Complaint Review: Her Imports

I'm big on research before making really expensive weave purchases. For some, it's too much, but I work too hard for my coins to give it away to anyone who "appears" to be scamming folks. If you can, take the time to read and be guided accordingly. I don't do this to get anything. I've been scammed before by online tactics and I'm a wiser consumer for it.

I watched the Her Imports YoutTube video where they explain the Virgin Hair industry and manufacturing process (youtube.com/watch?v=g8GKR538SzE). I paid close attention, because if they went to the trouble of showing you how they get their hair, then they should be held accountable for their representations. If you watch the video, they feature a Caucasian man named "Xavier Rhodes", who is supposedly the largest human hair distributor in Canada. Ok fine. The video then proceeds to show him in Bangalore, India visiting with a hair collection facility. He makes it a point of saying Her Imports is one of two American virgin hair distributors. It doesn't mention what company in Canada he's from or who even owns Her Imports. He's literally doing all their marketing, which is pretty bizarre for a competitor, albeit a foreign one. It ends by naming all the contributing crew for the video.

I do a simple Google search for "Xavier Rhodes" and what pops up? An African-American Minnesota Vikings player. The man from the video is nowhere to be found in the search results. I alter up the search to include variations of "Canadian hair distributor" and still no result. I review the Her Imports website to see who their owner is, and that is likewise nowhere to be found. I contact members of the video crew mentioned in the credits and one was able to verify that the video was shot in 3 different countries, but he was only present for the U.S. location.

As I was looking for more info on HI's website, I saw a fairly common disclaimer in their Return Policy that states something like, "According to federal law, human hair can't be returned once used." No legal citation, nothing to show what that's based on. Another Google search from this "federal law or regulation" shows the countless hair extensions "companies" that have this clause, but have no actual legal cite. I have access to legal databases and contacted the appropriate government agency responsible for this industry's regulation. They have no idea where these hair companies are getting this language from. Quite frankly, it seems like a ruse to send you crap so you as the consumer have no recourse. They have your money and just offer you "exchanges", but who wants to exchange one crappy product for another crappy one?I speak to a Her Imports rep using the Live Chat feature to show me the actual statute that prevents a return and the rep is stumped. She says only the CEO would know and she can't give out his info. Really? A CEO can't be bothered to assure a customer that he's legit? Fishy...

I came across another virgin hair company that said something that struck me. They said many of these companies are now staging fake vlogs, going to India, to convince consumers they're buying legit Indian Virgin Hair. They also said, if you pay attention, the owners are nowhere to be seen in the video. It made me think of the Her Imports video. So I continue my research to find out who actually owns Her Imports. Google turns up a news broadcast for the headquarter Her Imports in Greenbelt, MD. Apparently, they were burglarized of their inventory. Who is the owner of this location? That's right, you guessed it, "Xavier Rhodes". But here's the best part, his name is "John Terry" in the news airing (nbcwashington.com/news/local/Hair-Weave-Thefts-in-Greenbelt-183140181.html). His partner is Jerome Anthony Reid. Look up their business filing here (https://trademarks.justia.com/862/22/her-86222695.html), where their goods are described as including synthetics ("Wigs, hairpieces, and add-in and add-on hair accessories constructed primarily of synthetic and/or human hair; Hair extensions"). So much for virgin...

That did it for me. Anyone who would go to such extremes to lie or at the very least, misrepresent, shouldn't get anyone's money. I hope people heed this post. I didn't buy anything and I can't say whether the products are good or not. I can't speak to customer service beyond that Live Chat experience. All I can say is, if they'd do this, what else are they capable of? Thanks for reading.