Bought items from a dodgy website pretending to be in the UK...

Emmia

If you image search the mask image from the website listed as $274 (about £200), you'd discover that you can buy an almost identical mask off Amazon US for $74.99 (about £56). I suspect you'd have significantly better luck getting a refund on a mask bought from there. 

Searching "red light mask" brings up a TK Maxx listing for £49.99, one on Argos for £119.99, one from Currys at £88.99. 

The Guardian has a recently published list / reviews of LED light therapy masks https://www.theguardian.com/thefilter/2025/sep/19/best-led-red-light-therapy-face-masks.

Pollycat

Emmia said:

If these masks do arrive, I really wouldn't put them anywhere near your skin. Alas I suspect this is in the bucket of "if it seems too good to be true..."

Seek the 50% refund and put it down to experience.

Edit: As well as the postbox office location, the poor filing history, the UK website with a french phone number... prices seem to be in $ rather than £. There are so many red flags if you look at it properly - but the website is professionally designed, clearly to entrap the unwary or those in a hurry / looking for a bargain. 

I agree.
I've looked at lots of Chinese-purporting-to-be-UK websites and this one of the best I've seen at fooling people.

pinkshoes

Serama24 said:

Woodstok2000 said:

This is likely to be an expensive lesson unfortunately, sorry. Returning things to China is expensive and they often do not arrive. Sending a tracked package with £300 insurance may be an option if you can swallow the transport costs.

You can try a chargeback via your bank but they will most likely not be interested as chargeback doesn't apply until youve returned the items ( catch 22!).

If you cant get anywhere with the bank, I would suggest taking the 50% discount and take it as a lesson learned.

 I suspected so. I'm wondering whether they'll even refund the 50% to be honest... Is there anything I can do if they refuse this / don't respond?
Thank you for your help.

If the website linked earlier is correct (https://deluxeskin.uk/) then as they do list a UK address and are quite clearly therefore claiming they are a UK business, then you should be covered by UK consumer rights.

You are therefore entitled to return the purchase to their UK address for a full refund (you might have to pay return postage). Tell them in writing that you are cancelling under distance selling regulations. If they ask you to return to an address in China (likely as the UK address might not even be theirs) then contact your card provider and see if they can help. There is indeed a Sun Street in London but I'm not sure the postcode is quite right. Most masquerading websites don't give a UK address which means they can easily say they are not a UK website (as having .uk at the end does not mean the business is in the UK).


If it's another website and no UK address is given, then you will be bound by the laws of that company. 

Serama24

Thank you for all the responses.
Yes, as soon as I saw the website I was suspiEmmia said:

If you image search the mask image from the website listed as $274 (about £200), you'd discover that you can buy an almost identical mask off Amazon US for $74.99 (about £56). I suspect you'd have significantly better luck getting a refund on a mask bought from there. 

Searching "red light mask" brings up a TK Maxx listing for £49.99, one on Argos for £119.99, one from Currys at £88.99. 

The Guardian has a recently published list / reviews of LED light therapy masks 

Yeah, it was the blog that helped fool my mum into thinking it was real too. I can't post a link but here are screenshots. I advised against buying one of Amazon and I said you want to be sure you're getting the right tech...







Legit other brands are also listed below their product, with fair pro's and con's - making the blog seem more legit.

When you click the banner of the blog to take you to the home page, it takes you to this:



So it has clearly been created to bring traffic to their deluxe skin website. My mum said the link came up high when she searched on Google.

Emmia

pinkshoes said:

Serama24 said:

Woodstok2000 said:

This is likely to be an expensive lesson unfortunately, sorry. Returning things to China is expensive and they often do not arrive. Sending a tracked package with £300 insurance may be an option if you can swallow the transport costs.

You can try a chargeback via your bank but they will most likely not be interested as chargeback doesn't apply until youve returned the items ( catch 22!).

If you cant get anywhere with the bank, I would suggest taking the 50% discount and take it as a lesson learned.

 I suspected so. I'm wondering whether they'll even refund the 50% to be honest... Is there anything I can do if they refuse this / don't respond?
Thank you for your help.

