I Placed My Order Weeks Ago & Haven't Received It Yet...

I placed an order on 11/24/06 and was told that the items shipped on 11/26/06. To date, I haven't received the order and am most concerned that it will not ever arrive! I am also extremely upset that their is no way to track the shipping of these items or to contact the company via a North American telephone number. As most individuals who shop online, the overwhelming fear is that the company has our money and we may never see our items! Has anyone else had similar experiences with this company and if so, what was your eventual outcome?

Your package (order 16810) was shipped on 26 Nov and the delivery time can range from an estimated one to three and a half weeks depending on how the mails are routed through the various postal systems. These packages are shipped from Singapore and we can only estimate the time they take as the delivery time varies depending on the exact destination.

The postal systems are normally quite jammed up during this time of the year and it is hard to tell for sure when exactly it will arrive but based on the shipping date, the package should arrive some time this week or even next week at the latest if the package takes 3 1/2 weeks for delivery.

Your order details are available at iStyles - Welcome, Please Sign In

There is no tracking available for the GlobalMail option that you've chosen. More information is available at http://forum.istyles.com/faq.php?faq..._ship_tracking . Tracking in only available with the Speedpost mail option. Speedpost is unfortunately pretty costly starting at US$37 for a USA destination but they do deliver the package within 5 working days compared to the delivery time range that GlobalMail takes.

We do not have a North America number because we are based in Singapore. E-mail correspondences or forum messages like these are preferred because of the different time zones that we live in. You'll find that we usually respond within 24 hours.

We ship most packages within 2 business days if the items are all in stock. The rest of the delivery is then handled by the delivery companies depending on the delivery option chosen. Do rest assure that your package is indeed on its way. It's just a little more delayed than usual due to the year end mail jam.

Hi,
I ordered my product on the 4th of December and I'm yet to receive it either so I feel your pain Tracey.

I wouldn't usually make a fuss over something that is this little but I'm going abroad on the 31st and I need the product as its a present for a relative that I am visiting. I would be extremely upset if I didn't receive the product in time as I wouldn't be able to give it them in person which is half the fun. I know its the holiday season but the shipping time stated 5-7 days to North America which is why I ordered from iStyles. I hope iStyles can sort this predicament out before I go away for both party's sake.

LW

LW, your order came in on 3 Dec and we shipped the package on 4 Dec. I understand your anxiety, but shipping within one to two business days is as much control as we have for GlobalMail shipments because the rest of the delivery is then handled by DHL and then by your postal system, which is USPS in this case.

Based on the shipping date for your package, USPS is likely to deliver it on the last week of Dec or in the first week of Jan at the latest as a standard mail package. Once again, these are all estimates due to the nature of the shipping option chosen.

DHL GlobalMail works very well and the majority of our shipments are processed using this method thanks to the extremely low cost that we've managed to achieve with it. Shipping prices for a shipment halfway across the world can go as low as US$2+ depending on the item ordered (US$3 in your case) and we're even absorbing the shipping cost for orders above a mere US$25. This shipping cost is even cheaper than shipping a document via Priority Mail (about 5 business days) within the USA. The down side for GlobalMail is the potentially long delivery time as it can range from one week to three odd weeks during the normal season.

We recommend the selection of Speedpost for urgent deliveries as they get packages to our customers within a pretty much guaranteed 3 to 5 business days but even though we get and can offer pretty good corporate rates with them, and they're the most economical courier service available, the rates can start from about US$37 for a USA destination, even for the lightest item, which I honestly think is a little too costly as we are retailing US$7 Skins after all and not US$200 electronic items. Speedpost should be the choice anyway if timing is critical and cost is not a concern.

We are working on a little something for our USA customers and will announce more details within the next month. A hint will be - priority mail shipments from a USA destination for iStyles products.

The shipping times we quoted in all of our shipping pages are accurate. The 5-7 days is the estimated number of business days (mon to fri) as quoted by DHL and we find that this is pretty accurate on average. However, we know from experience that deliveries can take about 3 weeks at times and we thus state so in all of our shipping text. We have absolutely no intention to mislead our customers and this is what's written on our checkout shipping page. If anyone has any suggestion on how to improve it, do let me know.

Hi,
I got an idea, how about if you posted accurate seasonal delivery times on your checkout page if you do not want to mislead your customers. Now I don't want ot sound like an ass but I hope you can understand my frustration in the fact that I ordered the product seventeen days ago. I was lead to believe that the product would be delivered in 5-7 days and now I'm the one that is affected by having to wait extensively longer then I should do and the possibility of not having my product in time for my trip.

LW

I fully understand your frustration and can only hope that your package gets delivered in time before you leave for your trip. I've just received a thank you note from a USA based customer who received her package after 3 1/2 weeks exactly as she too was concerned about the delivery earlier this month. It is likely that you'll get the package in time after all as a 3 1/2 weeks delivery time will place the estimated delivery date for your order some time in the middle of next week.

Thank you for the suggestion. The shipping text in the checkout pages now reads:

Feel for all of you. I Placed order on Dec 6. Still not here. They told me today possibly 2nd week in Jan!!!! Other poster said ordered his Dec 3rd and reply from site was expected arrival last week in Dec. Does anyone else notice the trend that we keep getting put off to later dates. Anyone else here concerned that they may not be in business by second week in Jan?? Anyone else here considering disputing the charges with thier banks or credit card companies. I know I am! No product.....No pay! Who in their right mind would be willing to wait 3-5 weeks for a $6 skin. How many sights out there sell them...Obviously, the info is misrepresented. The sight may feel it is clear, but obviously it is not! If it is clear, why were we confused. Take off the 5-7 days and put 22 days and counting! Better yet, your guess is as good as mine. How about some time in 2007 if you are lucky! My advice to prospective customers, DONT ORDER FROM HERE!

