BLACKLIT — Local services in Farmers Branch

I'm a serial entrepreneur and Indie Author in Cleveland, Ohio and was so excited to partner with what seemed to be a likeminded organization with a heart to service the community. Sadly, I had to learn the hard way this facility is only concerned with themselves.

In October 2023 I sent my books to be featured on a singular shelf as part of a "Solo Shelf" option listed in their contract. Thinking my books were singularly featured, I had a friend drop by only to find my books on a shared shelf in a disarray. After sending numerous emails to the owner I was ignored and had to turn to social media where I posted the video and explained what Black LIT had done.

Not only had they moved my books without telling me, they did not feature a QR code linking to my website, include weekly story posts, include my book in their email list, or place my book on an IG reel. All of these promises were stated in their contract. But it gets worse.

The owner then started spewing lies in response to my video, taking no accountability and not even apologizing for pocketing my money and breaking the contract. Finally my friend was able to pick my books up since I'm out of state. One of my books was missing and the owner said she would mail it along with my profit. I've received neither.

When you dig deep in these reviews you will find similar responses from those who have partnered with this store. My friend tried several times to get my book but the company doesn't adhere to store hours, more than likely because the owner is working another gig. They were also in debt $26k at one point.

It is sad that our people are doing this to each other but it is a lesson learned for me. Not everyone is about community-building and honoring small business. Some folks just want the appearance of good instead of actually doing good.

Also, other authors have come forward to me advising they too were taken advantage of.

If you are a business looking to partner, look elsewhere. If you are a consumer who has high morals and values do the same.

This company is a red flag waving...

Re: Retail Vendor Program I signed a contract and paid the corresponding fee to display and sell my bath products from Pure Romance by Terri D. in October 2023. The agreement also included weekly advertisements on BlackLIT's social media platform. There was not one post about my business on their social media regarding my business. all attempts to communicate for an update were ignored. I sent emails, called and left voicemails, and sent a certified letter with no response. I never received any sales reports or updates on whether my products were being displayed or sold. Finally, at my own inconvenience, I visited the store in person on March 29, 2024, five months later, with no guarantee the owner would even be present. The owner provided no explanation, no apology, or any acknowledgment of the failure of communication. To my surprise, some of my products had actually sold, and she seemed unaware that I had never been paid for those sales. I immediately requested payment and sent a Paypal invoice while standing at the counter. I also sent in samples for her subscription box, and I am still waiting to be told if she still has them or if they were included in a subscription box. The invoice was paid and the remaining products were returned. However, the disrespectful level of non-communication and lack of acknowledgment made this entire program extremely...

Ordered a 3 month subscription box on February 21st. It is April 15th and I still haven’t received the first box. I have reached out several times via the website, email, and social media. It has been two months and I still haven’t received a box, a refund, or even a response. I’m very disappointed. I was looking forward to supporting a small black business.

Update: Neither NIA nor her team has reached out to me DESPITE my extensive efforts to communicate via email, phone, & even social media. After I filed a dispute with my bank on April 15, I received a notification on April 26 that my order has been shipped with an intended delivery date on May 11. NIA and her team fraudulently changed my original receipt purchase date from February to April and even assigned a new order number. I guess that was done to make it appear as if the order was shipped on time. I am still pursuing a refund. Finally sending my order 3 months later is totally unacceptable. I do not even want it anymore. This is why I requested the refund. Also, the complete lack of customer service (i.e. unresponsive…NIA can respond to positive reviews but she cannot respond to reviews expressing dissatisfaction is very telling of the unprofessional business practices.). Unfortunately, I will urge future patrons to be wary of purchasing from BLACKLIT. The headache is...