Complaint Review: Goodbells - goodbells.com

I ordered a dressy kurta pajama set from Rajasthani Store (now Goodbells) in July 2009. I included my measurements in order to have the perfect fit.  I shocked and appalled when I received the item. It was nothing like the beautiful item pictured, but clearly an imitation.

The fabrics used were cheap synthetic blends, the patterns were different, the stitching was off so the kurta did not close properly, the white space and buttons underneath were visible, there was considerable gold embroidery missing and the stole did not match the one in the picture; in other words, it was a cheap, poorly made knockoff with only passing resemblance to the product shown.

Moreover, the garment was four sizes too big (both top and bottom), too long and did not fit at all.  I immediately e-mailed them in less than 24 hours with my complaints, including the pictures I had taken providing clear photographic evidence. Gaurav Pandey approved the return and told me he would perform the necessary alterations so it would fit correctly and be to my liking. 

I shipped back the kurta at my own expense ($33.50) on August 27.  RajasthaniStore claimed they never received the shipment, so I looked into the matter and sent a formal letter to the Postal Department, which informed me the package was being held at customs.  Finally, on November 2 they acknowledged receipt of the parcel. For the next two months, e-mails about proper sizing and matching stoles were sent back and forth.

I was told the necessary alterations were being made, but that the final product was still not going to be like what was pictured due to limitations in their alteration abilities. I had instructed them not to send me the package without my prior approval upon seeing pictures of the altered kurta and a selection of matching stoles.  Then, upset I had not heard back in weeks despite constantly e-mailing, I requested a full refund before going away on winter vacation for a few weeks.  The event I ordered the outfit for had long since passed.  This seemed to get their attention as Gaurav sent me an e-mail on January 5th saying if he did not hear from me within 3 hours (keep in mind our time zones are 10hrs apart), he would just ship the parcel anyway.

As I was away on winter holiday vacation, I could not respond to his e-mail NOR was anyone home to receive the parcel when it arrived and so the courier mailed it back to India. After five more months of arguing over e-mail and dealing with various people (Gaurav, Anshu Soni, Surendra), I was told I was only eligible for a refund of $74!!!! I paid $217.12 for the kurta, shipping as well as return shipping and they had the audacity to claim the maximum refund I could receive was 34% of what I paid! They subtracted  a 10% restocking fee ($15), $20 fee for alteration (which was to be FREE as it was their mistake), and the icing on the cake - "import charges" of $79 for the SECOND return shipping back to India because I was not in NY to accept the parcel. Had they waited to send, they could have avoided this charge, but passed it on to me.

These people were charging ME for their mistakes and refusing to accept culpability for their inferior quality product, poor manufacturing, screw up in sizing and then blatantly ignoring my request to approve the kurta before it was shipped again so we could avoid the same issues all over again. 

I have yet to receive a single cent back despite their claims, but will make it my mission to file suits with various corporations such as the Better Business Bureau, and spread word on the internet that Goodbells.com is a disreputable company involved in scamming, racketeering and fraudulent business practices. Avoid Goodbells.com at all costs.