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Caravan Spice Co., Natural Botanika, Ripoff! Kelly Bloom Sent bay leaves full of bug chew marks, bug parts, nesting material, black spots that look like mold, and a lot of brown leaves, bay leaves are usually green, displayed unprofessional behavior Fayetteville North Carolina
I purchased bay leaves from this person on ebay, they said that I have 7 days to pay, but sent 2nd notice of payment needed, before 24 hours had even went by.
I emailed them and told them this seemed a bit pushy, that I was considering buying more, that is why I hadn't paid yet. Part of her reply was--Payment CAN be made within 7 days... anytime. BUT, confirmation of my email with payment info is expected and if not received, additional notices will be sent. We relist items after 3 days when items go unconfirmed.
But at her auction it says--Ebay Auctions: All payments are due by 7 days post auction. We do not accept Personal Checks for eBay purchases.
Seller's payment instructions:
Multiple items won during a 3 day period will automatically have the sh/h recalculated during checkout. Please refer to combined shipping rate table posted on auction. Please use the PAYNOW link above to combine all your wins. Payment due within 7 days. Please use the checkout to obtain payment address for Money Order payments. I am sorry, but Personal Checks not accepted, and will be returned. Please call 910-423-4202 if you need checkout assistance.
No where does it say anything about a confirmation email due from the buyer. But yet in her email she says she relists items 3 days if confirmation email not recieved. So I was not aware of this rule since it wasn't diclosed anywhere in her advertizement.
Things just went from bad to worse, when my bay leaves arrived they were/are in terrible condition, bug chew marks, bug body parts, bug nesting materials, black spots that look like mold and a lot of brown leaves. They did not come in tamper proof packaging, and their labeling is inadequate according to ebay and the FDA.
Ebay requires a experation date on food products, and the FDA requires that "Distributed by:" on all labels if the product came from somewhere besides the company selling it. In an email she stated: As far as the Bay Leaves go, they are certified by the FDA by my importer/supplier, at the California docks, as being completely suitable.
I emailed her and told her, I couldn't send them back as I have reported this to serveral government agencys and have told them that I can forward the leaves to them. This was on the 9th of March 2005. Not until March 13, 2005 did I receive a email that I could send them back and this is what she said--You have two options.
1. You can return the bay leaves for a full refund, inclusive of shipping, and I will inspect the bay leaves and also send them back to my supplier for full analysis.
2. You can send them to whom ever you please in NC, and not get any refund or reimbursement for your shipping expenses. NC will thoroughly analyze the bay leaves and compare them against my stock and my suppliers stock to ensure that they indeed are the SAME product shipped to you. If they are not, that would constitute fraud, libel and slander.
Sincerely,
Kelly Bloom
Caravan Spice Company
http://www.caravanspice.com
Then I received this email--
The other thing you might want to be aware of, my husband is from Fort Wayne Indiana, and his family have been in legal practice there for three generations. I do not tolerate attempts to defraud, libel, or slander me or my business. Pursuing legal action against you is extremely easy for me... you can find the my attorney in the Fort Wayne phone book, under Bloom.
Natural Botanika Purely Natural Handmade Soaps
http://www.naturalbotanika.com
She has sent emails to me with 5 different email addresses, threatening to sue me and has even accused me of exchanging the leaves she sent me, although I have pictures of these, time dated, the same day I got them. She also added this to an email--
I have to assume you have purchased these bay leaves with purely bad intent from the start.
I don't even know this person. She also made reference to me being mentally ill and wrote this in an email to me--I have to assume you failed to take your Prozac
She also gave me negative feedback, although I did not give her any. But I did after the fact.
Here is what she posted--REFUSED REFUND, slanderous CLAIMS, & THREATENING EMAILS, BUYERS & SELLERS BEWARE this perpetually Discontented BUYER- AVOID!
My reply-- DISCONTENTED-DISSATISFIED-YOU BET,EVIDENCE OF LOTS OF BUGS& BLACK SPOTS (MOLD?)
Her follow up--Absolutely NOTHING wrong with these products other than buyer feels she paid to much (see .99 bidding history) Refused Refund
Feedback I posted to her--BUGCHEWMARKS,NESTINGMATERIAL,BODYPARTS&BLACKSPOTS(LOOKS LIKE MOLD)CANFORWARDPICS
Reply by her-- Absolutely NOTHING wrong with these products other than buyer feels she paid to much (see .99 bidding history) Refused Refund
I did not refuse refund, I refused to send my evidence back, she refused to give refund without product. She also accuses me of being cheap. But as I investigated her feedback left for others, I started to see a pattern of her rude, name calling behavior.
