S A

Dec 9, 2019

Warning - investigation for consumer fraud pending

This company engages in flagrant consumer fraud and are currently being investigated. See below excerpts from my final email to a third random Hazelton "customer service" rep. The first two emails generated a generic response. They never responded to this last email. I will be advancing a Small Claims action, and encourage others who have been similarly scammed to do the same. They advertise premium items on their website, and once ordered, substitute them for inferior, damaged, dollar store items. Some paid for items are just never delivered. See website vs the photos I have posted for comparison. From: SA To: 'Quinton' Hello Quinton, You are now the third person I have spoken to regarding this matter. This will be the THIRD TIME I am sending photographs of all the defective, damaged and wrong items that had been sent as part of the delivery. These items have been preserved at the delivery site (my office) and you are welcome to come survey them in person if photos will not suffice. 1. You do not have the right to unilaterally substitute items that were ordered, regardless of the “terms and agreements” on your website that are in direct breach of the Consumer Protection Act. 2. You have an obligation to advise your customer of unavailable items, and give them the option of either accepting the recommended substitution, or rejecting the substitution option and removing the item entirely from the order. 3. Not only were the substituted items not agreed upon or ever communicated, they were clearly all of lesser value, and in poorer condition, than what was represented on the website. I ordered 7 items, and 6 of them were not delivered as advertised. My basket had 7 items: 1) I ordered a NHL Maple Leafs Bear for $16.99. I received a used, dirty, damaged dog toy teddy bear, and with a fake “NHL” tag and without an “NHL Maple Leaf” Jersey. 2) I ordered strawberry shortcake cupcakes for $19.99. I got unmarked, unidentified (but seemingly plain white vanilla), smashed, stale cupcakes. 3) I ordered a “wooden half barrel” container for my potted plant for $37.49. I did not receive anything, even a shoddy substitution. 4) I ordered a healthy, cactus for $12.49. I got a broken, smashed succulent. 5) I ordered a singing balloon for $13.99. I got a dollar store balloon that does not sing. 6) I ordered wine for $23.00. this is the one item that came as advertised. LCBO sells this for $11.00. 7) I ordered the Candy Gift Basket. The packaging was not even close to what was advertised, and the contents were replaced by cheap candy, not the luxury treats advertised on the website. i. This is the description of what I ordered from the website: "Celestial Sours – These Suns, Stars, Moons, and Clouds are our premium candies – with a bit of a bite! The flavors are enhanced with real fruit juice and sanded with tart and sweet crystals. Chocolate Cherries — Without question, the hottest item we sell!!! Moist Bing cherries coated in our rich milk chocolate then double dipped in our own cherry coating made with more real bits of cherries. The appearance is enhanced with a deep burgundy color with “flecks” of natural fruit bits. The surface is high gloss. Raspberry Jelly Beans - Premium real fruit jellybeans loaded with fruit from juice concentrates. Gummy Bears - Premium imported Gummi Bears in a variety of fruit flavors and sparkling clear colors. Assorted Jelly Beans – A great way to try a variety of our real fruit jelly beans! Natural Dark Chocolate Jordan Almonds - Roasted almonds covered in rich dark chocolate and a thin sugar shell." ii. This is what I received: 1. Green generic smarties 2. Generic yellow gummy bears 3. Generic Blue sour gummies. 4. Generic multicolored jelly beans 5. Generic cinnamon hearts 6. Generic gummy worms. SA