Rockford – The Rockford Regional Office of the Better Business Bureau is cautioning consumers about an online retail site that sells clothes, gadgets, furniture, and pet supplies, with the most common item purchased being dog beds. The company advertises “free dog beds” and all consumers have to pay for is shipping.  
BBB investigated the business based on a large number of consumer complaints. The consumers allege that they never received what they purchased from the company. BBB determined the business currently has a pattern of alleged questionable business practices and has attempted to contact the company to rectify the matter however, a letter sent via U.S. mail was returned “undeliverable.”
The company currently has an “F” rating based on 55 complaints from 24 states; one of which has been resolved. All others remain unresolved or unanswered by the business. The company also has 44 negative reviews and BBB has received 17 reports via BBB Scam Tracker regarding their business practices.
The company’s headquarters is listed at 44 Shirley Ave., West Chicago, IL, 60185. However, BBB discovered the address to be a vacant cul-de-sac.
Consumers allege:
• Making purchases on the website and never receiving their items despite shipping notices stating they would receive their order within 6-12 business days.
• Numerous inquiries and chat requests about their orders have gone unanswered by the company.

• Receiving generic automated emails from the business stating a refund to their account should post soon but never does.
• Interacting with representatives of the company who are unprofessional, insulting and demeaning, even threatening to sue consumers who demanded refunds.
Flip the Trend also advertises to be associated with “The Forgotten Dog,” a nonprofit located in California, and claims for certain purchases, they donate a monetary amount to the foundation. The foundation issued a warning on their website denying any relationship with Flip the Trend.
BBB advises consumers to proceed with caution when dealing with Flip the Trend or any other online retail site and recommends the following:
• Do your research. Always look up any company at bbb.org before doing business with them.
• Don’t assume charity means legitimacy. Just because a business claims to be associated with a nonprofit doesn’t mean they are. Contact the charity directly to confirm the company’s relationship.
• Don’t believe what you see. The site may have the logo or design of a legitimate retailer, but can be easily copied by a scammer.
• Look out for fake (or no) contact info. No contact information or store location are red flags. Some fake websites are crafty. If unsure, check the phone number on bbb.org or with a reputable source.
• Watch for too-good-to-be-true deals.  Be sure to comparison shop and be suspicious of a site offering prices significantly lower than those listed elsewhere.
About BBB
For more than 100 years, Better Business Bureau has been helping people find businesses, brands and charities they can trust. Consumers and businesses can search business reviews and ratings on more than 5.3 million businesses and Charity Reports on 11,000 charities, all available for free at  bbb.org. The Council of Better Business Bureaus is the umbrella organization for the local, independent BBBs in the United States, Canada and Mexico, as well as home to its national programs on dispute resolution, advertising review, and industry self-regulation.