Thousands ordered face masks they never received - Red flags to look for
The COVID-19 pandemic triggered an online shopping boom that doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon. While mom-and-pop shops across the nation remained closed, big names like Amazon and Walmart swooped in to capture billions of dollars in e-commerce sales.
But it wasn’t just the major companies that had a stellar performance during the peak of the pandemic. Online stores across the web regularly sold out of essential products like hand sanitizer and toilet paper. Amazon, in particular, made more money than Black Friday 2019 every single day of April 2020. Tap or click here to see why.
Even though billions of dollars in online sales were recorded during the pandemic, that doesn’t mean every order was completely fulfilled and shipped. The FTC is currently handling a record number of complaints about undelivered orders of protective equipment like face masks, and the verdict is out on whether or not these vendors will come through at all.
More than 18,000 orders go unfulfilled
According to a bulletin posted by the FTC, the commission is acting against a number of online sellers that failed to live up to their promises for fast delivery of protective equipment. From April through May of 2020, more than 18,000 orders went unfulfilled and undelivered, with many more having additional issues.
Why is the FTC taking these faulty orders so seriously? Mostly because unfulfilled orders contained personal protective equipment, with some even including bulk shipments of items like masks to hospitals and nursing homes. Aside from masks, other undelivered items include essential goods like hand sanitizer, toilet paper, gloves and thermometers.
Some of the implicated sellers don’t appear to have made honest shipping mistakes on the matter, either. One example noted in the FTC’s bulletin describes a seller that would print shipping labels soon after a sale was closed — but would fail to give products to the post office for weeks-to-months after they claimed.
These numbers are staggering when you consider that during the average holiday season, the FTC receives about half the amount of complaints. What’s more, the items that failed to deliver are goods that could very well have saved lives, which adds more weight to the FTC’s actions as it works to resolve the issues.
RELATED: Tap or click here to see our pick for the best germ-blocking face mask
I ordered supplies and protective equipment that never arrived. What should I do?
Just because the FTC is taking enforcement action against problematic sellers now doesn’t mean it can’t help you with any e-commerce issues you’re having.
If you’ve ordered PPE or other COVID-19-related supplies in the past several months and had issues with shipment or communication, the FTC keeps an open tipline for investigating claims of fraud and abuse.
Help give COVID-19 masks and protective gear to first-responders
Finding certain supplies has been nearly impossible since the beginning of this pandemic. Going without things like toilet paper, flour and disinfectant wipes is difficult enough — but what about personal protective equipment like face masks?
Struggling to find bread, eggs or flour? Try this app
We’ve been dealing with a new way of life for nearly two months and let’s be honest, it can be a struggle. Even simple routines like picking up groceries have become a headache due to social distancing restrictions and lack of in-stock items.
Bing's live coronavirus map tracks cases, deaths and recoveries - try it
We’re definitely living in strange times. The coronavirus pandemic has most everyone in a panic, leading to empty grocery store shelves and a shortage on toilet paper. Not only that, but some stores are even running out of bags to pack and carry out the products and groceries you actually do find to buy.