I often shop from online retail stores and usually pay using my credit card—so payment is made in advance. But last week, something unusual and frustrating happened.
I ordered an acrobatic stepper, planning to start a new workout routine as soon as it arrived. Unfortunately, the delivery got delayed. When I contacted customer support, they blamed the delay on heavy rains. I waited patiently, but when the package finally arrived, it was shocking—it was empty. Inside the box were just broken bricks.
The delivery box had a contact number. I messaged the seller directly and also through the platform’s chat system. The seller replied, claiming it was a mistake and that they had accidentally sent the wrong package. He said, “Keep it—we’re sorting it out and will send the correct item in a few days.”
But this was his personal commitment—outside the online platform. That’s when my trust started to fade.
Now I was stuck in a dilemma: Should I wait for the replacement, or should I raise a complaint through the official website?
I thought about it logically:
- The order was already late.
- If the seller had no stock, why didn’t he cancel the order or inform me officially?
- The platform allows order modifications and communication—why didn’t the seller use them?
- Most importantly, if he couldn’t fulfill a commitment on the platform, how could I trust his personal promise?
This had never happened to me before.
What surprised me even more was that the seller began requesting I remove my negative review. It felt ironic—he had no problem sending an empty box, but now he was worried about his public reputation?
Why do people have such double standards? When they cheat, it’s “cleverness.” But when someone speaks up, it’s considered “bad behavior.”
Still, I posted an honest review: “I received an empty package with bricks.”
Shortly after, I received a call from the seller, pressuring me again to delete my review. Meanwhile, I had already filed a return request through the platform and sent the package back. I’m now waiting for a refund.
This incident shook my trust in online shopping. I started asking myself:
- Should I continue trusting online retailers?
- Should I switch to “Cash on Delivery” instead of paying in advance?
- Should sellers like this be given a second chance—risking that they might cheat others too?
- Was leaving an honest review the right thing to do—or was I being too harsh?
In the end, this was the first time something like this happened to me. I’ve decided to give the online platform one more chance—especially since the refund process is underway.
But the seller? No, I don’t trust him. It felt like he was stalling until the return window expired, so I’d lose my right to complain. If I hadn’t acted quickly, even the platform might have doubted me.
Some people say writing a negative review is “aggressive.” But is it? I didn’t exaggerate or lie. I simply shared the truth.
What do you think?