But to get back to the facts: Bay leaves are in gross condition and in my opinion uneatable. After I let her know I had contacted the board of health, this was the email she sent--
I guess I will be contacting my brother in law who lives in Fort Wayne In. He is an attorney.
Robin
Fort Wayne, Indiana
U.S.A.
Click here to read other Rip Off Reports on ebay
29 Updates & Rebuttals
Marie
Concord,California,
Safe to Use Southern Soapers again!!!
#30Consumer Comment
Sun, November 17, 2013
Kelly Bloom no longer owns Southern Soapers! She also does own the Trademark "Southern Soapers". She sold the business and Trademark to Denise Mercelli (Full Moon Herbs) but unfortunately Denise passed away about a year ago. Her widower sold the business and Trademark to Cindy Gooding of Soap_Makers. So it's safe to go back to using Southern Soapers now. If you see Kelly Bloom using Soaper Supplies anywhere for any reason please let Cindy know so she can file a violation report.
You know the only reason Kelly creates all the trouble she does is because she really doesn't like herself and needs the attention. If you're as sick as she is any kind of attention is good even if it's negative.
Anotherkbvictim
NEWHALL,California,
U.S.A.
Another KB Victim
#30Consumer Comment
Mon, July 07, 2008
She's still going at it. I am another supplier and competitor of hers that she is harassing. It never ends with this woman.
Lillian
Noblesville,Indiana,
U.S.A.
If you are looking for Kelly Bloom
#30Consumer Comment
Sat, May 24, 2008
She's been posted here, and more information about her.
http://www.txsoapmakers.org//meetings/speakers_08.shtml
From reading this, she has so much going for her that it's hard to understand why she would spend her energy on negativity and hurting others.
John
Coral Springs,Florida,
U.S.A.
Kelly Bloom does not just steal from Soap Companies......
#30Consumer Comment
Sun, December 02, 2007
I ran into this woman on ebay and she took a dislike to me and went on a campaign of harassment against me. She brought down my ebay business by lying and writing to companies I did business with at the time and lied to the entire ebay community at large about me on their community message boards. She has done this to many others.
I registered lickmylatte and the second the web sight went public, she registered this name also.
She has been banned from ebay on about 17 user ID's and can no longer sell there and if she takes a dislike to you, she tries to have you banned from ebay also. She is a dangerous woman with a lot of time on her hands for revenge.
Backatyou
Woodstock,Alabama,
U.S.A.
There is More.......
#30Consumer Comment
Sun, October 28, 2007
There is more on this person that is posted here:
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/281/RipOff0281280.htm
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/280/RipOff0280887.htm
No_lye
Ames,Texas,
U.S.A.
cold and manipulative
#30Consumer Comment
Mon, August 13, 2007
Stacy of DayStar received this from Yahoo. It came just a few days after Kelly Bloom sent that trademark infringement email to Stacy, saying if she did not remove those fo names from the website and her yahoo group that she would report her to yahoo! How could she be so cold and manipulative?
.....................
.....
Dear stacylynnherrod
>
> By creating and using your Yahoo! account, you agree to abide by
> Yahoo!'s Terms of Service (TOS). Pursuant to the TOS, Yahoo!
reserves
> the right to terminate your account or otherwise prohibit use of
your
> account in the event that, among other things, Yahoo! believes
that you
> have violated or acted inconsistently with the letter or spirit of
the
> TOS.
>
> It has come to our attention that you may have violated the TOS
> on Yahoo! Groups
> Please reread the TOS and cease any use of your account that may
> violate the TOS.
>
> If your use of your Yahoo! account is brought to our attention
again,
> and we believe that such use violates the TOS, then we may
terminate
> your account without further notice.
>
> Please do not reply to this email. Any questions concerning
Yahoo!'s
> Services should be submitted through the on-line form in the help
area
>
> -Yahoo
No_lye
Ames,Texas,
U.S.A.
forewarned is forearmed
#30Consumer Suggestion
Mon, August 13, 2007
I am copying you with an email I have sent out to various Yahoo group owners in light of an email that I received from Kelly Bloom today (if
you didn't get a copy of it, I will be happy to forward it to you, as it was sent to some other group owners and is addressed to 'whom it may
concern'). In this email, it seems that Kelly has applied for trademarks on my fragrance oil names, using false information as to the
first dates of use in commerce; in fact she has outright lied, as she had never used these names in any of her products prior to now.
This is being handled legally although it will take time to resolve, however the reason I am writing to you is because in this email Kelly
sent, she has threatened to report any groups to Yahoo that allow anyone to post these names, and have the group shut down. I am giving you this
information so that you might be able to take steps to secure the integrity of your group and consider if you wish to have Kelly and/or
Andree Terry remain a member and post advertisements on your group using this false and unethical information.
