No trust after supporting local small businesses

After seeing followers on Instagram rave about products I decided to support this small local business so I purchased 2 products on 18-12-2020.

After all no one seemed unhappy this must be legitimate. Right?

Just for interest, the more expensive item could have been purchased at any retailer who sells Baby goods; it was intended to be a gift for a baby shower happening in the new year.

Most small businesses on Instagram displayed a banner on their site saying they will be closed over Xmas period, this site did not, but I had no rush, getting it in January 2021 was fine with me.

So on the 28-12-2020 I sent a mail just to check as the order status was “still processing”, no reply.

Other “stores” on Instagram stated they will reopen 04-01-2021 so on 06-01-2021 I sent another follow up no reply.

I then visited her 2 pages and discovered that she contracted covid; I obviously needed to wait for her to recover.

On 10-01-2021 she replied saying I would receive it by the end of that week. Nothing got delivered.

I mailed and mailed until I received this response

On 22 Jan 2021, at 20:20, Raising Wildlings <hello@raisingwildlings.co.za> wrote:

 Hi Gillian,

My sincere apologies for the delay.

Your order was packed today but the courier missed pickup.

They will collect on Monday and deliver the following day if you aren't in an outlying area.

I added something extra in your parcel to apologize for the incredible inconvenience.

Have a lovely weekend.

Kind Regards

Chenel Kruger

Photographer, Lifestyle and Parenting Blogger/Influencer

It’s 30-01-2021 I’m still waiting.

I live in the southern suburbs of Cape Town, last time I checked that wasn’t an outlying area, but maybe I am wrong?

I have said on more than one occasion if she doesn’t have the stock then just refund me, just admit it and refund me and we can all move along.

To all the other small local businesses on Instagram this will be the reason why you possibly don’t get support...

It just leaves a bad taste...