Ciara D.
Shady, Unreliable, Unresponsive. SAVE YOUR MONEY AND TIME!
Upon doing more research after an unpleasant shopping experience where an order was placed and never fulfilled.....Consumers should know this company was previously was called Souk + Sepia. They are now rebranded as Kelly Obi. Really shameful and shady 'business' practices where they resell items.....they collect your money and call it a preorder but have NO intention of fulfilling your orders in a timely manner, sending tracking updates etc. I had to follow up with them multiple times over the course of a month or two and never received the items. Giving minority businesses and owners a terrible name. Stop feeding into the stereotypes. SHAME SHAME SHAME. ** 8/2/24-Updating my review as the company has finally replied. I want to be CLEAR I experienced this while ordering with Kelly Obi. This is not you being 'unfairly' associated with another company. I mentioned them because I believe the consumer has a right to know that there was a connection to the other business (which seems to have the same reputation and extensive amount of negative reviews) It seems there was an attempt to rebrand to hide the reports against you. I stand by what my review says- the experience I had which was lackluster and unprofessional on Kelly Obi's part. It is of no surprise to me that you are just getting a hold of this account. You seem to lack urgency, professionalism, and clearly accountability as well. ***
Response from KELLY OBI NYAug 1, 2024
Hey Ciara! Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us! We totally get why you’re concerned, and we appreciate the chance to clear things up. First off, Kelly Obi NY is not the same company as Souk & Sepia. Some of our team members have worked with them before, which might explain the slight resemblance in our style with them, but we’re a completely different brand. It really bums us out to see that a not-so-nice experience from another brand is getting passed onto us. Regarding your mention of shady business practices and preorders, we take our operations seriously. Just this year we've fulfilled close to 30k orders(and counting) in the US and around the world, usually delivered by USPS in around 15 days. We make sure to fulfill all our orders in a timely manner and send tracking updates so our customers are always in the loop. We’re all about transparency and building trust, so it hurts to hear that you think we’re unreliable and unresponsive. We strive to respond to all our customers us humanly fast as possible and provide the best service possible. We only just got control of this TrustPilot account, which is why we're months overdue in replying to you—sorry about that! For extra peace of mind, you can check out our verified customer reviews on our website: Kelly Obi Reviews. We’re proud of the positive feedback we've earned and hope it shows our commitment to our customers. If you have specific concerns or need assistance and would like to open a ticket case, our Customer Appreciation team is always here to help at [email protected]. We’re dedicated to turning your experience around and showing you the true Kelly Obi difference. 🧡🙌🏽 **UPDATED RESPONSE: 8/2/2024** Thank you so much for sticking to your sequins—I mean, guns—and sharing your honest feedback, Ciara. 🧡 We understand the confusion regarding your mention of Souk having some connection with us. We want to address your concern directly because we don't want anyone to think we're a continuation of Souk. Kelly Obi NY is not a reiteration of any past brands. The connection you mentioned points solely to the talented individuals from Souk who joined our team after their previous employer closed down. We were delighted to bring their expertise into our fold, enhancing our brand without being tied to their past affiliations. Each of them is contributing their unique and special qualities to our success. Now, while we generally prefer to focus on the bigger picture, sometimes the details are crucial—as they say, 'the devil is in the details.' We want to prevent any misinformation from spreading. So, to revisit the specifics of your order from January 30 with OID 17142, we informed you a week after your purchase about a production delay. We offered you the choice to wait or to opt for a refund, which you selected, and we processed promptly. We're forging our own path in the fashion world, promising free shipping and a delivery timeline of 3-4 weeks as stated on our website. We understand that perfection is a journey, and while we might not always get everything right, our commitment to improvement and customer satisfaction remains unwavering. Thank you for your vigilant consumer rights advocacy. Saying that a few critical reviews on Trustpilot constitute an "extensive amount" is a bit like saying a raindrop is a storm! The vast majority of our customers (thousands of them at that) are quietly reveling in their purchases. While we're glad to have the spotlight, let’s make sure it’s illuminating the whole stage, not just one corner. We value transparency and honesty, which is why we’re addressing your concerns head-on, with no rebranding curtains to hide behind. We deeply regret any inconvenience you've experienced. Your insights have given us much to reflect on, and we are sincerely sorry for dropping the ball on this occasion. Massive thanks for your engagement with our brand. Your input is helping us fine-tune our direction, Ciara! 🧡💋