Dear tired of waiting, I did tell you in my e-mail that it can arrive in the first two weeks of Jan and that's "at the latest". The fact is that it can arrive anytime from now till then but if I'm going to tell you that it'll potentially arrive next week as it's about 3 odd weeks then, you'll be back on Monday pissed off because it's not there yet.

As I've painstakingly described above, the GlobalMail service is SLOW and the delivery time is uncertain! If you want a speedy delivery, by all means, go for the Speedpost option and you'll have your package in 3-5 working days, guaranteed. Of course, you'll end up paying for more than US$37 for the shipment and there is obviously going to be a difference in shipping speed compared to the ZERO dollars that you're paying for the GlobalMail shipping because we absorbed the charges! All this for the mere $25.96 that you paid for your order.

I understand your frustration but please also understand that our involvement in the entire process is to fulfill your order and pass it on to the shipping company. We usually fulfill orders within 2 business days and we had yours shipped about 14 hours from the time you made the order.

As you've chosen GlobalMail the cost of your shipping is zero dollars as you ordered above US$25 but the delivery time unfortunately can range from one to three weeks and it can be affected by the seasonal mail jams such as those normally associated with the end of the year.

My advice to prospective customers is to please read, for my sake.

First let me say that I was not shocked by your "pissed off" comment in the above response to me. Honestly, I would expect such language from people of your caliber directed at your customers. Shame that you can not come up with something more articulate to say. It is obvious that you have gotten many complaints. It is not our fault that you offered free shipping! Stop throwing that up in customers faces. You offered it, we did not ask for it. As for your comment... you stated not meant to be takes "rudely" in a direct email to me...implying that I should just take it cause it was a $25 order and it was free shipping.... You apparently need the lovely people of the USA to order your products...My money, whether it be a penny or a $100 order, should not be taken lightly. You were paid for a service. I provided payment. The only one holding the bag is my 9 yr old waiting on his xmas present. I am not going to just suck it up because it was a $25 order. Believe me, you dont have to wait for Monday for me to be "pissed off!" Now I am. Congradulation! If your product finally arrives, it will be sent back. Bet you'll get it back in 5-7 days! I am going to file with the bank. I have made copies of all the blogs regarding non receipt of products. Saved my emails. Do not bother to respond. I have nothing more to say to your company or you. Deal with my bank!

First let me say that I was not shocked by your "pissed off" comment in the above response to me. Honestly, I would expect such language from people of your caliber directed at your customers. Shame that you can not come up with something more articulate to say. It is obvious that you have gotten many complaints. It is not our fault that you offered free shipping! Stop throwing that up in customers faces. You offered it, we did not ask for it. As for your comment... you stated not meant to be takes "rudely" in a direct email to me...implying that I should just take it cause it was a $25 order and it was free shipping.... You apparently need the lovely people of the USA to order your products...My money, whether it be a penny or a $100 order, should not be taken lightly. You were paid for a service. I provided payment. The only one holding the bag is my 9 yr old waiting on his xmas present. I am not going to just suck it up because it was a $25 order. Believe me, you dont have to wait for Monday for me to be "pissed off!" Now I am. Congradulation! If your product finally arrives, it will be sent back. Bet you'll get it back in 5-7 days! I am going to file with the bank. I have made copies of all the blogs regarding non receipt of products. Saved my emails. Do not bother to respond. I have nothing more to say to your company or you. Deal with my bank!

tired of waiting, my comments of "pissed off" were not directed at you but rather that you'll be "pissed off" if the product does not arrive, as a causal expression. I apologize if that remark offended you but I am honestly extremely horrified by your behavior.

Let me put it very bluntly to you. You spent $25 and we absorbed the shipping charges to give you free shipping for a shipping service in which we state up front that it may take about three weeks. You didn't read the text properly despite the obviously clear presentation of the information and choose to demand that your order appear instantly but we obviously cannot do it because I'm really not Santa despite the extra work we have to put in at each year end, and you make constant threats about going to your bank both in your e-mail and in this forum despite us so diligently shipping your order just 14 hours from the time you made the payment and all my attempts to explain the situation to you.

Your order was taken seriously and thus my efforts to explain the situation to you both in this forum and via e-mail. I'm didn't say that your order is a 'cheap' order but rather, that you should take things more into perspective.

We've shipped some 17k packages thus far and I can tell you that your return package will not take 5-7 days. You've got simply too much faith in the movement of a package halfway across the world for the $3 you pay the postal system. From our experience, postal systems only work well when you pay them lots of money, like in the case of the US$37 Speedpost. The world is not as small as you think. Try shipping via USPS Super Saver within the USA and it will take 9 to 14 working days.

I have nothing more to say to you and I'm sure likewise you for me. I am sorry that this episode left a bad taste for you and that your daughter didn't end up with her present (for which I do feel for) but I do hope that you'll be more realistic the next time you purchase from somewhere else.

Please send the products back to us at the following address when you get it next week.

iStyles Pte. Ltd.
Returns Department
5 Tank Road #03-01
Singapore 238061

The full refund for your order has already been credited.

People will probably be wondering why we air such episodes in our forum and not censor them. It's part of our effort to be more transparent to serve our customers better. Some of you might even be entertained by the incidents but everything here are real life customer complains that we deal with all the time. It's up to you to judge and make your own decision. One thing's for sure though - not one of you will want my job.