Complaints

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:02/05/2024

  Type:Product Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  Date: 4.06.2023 Amount: $1,495 I paid this amount in return for being part of an expo with ****** attendees. The service was never provided, and the owner kept selling me words about future expos that never happened as well. They also took a large quantity of my inventory that they never paid for nor want to return. They kept lying and changing their reasoning of why the event didn't happen.This is a huge fraud, and I am going to seek legal action if they do not refund the amount and pay an additional $986 for the products I sent for the expo as well as returning my Square POS system.

  Business Response

  Date: 02/05/2024

  BBB, thank you for the opportunity to share. When ***** told me he filed a complaint I shared with him that this is a GOOD thing. It's an opportunity to demonstrate how companies with integrity honor those who are dissatisfied with their experience. All companies go through tough times, like mine right now, and most continue to communicate and demonstrate effort until unsatisfied issues are resolved. All clients enjoy the risk-free benefit of working with me. A refund they can pursue through the consumer protection policy by the merchant processing company I use,which I will help to facilitate if requested. At the time of this complaint,I've been actively working to refund the vendor. It is accurate that ***** invested $1495 to participate as an in-person vendor for an August ***************************************** person, filmed an interview about his **************** and product, produced a marketing video to become a wholesaler. The video interview was web ********** and distributed across ****** U.S. cities under search terms to attract 3rd party buyers as Luayys goal was to be in retail locations. This additional video production and marketing investment was on me,and done at no cost to Moliroots, owned by Luayy. Heres the video link which has been set to private so that it is no longer found in the search engines or viewed by the public ******************************************* - Upon the first August **** expo event date change, a conversation to get a refund or a become an absentee vendor was discussed. A decision to be an absentee vendor was made where inventory would eventually be sent for the new November 2023 date. During this time, I also promoted *****, ****** and the Moliroots brand in ****** Magazine at no cost to them so they could include As seen in ****** Magazine in their marketing materials which the company will continue to benefit from. Unfortunately, in October 2023 (a month before this Nov event)due to the war in ****** the November event at its location (which is Jewish owned) was cancelled for safety reasons due to protests about the war. An immediate attempt to reschedule the expo elsewhere was made for December 2023. Luayy postal mailed me the inventory in mid-November. The December reschedule was a failure as my event attendees could not reschedule to the new dates, and instead requested a new *************************************************************************************************** as the event producer and event insurance does not cover cancellations. I already had an event in January **** in another city underway so I expressed that I would display his products there and that my intention was to purchase any leftover inventory from the expo. However, on Dec 29, 2023, an invoice by ********* was emailed for $1881.78: such is the breakdown in it: Wellness by Choice Refund $1,200.00 (Original Amount $1,495;$295 is deducted in return of effort); Coconut Aromatherapy Chakra Candle $318.78 (18 x $17.71); Golden Chakra Candle $198.00 (18 x $11.00) 8 OZ; Bug Off Candles $33.00 (3 x $11.00) 8 OZ; Therapeutic Skin Oils $132.00 (12 x $11.00). I welcomed the invoice. Unfortunately, the financial loss due to expo cancellation and postponement of rescheduling has made it difficult for me to pay the invoice in the last month. This invoice is only 37 days past due as of January 5th, ****. I have maintained a commitment to pay the invoice once Im able or to send the inventory back. Id prefer to pay the invoice. On 02/02/24 a different invoice was sent to me with a change in pricing different from the agreed upon pricing. Coconut Aromatherapy Chakra Candle $539.82 (18 x $29.99); Golden Chakra Candle $270.00 (18 x $15.00) 8 OZ; Bug Off Candles $45.00 (3 x $15.00) 8 OZ; Therapeutic Skin Oils $132.00 (12 x $11.00) = $986.82.Today, Monday 2/5/****, it was requested that I send the inventory back instead of paying the original invoice. Im awaiting the outcome of the merchant company refund status which may still be a week out. Even as the complaint is being filed the inventory is already partly packed because theres a possible buyer for it and to order more product, which I texted Luayy this last week. Upon letting the buyer know that MoliRoots is no longer part of my project they cancelled their order for MoliRoots products which is triple the expo booth cost Luaay paid. This is the above and beyond I do for all of my vendors as its never just about selling booths to be at an event, its about creating enterprising success stories. Once I hear back in the next week on the merchant processing refund decision then I will know whether to send back product, or pay December invoice, or what to do appropriately. There is no fraud when transparency is ongoing in communication, and actions are demonstrated. In the end 3 parties lost on this journey. The vendor Luayy, the 3rd party company, and myself to showcase and celebrate another success story of what is possible. Thank you, BBB for the public accountability that you provide. As one who is awarded twice by the U.S. SBA, no matter the challenging times I may go through in business, integrity is priority. And, though it may take me longer to recover post COVID because of the financial impact it had on me and my business, and with the loss of my 31-year-old son, all who have trusted me will be honored and those commitments I have made. There are many companies like me who are trying to do right as fast as we can while we reboot. And the reason Id rather pay the MoliRoots invoice is because ***** produces an amazing product, and Im truly sad this experience has a different outcome than what I was looking forward to.