If the website linked earlier is correct (https://deluxeskin.uk/) then as they do list a UK address and are quite clearly therefore claiming they are a UK business, then you should be covered by UK consumer rights.

You are therefore entitled to return the purchase to their UK address for a full refund (you might have to pay return postage). Tell them in writing that you are cancelling under distance selling regulations. If they ask you to return to an address in China (likely as the UK address might not even be theirs) then contact your card provider and see if they can help. There is indeed a Sun Street in London but I'm not sure the postcode is quite right. Most masquerading websites don't give a UK address which means they can easily say they are not a UK website (as having .uk at the end does not mean the business is in the UK).


If it's another website and no UK address is given, then you will be bound by the laws of that company. 

I think the problem is going to be enforcing this. The website might have a UK address, but it's at best a mailbox.

Serama24

pinkshoes said:

If the website linked earlier is correct () then as they do list a UK address and are quite clearly therefore claiming they are a UK business, then you should be covered by UK consumer rights.

You are therefore entitled to return the purchase to their UK address for a full refund (you might have to pay return postage). Tell them in writing that you are cancelling under distance selling regulations. If they ask you to return to an address in China (likely as the UK address might not even be theirs) then contact your card provider and see if they can help. There is indeed a Sun Street in London but I'm not sure the postcode is quite right. Most masquerading websites don't give a UK address which means they can easily say they are not a UK website (as having .uk at the end does not mean the business is in the UK).


If it's another website and no UK address is given, then you will be bound by the laws of that company. 

That is the website, yes. That gives me more hope, thank you! 

Serama24

powerful_Rogue said:

Did your mum pay credit or debit card?

Debit, via Shopify.

Woodstok2000

pinkshoes said:

Serama24 said:

Woodstok2000 said:

This is likely to be an expensive lesson unfortunately, sorry. Returning things to China is expensive and they often do not arrive. Sending a tracked package with £300 insurance may be an option if you can swallow the transport costs.

You can try a chargeback via your bank but they will most likely not be interested as chargeback doesn't apply until youve returned the items ( catch 22!).

If you cant get anywhere with the bank, I would suggest taking the 50% discount and take it as a lesson learned.

 I suspected so. I'm wondering whether they'll even refund the 50% to be honest... Is there anything I can do if they refuse this / don't respond?
Thank you for your help.

If the website linked earlier is correct (https://deluxeskin.uk/) then as they do list a UK address and are quite clearly therefore claiming they are a UK business, then you should be covered by UK consumer rights.

You are therefore entitled to return the purchase to their UK address for a full refund (you might have to pay return postage). Tell them in writing that you are cancelling under distance selling regulations. If they ask you to return to an address in China (likely as the UK address might not even be theirs) then contact your card provider and see if they can help. There is indeed a Sun Street in London but I'm not sure the postcode is quite right. Most masquerading websites don't give a UK address which means they can easily say they are not a UK website (as having .uk at the end does not mean the business is in the UK).


If it's another website and no UK address is given, then you will be bound by the laws of that company. 

I wouldn't bother trying this. Returning the goods to the UK address will mean you end up with no refund and no goods. This is a Chinese company so will not take any notice of UK laws or consumer rules. Your best bet is to keep pushing your bank - highlighting the terms on the website which are unfair/against UK law as a backup to your chargeback claim.

Serama24

Woodstok2000 said:

If the website linked earlier is correct () then as they do list a UK address and are quite clearly therefore claiming they are a UK business, then you should be covered by UK consumer rights.

You are therefore entitled to return the purchase to their UK address for a full refund (you might have to pay return postage). Tell them in writing that you are cancelling under distance selling regulations. If they ask you to return to an address in China (likely as the UK address might not even be theirs) then contact your card provider and see if they can help. There is indeed a Sun Street in London but I'm not sure the postcode is quite right. Most masquerading websites don't give a UK address which means they can easily say they are not a UK website (as having .uk at the end does not mean the business is in the UK).


If it's another website and no UK address is given, then you will be bound by the laws of that company. 