I had sold these fragrances under these names for a few years, and they were popular and well-known in the soap and candle community, and are
most frequently called by the names that I created for them, so it is likely that these names will come up in posts on your group in the future.
Her trademark applications are specified to the category of 'bar soap' so anyone on your group who mentions that they make a soap and call it
one of these names (Chocolate Bliss, Sweet & Sassy, Juicy Pink Grapefruit, Coffee Caramel) would be a direct target of harassment from
her. We have our attorneys looking into whether or not her patent covers the fragrance oil itself or if that is a different category, but
since most of your members aren't suppliers this wouldn't apply to them.
However, she seems to be trying to apply her trademark application (it has not been approved yet, she just filed it on Wednesday) to ALL
products that use those names, so it is possible that anyone who mentions those names would come under her attack.
It is totally up to you, of course, I just wanted to give you a heads-up as to what was going on, because it seems that she didn't send this email to some group owners on purpose and we are thinking that she has the intent to try and get those groups shut down without notice.
At any rate, the information is readily available to you and if you have any questions or want to know more, don't hesitate to ask me, I'll try and help in whatever way I can.
And again, please forgive me for my previous post on the group, it was not meant to damage the group in any way! And this email to you is not meant to cause any drama either, I just believe in being forewarned is forearmed.
Hugs,Kerri
No_lye
Ames,Texas,
U.S.A.
You Are A Stinker" award!!
#30Consumer Comment
Mon, August 13, 2007
You underestimated us soapers, Kelly. Just because we're nice doesn't mean we're stupid! You've attacked us, lied about us, manipulated us, stolen from us, used us, threatened people over associating with us, tried to destroy our
reputations, and we just proved it! We'll be forwarding your lovely threatening emails to us to IFT, Yahoo Groups & some of us to our lawyers.
I don't believe any of us will be able to look at Andree Terry's name in your ads or on your website again without giggling. A lot.
We hereby award you with the "You Are A Stinker" award!! Your prize is a lifetime supply of virtual doodie bags, as it is the law to clean up any doodie piles you leave in public. We suggest you share them with Andree. Maybe you
can legally trademark them. We are sending you several virtual cases, to be sure you have enough, as we're certain you will leave many more doodie piles in your lifetime. RJ :o)
No_lye
Ames,Texas,
U.S.A.
I have dealt with trademarks for several years and researched them extensively
#30Consumer Suggestion
Mon, August 13, 2007
alternasense2003
Sat Jul 21, 2007 12:03 am (PST)
Ok everyone! I don't normally get involved in matters such as this as I prefer to stay in my corner, but this was just too much.
Here is the scoop on Trademarks. ANYONE can trademark any grouping of words for any reason. For lack of a better choice I will use "Sweet and Sassy" as an example. This term is currently trademarked for over 35 different things
Anyone can use the term and trademark it for that item so long as it is not used for the exact same item and description. SO... Since the term Sweet and Sassy" is being used by our dear friend to describe a soap bar and not a fragrance oil, she would have no claim, in any way, any shape, or form against anyone selling an oil of the same name unless, and I stress, unless, she trademarks the name for use with the oil itself.
So if I wanted to use the oil and make a monkey shampoo and call it "Sweet and Sassy" I could
without fear of any retribution from miss thing and her friends.
So there! That's my two bits and I know what I am talking about since I have dealt with trademarks for several years and researched them extensively
No_lye
Ames,Texas,
U.S.A.
Call a lawyer and sue her
#30Consumer Suggestion
Mon, August 13, 2007
Call a lawyer and sue her. If you can prove that you used these names first, and it sounds like you can, and that you sold products
by that name before she did, then you can sue her.
I'm not a lawyer, so this is just my first-glass-of-wine opinion.
If you want a better opinion, wait until after I've had the second glass.
Sorry.
No_lye
Ames,Texas,
U.S.A.
Bad Blood
#30Consumer Suggestion
Mon, August 13, 2007
It is all common knowledge that Kerri of Serendipities was selling these fragrance oils from Andree Terry. Kerri went out of business and transfered those codes to Stacey of Daystar. Andree decided to give the codes to Kelly Bloom.
Kelly Bloom is one for bringing it people's attention and reminding suppliers how to ship fo's base on flashpoints, confessed that it
takes her hours to "formulate" a description for a fragrance oil and she doesn't want anyone to use hers.
I personally feel that IF she wanted no anomosity to start with Kerri(as there was bad blood there) she would have handled it so much differently. She could have "formulated" another name and description and quite frankly
none of this would be happening. Instead she took the in your face approach and decided to trademark a bar of soap called chocolate
bliss etc etc. Isn't it kinda??? Just kinda crazy that sweet and sassy trademarked is a dupe of Pink Sugar? I am confused on this, isn't Pink Sugar a Victoria secrets product?
my 2 cents
Johnette
No_lye
Ames,Texas,
U.S.A.
