I am adding to this post due to the fact that after posting it, I received several comments from people (as can be seen below) who had negative shared experiences with the company. Not receiving their paid for products and not being able to successfully communicate with the company are the common themes. As a huge animal lover, I would never knowingly endorse a company that does not have animals’ best interests at heart and that does not treat their customers as they should.
The original post is below but is not necessarily an accurate portrayal of The Buddy Bandana.
(And for further info, check out what happened next in my follow-up post – Buddy Bandana, The Scam That Continues
So I saw that Buddy Bandanas was looking for brand ambassadors and I was all over it. Was it because I absolutely love the idea of matching my dog? Actually, yes. Because to me, there’s nothing cuter than a dog wearing a bandana, bow tie, or a little outfit. And, you’re telling me that I could have a scrunchie to match?? Shut up and take my money!
And then I looked into the company and I was really all over it.
You see, not only are these bandanas and scrunchies handmade but the company’s mission is to help homeless animals. They have the mission of helping the countless dogs in the shelters. Purchasing these products helps them donate money to dogs in need. There is no bad there.
In their words – “The Buddy Bandana was born in Boston in 2019. Our mission is to spread awareness and raise money for rescue organizations across the country. Each year approximately 1.5 Million shelter animals are euthanized, (670,000 dogs). We pride ourselves on donating to no kill shelters to support and save animals in need.”
This is a cause close to my heart. The overpopulation of animals, specifically dogs, in this case, is both heartbreaking and infuriating. And as the humans, I feel it is our responsibility to do what we can. And, this is a pretty easy way to help. Not to mention an adorable way!
the6parkers 
How cute 🙂
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Worst experience ever. I can not and do not recommend a company of scam artists and frauds. They make promises and offers with no intention to keep them. They scam customers into cheap products and free advertising. When a complaint is made they either ignore it or harass you. Never fixing or justifying their actions all under the cover of helping animals. A fraud!
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Wow that is terrible!
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Really cute.
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There is a bad when they are not responding to people after they pay for their items.
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I’m really sorry to hear this. 😦
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This happened to me. No reaponse to emails, questions, no use of photos. Item stated it was “handmade” and appears thin cheap and mass produced.
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Agree completely – items not as described (was called ‘flannel’ and it was flimsy nylon) and I was totally suckered in and ordered 4 sets plus an additional bandana – for all my dog-loving friends for Xmas. Shipment was missing 2 sets. Took over a week for a response via email and they gave me a code to order “for free” what I had already paid for and not received. Nuts! I loved their supposed mission but clearly a farse. A young child would run a business better!
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I bought some Bandas from this company and never received them. I’ve filed a fraud claim with my credit card company. I reached out several times to the company via text, Instagram and their contact us on their web page and never get a response. The link they sent me to track my package never worked. Don’t buy from this company!
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Unfortunately I did too. I tried to buy a scrunchie for my sister, got an email saying that it would be here within 5 days, and then never heard from them again… Now I see you’re having the same problem. *sigh* Looks like it’s time for me to call my bank…
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I’m sorry. 😦 I’ll reach out to them, too, just in case.
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I don’t know if it will help, but I’m going to send them a message, too. I’m sorry that you have gone through this. 😦
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Hello,
The buddy bandana doesn’t respond to their customers. I bought two bandanas and only received one. I’ve tried multiple times contacting their website, instagram, and their gmail. If you are having trouble please report to better business bureau so you can get your items. That is what I’m doing and everyone else should too so no more customers are scammed.
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I’m sorry that this happened. I’m going to send a message, too. I don’t know that I will have any luck, either, but I’ll try anyway.
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Any luck?
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No. I got a reply but it sounded like an automated reply. 😦
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Can you make a new post about this company so nobody tries to buy from them again. Because this still tries to promote the company. I’ve tried to comment on their Instagram but they blocked me so I can’t give my real true opinion. I would really appreciate it.
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I did finally receive my product, however, there was an error with what they sent. I’ve tried to contact them to make it right but they don’t respond. So very sad that they treat customers this way.
Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone
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I edited it this morning.
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They are a complete scam. The items are cheap and not handmade. It’s a robot who answers you. They never use any photos you send. They didn’t respond to any email so I posted a comment On their IG post only to have it removed and my personal account blocked by them.
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I also got scammed, and luckily found this blog and see I’m not alone. I’m so sad…because I truly wanted to help, I have 2 adopted dogs of my own. Ugh.
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Hey, I saw your posts on the Instagram account of the buddy bandana. I also have this problem with them. I do have the phone number for them that my bank got for me after trying to get my money back. It is 978-404-6916. I would share it to who you see on the account. They blocked me after I posted about their scam on their photos. But I saw your comments through my husbands account. I would encourage you to report it to the better business bureau and the federal trade commission so they can take the site down. You can also report them to Instagram. Just wanted to be helpful and spread the word. Sorry this occurred, people suck…
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Hi Anne, I’m doing an investigation into this and would like to chat about your experience, could you drop me a message on sean.allsop@bbc.co.uk Thanks,
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Hi Anne, I have found the details of the owner of this business.
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I have found the details of the owner.
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They are scammers, you really should edit/remove your post. You are endorsing people that are stealing from people and do not support the shelter they claim to help.
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Edited it.
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Thank you! I really appreciate you supporting us too and trying to help!
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How long did it take after you placed your order to receive it? I’m going on almost 4 weeks so I’m thinking I’m also going to be one of the unlucky people who got scammed.
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Maybe a week. Sadly, I think you’re probably right. 😦
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Hello all! I have added a “disclaimer” to my post so that readers will have the full story, as much as possible. Thank you all for taking the time to comment.
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I bought 2 bandanas and 2 headbands- got a text it had shipped but no tracking information. When i emailed, they said they were unable to provide tracking at the moment. They sent an email that said “we hope it delivers soon” and then went silent. I too will be filing fraud with my bank. There is absolutely no way you are unable to provide tracking.
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Hello-I have never received my item in over two month after ordering and the refuse to answer my emails-in which I have sent over 15+ emails trying to get my money back. They are a SCAM and it needs to become public knowledge not to order from them.
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I saw the on instagram with a post saying will looking for dog models. If you wish to be a part of us please send a message so I did just that. They tell you the benefit wish is a 40% of the product and them when you receive you make a post and tag them. But I order the Bandana, scrunching and headband and it use to cost $30.00 with the discount it was like 22.00 something cause of the shipping but I only received the bandana and scrunching never the headband. I had to wait two months for a answer next thing I know they tell me the set I selected did add the headband but that not what they said when I was paying so don’t fall for it.
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I wonder if there is a way we could contact Instagram to have them stop advertising them. I still get them as a sponsored add in my story feed and it irritates me every time I see it.
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Thank you! They reached out to me saying they wanted to use my dogs as models. I won’t fall for their scams!
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I’m super glad I saw this …. They contacted me this morning about being an ambassador. I was all for it and told them yes and was just about to order my stuff. Now I’m not going to! Thank you to all of you for posting and commenting so others don’t fall for the scam!
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Same, I was just about to be a brand ambassador but wanted to do a little digging before I provided my card information to buy their product. So thankful for seeing this.
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Crap. I just ordered one and then saw this post.
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Same. Did you receive yours yet?
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I ordered late last week and just got mine today.
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Yeah, don’t order from this company. I received a text a week ago that my order had been shipped, but every time I go to the link, it says still processing. I reached out to them via Instagram and I received a response back asking for my order number because they’ll include a gift for being an ambassador. Never answered my question about my order being shipped or not. I just called my back to get my money back and dispute it.
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I appreciate this blog post as it kept me from ordering from them. I second all of these reviews about not trusting this company! I was just messaging with them today and it’s definitely a robot, not an actual person. They asked me questions that I already answered, didn’t answer things I said if it didn’t directly go with their auto-reply and when I told them I was not comfortable representing them, they replied by thanking me for supporting them. I assume they are some international company with cheaply made products.
