A NURSING assistant’s purchase of gold earrings online turned into a costly affair after the seller failed to deliver the item.
K. Sangkari came across a seller from Paya Terubong, Penang promoting traditional Indian gold earrings on a social media platform in April last year.
The 38-year-old claimant, who works in Singapore, said the seller offered the earrings for RM850 with a 10-month instalment plan.
“I took the offer and made my first payment of RM85 on July 30, 2024,” she said when met outside the Johor Consumer Claims Tribunal at Menara Ansar in Johor Baru.
Sangkari said after her second payment in August last year, the seller requested an additional RM322.
She claimed that other buyers who purchased similar earrings were also asked to pay extra.
Sangkari’s total payment came up to RM1,172.
“I completed payments on April 30 this year and the seller informed me that she would deliver the earrings to my house in Johor Baru,” she said.
The seller later told Sangkari that the items would arrive on May 2 and that she would need to pay RM40 for delivery charges.
A month before the final payment, Sangkari informed the seller that she would be returning to her mother’s home in Penang.
“Instead of delivering the items to my house where no one would be around to receive the parcel, I told her I would collect them personally in Penang,” she said.
Sangkari stayed in Penang from May 10-13.
During that time, she went to the seller’s address several times to collect the earrings, but found no one there.
“When I called, the seller claimed the earrings were sent to her daughter’s place in Yong Peng, Johor,” she said.
Sangkari later travelled to Yong Peng on Sept 10 to collect the earrings, but again found nobody home.
She has yet to receive the item.
Tribunal president Hafez Zalkapli ordered the respondent to refund RM1,172 to the claimant within two weeks.
Those needing Tribunal assistance can call 07-227 1755/1766 or visit the Tribunal at Level 17, Menara Ansar, Jalan Trus, Johor Baru.