Update: 'Buyer claims to never have received order, but posed on social media with item': Jewelry seller confronts lying influencer

Author image for Remy Millisky
Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
May 8, 2023 11:00 AM EDT

This seller is way too smart to be fooled by this influencer's tricks. 

Running a small business seems both incredibly rewarding, and also really difficult. They're often run by just one or two people who handle everything from listing the order online, to promoting the product on social media, to packing and shipping the product, to talking with customers who need assistance. On top of all of it, some people will still go out of their way to try and fool these sellers. 

This influencer did exactly that. She couldn't help but flex the product she received in the mail, while all the while claiming she never received it. At least the seller didn't let her get away with this kind of deceptive behavior. 

After you scroll through this story and update, check out these wacky items that were sold online.

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  • 01
    Font - 'The customer] messaged me yesterday saying she never received the item... I know for sure this package never bounced back to me.'
    via Alexey Demidov on Unsplash
  • 02
    Font - WWYD? Buyer claims to never have received order but posed on social media with item Pretty much the title - I sell handmade jewelry and I sold this one piece to a buyer (around $65 CAD). I usually ship free via letter mail, I've never had any issues with customers not getting their items. This particular customer ordered her bracelet at the beginning of July, letter mail typically takes several days to 2 weeks to arrive.
    via u/beanthere_done_that
  • 03
    Font - She messaged me yesterday saying she never received the item in the mail. I confirmed her address, it was correct in terms of the label I placed on the mailer. I told her I would look into it to give myself some time, but I know for sure this package never bounced back to me. She also lives in the same city as me so it should have arrived fairly quickly, and also why did she take so long to message me?
    via u/beanthere_done_that
  • 04
    Font - Out of curiosity I looked her up in Instagram. I find her fairly easily and she has a few thousand followers and is a blogger of some sort. Lo and behold one in not one, but two of her photos she is wearing the bracelet I made. It is without a doubt the item I made for because she asked for a specific arrangement of the coloured stones and I could tell right away
    via u/beanthere_done_that
  • 05
    Font - Anyway, not sure how to proceed. I could call her out but does that violate any privacy rules with Etsy? I basically looked her up online using her name that she used to place an order with me. I guess it could be viewed as a bit creepy?
    via u/beanthere_done_that
  • 06

    The seller, who has the patience of a saint, posted an update soon afterwards

    Font - UPDATE - WWYD? Buyer claims to have never received package but posed on social media with it. Hey everyone, figured you would all appreciate the update. I read through everyone's comments carefully and decided the best route to go by was to give her the benefit of the doubt (maybe she meant to contact a different shop?) by saying:
    via u/beanthere_done_that
  • 07
    Font - "Hey there, thank you for your patience. I've looked into it and checked with Canada Post - they have confirmed delivery of your item to the correct address. I hope you enjoy your bracelet and please use code 'XXXXXX' for 10% off your next purchase"
    via u/beanthere_done_that
  • 08
    Font - She replied back within 15 minutes saying: "Hi, could I please have a tracking number? I haven't received any packages from you. It's been a super long time since ordering and I needed the bracelet as a gift. I'm hoping you can just refund me at this point"
    via u/beanthere_done_that
  • 09
    Font - So at this point I definitely knew she was lying to me. I'm also pregnant (and I'll blame it on the excess hormones) and feeling quite defensive at this point. Like a how dare you? kind of feeling. So I responded back:
    via u/beanthere_done_that
  • 10
    Font - Me: "upon further investigation I can confidently say that you definitely have my one-of-a-kind, handmade item in your possession. I want to thank you for supporting my shop and my passion. I was honoured to see it make an appearance on your Instagram account. If you could please tag my shop in the future I would be so grateful!"
    via u/beanthere_done_that
  • 11
    Font - Well that's it, I haven't heard from her since except she definitely blocked my shop page on Instagram but I can still see her from my personal account, and she hasn't even deleted the posts where she's wearing my bracelet
    via u/beanthere_done_that
  • 12
    Font - I'm hoping I don't see a notification for a case opened against me, or a 1-star review. I've preemptively emailed Etsy with all the evidence I have and hoping to hear back from them soon, but I just wanted to have a paper trail of sorts if she decides to retaliate. Thanks for everyone's help! I'll be sure to update if I hear anything more.
    via u/beanthere_done_that
  • 13
    Font - MeccaMaxima 3 yr. ago She was wearing it in a post?!?!?! The nerve. How did you track her Instagram so easily? Reply Share beanthere_done_that OP • 3 yr. ago I literally just searched her name and it was the first result that came up.
    via u/MeccaMaxima
  • 14
    Font - Say_Less_Listen_More I had a similar thing happen where a buyer said they couldn't use a product then posted how proud they were of the results on a shared group we're in. She had kind of a super Karen vibe and shared a few private groups with me where I get sales so I ended up just refunding her to get her our of my life. A few weeks later she messaged asking about having a custom order made... I feel a bit guilty about this, but I said we were overloaded with orders and referred her to
    via u/Say_Less_Listen_More
  • 15
    Font - Celany I hope you disabled that 10% discount code you gave her. Also, perfect work giving her the benefit of the doubt but then sticking up.for yourself when she proved herself to be a lying snake.
    via u/Celany
  • 16
    Rectangle - micshastu If it were me I would cancel any orders if she were to purchase from me again.
    via u/micshastu
  • 17
    Rectangle - pinkpursuits You handled this with a lot of class. Good job! I hope I handle future issues like this.
    via u/pinkpursuits
  • 18
    Font - mmcnama4 Get screenshots of her IG account w/ the bracelet shown in the images. IF something comes up, better to have those than not. Reply Share beanthere_done_that OP Thanks. I took lots of screenshots and a screen recording of her account and her photo grid, just to cover myself!
    via u/mmcnama4
  • 19
    Font - MeccaMaxima She was wearing it in a post?!?!?! The nerve. How did you track her Instagram so easily? Reply Share beanthere_done_that OP I literally just searched her name and it was the first result that came up.
    via u/MeccaMaxima
  • 20
    Font - BBflew Well done on killing her with kindness Reply Share beanthere_done_that OP Thanks. I've learned from being on Etsy for several years that this is the best approach to take for many customers.
    via u/BBflew
  • 21
    Rectangle - funsizedsamurai this was a satisfying update. Thanks for posting.
    via u/funsizedsamurai

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Jewelry selling instagram etsy influencer social media
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