peppermintpatty
Pearl Clutcher
Refupea #1345
Posts: 3,998 
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Post by peppermintpatty on May 1, 2024 12:21:53 GMT
I was in Paris a couple weeks ago and I bought a necklace and earrings at this little shop in the La Marais district. The owner's mother was helping out and when I picked out the items, they pulled the items to give me from their inventory and not from the actual displays. She originally picked up the wrong earrings which the owner caught. I didn't see the necklace but we were having a nice chat while they rang me up. When I got home, I opened the boxes and the necklace is the same style as the one I wanted but much shorter. The one I paid for was a lariat style (24" long). The one I got is about 16" long (too short for me to want to wear). I am sure it was an honest mistake. I have emailed the company and they refuse to respond. I have texted them several times, no response and I just bought an international calling card to call them and the woman who answered didn't speak English (we did talk to 2 people who did speak English) so she hung up. This necklace wasn't cheap and they didn't accept credit cards so I had to pay in cash (otherwise I would dispute the charge). I originally thought they were blocking my number based on the text response I have been getting but they answered my call so I haven't been blocked.
I'm really upset about this because I try to only make one large value purchase on something to remember the trip by. I did buy lots of other smaller items and I know it is the experience and not the material goods that matter but still.
I wish I could speak French so I can discuss this with them. I am happy to send the necklace back (at my expense) but I want what I paid for.
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Post by crazy4scraps on May 1, 2024 12:29:26 GMT
Do they have any social media? (Specifically Facebook or Twitter.) Sometimes posting your question publicly will get you a faster response. Sadly I think because you paid with cash you’re kind of stuck.
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pilcas
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,242
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Post by pilcas on May 1, 2024 12:30:08 GMT
If they are not cooperative, I don’t think there is much you can do under the circumstances.
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Post by gillyp on May 1, 2024 12:37:44 GMT
I was in Paris a couple weeks ago and I bought a necklace and earrings at this little shop in the La Marais district. The owner's mother was helping out and when I picked out the items, they pulled the items to give me from their inventory and not from the actual displays. She originally picked up the wrong earrings which the owner caught. I didn't see the necklace but we were having a nice chat while they rang me up. When I got home, I opened the boxes and the necklace is the same style as the one I wanted but much shorter. The one I paid for was a lariat style (24" long). The one I got is about 16" long (too short for me to want to wear). I am sure it was an honest mistake. I have emailed the company and they refuse to respond. I have texted them several times, no response and I just bought an international calling card to call them and the woman who answered didn't speak English (we did talk to 2 people who did speak English) so she hung up. This necklace wasn't cheap and they didn't accept credit cards so I had to pay in cash (otherwise I would dispute the charge). I originally thought they were blocking my number based on the text response I have been getting but they answered my call so I haven't been blocked. I'm really upset about this because I try to only make one large value purchase on something to remember the trip by. I did buy lots of other smaller items and I know it is the experience and not the material goods that matter but still. I wish I could speak French so I can discuss this with them. I am happy to send the necklace back (at my expense) but I want what I paid for. The company refuse to respond to your email or . . . it's in their spam folder and they've not checked or, like me, they automatically delete any emails in a language they don't use. Likewise I don't respond to texts in a language I don't use. I'm wondering why you didn't check the items before packing them in your case, if you hadn't checked them before then. It would have been easier to rectify a problem almost straight away but after two weeks? I think you have little chance and if I was the shop owner and you actually did get to speak with me, I doubt there would be anything I'd be prepared to do after this time and for someone abroad. I'd be thinking you were trying to scam me. I'm sorry it's spoilt things for you. Do you have a local jeweller who could extend the necklace for you? |
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Post by jamieson on May 1, 2024 13:10:21 GMT
Things move much more slowly in France! I would start off the conversation with "bonjour" and then asking, in French, if they speak English. It's polite and gives them a chance to find someone who *does* speak English. It might also help to send a photo of the item with a ruler next to it. Even if the person speaks English, make sure to use "merci" and "au revoir" when appropriate.
I hope you get this to work out!
Aside from this jewelry hiccup, did you love Paris? I hope so!
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Post by compeateropeator on May 1, 2024 13:12:01 GMT
While I understand what you are saying…if I purchased items in a store while on vacation (where I made a specific and substantial purchase) and the shop owners package it up and then off I went to enjoy the rest of my vacation - there is no way that I would think to to unpackaged it and check it out before I went home because I was in the store and knew what I had purchased…it is not like I was buying online or sight unseen. IMHO
As for being scammed, the owners should know their inventory and if they saw a picture, etc, there should be a way to confirm that the person screwed up. I am assuming even if there wasn’t a credit card receipt that there was a paper receipt of some sort. People should be willing to rectify their errors whether it was hours after or two weeks, especially as it was just an error and should be able to be resolved.
I am sorry and I hope you are able to resolve the issue.
