Thread: Bellydance Store - Shahrzad and Cherry

Okay, I've been trying to be nice about this for a while now and give the benefit of the doubt, but I'm really starting to get p***ed off with the stalling tactics.

I ordered a folkloric dress from the bellydance store website which, according to all pictures (no written description), was embellished with gold coins. When it arrived, it was covered with silver coins. For some people that may not be a big deal, but it makes a huge difference to me.

I tried emailing Shahrzad, to no avail.

I opened a PayPal dispute, and finally received a reply from Cherry on behalf of Shahrzad.

Things started off well and it looked like I would have the problem resolved: I would return the dress, paying $39 postage myself to do so, and the correct item would be posted out. I sent a scanned copy of the postage receipt displaying the date I posted it and the cost. This postage cost was originally offered back to me as store credit, but when I asked for some low-priced item(s) to be included with the correct dress when it was posted back to me, I was informed that the store credit only applied to a future order worth more than that credit.

In the same email explaining I couldn't use up the store credit on additional low-cost items I was then offered that $39 as a refund in a one-off deal apparently brokered with Shahrzad. Catch is, I have to close the PayPal dispute, as they are holding the funds that I would be refunded with.

This set off alarm bells. I did some research on various forums and the PayPal website itself and found out that having funds held by PayPal should not affect the seller's ability to effect a refund. I explained this as such to Cherry. The reply took a long time coming, but repeated that I had to close the dispute before they could refund me or send me the correct item.

At this point I contacted PayPal myself; their suggestion was to escalate this to a claim, and under no circumstances close the dispute until it had been resolved. I am still waiting for a reply from Cherry as to this latest piece of information, but will need to escalate this to a claim by Wednesday or risk having it closed for being drawn out too long. At best, I will have my original payment refunded, but will still be out of pocket the $39 postage I paid to return the dress.

I had heard previously that Shahrzad was a reputed dealer, but this has left me wondering, especially as I have been dealing with Cherry 'on behalf of Shahrzad' rather than Shahrzad herself. In particular, requesting a dispute be closed before I have any tangible evidence of resolution really doesn't sit well with me.

Anyone else had a similar experience? Any advice?

I am more than happy to post the entire email conversation, as I've been very upfront with the problems and reasonable in my requests for appropriate reparation.

So sorry this happened to you. I have dealt with them many times in person and via email and Shahrzad is an honest person. I can't imagine that they won't make it right.

I think you would have better luck with Shahrzad. If that doesn't work, I would then file a claim. Cherry may only have limited decision making authority.

Superbunny, you know my stories - I've had a custom order come in two bra sizes too small, and I had to pay return international shipping and lose my deposit if I wanted a refund, and a costume which was 4 inches shorter than the measurements posted, and still had to pay return postage. I've had some transactions go fine - a couple of skirts.

I now ask to doublecheck measurements and would never custom order from them again.

I would hold out on the Paypal dispute until you get your refund - that's your only recourse from Paypal as you can't open a new one if you close it and nothing happens.

I have not had an interaction with this business, my situation is in regard to my only Paypal dispute.

I did not receive an item I ordered. I always ask for delivery confirmation or tracking info on any order. The seller agreed to supply that info but failed to do so. I live in USA, the seller was overseas. I emailed each and every week asking for shipping and tracking info - no reply after the first that stated 'it will arrive any day'. After 3 weeks I advised them if I did not receive a full refund within 36 hours I would open a case with Paypal. No reply. I opened a case, they denied any duplicity. The seller was unaware all emails were forwarded to Paypal. I received a full refund without any question. Within a few weeks I noticed the seller was no longer on Ebay, at least not under the same name.

Do not feel you should avoid filing a case with Paypal, you have honored your end of the agreement. From the info you posted they are at fault. If you could reach Shahrzad you might have more success but obviously that has not happened. Obviously Shahrzad has given Cherry the responsibility of handling emails so the info you have been given is all you have.

Do not close the dispute. You will not have the option to reopen.

I opened a dispute for an unreceived item from an Ebay vendor. They lied about shipping.

I was offered a refund or the item to be shipped to me. I should have taken the refund.

I wanted the item so I agreed for it to be shipped to me and my signature was required.

The item was damaged. The dispute was closed by Paypal as my complaint was non-receipt and they now had proof I received it.

I argued it was damaged and they said only one dispute per item.

This was long ago, perhaps they have changed their terms? If not, it was grossly unfair to me.