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I have had interesting messages with them and felt like it was too quick, too enthusiastic, too one size fits all. I did place an order about 10 days ago and I already received my order. I was just about to send them a picture of us but I decided to look them up a little more before writing my caption… I’m sorry to hear about the negative experiences.. I am grateful that I did at least receive my order, though the messaging/communications have been a little strange. Given that I did receive order, perhaps it isn’t a total scam? Maybe they don’t know what they are doing, trying to get started? Non lo so but thanks for putting this out there
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Same, I was wanting to find out if they were legit, I had a bad feeling, normally if a company wants to partner with you, they GIVE you the item, they don’t make you buy it. Feel like I was had. Also just wanted to add that the interaction I had with them was genuine, it was an actual person and they were authentic and responding appropriately, not a bot. Perhaps they got their ducks in a row now and learned a lesson from earlier interactions. Let’s hope so. Curious, what dog shelter was named on the literature you got from them with your order? Mine was animalhopeandwellness.org. They seem legit.
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Ugh! Wish I would’ve done more research and seen this post before I ordered yesterday! I was in contact with someone via their Instagram and was getting responses within minutes until I placed my order and then NOTHING! Never received an email confirmation as I was supposed to and nobody is answering me back no matter which way I contact them. I paid via PayPal, so I hope to be able to get my money back.
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I talked to someone else from the comments and they got hacked with $163 taken from their PayPal afterwards. So be sure to keep an eye out on your PayPal account now!!!
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I ordered from them on the 29th of December. Received a a text that my order had been shipped the very next day. However, every time I try to track my package, it says that it hasn’t shipped?? 0 tracking information provided, no number, location, nothing. Have tried messaging the company with 0 response so far. I am okay with it taking longer than 3-6 business days, and am happy to support a good cause, but I just can’t shake the feeling that I will not be receiving my products after running into these two small issues and additionally, reading all the comments here of people being scammed.
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I also responded to a brand ambassador post. I sent several messages back and forth through IG. They said they’d give me a discount code. And if I bought the product and posted pics of my pup wearing it, tagging them, they’d share my photos and tag me. That never happened. And I have reached out through IG and their website and there has been no response. Seems like a scam. I’d much rather donate my money directly to an animal shelter.
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Yikes!!! I’m sooooo glad I happened upon this post and thread!!! I literally was just having a DM convo with someone from the company (and was about to get online to actually place my order), but now I realize it was a robot, too! The nerve. Makes me sick that they are scamming people (likely all over the world) with their “we help dogs in need” and don’t follow through. I agree with someone above who suggested contacting IG to remove their ads. Does anyone know how to do that? I’m not an IG junkie, so honestly have no idea where to start. Obviously I WON’T be serving as a brand ambassador for this company, though!!!
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I finally just filed a formal complaint with the BBB and my credit card company. I have put them on blast on Facebook and Instagram. They can keep deleting all of the negative comments and reviews, but I’m going to keep following their page and posting comments about their scam! I’m the sucker out of money with nothing to show for it (one of my orders with a gift for my niece). This is seriously making me sick. I’m so angry and I’m not letting this go!
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Products received in a timely matter but attempting to comunicate with them sounds all automated and I get nowhere. I signed up to be an ambassador but unfortunately looks like we will not be getting a feature, the products are just OK. Nothing great, nothing horrible. Just don’t like being lied to.
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I’m so confused by this company. I don’t really care if they feature me on IG or not, but I want to know that my money is really going to help dogs in need. I contacted the non-profit they claim to work with and they said they do get donations from Buddy Bandana every month. Help! What do you guys think?
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I ordered from them and did receive my order, but I really wish I never placed it. The item that I received is made of the cheapest of cheap materials. The stitching was awful. This bandana will last about 10 minutes. I’ve gotten better on Amazon. PLEASE DO NOT BUY FROM THIS COMPANY.
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It’s really a shame, isn’t it? You want to support fellow animal lovers and then like you said, you get a bandana that will last 10 minutes. (If you get anything at all…)
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