Online Shopping..when to hit the brakes
Online shopping is..to people like me…a heaven sent. You don’t necessarily have to buy immediately. Just like when we go window shopping. But now we can do it in the comfort of our own bedroom..without having to get dressed.
But when a deal is too good to pass up, even I succumb. Much the same way when you see something on sale at a store and you really really like it..if your wallet permits, then it will be yours.
However, getting duped is more common when shopping online. Why? Because all you see are pictures. You aren’t really sure about the quality of the thing you’re buying. For instance, when you go out to buy stainless steel necklaces, you can see and feel whether it’s the real deal and not some cheapo piece of jewelry made with ordinary wire.
Is this a rant? Yes.
You see, I was “befriended” on Facebook by an online merchant selling the latest “it” bags. That merchant must have scanned my friends list and saw that I either “liked” or am friends with similar merchants.
Anyway, I accepted the request and promptly scanned through the merchandise. I was, to put it mildly, salivating over the stuff on the site. An added bonus were the prices. They were cheap…not exactly dirt cheap but cheap for the kind of bags being offered.
So, with determination, I chose a bag and inquired. Let it be known that never in my wildest dreams have I imagined that I would ever own a bag like this…those who know me know what bag I’m talking about. The bag being offered costed a tenth of what it would normally cost if bought brand new from an authorized dealer. Still a bit pricey despite its mega-mega-mega discount but well within range. And I asked.
I was made to believe that it was an original. Fine. Then I asked why it was so cheap. Yes, I had the tenacity to inquire in such a manner. The merchant said that the bag was won at an auction in Italy. Fine. Then I asked if I could see it. The merchant said that the bag was in Baguio but that I shouldn’t worry because they had a money back guarantee if the bag was proven to be a fake. Then I said that I had a friend in Baguio who could look at the back and would pay for it..IN PERSON. The merchant said that she was in Cebu and that it wasn’t possible..at the moment.
This was the breaking point. I knew this was a scam.
I stopped inquiring. Next thing I know, the merchant sends me a text message (my mobile used to be on my FB info page but I have since deleted it) asking if I was still interested because someone else wanted to buy the bag and that the price was now so much less. I played along. I said that I still needed to see the bag first before buying. Period. She said that she would be in Manila around Feb. and would be able to do this if the stocks didn’t run out on her upcoming “selling junket” to Hongkong. Bongga!!
My hubby was now a bit irritated and kept telling me to write a message saying, “Umisip ka na ng bagong modus kasi matagal ng kumita yang ginagawa mo!”
Before I could do this, the merchant suddenly closed her account. Or blocked me. In any case, if Lovely Luxurious Bags asks to be your friend, beware!! For the record, it is impossible for a black Hermes Birkin 35 with gold hardware to cost Php40k!! No way!!!
Comments
Leave a Reply
