Problems with a USA based sole trader

EmeraldAceBurlesque

Hi all,
I am in need of a little advice. Back in January I bought two wigs from an American wig buying service. Basically, the company who sell the wigs I wanted don't ship to the UK but this woman Katie Bair's Petting Zoo Wig Design provides a wig buying service and will buy them on your behalf and then send them out to you. She is very highly thought of on another forum I go on so I thought I could trust her.

On her website it says to expect at least two weeks processing time before orders are sent out, that seemed fair enough for me as she has to get them from the original website and that takes time.

I ordered them on the 6th of January and the order tracker is still saying processing which means she may or may not have recieved them from the original sellers but they have definately not been dispatched out to me yet. It has been almost two months with no change and I am pulling my hair out. About a month ago I emailled her to see if she could estimate when she thought they might come out to me - my email was ignored. I started asking questions on the forum who rate her and they said she has some personal stuff going on and that she has a baby(!) however she never thought to mention on the website that it may take longer due to this.

Last week I finally gave up and asked for a refund (it says on her website that you can get a refund any time up 'til the item is dispatched to you). I have received no refund and my email was ignored. Someone on the other forum suggested I go through paypal dispute resolution but paypal say I have left it too late and although they will look to see if she is a fraudulent seller due to other complaints about her they can't promise they will be able to get me my money back. The woman in the call centre suggested I speak to Trading Standards or even the police (!) so I called the number for the government agency who deal with Trading Standards but they said that as she is US based they can't do anything. I then was directed to the Better Business Bureau which is USA based but on their website it said they couldn't help me as I have no trading address for her.

I just want my money back now, I've had enough. Plus I have found a reputable company that will ship the wigs I want to the UK but can't do it until she refunds me.

Any advice anyone?

Thanks
Emerald

Ivrytwr3

It has been almost two months with no change and I am pulling my hair out.

Is that why you needed the wig?

suited-aces

Helpful as usual ivry

Optimist

EmeraldAceBurlesque wrote: »

The woman in the call centre suggested I speak to Trading Standards or even the police (!) so I called the number for the government agency who deal with Trading Standards but they said that as she is US based they can't do anything. I then was directed to the Better Business Bureau which is USA based but on their website it said they couldn't help me as I have no trading address for her.

I just want my money back now, I've had enough. Plus I have found a reputable company that will ship the wigs I want to the UK but can't do it until she refunds me.

Any advice anyone?

Thanks
Emerald

Cant help with getting your money back I fear your chances are not high but her address for the Better Business Bureau is ;-

Katie Bair
6050 N. Marks Ave136
Fresno, CA 93711
US

Ivrytwr3

suited-aces wrote: »

Helpful as usual ivry

Smile, honestly it doesn't hurt!

bingo_bango

Lots of info on the CA State Dept website for consumers. They also have a dispute mediation service which you might find handy. See more HERE.

I have found the US State departments good to deal with in the past, even from the UK.