bebe-amor, I paid for pram, never received, no answer

hollydays

walter_scott wrote: »

It is very sad indeed to read of the unhappy experiences of these unfortunate customers and it brings the nursery trade and on line retailing in to disrepute. The people who allow this to happen (apart from the shop proprietors and they way they run their business ) are the major UK nursery brands, Mamas & Papas , Maclaren , Dorel, Silver Cross etc and many other trade major suppliers all household names. They have all recently (or are in the process of doing so) banned sales of their new products on what they call "third party "web sites ie Ebay and Amazon..Those people who continue to stock their products on these sites have their accounts closed. They site all sorts of spurious reasons for this action - lack of security, returns policy, payment methods etc. But you can have all the payment security in the world (whats wrong with Paypal) but if someone is selling goods he cant provide or doesn't have then you still lose your money!
In fact the safest way for consumers to buy new goods is through an established business via for example Ebay who have a clearly defined policy through their payment system Paypal if goods do not arrive, are faulty or not as described and all Ebay shops have to have a returns policy on the sales page. Paypal will act and take back payments from sellers unless they meet the clearly defined criteria and they take the purchasers problems most seriously. The action of these household brands in stopping third party sites does absolutely nothing to help the consumer but only helps the companies and their own ability to maintain prices and distribution methods to suit themselves - its certainly not done to protect the customer.
One only had to look at BBC 1 on Monday March 2nd when the Watchdog programme reported on the countless problems people have experienced with "Two Left Feet" - enough said. What could clearly be shown in the back ground but various displays from Mamas & Papas a company who orders there staff to go to this store to work there merchandising at weekends!! No sign of protecting the customers interests but many protecting M&P's own commercial interests. The directors of M&P obviously don't either watch Watchdog or choose to ignore what is said about one of their major retail/internet outlets that they are happy to supply, promote and endorse by supplying their own personnel to! .It is also worthwhile noting that all adverse comments about Two Left Feet no longer appear on various consumer blogs (including this one ) as TFL have had them removed saying they are written by there competitors not unhappy customers- yet you only had to see the TV programme to realise that there are very many unhappy customers.
Be assured the "anti third part site" action by these major companies in the nursery trade works against the consumers interests both by maintaining prices, defining distribution methods and deciding how, where, when and at what price goods are sold. One of those companies banning Ebay sales continues to list goods on Ebay themselves saying that their listings are all returns, seconds or display goods oh yes pull the other one!! Until these major companies deal with the real problems in the nursery trade rather than playing lip service to it and return to allowing their goods to be sold openly in a free market there will continue to be problems. I doubt this unhappy experience with Bebe Amore will be the last. Caveat emptor as the saying goes let the buyer beware.

Are you saying m and Pappas will now only sell to Approved retailers.?
Can't say I see a problem there,many other retailers do the same.

walter_scott

No that's not what I am saying at all what I am saying is that they - M&P and others no longer allow their established retailers to use "third party "websites along side the retail shops to sell their goods as an alternative to actually visiting the premises as it gives them control over prices and of course directs people to their own (M&P) shops where they will pay the full RRP . Its the potential buyers who suffers as they can no longer benefit from more competitive prices and the ability to compare like for like offers from different sellers which these sites provide . As for buying via Ebay the feedback from satisfied and other customers is clearly shown and its the buyers choice as to whether they buy via a seller with good established feedback who has been selling for a long time or be tempted by a general on line website (Bebe Amore!!) offering fancy promises and pictures but that never delivers closes without notice and never delivers the goods and can where they can write their own testimonials ! Ebay Feedback can be examined in detail as to a range of services over as many transactions as the buyer wishes often into thousands . Yes, as in life there are rogues on Ebay and its not perfect but they are easier to spot, and easier to complain about if they don't deliver what is promised. Payypal invariably take the buyers complaint very seriously and its for the seller to deal with in a timely and business like way if they don't they lose their money not the buyer who is refunded . The rogues don't tend to last long, get delisted don't sell genuine new goods from the main suppliers and don't keep on selling with good feedback for years.
As for TLF word in the trade is that there has been a very strong reaction from various major suppliers who are more than unhappy that there name has been badly associated with a company who's reputation has again put them in Watchdogs Monday spotlight.Its taken them a long time to react and they are only belatedly doing so to protect their name not the unhappy customers !!
The point I have been trying to make is that this anti competitive action by the manufacturers by banning Ebay etc makes the work for the rogues ie Bebe Amore etc , much easier as they can happily advertise with flashy web sites and as there is less competition and monitoring without Ebay and the market place has been forcibly shrunk to the buyers detriment, and when they fail there is generally no financial method of getting your money back except whatever cover your card might provide.You only know you have been had when its too late. There are good sellers but be assured there are rogues out there too. Not all that glitters is gold !

