Complaints

• Initial Complaint

  12/27/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  I am filing a formal complaint against Blueprint Labs (BPL) for deceptive business practices, failure to deliver promised services, and refusal to provide a refund despite my compliance with their policy.Transaction Details:Date of Transaction: September 3, 2024 Amount Paid: $2,779.40 Misleading Advertising and False Promises:I purchased BPLs program based on an advertisement I saw in a Discord group on August 27, 2024. The ad specifically promised one-on-one support and help with marketing, which heavily influenced my decision to buy. However, after enrolling, I did not receive the advertised one-on-one support or the promised marketing assistance.Payment Misrepresentation:Before purchasing, I was told by *** representatives that I could use a credit card to make Affirm loan payments. After finalizing the loan, I discovered credit card payments were not accepted, which I would have reconsidered had I known upfront.Unauthorized Charges:Weeks later, I noticed an unauthorized $100 charge on my account, further raising concerns about **** billing practices and business integrity.Attempts to Resolve and Compliance with Refund Policy:I made multiple documented attempts over two months to contact *** and resolve these issues. Despite following their refund policy, including maintaining 90 days of advertisements (with video proof), *** refuses to respond or honor my refund request.Evidence of Broader Issues:I have a screen recording of a conversation with another BPL customer experiencing similar issues, demonstrating a pattern of deceptive practices.Request for Investigation:I respectfully request the BBB to investigate *** for false advertising, breach of contract, and unethical billing practices. Additional supporting evidence, including videos and other communications, is available upon request.

  Customer response

  01/12/2025

  The only contact information I have for Blueprint Labs is that their website is *************************.  I have a phone number for the owner of Blueprint Labs, which is ***** ********** ************, whose address is *********************************. The only email address I could find is *********************************************************.  Please let me know what else you need in order to follow up on this complaint. 

• Initial Complaint

  10/02/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  Date of the transaction: 6/4/24 Date I asked for a refund: 6/4/24 I answered an ad on TikTok for Bylders.When I had a meeting with their salesperson, I was tricked into getting a loan. The salesperson led me to believe that I was just checking to see if I qualified for a loan to pay for their digital marketing program. When he led me through the process and I was qualified for the loan through ******, the loan went through automatically and paid Bylders the $5232. I immediately knew I had been strong-armed and tricked by this salesperson. I immediately asked for a refund the same day this happened. Both through Affirm and through Bylders. ***** would help me. Any contract has a 3 day out in my state. I asked for a refund the same day as this was a trick. I wasn't given the time to determine if I wanted to pursue the loan or the Bylders program. Furthermore, the salesperson led me to believe that if I continued with the program, the money I would make would more than pay for the loan within 6 months. Also, when I asked if there were any other fees associated with this "opportunity" I was told that there were no other expenses.When I couldn't get any help to get the refund, I decided to go ahead with the program in an effort to recoup the money taken from me. I felt I had no choice. I quickly found out that advertising costs, ***** subscriptions, *******, and other expenses were required. Another lie told by their salesperson.I followed their instructions and paid more and money out of pocket. I then experienced a medical crisis and asked again for a refund again as I am unable to afford all of these expenses for this. Only money going out. No money coming in. No one will help. I've attached emails evidencing my immediate refund request as soon I realized I had been tricked and charged.

• Initial Complaint

  09/12/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  I received a call from bylders they told me they help people build e commerce stores and went on about it I told the guy **** I did not have money to start an e commerce store but was interested in what he was saying so he said he works with a financial company that could loan me the money I told him that to buy me time to look into his business and see if it was something I wanted to commit to or not he said let's make it simple see if you qualify for the store and if you decide to work with us we will already know we are good to go so I said I don't have time right now he said it's quick I'll walk you through it click here click there sign I got an email stating I qualify and told the guy **** I would look into it and let him know if I want to proceed he said ally would reach out he gave me her # next day I get email my loan,was processed so I messaged ally and **** saying I did not authorize moving forward and now I have a loan I never wanted and they won't refund Me plz help

• Initial Complaint

  07/24/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Doing what was claimed and promoted prior to signing up with company

  Business response

  08/05/2024

  Dear ****,
  Thank you for sharing your experience with us. We sincerely apologize for any frustration youve encountered during this process. Your feedback is important to us, and we want to ensure that your concerns are thoroughly addressed.
  We would like to clarify that our team delivered the services you signed up for, including the development of your store. These services involved a significant investment of time, resources, and expertise, which is why there are associated costs. Its important to note that the store was not launched to generate sales, a crucial step in the process that impacts your business's potential success.
  Moreover, we were disappointed to learn that you initiated a chargeback with your credit card company. This action not only violates the terms of our agreement but also undermines the collaborative effort weve put into supporting your business.
  Our action-based refund policy is in place to ensure that customers are fully committed to building and marketing their business. This policy was clearly outlined and agreed upon at the time of purchase. We understand that delays and challenges, particularly with suppliers, can be frustrating, and we regret any inconvenience this may have caused.
  Despite these challenges, we are still committed to helping you achieve the success you envisioned. We are more than willing to continue working with you to overcome any obstacles. If you follow the steps outlined in our refund policysuch as making a genuine effort to market the business both organically and through advertisingand still do not see results, we will honor the refund as promised.
  Please reach out to us directly so we can discuss the best way forward and work together toward a satisfactory resolution.
  Thank you again for your feedback and for giving us the opportunity to address your concerns.
  

