Today, we will discuss a scam clothing store called Pumapat. This store sells a variety of women's, men's, and baby clothes. However, several red flags indicate that this store is fraudulent.
Bad Customer Experiences
The Pumapat store on Facebook has a rating of 1/5 based on 20 reviews.
A rating of 1 out of 5 indicates that the customer experience was mostly negative. Let's take a look at some reviews.
The reviewer ordered a shirt in a size that was too small and wanted to return it for a larger size. However, the company expected the reviewer to pay for shipping the shirt back to China, even though the store's return label was from California.
The second review complains about the store not being clear that items are shipped from China, which the customer only found out after buying. The clothes were much smaller than US sizes, and the store's return policy was confusing and frustrating.
The customer was also concerned about potentially having to pay tariffs on the returned items and whether they would get a full refund. They regretted the purchase and decided not to buy from this store or any other Chinese company again.
The third review is from a customer who ordered t-shirts two months ago but hasn't received them yet. They also mentioned not getting any response from the company when they tried to contact them about the issue.
The customer ordered four items from pumapat.com, but only three were sent. The customer was told that one item was not in stock, but she checked the website and saw that the item was in stock.
The tracking update for the customer's order is in Chinese. The customer is threatening to contact the police and their lawyer if they do not receive their order.
This customer ordered three t-shirts with sayings on them from pumapat.com. After washing the shirts for the first time, the printing on two of the shirts started coming off and got on some of the other clothes in the load.
The customer was disappointed with the quality of the t-shirts and felt like they wasted their money.
This review is highly negative, with the customer labelling the website as a scam. They ordered baby clothes but were unable to obtain any shipping information.
This review is from a customer who ordered three t-shirts about two weeks ago and now suspects the site might be a scam. They mention being barred from commenting on the site and not receiving a refund.
The customer is unable to send a private message to the company and is seeking clarification on whether they will receive the t-shirts or get their money back.
Also, This comment suggests that the store has low quality.
Overall, the reviews for pumapat.com are very negative. Customers complain about the following:
- Incorrect sizing: Several customers ordered shirts that were too small and were expected to pay for shipping to return them to China.
- Unclear shipping information: Customers were not informed that items are shipped from China until after they purchased them.
- Long shipping times: One customer ordered shirts two months ago and still has not received them.
- Missing items: Several customers ordered multiple items but only received some of them.
- Poor customer service: Customers have difficulty contacting the company and getting responses to their inquiries.
- Low quality: One customer was disappointed with the quality of the t-shirts they ordered.
- Possible scam: Several customers suspect that pumapat.com is a scam.
Clothes From China
The "About Us" page on Pumapat's website states that the store is based in France, but in reality, the store is located in China.
Upon examining the domain information, I discovered that it is registered in China. This can be seen in the image below.
If a store claims to be located in one country (like France) but ships products from another country (like China), it raises questions about the store's legitimacy and transparency:
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Transparency Issues: Lack of transparency about the store's actual location and where the products are shipped from can be a red flag. It might indicate that the store is not being completely honest with its customers, which can be a concern for trustworthiness.
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Legitimacy Concerns: While this practice doesn't necessarily mean the store is illegitimate, it does warrant caution. Customers might question the quality of the products, the accuracy of product descriptions, and the reliability of customer service.
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Customer Experience Impact: This situation can affect the overall customer experience, including longer shipping times, unexpected customs fees, and complicated return processes, especially if customers were expecting a local shipment.
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Legal and Ethical Considerations: Misrepresenting the location of a business can also have legal and ethical implications. It might violate consumer protection laws in some jurisdictions and can be seen as deceptive marketing.
Negative Reviews Are Filtered Out
Negative reviews appear to be filtered out on the Pumapat website, resulting in all products having perfect ratings. This differs from reviews on other platforms, where negative reviews are more common.
The filtering out of negative reviews to show only positive ones is a questionable practice that can undermine the credibility of the store and mislead consumers. It's always advisable for consumers to consult multiple sources for reviews and feedback before making a purchase decision.
Fake Company
The store uses the company name Nimo Harmony Sarl in a manner that appears to mislead customers.
Furthermore, many other scam stores are using the name of this company.
Using a misleading company name, as in the case of the store using "Nimo Harmony Sarl," can be a tactic employed by some businesses to create a false sense of legitimacy or to mislead customers. Here's why this is concerning:
Fake Phone Number
Pumapat has provided the following phone number +1 812-701-5679, which is not a real phone number.
Providing a fake or non-functional phone number is a major red flag. It suggests the company might not be trustworthy, as legitimate businesses usually provide valid contact details.
This can lead to customer service issues, raise doubts about the company's honesty, and in some cases, might even indicate a scam.
Conclousion
Based on the information gathered, Pumapat appears to be a highly questionable and potentially fraudulent online clothing store. Here's a summary of the key points that raise concerns:
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Poor Customer Experiences: The store has a low rating on Facebook, with numerous customers reporting negative experiences. Issues include incorrect sizing, unclear shipping information, long shipping times, missing items, poor customer service, low-quality products, and suspicions of being a scam.
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Misleading Location Information: Despite claiming to be based in France, the store operates from China. This discrepancy raises questions about the store's transparency and legitimacy.
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Filtered Reviews: Pumapat seems to filter out negative reviews on its website, presenting a misleadingly positive image. This practice is deceptive and undermines consumer trust.
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Use of a Misleading Company Name: The store uses the name "Nimo Harmony Sarl," which may be an attempt to appear legitimate or mislead customers. This tactic is often used by fraudulent businesses.
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Fake Contact Information: The store provides a non-functional phone number, further casting doubt on its legitimacy and hindering customer service.
In light of these factors, customers should refrain from shopping at Pumapat.
