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BBB Says If You Ordered Online From Living Chic, Don’t Hold Your Breath

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The kitchen and bathroom drain wig for $11.99 might sound like the perfect solution for your clogged drain issues, and the 2-in-1 mop slippers might look like a great way to exercise while cleaning your floors at the same time, but the Better Business Bureau of West Michigan strongly suggests you restrain yourself to avoid disappointment.

Those and a boatload of other “glamorous bargains” teed up by the online company purportedly based in Kalamazoo calling itself Living Chic are dangerous options to choose from in light of the fact that “this operation displays telltale signs of being a scam.”

The Better Business Bureau is warning us all to avoid doing business with Living Chic saying, “If you’re considering buying anything from Living Chic, buyer beware, as you’ll likely not receive the product you purchased, you won’t be able to get in contact with this business, nor will you likely receive a refund.”

Reality is that nowhere on the robust and colorful website is there any sign of a phone number or an address. The only form of “contact us” available to those who order is an e-mail response form, and the Better Business Bureau notes that even that contact methodology, “only generates a poorly written auto-response apologizing for slow response due to the ‘myriad of inquiries’ they are receiving at this time.”

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Complaints to the Bureau have been numerous and even when investigators looked into the company’s logistics last month it only offered 10 total products. They add, “Now, around the holidays, it is offering hundreds of products, all just in time for Christmas.”

From “aluminized fiber socks” to color-changing lipsticks, and from memory foam knee pillows to bamboo charcoal teeth whitening, the site offers a remarkable array of bargain priced gadgets and stuff that has attracted a lot of attention.

The Bureau says, “Since we’ve become accustomed to buying anything we need at the click of a mouse, and especially during the Christmas season, a local online retailer has been enticing consumers to hand over their money at the thought of getting a good deal that expires soon.” However, they caution, “BBB Serving Western Michigan is officially issuing an alert about this F-Rated retailer as they have repeatedly failed to deliver purchased products or respond to BBB and consumers when issues arise.”

They go on to tell us that Living Chic offers just about anything you’d need to live glamorously, with products ranging from clothing to housewares, to outdoor, digital, and travel items. But the red flags indicate a scam. The BBB points out that “Every product they offer is either marked on sale or is discounted 50% or more off face value and even more discounts are available if you order more than one or in bulk, but only for a limited time.”

They add, “According to their purchase policies, ‘any orders that have already been packed or shipped cannot be canceled’ and ‘due to the high volume of orders [Living Chic is] receiving, your shipment may take longer than usual.'”

Apparently Living Chic is operated by Storm Media which the BBB says lists their address as being in a “nondescript, unverifiable strip mall in Kalamazoo, Michigan.”

In the last month, BBB has also received 12 negative reviews and 8 formal complaints against Storm Media, none of which they have responded to, adding, “this business has also not answered BBB phone calls, emails, or letters regarding these issues.”

If you’ve had an issue with Living Chic or another organization, file a complaint via BBB so they can further investigate and work towards a mutually agreed upon solution. Consumers can get started via their website: https://www.bbb.org/ask/complaints.