• Initial Complaint

  07/10/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Sales and Advertising Issues

  Status:

  Unresolved

  More info

  Contracted with provider to deliver a fully functioning ******* store under false pretenses and with little in the way of support and the promised revenue never materialized.

  Business response

  08/05/2024

  Dear *****,

  
  Thank you for bringing your concerns to our attention. We take all feedback seriously and want to ensure that we address your concerns fully.

  
  Our team has worked diligently to deliver the services as outlined in our agreement, and we've gone above and beyond the initial scope to ensure that your Shopify store was built to your specifications and equipped to succeed in the competitive e-commerce market. We have invested significant time and resources, amounting to thousands of dollars in expenses, to build and develop your store.
  

  As per the terms of our contract, which you agreed to upon signing, you are free to terminate the agreement at any time. However, the contract clearly states that if you choose to terminate, you will not be entitled to any reimbursement for the services rendered or expenses incurred by our company. After completing all the services as agreed, we understand that you decided to terminate the agreement. Unfortunately, instead of working with us to resolve any issues, you initiated a chargeback with your credit card company. This action directly violates the terms of our agreement.
  

  Despite this, we remain committed to resolving this situation amicably. We are still willing to continue working on your store to help you achieve your goals or assist you in selling the business if that is your preferred course of action. Our primary objective is to see you succeed, and we are prepared to offer our support to help you reach a positive outcome.
  We hope this clarifies our position and underscores our ongoing commitment to resolving this situation positively. We are here to help and will gladly continue to support you in making your business a success.
  Thank you for your understanding.

  Customer response

  08/05/2024

   
  Complaint: 21971676
  
  I am rejecting this response because: It was never disclosed verbally or in writing the $2,000 carrying cost I was expected to pay on a monthly basis to simply operate the site.  .  The marketing channels promised as part of the service at the beginning in truth became a single channel with a disorganized creative distribution that generated negligible revenue.  By any measure this service was a disaster and a tremendous mistake.  After spending in total over $13,000 over the course of several months total sales revenues were less than $600.   If I was a business owner with that record I would be ashamed.  

  Additionally, and most importantly what was not disclosed was the unethical and potentially criminal nature of the bylders business model that they syndicate.  As they set up these sites, as a default everyone who purchases an item in the store was automatically enrolled in a subscription service that had in truth little to no value.  I was told that they would be receiving items or services of value in exchange for their monthly fees.

  I really wanted this to work.  Against my fiances advice I tried to work with them, but over the course of several months and after several conversations with the owner to no effect with calls and texts being unanswered signed the site back to them and initiated a complaint with my credit card.   

  Sincerely,
  
  ***** ****

  Business response

  08/29/2024

  Dear *****,

  
  Thank you for your response. We appreciate the opportunity to address your concerns and clarify any misunderstandings.

  
  Firstly, I want to assure you that there is nothing unethical about the way our stores operate. The subscription model you mentioned is entirely transparent and requires customers to opt-in by checking a box during the checkout process. This opt-in provides customers with exclusive pricing for their initial purchase and access to VIP stores, offering additional value. I provided you with an example of this opt-in process to clear up any confusion. If there was any misunderstanding, I apologize, but it is essential to understand that customers willingly chose to participate in this model and always have as it would be unethical and illegal. 

  Regarding the marketing strategy, multiple channels were indeed part of our planned approach. However, based on your budget, we recommended focusing on a primary channel to maximize effectiveness and minimize risk--which you agreed with. Expanding to multiple channels would have required a significantly higher investment, which we believe would not have been wise given the available resources. You did not ever push our team to expand to multiple platforms for this same reason.

  I also want to clarify that communication with you was always a priority. We were in communication with you on a daily basis via our Slack channel throughout the full term of our partnership. We informed you of the next steps, including finding a buyer for the store if you chose not to continue running it. You were aware of all parts included in the agreement and despite our efforts to assist you, you opted to dispute the charges (which violates our agreement) with your credit card company while retaining access to the ****** account, where all subscriber data and funds were held. This action left the store inoperable and hindered our ability to sell the business, resulting in significant financial loss for our company. The credit card company, **************** (arguably the most customer friendly company) saw all of the evidence that we provided and sided with our company because of the fact that we upheld all parts of our agreement and the vast amount of time/money/work put into this project.

  Regarding the costs associated with running the business, these were discussed initially. Like any business, marketing is essential to driving sales, and these costs can vary. Additionally, the necessary subscriptions, such as *******, are standard operating expenses that were also communicated. We were in daily communication with you, working diligently to build your store, create the initial subscriber base, and develop ad creativesall of which required significant time and financial resources.

  We understand your frustration, but its important to recognize that starting any business requires ongoing investment and effort. Unfortunately, the way this situation was handled, including the dispute of charges, has put our business at a considerable disadvantage. Despite these challenges, we remain committed to finding an amicable resolution. We are still open to discussing options to help recover value from the store, whether through continued support or finding a buyer, and contuining the roles and responsibilities outlined in our original partnership agreement.