Her personal vendetta
#30Consumer Comment
Mon, August 13, 2007
Zo, Kelly Bloom has been harassing me since she decided to go into the supplier business. Since then, she has targeted Kerri, and she
actually sent Steph an email telling her that she wasn't comfortable letting Steph run an ad on her list, since she did business with
Kerri & I. This is all about power, money and personal vendetta.
RJ
No_lye
Ames,Texas,
U.S.A.
Sassy but not sweet
#30Consumer Comment
Mon, August 13, 2007
KBar4616 .. wrote:
Yes, that's exactly what it means, especially since Kelly Bloom NEVER had a soap called Sweet & Sassy, and certainly NOT in 2004, as she
claims!
It is nothing but an underhanded attempt to patent something SHE stole.
And it WILL be disputed, as I have PROOF that I was the first one to use it in eCommerce!
Soapopera
Nicholson,Georgia,
U.S.A.
More that she is doing
#30Consumer Comment
Fri, August 10, 2007
--- In ---, Stacy wrote:
Now she has changed the name yet again ... lovely how she must
include "serendipity" in the name ... she has to cling to that so
she can convince everyone its Serendipities Scents fragrance.
Before these name changes she was stating these were previously
sold by Serendipities .. I own this name and she does not have my
permission to use or associate it with her company.
I am so pleased to see that everyone seems to be aware of this
woman and what she is doing.
This is ridiculous, but rest assured, my attorney is working on this
matter as we speak.
Now, I will shut my mouth until further notice,
Stacy :)
Soapopera
Nicholson,Georgia,
U.S.A.
She is evil and manipulative
#30Consumer Comment
Fri, August 10, 2007
--- In ---, Denise wrote:
Kelly wouldn't allow me to run ads on her list either--she said I
was stepping on someone elses toes (whoever had Darkswan) by doing a
buy on Philosophy fragrances. At the time, I had no clue who this
other person was--never heard of her, but I guess she's in Kellys
back pocket! I know Kelly for who and what she is, and am very glad
to have absolutely no association with her. I've seen her try to
knock down too many people. She is evil and manipulative--not very
good traits.
Denise
Soapopera
Nicholson,Georgia,
U.S.A.
Beware again
#30Consumer Comment
Fri, August 10, 2007
>> Subject: [gainesville_soap_gatherers] Re: ga spring fling nevermind
>> Sent: Jul 11 '07 9:35am
>>
>> trish and Ladies,
>>
>> What Kelly Bloom does to suppliers up to and including soapers is
>> something that I can not endorse. Kelly Bloom in my opinion(we all
>> have them lol) is cunning and extremely calculated. She is on a
>> mission to be the biggest and if she could have it only supplier.
>> Kerri Barrett WAS Kelly's friend last summer, to be exact May, June,
>> July 2006 when I was unfortunate enough to stumble on SS Group.
>> Kelly Bloom used to call me at home and work and she is just so very
>> full of herself..just ask her *wink* I give her that she is
>> extremely knowledgable, but what is called an MO(modus operandi-to
>> describe someone's habits or manner of working, the method of
>> operating or functioning.)of Kelly Bloom is something that I can not
>> and will not associate myself with. Kelly literally lured her
>> friend Kerri to come to SS and bring her entire Serendipities List
>> (aka customer base) and join SS to make it the biggest list and that
>> Kerri would be able to advertise there and increase her sales. Poor
>> Kerri defended Kelly up until this past Dec 06 when Kelly stopped
>> Kerri from advertising on SS, Kelly was insistant that she was NOT
>> going into the supplier business until .......she did. Her
>> friend???? Um sorry I don't want friends like that. I had my own
>> round with KB over that Decadent Dessert Swap that was MY IDEA, as I
>> did the Tropical Swap on SS last May/June 06...4 groups of 13 ppl.
>> Kelly Bloom wanted NO part of swaps as she pretty much said they
>> were a waste of her time.....then the Decadent Dessert Swap 60 ppl
>> signed up and more were joining her group over the swaps(if you
>> don't believe me go to the group homepage and look at the volume of
>> posts from Jan 2006 to at least July 2006, real numbers speak for
>> themselves)You will see that from the time I started the swaps the
>> frenzy began and interest in posts. Welp Kelly's eyes were opened
>> and she snatched the control over the decadent dessert swap started
>> the voting for the best with $20 gift cert, um yeah she called me at
>> work about that she was just so excited about that, that she had to
>> tell me, I was a bit miffed but oh well her group right??? Kelly
>> intentionally attacks suppliers RJ, Kerri, she just tried to
>> undermine Juan Perez on HIS OWN LIST because he is good friends with
>> Suz of OT, she attacked San on Soap Makers over a supplier review
>> group, I could literally give you names of suppliers and ppl to
>> follow up with to get the facts from them as you don't have to take
>> my word.
