Viva Terra International
Reviews and Complaints

4/16/2019 I ordered the Maya Glass Vase and requested it shipped to my P.O. Box. I never received the vase. May 8, 2019 I phone 800-247-6799 to inquire about the vase. Was told will not ship to P.O. Boxes. This information was not stated on their website and I did not receive an email or was contacted about this. A representative stated my order was dropped. If I wanted the vase, I would have to reorder. Originally I had used a discount code, but now, it is not available. Now I will have to pay the full price. They would not honor the original price. My reply was "No." I stated they have poor customer service and their website needs to state "No Shipping to P.O. Boxes." This is a bad company to order from. Very poor customer service!

I tried to place an order on line. The web site would not go beyond the shipping address. It kept asking me to check the address (which was correct). I hit continue and nothing happened. It just kept asking me to check the address. I called the 1-800 number as was told they would talk to IT, to try again in 30 minutes. I waited well over an hour and tried again. I was able to process one of my orders. I placed my second order and got, please try again, your credit card was declined. so I checked my CC # and his submit again. Again it stated it was declined. So I tried on last time thinking I was fat fingering the number wrong. Again it was declined. I called my credit card company and they stated no...in fact that I had six charges...I need to call the merchant. I call back and this time I am told that I needed to call back in 30 minutes as their order system had not updated and she could do nothing to help me. I asked why she couldn't call me back and was told they were too busy. Think this may be my last order with Viva Terra. Still have the problem. Am waiting my 30 minutes so I can resolve this issue and be done with them.

They are supposed to be a "green" and "earth friendly" company, but a coat stand I bought from them came packaged in block styrofoam. Styrofoam is not biodegradable and terrible for the environment so this is a total hypocrisy. Also I get respiratory issues when I am around styrofoam dust and particles, soI thought buying green would be a way to reduce exposure. I will not be buying from this company again so as not to support their greenwashing.

I think that Viva Terra has some rather unique merchandise and that's what attracted me, but I won't purchase from them again.
I bought a very lovely wooden bowl mid Septemember last year. It has sat on a table empty for several months---it was away from heat and cold and isn't "played" with. Yesterday, I noticed a huge fissure/crack in the bowl. Considering that this is obviously either a design flaw or an issue with the materials, I asked to either have it replaced or get my money back. Naturally I got the standard customer service email that says---"sorry it's over 30 days" so too bad.
What bothers me isn't even so much the cash--though it was fairly expensive to have lasted only a few months---it was the utter lack of understanding that this was a bigger issue and that perhaps they should look at the overall quality assurance to make sure that they don't have other complaints. If they don't care about what they sell, then I won't care to purchase anything from them again.

I have just sent this to the Viva Terra customer service email address:
Hello. I am writing to file a complaint on multiple points. On December 10, I placed an order (# [protected]) with Viva Terra with the expectation that the culinary wreath would be delivered before December 20, when my relatives would be leaving town (New Orleans) for the holidays. I never received notification of shipping, so I called customer service. I was told that they could not say when or whether it had been shipped, but that the product is “guaranteed to arrive by December 23.” She said there was no tracking number available. Not much help to me. I then corresponded with my relative about her mail and she said that their USPS mail would be held and they could see if UPS could be held as well. So I sent this email to Viva Terra Customer Service – and received NO RESPONSE:

“Hello. I placed this order on December 10 in hopes that it would reach the recipient by December 20, when they are leaving on vacation. I had not received a shipping notification so I called and was told it has likely not yet shipped and there is no tracking number. It is “guaranteed” by December 23 – a little too late for me/my family member.

My question is: How will the box be sent? By USPS or by UPS? I need to know this so my relative can have her mail held for her return from a vacation trip.

I would appreciate a response as soon as possible.”

The story didn’t end there. I called Viva Terra again, to see if it had shipped. I was finally given a tracking number but there was no information in the record about date of arrival. I have continued to check on the UPS tracking and finally discovered yesterday that the package was “Left at front door” on DECEMBER 28. So much for “guaranteed” delivery by December 23. My relatives will not return until January 4. No telling what the state of the wreath is now or will be by then.

I would like to request a full refund AND that a fresh wreath be sent to the gift recipient. I have never received such poor customer service as I have from Viva Terra. I have no alternative but to discourage others from shopping with you.

Thank you for your assistance. I hope to receive a reply this time.