  I hope we can resolve this situation positively. 

  Customer response

  09/10/2024

   
  Complaint: 21971676
  
  I am rejecting this response because, they offer no resolution options.   I do not accept their claims when I have significant documentation to the contrary and have spent significant sums on a promised service that yielded zero results. As far as resolution, I had reached out to them many times to try and find a resolution but have been summarily ignored and it was only when I filed the complaint in this forum did they deign to respond.  That being said we are open to resolving this matter as much as anyone and would love to avoid legal action, 

  If the Bylders team wants to resolve the matter amicably they know how and where to reach me.

  Sincerely,
  
  ***** ****

• Initial Complaint

  07/06/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Started this journey on April 16, 2024.The TikTok ad states "If I don't get paid the company doesn't get paid". This is why I went with bylders. I trusted them they seemed genuine. I am brand new to the online space so I was needed help setting everything up and sourcing a product. If you watch their ad on tiktok the CEO/owner states if the customer doesn't make any money (me that paid $6k) they don't make any money. May 30th after waiting a month for the item to arrive, I asked for a refund.***************** 31 states " I believe the supplier we went with is not good". I requested a refund to ***** on May 31. Again, their ad (I can show you it) states they don't make money if I don't make money. May ********************************************************************************************* shipping (about 1 month after I ordered).May 31, ***** states "I believe the supplier we went with is not good".June 4 ***** states that their team would reach out regarding the refund request June 5 I asked for a refund and asked the owner/manager to contact me June 6 ***** states yes the team will be contacting me June 7 Gabby states yes she reached out to the team who handles these requests and they will contact me as soon as they can June 10 I checked in, ***** responded back yes she was reaching out to them June 11 I told ******* was leaving for vacation, she put me on a high priority list of people to contact. We apologize for the delay and they will be reaching out, but ***** states no phone #, that I will be contacted in the channel. That I should send a message back and when I'm available thing would get sorted out.June 18 I checked in, heard 0 June 21, checked in, Gabby yes sorry about the timing but someone in upper management will be reaching out. I don't have an exact time for you but I know you will be contacted.June 27 checked in no response.I told her I didn't want to post any negative reviews so I was trusting in a call.

  Business response

  08/05/2024

  Dear ********,

  
  Thank you for sharing your experience, and we sincerely apologize for any frustration youve encountered during this process. We value your feedback and want to ensure that we address your concerns thoroughly.
  Firstly, we want to clarify that we offer several programs, some of which do not require any upfront payment. However, the program you selected includes a comprehensive suite of services designed to help set up, support, and scale your business. These services require significant time, resources, and expertise from our team, which is why there is a cost associated with them.

  
  Regarding the refund, our action-based refund policy is designed to ensure that customers are fully committed to the process of building and marketing their business. This policy is clearly outlined on our website and was agreed to at the time of purchase. We delivered the services you signed up for, and our team continued to provide support as you navigated the early stages of your business. We understand that delays and other challenges can be frustrating, especially when dealing with suppliers, and we regret any inconvenience this has caused.

  
  We are more than willing to continue working with you to overcome these challenges and help you achieve the success you envisioned. If you fulfill the steps outlined in our refund policy, which includes making a genuine effort to market the business both organically and through advertising, and still do not see results, we will honor the refund as promised.

  
  Please reach out to us directly so we can discuss the best way forward and work together toward a satisfactory resolution.

  
  Thank you again for your feedback and for giving us the opportunity to address your concerns.

  
  

  Customer response

  08/16/2024

  hello, I believe I did do everything. They are saying that I shouldve tried but did not have success. It said in this case I will get a refund so I just dont know what I didnt do that. I was told to do also it says to contact them, but there is no way to contact them. I call and nobody answers theres nobody to email or reach out to you so how would I even get a hold of them? 

• Initial Complaint

  05/29/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  On April 22, 2024, agreed to an e-commerce store. Was told I would have daily updates and interaction to ensure success. Instead, there were countless excuses of why the store could not be completed. Delay after delay. A month went by. It wasn't until I requested a refund did they produce a store. The store was incomplete and they asked me to accept the invitation, I did. Then, they asked me to accept it again. I had no link to do so. I requested a refund and was told I would be contacted. I have not heard from anyone regarding this matter.

  Business response

  08/05/2024

  Thank you for sharing your experience with us, and we sincerely apologize for any frustration youve encountered during this process. Your feedback is invaluable, and we take your concerns very seriously.
  We understand how delays and communication issues can be frustrating, especially when you're eager to get your business up and running. We strive to provide timely updates and maintain open communication, and it's clear that we fell short in this instance. For that, we sincerely apologize.

  
  Regarding the status of your refund, we want to confirm that the refund has already been processed. You should have received the funds, but if you have any issues or concerns regarding the refund, please dont hesitate to reach out to us directly, and well ensure that everything is resolved promptly.

  
  Once again, we apologize for any inconvenience caused and appreciate your patience throughout this process. If there's anything more we can do to assist you or if you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us.

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