>>
>> As for the GA Spring Fling, if you are on RJ's group she surmized it
>> fairly well. I started talking about the gathering after going to
>> gainsville......um remember me saying I could host one but who wants
>> to come to bainbridge? Then I talked to Sindy, RJ and Kerri and we
>> were all to host a gathering.....things happened and we postponed to
>> 2008. It was to be a Georiga Spring Fling and we were going to
>> accomodate as many GA suppliers first and then surrounding
>> states...this is a very long story but Sindy was insisting that
>> Kelly Bloom be a supplier onsite..um I can't be a part of that. KB
>> was not welcomed to the Ohio Gathering as they don't like her and I
>> don't see KB as someone or something that should be an equation in
>> the GA gathering. KB was already communicating with Sindy to be
>> there because Sindy asked me a few months ago and I told her that I
>> didn't think Kelly Bloom's presence would be conducive to our
>> Gathering with so many not liking her I can't imagine how that would
>> create a fun, festive atmosphere????? Bottom line is this past
>> monday I put Sindy on the spot in email and said, you need to tell
>> me if KB is going to be a part, if so then I need to bow out as I
>> won't be affliated with her in any fashion...Sindy got a bit rude on
>> the phone with me "well from your email, I don't know how to answer
>> that without being rude" I stopped her and said rude to me?? excuse
>> me missy whom do you think you are talking to? I am asking you a
>> question and you can't answer me without being rude?? She then tried
>> to say that I did something wrong to Risa and tried to say that I
>> was out of line wanting to garage sale the lye and JUST OMG....I
>> finally said WAIT, I am gonna make this easy, I am out of this
>> Gathering, I am done.. I will post a back and forth between us in a
>> minute........my dears there is much more to this but I think you
>> can get the idea from this. Oh and I came up with the name Georiga
>> Spring Fling, Sindy had the logo made by Penny Arrowood without
>> consenting with other hosts and told her she could be a vendor no
>> charge for the logo(it is a good swap but she needed to discuss with
>> the committe), purchased the website address and now she lays claim
>> to it....I need to start Trade Marking my ideas sheesh. LOL what she
>> forgets is that I have ORIGINAL EMAILS from last year with the name
>> and RJ and Kerri were a part so I suppose we all 3 lie???? and our
>> emails lie too? LOL the original group I made, and was group owner,
>> she was ON THE PHONE with me monday when she was going to get rude
>> and never said a word was feverishly making a NEW group, same name
>> minus the 2007 and sent out special notice to everyone to join her
>> new group LOL wow she really is desparate. Then wouldn't even speak
>> to me, then posted a really hateful post on Georiga Soapers about
>> me, since she has been kicked off all RJ's, Kerri's, and my lists. I
>> will post it here for you all to see how low down I am LOL I have
>> nothing to hide.
Greyson
Fayetteville,North Carolina,
U.S.A.
comments by another seller
#30Consumer Comment
Sun, March 11, 2007
Hi Everyone,
Deb Lovely, who goes by Jaiden Haize and Serra the Scented, spent the day working with me to remove all references to me by my legal name from her blog and information. In return, I will not be speaking of her in any way, shape or form past this email of information. We have reached a truce. It doesn't mean she likes me or I like her, but we have agreed to disagree but to coexist in peace.
If you have withheld purchasing from her because of the activities that happened with LillianNewman.com, a site she states she was not a part of, or anything of the past, that is now over and I ask you not to withhold purchases from her or dealings with her as she and I have reached a closure of sorts. To those who may take this out on Serra because they don't like me, don't worry. This is not a friendship. It's an agreement to live and let live and leave each other alone.
I appreciate all the steps that Deb took today to remove my legal name from her blog and I promised her that I would write the list to let you all know that she did this. So please, if she gives a sale on fragrances or something, do not hold back and purchase whatever you need to from her. I will not mention her negatively in any way, nor will she mention me negatively in anyway nor will we be contacting one another. This is an amicable closure and a decision to put soapmakers first above and beyond our own disagreements.
In summary, thank you to Deb for removing my name and doing all she could to work for peace and she has, in my return a promise of the same to her. Once again, it does not mean we are friends. It means we have made an agreement to leave each other alone. For that reason, if you have withheld purchasing from her or if you are a listmom who has banned her, please unban her and let her back onto groups to participate as a soapmaker if you so wish. I no longer wish to have issues or hold anything against her. Life is too busy.
