I, too, was scammed -- by ZestAds (and their affiliate, HappySharings.com). Paid $75 for "rush" shipping of face masks. Now told it could take up to six weeks and it sounds like everyone here has the same problem (does anyone ever get anything???). I've emailed PayPal execs (see below) but they won't give me the courtesy of a response (I encourage others to contact them). I have filed a dispute with PayPal, but others here say they never help -- which is really insulting. How can you be charged for an item you never receive???!!! And even if they arrive in six weeks -- doubtful though that may be -- that's still violating the purchase deal (six weeks is NOT rush and I've already had to pay for masks elsewhere). I've also reached out to my credit card company and filed a dispute with them. The next step is FTC and the BBB -- this is HORRIBLE customer service, both on the merchant's part and PayPal's. Clearly, with all the cases that have been filed, they should stop processing for this merchant.
Here is what I emailed Dan Schulman, CEO of PayPal.
I am a longtime PayPal user and this is the first time I can ever recall complaining about a purchase. I currently have a dispute in system, but on PayPal message boards, consumers are indicating that PayPal is not responding in their favor so I'm reaching out to you before I get any such notice. I've also filed a claim with my credit card company.
This is clearly a scam merchant -- and the fact it's doing this during a pandemic (that is, selling medical supplies it has no intention of delivering or at least delivering on time) is not only inexcusable, it's a clear violation of local, state and federal law.
The merchant goes by several names, it seems -- ZestAds,
HappySharings.com, etc. But the scam is the same. They sell face masks and promise a reasonable delivery time, especially if you order rush (as I did). But then the masks never come and you get various explanations from the company that they are en route. So, a "rush" order can take more than 30 days (and from what I see on PayPal message boards many people are not getting the masks even after that time). As an essential services worker, I needed the masks to do my job. At this point, I've had to buy them elsewhere -- it's now going on two weeks since I placed order and merchant is telling me to be prepared to wait a month. I won't even get into fact that there are reports KN95 masks are not as good as the N95 version, despite company claims they are.
It's ridiculous, if not criminal, that PayPal would allow such a merchant to operate on its platform, particularly when so many complaints are being filed. And it's ridiculous I have to wait weeks for any kind of resolution. I have contacted merchant, who has vague promises the masks are coming -- but that doesn't matter. I was promised masks "rush" and that's clearly not happening.
At a time when so many Americans are struggling -- my wife lost her job -- I would trust PayPal would do the right thing and immediately make sure my money is refunded. If you refuse to do so, I will contact the local, state and federal authorities, including the Federal Trade Commission, plus the Better Business Bureau. And I will certainly let all my friends know not to do business with PayPal.
I would also hope PayPal would stop processing orders for this merchant.
PayPal, please do not let me down.
