Forward Buy Isn't a Seamless Process and Lacks Transparency with Customers
EDIT FOR FORWARD BUY RESPONSE: My review stands. The fact that my item was received damaged due to Forward Buy not properly packaging it and not bother even providing any sort of shipping refund like they did to other customers will keep my review at 2 stars. Their response to my review doesn't explain how the original documented shipment weight as received from the original seller went from less than a pound to almost 6lbs AFTER it was re-packed from Forward Buy. Forward Buy is claiming the seller put nearly 5lbs of excessive packaging material when that isn't the case. My item weighs less than 4.0 oz (ounces) without packing material. The parcel as shipped from the original seller was still only less than a pound (0.88 lbs) with shipping material. Yet Forward Buy tried to charge me for 2.65kg (5.84lbs) shipping after they re-pack it, then say it was the seller that put excessive packing material to make it almost 6lbs. As I mentioned, my item was not damaged when the seller packed it and sent it to Forward Buy. I have the photo that shows it was fine. Forward Buy did not properly package the item (they sent it all the way from Singapore to the USA in a polybag), charged excessive shipping and I received the item damaged. This could have easily fit into a small box with bubble wrap and still be in the parameters of the shipping I paid for. Funny that they're responding to this review but don't bother responding to my email inquiry. **** While I did eventually receive my items, I'm unlikely to use Forward Buy again. Forward Buy isn't a seamless service and greatly lack transparency. I had to prompt them to make the purchase that was otherwise idling (it was a one off item that is no longer in production and being sold on a resale market). The original shipment that is sent to Forward Buy from the seller weighed less than one pound. You as a buyer do not know this ahead of time. I selected the Auto Pack option prior to purchase which reduces the shipping weight in case it's packed heavier than it should be (again, you don't know ahead of purchase how it will be packed from the originally seller so this is the safer option). It turned out, the original shipment from the seller weighed less than a pound. Forward Buy then repackaged it and suddenly this tiny, lightweight parcel ended up almost 6X it's original weight and they wanted to charge me for a 6lb parcel! When I asked them about this, they said that the seller packed excess bubble wrap which made the package heavy. Essentially, instead of admitting they are charging the customer far more in shipping and creating an excessive shipping weight, they're telling me that the seller added almost 5lbs of bubble wrap How is it possible for the seller to add all this extra packaging AFTER the original lightweight parcel arrived at the Forward Buy warehouse? They then said the removed the excess packaging and changed the shipping weight. Next, the lack of transparency with courier. Forward Buy states that customers have many options for their courier service, and have the best pricing. Well, you don't have a choice of courier and they do not disclose who the courier is. My particular parcel could have been sent through SingPost for cheap (less than $20 USD). Instead I ended up paying over $40 USD through an undisclosed courier (turns out to be FedEx but you don't find out until after you pay). I just paid to get it over with since customer service didn't bother responding to my inquiry. The good thing is, once the package is with the courier, it is delivered quickly. The poor part of it, for all that excessive money they charged me they could have properly packaged it and at least packed it into a box so I didn't receive one of the items in the package crushed as it's a collectors item. If you're ordering, be prepared for questionable service and lack of transparency. Definitely pay extra for a photo of the items before it's shipped out like I did. That's how I know what I received wasn't in the original condition.