Thank you Deb, for removing my name from your blogs.
Lillian
Greyson
Fayetteville,North Carolina,
U.S.A.
She is not liked by her competitors
#30Consumer Comment
Sun, March 11, 2007
Sheila, be careful. You don't want to get her upset. In my mind, she is no different than SQ. She's got a tendency to get very angry,
very fast. Multiple complainants. I believe she will tongue lash you. I allege she was one of the key people who joined in the public
harrassment of me. I have to write this in terms to keep myself legally safe.
I have no reason to steer this list wrong. Please be careful.
I do not want, what happened to me, to happen to you. I could not continue my fragrance business. Emotionally the "icing on the cake",
it devastated me what they did, she and SQ and the others, including someone I considered a friend who stole my list from me after she
promised to give it back. Please, please be careful. Based on the website ripoffreport.com I am not the only one who was on the receiving end of Kelly's anger.
ripoffreport.com/reports/ripoff134836.htm
There you go.
Sheila, we'd better not list her name anymore. I don't want her to go back and attack you again as she did before.
Be careful, please!
Lillian
>
>
bj
East Chicago,Indiana,
U.S.A.
Concern about Kelly
#30Consumer Comment
Thu, January 04, 2007
The following is true to the best of my recollection.
It has been my experience that Ms. Bloom takes it upon herself to harrass others, as I allege she has harrassed me, and badly. She has allegedly put up online groups to "mock me". She has allegedly made negative references to my soapmaking supply company and joined with others to do the same.
When I read this page and the complaints that people have, I find them credible simply because of what I have personally experienced from this person. I personally would not purchase anything from her because of what I believe to be unethical business practices.
These statements are my personal opinion and I invite the consumer to form their own based on their own experiences with this company and post them here.
Kelly
Yorktown,Virginia,
U.S.A.
Setting the Record Straight, the other 99.9% of the Story
#30REBUTTAL Owner of company
Fri, August 18, 2006
Because I am confident in both my product and my customers, I have not responded to this report previously. However, since concerned parties are routinely updating this report to give potential customers a false view of my business, I have no choice but to counter these unfounded and libelous attacks on my business and personal reputation.
First, a little background on my company:
I am a small business owner conducting business primarily through the Internet. Since 1997, my business has grown from a spice and botanical herb retailer known as the Caravan Spice Company into to a multi-division operation now featuring handmade soaps, soap-making supplies, fragrance oils and bath products.
To better reflect my product and brand lines, my business is now called the BloomWorks Soap Company with a subordinate division called Southern Soapers Supply . Although my business has evolved from that of a spice retailer, I still stand behind the quality of the products I offered and sold to thousands of satisfied customers over the years through Caravan Spice Company.
At the time of the single transaction that formed the basis of the initial posting on this site, my botanical products were inspected and passed at the wholesaler point of entry by US customs, at my repackaging site by a state Department of Agriculture, and personally by me as I filled each unique order.
In my business dealings over the last nine years, I have earned the trust of literally thousands of repeat customers. Complaints are rare to nonexistent. When they do arise, resolutions are swift and always in the customer's favor.
While I would like to please everyone, as is the case with any business, there are bound to be folks you just cannot win over once they set their minds that they were ripped-off. Sometimes emails fail to convey the proper tone or friendliness.
I offer the following complete seller histories as an example of my normal customer satisfaction rate. From 1998 to 2005, while using Ebay as my primary business-marketing tool, I received over 14,758 positive feedbacks from 7,700 unique users. There are four or fewer negative feedbacks on any of my brand-tailored Ebay accounts.
I have multiple account names due to evolving market focus over the course of nine years; the contact information for all accounts was the same. The overall nature and tone of my isolated negative feedbacks speak for themselves as to their validity.
Please judge for yourself. I invite anyone who might be swayed by the previous entries on this site and those entries that will undoubtedly will be posted after this response, (all of which are nothing more than calculated attempts to continue to defame me and/or my business), to please review my entire seller ID and feedback histories at the following Ebay links:
(((ROR redacted links)))
In closing, I would like to assure you that each business transaction has my personal attention and utmost effort towards a happy and repeat customer. I sincerely hope that persons reading this report will remain objective in their assessment, and please, feel free to visit us at bloomworksoaps.com or southernsoapers.com .
Sincerely, Kelly Bloom
Owner, BloomWorks Soap Company
CLICK here to see why Rip-off Report, as a matter of policy, deleted either a phone number, link or e-mail address from this Report.
T.
Little Rock,Arkansas,
U.S.A.
Southern Soapers
#30Consumer Comment
Tue, August 08, 2006
Yes! Steer clear of Southern Soapers! As well as Fragrance Diva and Container Diva. She is using those names too.
