Samuel D.

I purchased Pro Performance AMP Amplified Gold Whey 100% Protein Vanilla Ice Cream Flavor (891g) from a GNC store in Robinson Bacolod. It was on sale for 1,700 PHP (32 USD) from its 3,300 PHP original retail price because, as the saleslady explained, it was a new product the company is promoting. When I opened it at home, my wife and I were bothered by a foul smell that came out of the container and a rotten milk/egg like smell filled the house. At first, we thought that the smell was strong because the product was new and we just opened the sealed container. The following day we prepared two servings after our workout at the gym, although the smell was still strong compared to other whey protein products we previously consumed. As soon we drank it, we felt uncomfortable and both the smell and the taste were nauseating and made us feel rather sick in the stomach. We questioned if this how the product is supposed to taste or it is perhaps damaged. The next day I decided to try it again; my wife didn't have the stomach for it anymore. I prepared a serving with a colder water this time and the result was the same, nausea and feeling of disgust. We brought the container back to GNC Robinson and explained our concern. We asked to exchange it with another flavor or product that is less strong in taste and smell and more tolerable to consume. I also brought the plastic shaker I used for preparing the drink, which I already washed twice. I opened the cover of the shaker and had two staff smell it. They agreed that it was, as we described, disgusting! The foul smell had also filled up the store upon opening the container. After a long wait at the store for the management in Manila to receive our complaint and make their decision, we were asked to wait for a day before we receive the reply. We left the product with the store manager for testing as she requested and left. The following day, I received a text message from the manager saying: "Good afternoon, Sir. Sorry to tell you that we cannot give a replacement of your whey protein upon the decision of our head office. Thank you for your kind understanding." I replied thanking her for the updates and informing her that they can keep the container. We were disappointed and opted not to bring such nauseating and malodorous product back home, and to let the store deal with disposing it rather than us. After all, we lost the money we paid and the time we spent going back and forth to the store and waiting for managerial decisions. For the past many years, we have enjoyed the quality, taste and benefits of pure protein shakes from different companies and at lower cost. We learned a valued lesson: To shop somewhere else and to not fall again for GNC's persuasive sales schemes.

Early this year, I placed an order with DHgate for Asics running shoes (order# *******). I attempted to pay with credit card but DHgate website did not accept my cc payment and offered a bank-transfer option with bank account information and a reference number. I made a bank to bank transfer of the amount of 85 USD using WiseTrasfer and waited few days for the payment to go through. I contacted DHgate to check on the status of my order but they denied receiving the payment. I checked with my bank and WiseTransfer and received verification that the payment had already been completed and was deposited on April 4,2017 via WORLDPAY AP LTD/Duetsche into DHgate bank account: THE HONGKONG AND SHANGHAI BANKING CORPORATION LTD [004], ACCOUNT# **************. I verified that the receiver bank account was correct, as provided by DHgate, that the account did belong to DHgate, and that my order number is correct. I checked with DHgate numerous times over a period of two months, and the reply was the same that they NEVER received my payment. I reported my concern to WiseTrasfer, who in return investigated the payments whereabouts. WiseTransfer again affirmed that the transfer was completed and provided me with further evidences from Duetsche bank and WORLDPAY AP LTD. I submitted the new evidences to DHgate, but yet at no availDHgate continued denying receiving the payment, even though evidences where observed. I tried to make sense out of DHgate denial and get some answers from them, but at no avail. At last, WiseTransfer asked me to request a copy of DHgate bank statement for the period from 31/3/17 to 7/4/17, with the objective that if DHgates claim is correct, then their bank account statement will not show the details of my payment. Yet DHgate refused to cooperate, ignored my request for copies of bank statement and insisted: We checked all the payment record under this account, but no one is matched. We do not receive this money, please confirm with your bank, thanks! After this email, DHgate no longer replied or showed any interest in providing any explanations or documentations confirming their claim and countering the documents that proof the money was received into their account.
DHgate is perhaps not considered a scam, but is evidently an unethical business seeking additional profits from unprincipled revenues other than clear sales, and it thinks that customers outside China cannot reach them through legal actions to obtain their rights or get back their lost money. But they are wrong, because I am in the process of presenting DHgate actions for international legal consideration, holding it responsible for its actions, and introducing its arrogance to the international communities. Anyone who feels was violated, scammed, or mistreated by DHgate, please feel free to contact me and join me the drive against DHgate.