BEWARE!! Folica.com sells fake GHD!
- Thread starter josie
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This is the second time someone has recently reported fake merchandise from Folica:
http://forum.purseblog.com/the-beauty-bar/beware-folica-com-sells-fake-diverted-merchandise-394530.html
Since Folica is not an authorized seller of many of their products, they must get them through "grey market" channels. Many of their items are most likely diverted. With diversion comes the risk of getting fake, expired, or contaminated products. For your safety and peace of mind, buy only from authorized sellers. The potential monetary savings from buying from non-authorized sources is not worth the risk.
http://forum.purseblog.com/the-beauty-bar/beware-folica-com-sells-fake-diverted-merchandise-394530.html
Since Folica is not an authorized seller of many of their products, they must get them through "grey market" channels. Many of their items are most likely diverted. With diversion comes the risk of getting fake, expired, or contaminated products. For your safety and peace of mind, buy only from authorized sellers. The potential monetary savings from buying from non-authorized sources is not worth the risk.
"Do not rely on the hologram or its verification code. These too have been duplicated." (source:http://reviews.ebay.co.uk/Fake-Pink-GHD-Mk4_W0QQugidZ10000000004891337)
I've also read somewhere that certain serial numbers have been used 300 times and they also went through. The best way to know if the GHD is real is by looking at the plug.
I've called GHD customer service but I don't think they are in office because of the holidays, I did leave a message. But I'm 100% sure the straightener I received from folica.com is fake.
You're not the only one, check out more complaints here:
http://www.complaintsboard.com/?search=folica.com
You can tell that I've done a lot of research on folica.com. I'm surprised they are still in business!
Also Folica.com is not a authorized retailer for CHI, GHD, or T3.
My boyfriend is in the process of getting a refund, folica said they would call him tomorrow.
Hopefully everything ends well !
I think I am also the victim of receiving a potentially fake or returned GHD from Folica. I plan to purchase one from Sephora and return the one I received about a week ago. Something simply did not seem right about the iron when I used it the first time. It had a faint burning smell when the plates heated up. I asked other GHD owners about this and they told me they did not experience that same odor with their irons. I also noticed a small discoloration / scratch on the case of the iron when I first opened it. It seemed as though it had been used before. Something is definitely off about the iron and I will be returning the one I have right away. Hopefully, I will get a refund, but I am concerned with all the complaints I have read online about Folica returns. I hope your boyfriend gets a refund and please keep us posted on this.
This is the second time I heard this. I was thinking about getting a GHD from them too because the price is cheaper then at Sephora, but I guess not.
Update!
Sorry I've been MIA.
My boyfriend is in the process of getting a refund, it will take up to 14 days for the payment to be cleared.
The refund is currently pending.
I'm glad my boyfriend was able to get the refund without having to return the hair straightener first. I think after the payment is cleared, we will be shipping it off to them. I don't want a fake GHD in my house, yuck!
peridot77, I hope you got your refund!
Sorry I've been MIA.
My boyfriend is in the process of getting a refund, it will take up to 14 days for the payment to be cleared.
The refund is currently pending.
I'm glad my boyfriend was able to get the refund without having to return the hair straightener first. I think after the payment is cleared, we will be shipping it off to them. I don't want a fake GHD in my house, yuck!
peridot77, I hope you got your refund!
ok, even though you are returning it and your BF is able to get a refund. it is possible that this particular iron is defect (or not up to) Sephora or other authorized retailer standards. as well as one being made specifically for Europe.
I am wondering if calling the company (GHD) directly and asking them about this online store you purchased your iron from?
i have a concern as i purchased mine from ebay, haven't received it yet. i think there are seconds out there. not really fake but irons that can not be sold becuase something is wrong with them (like the packaging, the box is crushed).
for example, certain coach bags end up in the outlets because they can never hit the retail store because of a defect..
trying to look on the brightside.;.
I just bought a Sedu flat iron from Folica. I thought it was weird because when I opened it up it just looked and felt cheap. I also thought it was weird because it didn't have a swivel cord with a surge protector. When I went on the Sedu website it shows this flat iron with both a swivel cord and surge protector. The interesting part to me is that the Sedu website takes you to the Folica website to order their products. I wonder if they know they are selling fakes. I have a blow drier ordered that I am going to return. I won't be ordering anything from them anymore!!!
ok, even though you are returning it and your BF is able to get a refund. it is possible that this particular iron is defect (or not up to) Sephora or other authorized retailer standards. as well as one being made specifically for Europe.
I am wondering if calling the company (GHD) directly and asking them about this online store you purchased your iron from?
i have a concern as i purchased mine from ebay, haven't received it yet. i think there are seconds out there. not really fake but irons that can not be sold becuase something is wrong with them (like the packaging, the box is crushed).
for example, certain coach bags end up in the outlets because they can never hit the retail store because of a defect..
trying to look on the brightside.;.
I know what you mean. My boyfriend paid 250+ dollars for something he thought was brand new and not a defect. If it was a defect, it should have been advertised as a defect.
I just got off the phone with GHD.
Folica.com IS an authorized reseller.
However when I described my hair straightener, there were things that didn't match up to the real GHD (power outlet, bag, etc.).
They asked me to send them the hair straightener so they can do an investigation on folica.com.
Please contact GHD if you purchased a fake from folica!
Thanks for keeping us posted Josie! I can't believe they are an authorized GHD reseller. It's really a shame that people are being duped into thinking they are buying a legit product from a trusted seller. I hope GHD investigates Folica thoroughly, it sounds like they are an extremely disreputable company. I was checking out their ratings from the link posted earlier in the thread and you can tell that their reps are the ones posting the favorable reviews to counteract all of the real reviews of their horrible company. How desperate!
Wow....thank you SO MUCH, josie, for starting this thread. I was literally just looking at folica.com 2 min. ago to get a flat iron myself, and was amazed at their prices in comparison to everyone else's -- and now we know just how/why they are able to offer those prices and still stay in business! I will not be purchasing from them after all.
Your careful documentation is much appreciated!
Your careful documentation is much appreciated!
Folica is a NIGHTMARE to deal with! I bought a $130 Sedu straightener that broke after 2 months. It had a 1-year warranty so they told me to send it back and they'd replace it for free. I sent it back and got delivery confirmation that it got delivered but they denied the whole thing. They claimed they never received it, and I was probably trying to scam them so I could get two flat-irons. uhhh okay..
I got so pissed one day after fighting with them over the phone and the fact that they were pretty much claiming I was lying, so called sick into work and I drove down to their warehouse! (It was when I lived in NJ, the folica warehouse was about 2 hours from me at the time)
I brought my delivery confirmation slip and fought with them there, and they finally gave me my replacement. they were so rude too.. it was horrible. when I showed them it HAD been delivered, they looked confused and tried to apologize but I didn't even care. this entire situation lasted over 2 months, and it was supposed to take about 2 weeks. they treated me like i was a horrible person for wanting a replacement for a defective product. they're a really awful company to deal with and it doesn't surprise me that they're selling fakes..
I got so pissed one day after fighting with them over the phone and the fact that they were pretty much claiming I was lying, so called sick into work and I drove down to their warehouse! (It was when I lived in NJ, the folica warehouse was about 2 hours from me at the time)
I brought my delivery confirmation slip and fought with them there, and they finally gave me my replacement. they were so rude too.. it was horrible. when I showed them it HAD been delivered, they looked confused and tried to apologize but I didn't even care. this entire situation lasted over 2 months, and it was supposed to take about 2 weeks. they treated me like i was a horrible person for wanting a replacement for a defective product. they're a really awful company to deal with and it doesn't surprise me that they're selling fakes..
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