I've heard about the upheaval on the Southern Soaper list, as well as the crazy things she has done to other suppliers.
Thank you for posting that warning of yet another name change and yet another business venture of Kelly Bloom. This crazy woman goes through some names!
I wonder who she'll be next? She flies on the coat tails of other people and businesses, so it's just a matter of time.
Thanks again for the warning.
Janeie
Fayetteville,North Carolina,
U.S.A.
Buyers Beware
#30Consumer Comment
Tue, August 08, 2006
She has surfaced once again as Southern Soapers Supplies, selling fragrances and supplies to soap makers.
Old
Sacramento,California,
U.S.A.
Kelly Bloom's new eBay username is the_blue_orb
#30Consumer Comment
Tue, February 07, 2006
Kelly bloom is up to her old tricks selling grossly misrepresented products under the new username the_blue_orb
This is a very unethical person with a very high rip-off potential, I lost about $50 buying a noxious perfume oil (that she admittedly could not use in her soap-making business, see http://www.bloomworksoaps.com) that was advertised as a pure Moroccan rose absolute.
Robin
Fort Wayne,Indiana,
U.S.A.
Thanx for everyones replies
#30Author of original report
Sun, September 04, 2005
I pretty much had forgotten about this, and haven't bought or sold on ebay since it happened, it was a nightmare.
But before this happened I had many many good experiences and great deals on ebay. But it may be another year before I feel safe using ebay, if I ever do.
As far as one of the comments about her sending me the bay leaves accidentally, in one of her emails, she told me she got them in bulk and repackaged them herself. And she sent these to me after she was already mad at me, so it was no accident, and I stand behind that statement as FACT.
After all of this mess I find out the worlds largest spice store is right in my hometown (silly me) I didn't know they were here and have been for years. http://www.americanspice.com The customer service was absolutely wonderful and I wouldn't dream of going anywhere else, ever.
Jim
Boston,Massachusetts,
U.S.A.
Finally ebay has taken action against this person
#30Consumer Comment
Fri, September 02, 2005
http://contact.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ReturnUserIdHistory&requested=caressthetiger
Note every one of her ID's has been suspended. Including the latest one caressthe tiger.
User ID Effective Date End Date
caressthetiger Aug-18-05 Not a registered user
bloomworksoap Jun-14-05 Aug-18-05
naturalbotanika Aug-12-04 Jun-14-05
caravanspiceco Jul-03-04 Aug-12-04
caravanspice*com Apr-23-04 Jul-03-04
tildy May-25-03 Apr-23-04
tildy2 Apr-25-03 May-25-03
tildy Jan-28-03 Apr-25-03
tildy2 Dec-29-02 Jan-28-03
tildy Nov-23-98 Dec-29-02
It's great to see ebay take action against such an obviously unsroupulous individual.
One can only imagine the seriousness of the offense (shill bidding, fraud or the like) to warrant such action.
Note she also left people about 25 negs on her last day which appears to be for invalid items. How did she do that?
All I can say is I'vw known her a long time and nobody could hav deserved this more.
Dodger
Jamie
Beverly Hills,California,
U.S.A.
Yet Another Name Change, bloomworksoap
#30Consumer Comment
Sat, June 18, 2005
As noted above, natural botanika has a habit of changing her name on a regular basis.
Why is left to conjecture.
Her new name is bloomworksoap.
Have her ethics changed as well? Time will tell.
John
Los Angeles,California,
U.S.A.
Negative feedback cannot be hidden completely
#30Consumer Suggestion
Sat, March 26, 2005
There is a way to tell how many comments someone had removed through ebay or squaretrade.
Let's take the naturalbotanika account since that is the best example. Total feedback received 11721, total positive feedback received 11579, total neutral and negative comments received 39, ability to get 103 negative comments completely removed from your feedback, priceless.
You can isolate the negative and neutral comments at http://www.toolhaus.org/cgi-bin/negs and see that there are 37 neutrals and 2 negs. Take away those and the positive feedback from the total feedback received, it leaves 103 comments unaccounted for and usually those are negs, neturals really don't get taken off. Those are administrative removals from ebay, done for specific reasons, one of the most popular being invalid contact info. When she calls you its not to discuss or resolve the problem. She is checking to see if your registration information is valid.
She probably didn't knowingly send you bad products. She's done enough business on ebay to show that she does carry quality items. But it can always happen that a bad item goes out without the seller's knowledge. Her problem is people skills, she cannot stand for anyone disagreeing with or criticizing her. People that are so insecure, and immature, just don't know when to stop. Kelly Bloom will punish herself, its not an easy life when you treat people this way, it will always come back to you. I agree with the other person that advised you to consider it a cheap lesson and move on.