I wouldn't bother trying this. Returning the goods to the UK address will mean you end up with no refund and no goods. This is a Chinese company so will not take any notice of UK laws or consumer rules. Your best bet is to keep pushing your bank - highlighting the terms on the website which are unfair/against UK law as a backup to your chargeback claim.

Okay, that makes sense.
Thank you for your help!

pinkshoes

Emmia said:

pinkshoes said:

Serama24 said:

Woodstok2000 said:

This is likely to be an expensive lesson unfortunately, sorry. Returning things to China is expensive and they often do not arrive. Sending a tracked package with £300 insurance may be an option if you can swallow the transport costs.

You can try a chargeback via your bank but they will most likely not be interested as chargeback doesn't apply until youve returned the items ( catch 22!).

If you cant get anywhere with the bank, I would suggest taking the 50% discount and take it as a lesson learned.

 I suspected so. I'm wondering whether they'll even refund the 50% to be honest... Is there anything I can do if they refuse this / don't respond?
Thank you for your help.

If the website linked earlier is correct (https://deluxeskin.uk/) then as they do list a UK address and are quite clearly therefore claiming they are a UK business, then you should be covered by UK consumer rights.

You are therefore entitled to return the purchase to their UK address for a full refund (you might have to pay return postage). Tell them in writing that you are cancelling under distance selling regulations. If they ask you to return to an address in China (likely as the UK address might not even be theirs) then contact your card provider and see if they can help. There is indeed a Sun Street in London but I'm not sure the postcode is quite right. Most masquerading websites don't give a UK address which means they can easily say they are not a UK website (as having .uk at the end does not mean the business is in the UK).


If it's another website and no UK address is given, then you will be bound by the laws of that company. 

I think the problem is going to be enforcing this. The website might have a UK address, but it's at best a mailbox.

Woodstok2000 said:

pinkshoes said:

Serama24 said:

Woodstok2000 said:

This is likely to be an expensive lesson unfortunately, sorry. Returning things to China is expensive and they often do not arrive. Sending a tracked package with £300 insurance may be an option if you can swallow the transport costs.

You can try a chargeback via your bank but they will most likely not be interested as chargeback doesn't apply until youve returned the items ( catch 22!).

If you cant get anywhere with the bank, I would suggest taking the 50% discount and take it as a lesson learned.

 I suspected so. I'm wondering whether they'll even refund the 50% to be honest... Is there anything I can do if they refuse this / don't respond?
Thank you for your help.

If the website linked earlier is correct (https://deluxeskin.uk/) then as they do list a UK address and are quite clearly therefore claiming they are a UK business, then you should be covered by UK consumer rights.

You are therefore entitled to return the purchase to their UK address for a full refund (you might have to pay return postage). Tell them in writing that you are cancelling under distance selling regulations. If they ask you to return to an address in China (likely as the UK address might not even be theirs) then contact your card provider and see if they can help. There is indeed a Sun Street in London but I'm not sure the postcode is quite right. Most masquerading websites don't give a UK address which means they can easily say they are not a UK website (as having .uk at the end does not mean the business is in the UK).


If it's another website and no UK address is given, then you will be bound by the laws of that company. 

I wouldn't bother trying this. Returning the goods to the UK address will mean you end up with no refund and no goods. This is a Chinese company so will not take any notice of UK laws or consumer rules. Your best bet is to keep pushing your bank - highlighting the terms on the website which are unfair/against UK law as a backup to your chargeback claim.

When buying online, people look for a UK address and phone number to try and verify they are buying from a UK company.

So at first glace, it does indeed have a UK address that exists, and there is a phone number (albeit not English, but at first glance people might not know what country codes are) thus portraying to be a UK company.

On this basis then the card company should be liable for refunding BUT the OP will need to prove that they're trying to get them to return it to a different country, hence my suggestion to ask for a return under distance selling.

They're hardly going to provide an address in the UK if they don't have one. The card provider might insist on the items being returned before a refund though, so if this is the case then returning them to the provided UK address is fair. 

It might be a Chinese company but they are clearly trying to pretend to be English (unlike other Chinese sellers) by giving a fake UK address, so the card company cannot turn round and say that the OP has bought from China not the UK.