Deborah Jakubs
Deborah.[protected]@duke.edu
[protected]

I ordered a set of two stools made of natural wood on 12/17/15
One of the stools cracked/split open on its own right in the middle of the seat soon after the delivery on around March of 2016. When I called to report the damage at around May of 2016, the customer service representative told me it is pass the return date policy. My argument that the damage has nothing to do with using the stool, since I am using it as a side table rather then a seat in the first place, the wood was just faulty and not sturdy enough for the seat, was left without a comment. The customer service person just kept repeating herself over and over that its over the allowed return time without even considering the real issue. I asked to the refund but that of course was not accepted since the argument was not accepted in the first place.

Their shipping charge was 1/2 the cost of the bed. I tried to ask them about it, even called the manufacturer who made the bed and he told me tier shipping. Charge was 1/2 of the shipping charge Viva Terra charged. Viva Terra's response was that maybe I should buy it somewhere else then.

Amazing, with such horrible customer service, I will not shop there again

"Your review has been accepted for moderation."

This was the response I received when I wrote a review about a bench I received that I was not happy with on the Vivaterra site. I paid over $400 for a bench that is actually beautiful...however it came with a white sticker on it "MADE IN CHINA"...

I am unable to completely remove the sticker without causing damage to the wood and the area I was able to remove is stained...sad face.

As you can imagine I called customer service and received no help. I was instructed to use "mayonnaise" to remove a sticker that has already stained the wood...hmmmm!

Funny thing is this was a bit of a test, this order was over $800 and I am in the process of buying furniture for my house...joke is on you Vivaterra, I will never buy anything from you again.

I ordered a wreath for fall for my mother on Sept 18, 2014 A MONTH later I called to ask where it was. They told me they were made to order and it takes time. I've called THREE more times including today which is NOV3rd ! The last two calls they said it was shipping "today". Obvioiusly not true. I spoke to a supervisor today who tad me it just shipped and I have trouble believing him. I asked for an accommodation or a discount. NO response. This is BAD SERVICE. I will never use them again. Ever.

Received an order that I changed my mind on & returned it IMMEDIATELY. Upon VivaTerra receiving the order, they said they would credit back within one month. It has been a few months now & STILL have not credited me back. I have been contacting them every few weeks to make sure I get credited back & nothing. They said they are unable to do so now because of new policies & said to deal with the cc company instead. After contacting my cc company to report fraudulent charges, it had been too late & Viva Terra was fully aware of that. THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT THEIR CUSTOMERS OR CUSTOMER SERVICE. What a terrible company. I will absolutely NEVER order from them again, losing a lot of business from an Interior Design firm.

Ordered Mother's Day orchids, per website order today and receive by the day. Also had coupon code for free shipping. Ordered online and at promo code wouldn't allow. Called 800 number, customer service (yeah, right!) spoke to Melissa. She grilled me like a criminal to "find the code" in her system. Being persistent, she said it was related to "retailmenot.com" and they didn't participate. Really? There are hundred of coupons/promos on the site for vivaterra.com! She was offensive. I just buried my dad and really wanted to sent the lovely orchids. I asked her to just waive the fee (I've previously ordered many gifts from them) as a one-time courtesy. She said absolutely not. Because of the nature of their "service, " in particular, Melissa, I will never shop with this company again. I continued with the order as they exhausted me - I paid the shipping fee. They lost a customer over $12.00 . Shame.

On the left is what I ordered and on the right is what I received. The shape, material, and manufacturing process are not what is described on the website. The product is fully misrepresented on their website and is actually made in China. Moreover, the platter already has cracks in it and a filler in certain parts to keep it together. Customer service is of no help and deem this product "acceptable" after seeing these pictures I sent them and refuse to refund me the full amount that I paid.

I will never ever ever order anything from Viva Terra again. I received a gift item that didn't fit. I wanted to exchange it. I tried emailing customer service, but no one ever replied. I ended up calling. I spoke to a customer service rep who said he'd take care of everything, but I never received the promised faxed address label for the exchange. I called back. I spoke to 3 more people, never could reach a supervisor (I hung up after 20 mins on hold). They couldn't help me (3 customer service reps, 3 different reasons why they couldn't help me). I gave up on the exchange and will return the gift item at my expense. Was told it may take 1 to 2 billing cycles for my husband's credit card to be credited for the return. At this point I have zero faith that the return will go well.