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Post by crazy4scraps on May 1, 2024 13:19:25 GMT
While I understand what you are saying…if I purchased items in a store while on vacation (where I made a specific and substantial purchase) and the shop owners package it up and then off I went to enjoy the rest of my vacation - there is no way that I would think to to unpackaged it and check it out before I went home because I was in the store and knew what I had purchased…it is not like I was buying online or sight unseen. IMHO As for being scammed, the owners should know their inventory and if they saw a picture, etc, there should be a way to confirm that the person screwed up. I am assuming even if there wasn’t a credit card receipt that there was a paper receipt of some sort. People should be willing to rectify there errors whether it was hours after or two weeks, especially as it was just an error and should be able to be resolved. I am sorry and I hope you are able to resolve the issue. All of this was my thought too. There should be some record of what was sold and what is still in inventory and those numbers won’t align if the wrong item was packaged up. Plus she said in the OP that when she bought the items they were taken from back stock and not the items in the display case so from the shop owner’s perspective I could totally see how the mistake happened and would want to make it right. |
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Post by Merge on May 1, 2024 13:25:50 GMT
Unfortunately, I think you’re stuck with an annoying life lesson. It will be less hassle to find a local jeweler to extend the necklace for you.
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Post by crazy4scraps on May 1, 2024 13:29:46 GMT
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Post by gillyp on May 1, 2024 13:50:38 GMT
While I understand what you are saying… if I purchased items in a store while on vacation (where I made a specific and substantial purchase) and the shop owners package it up and then off I went to enjoy the rest of my vacation - there is no way that I would think to to unpackaged it and check it out before I went home because I was in the store and knew what I had purchased…it is not like I was buying online or sight unseen. IMHO As for being scammed, the owners should know their inventory and if they saw a picture, etc, there should be a way to confirm that the person screwed up. I am assuming even if there wasn’t a credit card receipt that there was a paper receipt of some sort. People should be willing to rectify their errors whether it was hours after or two weeks, especially as it was just an error and should be able to be resolved. I am sorry and I hope you are able to resolve the issue. Perfectly valid point re. the packaging and onward travel and not expecting to unpack bought items. If you were in the store, and I were the shop owner/assistant, I would expect you to know what you had purchased, as you said. If I was vacationing, I would be making sure the item I wanted was the one being packed up, particularly as there was the instance of the earrings being wrong. The OP has done nothing wrong. It appears the shop made a genuine mistake. It would be nice if the matter could be rectified but my expectations would be very low. |
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Post by ~summer~ on May 1, 2024 15:53:36 GMT
Can you just go to a jeweler here and switch the chain?
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snyder
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,351
Location: Colorado
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Post by snyder on May 1, 2024 16:05:21 GMT
Bummer. Does your receipt specifically indicate 24"? I've bought things before and when I reliazed it was not exactly what I asked for, and look at my receipt, they only charged me for the one they gave me, and not the price of the one I wanted.
Maybe check with your local community college to see if any French student would want to interpret for you and you pay for their service to help you communicate wit the company.
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Post by Bridget in MD on May 1, 2024 16:14:19 GMT
I'm actually a little surprised they didn't bring out the inventory and show you before they wrapped it up, esp once you caught the earring mistake.
I am sorry it wasn't what you wanted, but I Hope you wear it and love it just the same. I would love to see a picture!
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Post by busy on May 1, 2024 16:22:14 GMT
If I was making a large purchase in a foreign country, I’d verify I had the right thing at the time of sale. Especially when there was an initial mixup on the earrings - no way would I have not double checked the necklace.
Sorry to be harsh, but they don’t owe you dealing with international shipping and all that crap. You didn’t buy from an online retailer who shipped the wrong thing. Leave them alone, get it modified to your liking at home, and chalk it up to a lesson learned.
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Post by Basket1lady on May 1, 2024 21:31:04 GMT
I suggest that you immediately hop on a plane to rectify the situation! Perhaps I should go with you to help—I speak French, but my accent is horrible. Any Parisian would immediately switch to English because it hurts their ears to hear me speak French!
The French are not known for their customer service. It’s likely that it was an honest mistake, but now here you are.
Jamison has some good suggestions. To ask if they speak English, it’s “parlez-vous anglais?” (Par-lay voo awn-glay) You could also try writing a letter. Otherwise, have a local jeweler adapt the necklace and you now have a great story to tell.
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Post by ScrapbookMyLife on May 1, 2024 22:54:22 GMT
If I was making a large purchase in a foreign country, I’d verify I had the right thing at the time of sale. Especially when there was an initial mixup on the earrings - no way would I have not double checked the necklace. I too, would have double checked and asked to see the items before they were boxed up. Especially after the first mix up. I hope you are able to get it resolved. |
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Post by epeanymous on May 1, 2024 22:57:06 GMT
Unfortunately, I think you’re stuck with an annoying life lesson. It will be less hassle to find a local jeweler to extend the necklace for you. My first thought was a local jeweler. I think you’ll be able to make it something you love. I am really sorry, though. I do similar things when traveling and would be sad. |
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