For those considering using this Korea purchasing service, here is a review.
These 2 websites are the same, under the same person (Ms Park).
I used Konlinehouse twice.
Is the service reliable?
The first time, the e-mail response was fast. My enquiries were replied quickly and completely with full price quotes. Full price means all charges including EMS airmail fee. This was convenient, and I could pay using Paypal.
Now according to the Konlinehouse website, for their buying service, it says:
We take 20~25% of buying service fee only from items, not total invoice. and no other service fee won't added for shipping service. Item Total amount US$200 less will be applied 25%, Over US$200 will be applied 20%
The price quote I received for the first items were favorable. Doing the calculations, her buying fee was 25% for 9 items that came up to quite an amount (but under US$200).
Payment can be transferred in 2 parts: the first for the items' cost and buying fee. And second for the EMS which can be paid once she receives the items at her end.
The order was placed right after payment. And once she received the items, she would let me know and then tell me if everything is correct before mailing out.
After paying for the EMS, she sent out the items pretty quickly as well, with tracking number.
In a few days, I received the items. Her airmail fee was correctly priced. And the box she used was light and the perfect size that fitted everything in.
In a few days, I received the items. Her airmail fee was correctly priced. And the box she used was light and the perfect size that fitted everything in.
A smooth transaction. So, you could say it's reliable and affordable.
However.
Now, she didn't know I run a small buying and re-selling business. Buying through her the first time was fine because everything was according to my calculations.
The second and third time, when I asked for the price quotes, she had increased the buying service fee without informing me. I didn't know this, and wondered why I wasn't making any profit the second time even though I had factored in her fee.
Without knowing, I had paid for the 2nd time, taking her quotation as it were, assuming that it was the same as the first time.
The airmailed package with 3 handbags was excellent, light and just perfect, like the first time.
The 3rd time when I asked for a quote on 2 or 3 items, I still didn't know about the increased buying fee.
She gave me a quote, but due to some changes at my end, I had to take out an item one at a time. Her reply took longer than usual. And subsequently, never replied for a week or more.
Just as I assumed she was not interested in taking in an order of 1 item, she suddenly replied with a quote.
That's when I started looking more carefully at her quote, doing the calculations and realizing that her buying fee had increased to 30%. Surprised by this, I went to check on the calculation for the 2nd time, and realized that the quote at that time, had already increased to 30% without my knowledge.
Why?
I felt this was a cheat. If she wanted to increase the buying fee for whatever reason, she should let the buyer know. Why quietly slip it into the quote after the first time? What was the meaning of this?
30% is a lot. 25% is already a lot just for a buying service. I felt she wasn't honest by doing this.
I didn't e-mail her about it, since the first 2 times were already over. The 3rd time, she took so long to reply with a quote that the item was not needed any more. And with her quiet increase of the buying fee, there wasn't any need to continue using her service.
If you notice, there are 3 websites that are the same. One of them explains the "origin" of the "company", and the background of Ms Park who is stated as the "President". http://www.watertonkorea.com/
What is odd is the way the "company" has been publicizing itself: more than 1 free blogspot website where it blasts its service in rambling English that doesn't make sense, and in many forums with any discussion on buying from Korea (a "helpful" post would insert itself into a discussion on where to find a Korea shopping or purchasing service).
The way the advertising is done, also looks and sounds very desperate, rather than professional.