I had a similar problem with a costume I ordered off of the website. The photo showed the costume with gold coins, but the one I got was silver. I was able to work with it, but I still would have preferred the gold. I hope you get your money back. Good luck!

Well, despite two more emails there is still no reply, and now I've escalated it. I dare say I'll get my original money back, but the postage I've paid to return the item is long gone.

Thanks for the reminders to not close the dispute - I had no intention of doing so (generally internet-savvy shopper here), just really hoped they'd do the right thing and I wouldn't need to take it that far.


The worst of it is that they are either outright lying to me regarding the need to close a dispute to issue a refund, or they are hopelessly incompetent in finding this out for themselves - it's on PayPal's website in black and white for anyone to read! Considering I'd pointed them in the right direction but they repeated their original excuse, I have to lean towards thinking it's the former, and unfortunately that speaks volumes about their business ethics.

I truly hope that this is just Cherry's stuff up, but I used the email address supplied to PayPal that supposedly goes to Shahrzad herself, and I don't see why someone else lower down would be handling a lengthy, ongoing dispute when they know it's about to be escalated to a claim.

PayPal has a full copy of my email conversation, and photographs of the return postage receipts. Here's hoping this resolution is quick.

Originally Posted by superbunny

The worst of it is that they are either outright lying to me regarding the need to close a dispute to issue a refund, or they are hopelessly incompetent in finding this out for themselves - it's on PayPal's website in black and white for anyone to read! Considering I'd pointed them in the right direction but they repeated their original excuse, I have to lean towards thinking it's the former, and unfortunately that speaks volumes about their business ethics.

I suspect they may need the funds being held due to the dispute to pay your refund?

I would escalate the case to a claim. It is not a hostile act, it follows the proper protocol. In the end, if you get it resolved fairly and without everybody involved getting frustrated, that's good for you *and* good for the merchant.

Arrrgh! Sometimes doing the right thing just doesn't pay off!!

I sent the dress back on the 12th October after positive email conversation, in good consciousness that we'd resolved the issue. I just sent it air-mail, without an online tracking number (almost $30 more to do that!). Obviously I kept the receipt as evidence that I'd sent it.

I just got an email from PayPal saying they've found in my favour, and I now need to return the item, with online tracking, otherwise they may not refund the money!
(Obviously they haven't read my earlier messages, because I've mentioned more than once that I'd already returned the item.)

I cannot upload pictures/documents to PayPal (don't ask me why, goodness knows I've tried), but have sent PayPal a message with an URL showing the .jpg of the postage receipt. The receipt did list an Item ID number, and I've since entered this into 'Tracking Information' for PayPal, so I'm REALLY hoping that's sufficient proof.

Originally Posted by OMullaney

I suspect they may need the funds being held due to the dispute to pay your refund?

Direct from PayPal (emphasis my own):
"When a dispute, claim or chargeback is open, the funds will be held in the seller's account and will not be available for use. The funds cannot be withdrawn and will be considered "disputed" until the dispute, claim or chargeback is resolved. This ensures that the funds are available if a refund is needed.

The seller can use these funds to issue a refund anytime during the dispute by using the Refund link in the Transaction Details page.

Once the dispute, claim or chargeback is resolved, the remaining funds will be released. "

Like I said, it's there in black and white for anyone to see. I don't mean to be rude, and I appreciate giving someone the benefit of the doubt, but when it's a repeated 'mistake' combined with stalling tactics, I start to feel that I'm being taken advantage of.

Well, as expected, I received the refund from PayPal, and am out for the postage amount.
No word from anyone at Bellydance store. I'm half-expecting to be blacklisted now. Very disappointed...

Originally Posted by superbunny

Well, as expected, I received the refund from PayPal, and am out for the postage amount.
No word from anyone at Bellydance store. I'm half-expecting to be blacklisted now. Very disappointed...

There will be plenty of other people to sell you pretty things, while there is a much smaller market for companies who treat their customers badly. It is a buyer's market; they will continue to lose customers.

I had an issue with them years ago and decided recently to give them another try and now I'm not sure I'll purchase from them again. I bought a DD Phaoronics bra & belt set and though it is beautiful I noticed that the price tag on the costume was marked $50 cheaper than what I paid. I messaged them and now I'm getting the run around about how all of the DD costumes are $50 more, which I would understand but then why is the price tag on the costume itself say a cheaper price? hhhmmm