I am not familiar with your shops so can't offer you any advice on what you did right or wrong.
One way to look at it is that you did not 'lose' a large amount of money. Squeeze whatever knowledge you can out of these situations and move on.
For me, I would skip 5 dollar shops.
Evaluating and mailing packages since 1994. I am an undercover connoisseur of customer service, a master of disguise in the aisles, and a sworn enemy of subpar experiences. I blend in, observe, and report—because excellence should never be a mystery.