Robin
Fort Wayne,Indiana,
U.S.A.
More information on Caravan Spice Company
#30Author of original report
Tue, March 22, 2005
I have found an actual website for this person apart from ebay it is http://www.caravanspice.com/storefrontprofiles/default.aspx?sfid=55540
Since filing this this person has either used 2 more id's or is having their friends email me and this is what they said.
Wow you must be really pissed about the bugs ha ha. Maybe you can make friends with them? Have them mounted and stuffed and you can talk to them?
Thank you,
limbodingo
Are you *smoking* the bugs? That is dangerous! You can become very, very ill if you stuff the nesting material and bug parts into your pipe and light them! This is *not* a recommended activity. Who is "Hugh Tony Danza"? Do you mean, "HUGE"? Now, I'd believe *he* smokes bugs. Either that or one punch too many to the ol' kisser!
Thank you,
soapncandlestoo
Then I got 2 more just like this:
WHO ARE YOU AND WHY ARE YOU EMAILING ME?
Thank you,
soapncandlestoo
This is crazy, I also found 2 other people she is harassing, here are emails from them:
Hi, I just want you to know that i feel sorry for you. I too, have done business with tildy and I went through hell with her. she is crazy!!!!!!!!
!!! when she leaves bad feedback, and the other person leaves bad feedback, she then eventually takes the case to squaretrade so she then will have all her negatives off her record and then have it appear that she is a great seller!!!!!!!!! she deserves all she gets . she made my experience on ebay a horror show. i will never do business with her again. when she took me to squaretrade i refused to agree to settle the matter. i did not want her record wiped clean. i wanted everybody to read what i had wrote about her. she kept bugging me off and on for over six months to erarse it. i refused again and again and again. I feel this woman is totally off the wall, personality wise. she has severe problems and she should not be selling on ebay if she has no patience with customers. she is too quick to jump with a problem. she goes by many names
and the other one:
You know I was thinking , she has already cause my bank account an overdraft and I have lost people that I thought were my friends , She has also been slinging my name in the mud with some of the suppliers , a few I will never buy from again. I have Lupus and this is my source of income and she has done her best to make people not believe me. I will file a report at ripoff.com and I will see if I can locate a few others that she has been nasty to and see if they will do the same. We can't let her keep getting away with this. She told me I was ignorant and didn't understand the way Ebay works. She also told me that she taught ebay. She called me greedy and cheap and a bottom feeder. She harassed me until I blocked her from my email and then when she couldn't get to me that way she changed her Ebay ID from tildy to READ_MY_AUCTIONS_CLEARLY!
I had recieved other emails from people that she has burned apologizing to me for me having to deal with her. They also said she will keep harassing you to get the negatives removed and she will also use sqareTrade to try and get them removed so she stays looking like the perfect seller and no one knows how horrible and dishonest she is.
Tell me how I can help you , I will do whatever I can to make sure she is held accountable for what she did to us and to others.
Now Kelly Bloom has begun the telephone harassment, she called me 3 times in one evening and then one more time the next day, since I am not answering it seems as though she may have quit that already. I can only hope.I
To address Paul, I have never had anything like this happen to me on ebay, I have had one or 2 bad experiences, but nothing like this. I have over 600 +feedbacks and I can say that about 99.8% of them have been really awesome deals. But I do agree with you 100% and believe you and won't be doing business any time soon on ebay, as I have close my paypal account and probably will be closing my ebay account, since they won't do anything about this. It seems to be all about the cash for ebay, ebay really is a breeding ground for criminals. I BELIEVE!!!
Paul
Anaheim,California,
U.S.A.
What did you expect from ebay? You got exactly what everybody else gets.
#30Consumer Suggestion
Sat, March 19, 2005
Here's the thing I don't understand.
What do people sell on ebay? Junk, right? It's trash that you can't sell in a real store.
That's why it's on ebay, right?
It's no different than shopping at the town dump. You're not going to get top quality products out of a dump.
On ebay, you don't pay the normal price. You think you're getting this great bargain.
But, remember the old saying: you get what you pay for?
The thing is, if you wanted good bay leaves, why didn't you go to a spice and seasoning supplier like a normal person? They have exactly what you want.
Instead, you go shopping at the dump. Picking through the trash. Then, you get cheated. Now, you're angry and complaining.
Do the correct thing and this will never happen.
Hopefully, you've learned something here. At least your complaint will do some good. Other new people may be considering joining ebay. Once they see the kind of things that are being sold there, they'll change their minds in a big hurry.
So, from that standpoint, it was worth the time to file your complaint.
As far as the leaves go, throw them out, and consider this a cheap lesson in common sense. Other people have come here and reported losing thousands on ebay. You got away cheap.