Oriental Trading Company

Pros:  Product variety, cheap prices.

Cons:  Bad service, bad service, and more bad service.

The Bottom Line:  They're cheap - in prices, quality, and customer service. I was sold short too many times.

Full review
As the owner of a small online business, www.moonslush.com, I thought Oriental Trader was wonderful source of cheap, bulk products. However, after much experience with OT, I'm not so sure...

The gel lip glosses, body glitters, putties, and other liquid-y products dry out very quickly. Candles and other easily breakable products have arrived seriously damaged. Information as to sales and discounts is misleading - TWICE I have encountered wonderful little graphics on OT's site proclaiming free shipping to all online orders of $75 and over, only to be charged, in fact, more than usual for shipping (totaling about $35 in one case, for shipping on $112 worth of products). I have been sent the wrong products; and when I call to notify them of the problem, I'm told "We can't really help you, but we can sent you compensation if you want." So I angrily accept, expecting reasonable compensation for the mistake; instead, I am given a $5 gift certificate that expires in 6 months as compensation for $15 wasted on products I have no need for and didn't even order. The particular problem of being sent the wrong product(s) has occurred on 3 separate occasions.

The most infuriating experience I've had with OT occurred after ordering, among other things, a dozen gold gel pens. I was not sent the gel pens, but was still charged for them. I called and was promptly told that they had no gel pens, and I was not to be refunded my money spent on the non-existent gel pens because I owed $3 extra in shipping because they decided the order had to be sent in 2 separate boxes. Interestingly, I had spent $12 on the gel pens. Hmm, technically they still owe me $9; they SHOULD owe me $12 because random shipping charges when I've already paid expensive S&H is outrageous.


My personal experience with OT has been less than satisfactory; therefore, I don't recommend it. However, if you're looking for bulk supplies for crafts done at camps, in girl scouts, etc., OT is decent. Just avoid anything that can possibly dry up or break, because it will quickly. OT is great for it's low prices - but don't be too fooled. You get what you pay for.