hollydays

walter scott-you need to do paragraphs.

Ivory_Tinkler

Sorry Walter, still not convinced! For instance, it is very difficult if you receive something fake from an ebay seller, to get money back because you have to get proof from the manufacturer that it is fake. Many manufacturers won't offer this service for goods purchased on ebay. I wouldn't call the banning of selling certain new products on ebay anti-competitive, more likely that the manufacturer is simply trying to protect their brand from people who can literally set up an ebay shop in minutes. The setting up of an all singing, all dancing website costs much more in terms of money and time.

The scenario you give for people losing their money is just as likely to happen if an ebay seller goes bust or if an established shop/website goes bust but if you pay by credit card, you usually have protection from your card company. If an ebay seller has emptied their Paypal account then there isn't as much likelihood.

But then that's just my opinion

hollydays

Mine too,but I feel very sorry for anyone who has lost money to Bebe-Amor

SassyC_2

Another one here lost out. Not as bad as some of you.

Ordered a car seat on 7th Feb
Email on 9th Feb to say it would be 7-10 days
No seat, so emailed them with no reply. Emailed again to which i had a reply.
Was told the seats would be in the beginning of this week and dispatched asap......

It should have been here by today but needless to say when i was trying to get ahold to complain AGAIN i found out about the liquidation.

No doubt thats the last of that £132 we'll see aswell. Can't afford to pay for another seat so i'll have to carry on using the battered second hand one i have!

I so wish i would have seen this forum before ordering from them and i'm sorry for all the others that have been ROBBED by this so called company.

DaniR

Just checked in to see how u were all getting on, im sorry some of u are still waiting and now the company is bust.

I hope u can claim it back somehow.

Just wanted to let u all know i re ordered from Glasgow pram centre and it came as promised! And i love my new pram system! my friend also ordered from there and it came 2 days later so id recommend!

Fingers crossed for u all in the future , Dani

shawy35

andyj2 wrote: »

I've been able to obtain the names of the directors of Bebe Amor via the Companies House website.

If anyone would like their details, please PM me !!!

whats there numbers £500 gone no pram and baby is here what can i do

Ajax2000

Hook line and sinkers... use a local store instead of trying to save a few pounds on faceless service or stick to trusted brands like Kiddi.... etc

I see this all the time in Nursery in 7 years of experience. These sites get business by having the lowest prices that they can not maintain but people are drawn in by the 'saving' and then complain when their local stores shut down because they can't compete with the low margin, low overhead internet discounters... in the long run no one saves money with these companies and apart from those in the outer regions of the UK, there is a BRICKS and MORTAR retailer nearby... use them or lose them! Or just throw money at Bebe Amors of the world... There will be another along shortly.

Caveat Emptor... Buyer Beware!

Ivory_Tinkler

Ajax2000 wrote: »

Hook line and sinkers... use a local store instead of trying to save a few pounds on faceless service or stick to trusted brands like Kiddi.... etc

I see this all the time in Nursery in 7 years of experience. These sites get business by having the lowest prices that they can not maintain but people are drawn in by the 'saving' and then complain when their local stores shut down because they can't compete with the low margin, low overhead internet discounters... in the long run no one saves money with these companies and apart from those in the outer regions of the UK, there is a BRICKS and MORTAR retailer nearby... use them or lose them! Or just throw money at Bebe Amors of the world... There will be another along shortly.

Caveat Emptor... Buyer Beware!

Bebe Amor did have a bricks and mortar shop as some of the people on this thread actually went there to either get their goods or a refund!