So I run an online business...we do over $100k in sales every month, me and two employees that do our shipping...being basically a one-woman show is challenging at times (my girls only do the packing and slapping of labels on the packages - I do everything else - yes, I have control issues).
Believe me, I am far from complaining...I have a steady, solid income that covers all our bills and leaves plenty for our travels, vices (shoes), etc. My husband's company, that he runs with his father, has been extremely challenging the last few years, to say the least...my husband has taken about a dozen paychecks in the five years we've been together, simply because there wasn't enough money left to pay himself or his dad at the end of the month. So yes, my business does provide more than enough for both of us - my husband is now moving into another area of business that we are both invested in and believe will be our retirement income - http://www.bkbenergy.igniteinc.biz/ for more information on that venture...
So what am I ranty about this time? It's the quantity of time-wasting emails I have to answer every day simply because people don't bother to read the information I have spent the time to provide up front about the items they wish to purchase. And yes, I know that it is just a part of the business - but if I could spend the time I waste answering stupid emails instead listing new items or taking care of other business, I could continue building my business faster! The number of emails I receive answering dumb questions that are already answered if they looked past the picture of the item, is astounding to me on some days...some examples...
"I'll give you $5.00 including shipping on this item" (that is currently listed at $22.50, and clearly stated that we don't accept offers).
"I purchased this item three days ago and just realized I gave you the wrong address to ship to - please ship to..." (we ship within 24 hours in most cases, and don't always read our emails first - how hard is it to verify your shipping address?).
"This item is clearly a fake, and I demand a refund right now or I'll leave negative feedback, and I'm keeping the item" (yeah, we have so much time on our hands that we can fake a brand-name product so well that 99.9% of our customers are happy with it).
"Do you ship to (insert some random country here)?" (all the countries we ship to are clearly listed).
"Where's my stuff? It's been three days and I haven't received it!" (BECAUSE YOU LIVE IN FRICKING AUSTRALIA, AND I CLEARLY STATE IT CAN AND DOES TAKE 4-6 WEEKS FOR DELIVERY!!!!) Can you tell this one gets me especially pissed off, because I get a dozen of these every day...
The list goes on and on - and these are the majority of the emails I receive. The legitimate questions or issues are the minority, only a handful every day - most are because people either can't or won't read the very simple information they are all provided up front!
The most recent buyer that was disgruntled was mad because the item she purchased (she's in Australia), was noted in the information as having a universal charger. It doesn't include an adapter, so it didn't say it had one - just the universal charger. Of the 300+ buyers of this item, most of whom are international, she is the only one who didn't get the concept. She demanded that because my description was misleading, that I provide her with an adapter...the whole reason there isn't an adapter in the package is because they are different for every country!!! Then she proceeded to tell me how to run my business, and that I should state specifically in my listing that it doesn't include an adapter, just because she is stupid...
Which kinda makes a whole other point here - we play to the lowest common denominator on so many levels, that people no longer have to think for themselves or even read...if it's not explicitly spelled out for them (and even when it is), they feel that they've been duped and take umbrage, claiming that we've tricked them somehow. I'm sick of everyone pandering to the lazy and stupid because they are the loudest and bitchiest...how about raising the bar, and those that can't reach it, well that's their problem.
As a middle-class white female, I was never handed a single thing for free in my life, and I never expected to be. I have worked hard for everything I have (which isn't spectacular, but comfortable), and I resent greatly those that feel that the government, or those better off than they are, owe them because they chose not to rise above whatever circumstances they were dealt. I've been dealt some crap hands too, but I made my choice to get past whatever that crap was (hello? cancer? with no health insurance?). I fundamentally don't understand people that choose to be a "victim of soycumstance" (must be said like Curly from the Three Stooges!)....
Enough...the dogs are flapping their gums at me because dinner time is in four minutes, and heaven forbid should I be late! Duke is already flipping bowls around in the kitchen....
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