Well, here we are – 21 Days after ordering express…..my Asian Snakewine Bottle arrived. To say that I am disappointed is a HUGE understatement.
First, some background can be found HERE.
Since then, I have opened a complaint with PayPal about non-shipment, but now I will have to append it to be Damaged Goods and not what I expected. Why is that you ask? Read on McDuff…..
I picked up the package at my local Post Office.
The first thing that didn’t bode well was the DENT in the box. Throw in that the entire box is wrapped in tape (to seal it, as I would find out later), the contents is listed as an Glasshour (Hour Glass) with a $20 Value for customs and finally the phone number listed is one I had never heard of before (323 area code is Hollywood California) and in retrospect, I should have not accepted the package at all. My fear was that my small town PO would raise suspicion due to these inconsistencies and next thing you know, I am on a terrorist watch list (if not already).
I also noted that the box seemed a little small, considering that the website says the bottle is 10inches tall (more on that later).
I got home and cut open the box only to be greeted by an unusual smell and bubble wrap. Not the big bubble bubble wrap mind you, but the tiny ones that are usually used for wrapping small electronics. I would have investigated them further, except that they felt greasy and looked like they had been salvaged from a dump. Plus, they smelled.
Examining the bottle showed me the source of the smell. The sealing job done by the vendor is lacksidasical at best. It appears we are using some type of recycled bottle (the lid is partly covered and I can make out Kilmarnock Scotland) and they have to re-manufacture the seal. How do you ask? By wrapping it in (non-food grade) shrink tape of course. The seal is horrible, and when you add that the cap is slightly dented and rusted…..there is no way in hell that I would ever drink the contents of this bottle. I tried several times to get a good picture….this is the best I could do. It should also be noted that the dent in the packaging is nowhere near where the end of the bottle was, so that cannot be used for an excuse (especially given the rust).
Another piece of false advertising is their website. Remember when I said the package looked a little small to contain a 10 inch bottle? Well, part of this has to do with the poor packaging and the other part is that the bottle is really 9 inches…..not 10. Yet another rip off.
As you can see, this is a complete scam. While the snake looks cool (it really does, although it is kinda small), the fact that the bottling is suspect (at best), the bottle cap is rusted and there is a leak (compromising the seal)…there is no way I would drink this. I can’t even leave it on a shelf as it smells (due to the leak).
As a someone who reviews items, there is no way I could make a recommendation of purchase. Even if this vendor offered 10 for 1 pricing. Hopefully, PayPal will see the evidence I present here, coupled with the rest of my claim, and simply refund my money based on this not being what was promised (size and condition), the bottle was damaged (and leaking) and not express shipped (10 Euro more expensive). If not, then you can make your own summation of PayPal’s service in handling disputes…..but I know how I would feel.
Overall, Service with this asiansnakewine.com would not rate on a scale of 5. Product Quality would also rate a zero, as I am unable to sample the product due to the poor condition upon arrival. Express shipping was also a waste, therefore they made the trifecta….three Zeros.
Avoid this product like the plague.
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