hilariously awful.
Me too,
You would have thought I would learn after at least 5 scams. Facebook ads are the worst. Some of those vendors use names like “Made in So. Carolina” an that is how they get you. The clothes are cute and do come about 6 weeks later but awful.
Another company sent me a plastic tinker bell toy, and said they shipped what I had bought. I’ve even had them just send me an empty envelope.
I now check and see where the company is located, and then look it up on Google maps.
Eegh! More like smoke and mirrors and snake oil! That green top is horrendous. The picture for it looks doctored, like they stuck the green print on the photo and manipulated it via AI and photos hop. My guess is the “influencers” get a decent top, then the companies make the flimsy dupes, and the influencers turn a blind eye since they have the cash.
Seems like fast fashion, shops like TEMU and Shein and greed are at the root of this junk, sadly. I’m sorry you got duped, but its a good thing you can expose it for thr sham it is.
There are some reputable online realtors like Quince and Everlane and others, but it takes experience to find them. More often than not I shop ebay and use the GEM search app which is like having access to a giant thrift store. And ThredUp. It takes time, but it is possible to find good clothes that way with plenty of life and it doesn’t add to the fast fashion mill. That green shirt might make a good rag. Yikes!
I was totally reaching for my credit card when I saw that first blouse. How beautiful! But what you actually got? UGGH!!! Thanks for keeping me from making that same mistake! And that green needs to have a seizure warning label!
When I bought clothing items that were misrepresented garbage, my daughter noticed they lacked the legally required fabric content and country of origin labels, so I contested the charge with my credit card company for those reasons and the seller refunded my money after refusing me. The only way is to play hard ball with them. Submit the photographs of the products you received and the marketing photos to your credit card company and the influencers who push these scams and post them in the comments on their sites. It seems that using the very avenues they use to scam us is unwise since we can turn it on them and reach their markets. I have won each time I refused to accept their policies.
Wow! Thanks for sharing such valuable information. So sorry you were ripped off.
I also succumbed to Cherry Betty ads. The shirt that I bought did match the colors and print from the ad. I had some problems with the collar, not folding as it should so I eventually put a safety pin on the undersideto hold it in the right place. I was not disillusioned with the company However, the more I researched the more complaints I saw about them. I actually ended up buying a Christmas shirt from Shein with the exact same print as a cherry Betty shirt. It was half the price and the quality was equal. Actually I guess it’s safe to say both were Shein quality.
Thank you for this post. I too, have seen numerous ads and influencers for this brand. Your comparison photos are effective and very helpful. I never placed an order, and now I am so thankful. Working hard this year to buy local and small business based products when I can.
Have a great holiday!
Thanks for sharing this. I’ve been tempted by the influencers and ads, but much like you, I’ve had a bad experience and now everyone is suspect. I searched for reviews and found your blog. I appreciate your straight forward review with receipts to show the differences in what’s advertised and what you get. You have gained a follower!
I too.. just ordered a velvet blouse.. on its way, finally cleared customs and is in Illinois..
After seeing your before and after.. I can only imagine what I’ll end up with.
This will probably be my last order. Even if it’s nice, I’m not chancing it anymore. (Wasting money and will not return especially when you have to pay postage).
Thanks for sharing
Thanks for posting, so tempting. But when looks to good to be true. It’s difficult
I totally agree with you on Cherry Betty. I ordered and paid $114.43. One item was out of stock but they charged me anyway. The two blouses had white reverse fabric so looked strange. The buttonholes were not sewn on one. The other was practically basted together missing sewing the fabric together in noticeable spots. And yes they want me to pay to return them. They refunded $38.67, not even what was charged for the out of stock item. I am so disgusted.