Elfififififififi... @elfi@pixie.town

so ends the tale of the person whose brain shortcircuited with squee too much to recognize an obvious counterfeit operation. While I'd love to find out more about the original plush moth, my efforts have only turned up other people looking similarly in vain, and I hope this post reaches them.

Epilogue: the money is going to Squishable's poodle moth instead, which is very valid and very cute! Also very backordered. everyone loves the Squishable moths.

https://www.squishable.com/squishables/mini_poodle_moth_7.html

In any case, the photos accompanying the moth plush listing was obviously previously taken from a long-gone Etsy post, and the product I received... well, I can't say they didn't try either, but I'd love to find out who the original designer was and pay their dues instead.

To note, the head and mouth are pretty different from the original picture (differing proportions to the body, mouth placement and shape are off), and the wings on the plush I received notably lack the sewn veins--or any at all, really.

To recap, I ordered this at the beginning of December from a storefront I didn't immediately recognize as suspicious because I was too excitable about a plush moth. Two weeks later, my one other braincell caught up and noted how many red flags there were, and I filed for a refund (which I got) based on the fact that the tracking number was not recognized as valid by any ePacket tracker.

On the 26th of January, to no fanfare at all, the tracking number apparently came to life and the shipment made its way over, despite me having disputed the order and obtained a refund.

A few days ago, the storefront sent out an email saying they were supposedly hacked, which was an obvious excuse for them terminating the domain name and moving on.

Now, when I received it, I had a moment of conscience and wanted to pay them what was owed--which was apparently $5 USD + S&H based on the customs form, rather than the $35 they charged--but since they don't exist in their current form anymore, I can't really do that. Can't say I didn't try.