The trouble with this kind of customer is if you don't do what they want there is a risk they will review-bomb you. At the moment the strength of my enquiries coming in etc. depends on me demolishing the competition locally with the most number of 5 star reviews, so I have to "exit quietly" with things like this.
I've sent them just 2 paragraphs (so a couple of sentences) clarifying our working relationship and that maybe they should look at dropshipping with something like Spotify (£20 per month plus whatever the dropshipping supplier charges
). I need to have things checked with me and go through the standard invoicing procedure before selling items because I am not set up for that or capable. Hopefully that gets the message through. There are various contractual, legal and accounting issues with not doing this and it inevitably leads to incorrect payments, surcharges, refunds and just more work to dick about with.
Might seem like an over-reaction but come on this is super inappropriate, even when I am contrite in admitting my emails are long:
GG wrote:Nonetheless, I appreciate it's frustrating since you already sold the shirt. I'll honour £13.99 based on past price for 6x. I last gave this price to a customer who ordered 14 shirts, one week ago. I am not trying to overcharge you. I really make hardly anything either; when I look at the materials and labour elements financially it is a very low proposition. I spend multiple hours simply on e-mails because I want to be detailed but not everyone agrees that is a good thing. For example, the local Print Centre charges £25 per shirt with lower quality garments and I have used them before with mixed results (I once gave them a very high resolution file of a painting and it came out really blurry anyway, they did do it again but I knew they had made a mistake and tried to blame me).
Customer wrote:Hi!
I can see why it takes you hours mailing, LOL!
El mar., 2 jul. 2019 13:22, ________ <_________@gmail.com> escribió:
I believe he is saying he will do it at 13.99. Its hard as there is so much information in there that is not needed or called for. However I would take what he has said to mean that he will charge you 13.99 for it. However I would recommend you look into different options as it always seems to be the same and the time it takes to get things sorted is crazy, its craxy how long it take to even go through and email.
On Tue, Jul 2, 2019 at 1:02 PM __________ <_____@gmail.com> wrote:
So...
Could you tell me whether I have to pay him the difference?
Like, what's the deal in the end of aaaaall this:
---------- Forwarded message ---------
They forgot to delete the below part. I know people do this anyway but a lot of businesses have disclaimers saying "contains priveleged information intended only for the recipient and may contain confidential information" etc. (which it does, info about my working processes and products I use etc.) That's not on imo.
The length of my correspondence is a direct result of asking questions in every reply! It's my duty to respond to those queries.
If they can't be bothered to read answers to questions and go through the process of exchanging emails twice in total then they should just google "print t-shirts cheap and easy online with no work" and leave me to do more worthwhile and challenging things with the skills I have
And a lot more customers appreciate I do that than this one so, whatever man. Just this kind of thing brings me down.
You ask a question you get a comprehensive answer, anyone who knows me knows that and I have multiple positive reviews even from people overseas in Italy etc. highlighting my detailed information and attention to detail! That's my competitive advantage. What they want is "click here and get thing with no work" which is not worth including someone like me in the supply chain.
Anyway got actual paid up work to do for multiple times the money so nipped that in the bud and get on with my orders for 20-40+ units or even 1x but for double that money. Total joke what they're expecting from a micro business without respecting the terms of the relationship. It's really not asking a lot to confirm with your supplier first that you can actually get the thing you want, even I do that on a daily basis as stock levels and logistics etc. have complications on a constant basis.
I have said that if I have a system that is super easy and automated etc. in the future I'll let them know but at the moment I don't so welcome to go elsewhere. I'm certainly not just telling them to strawberry float off as I've made several useful suggestions.
Edit: it's also ironic because just today one of my trade suppliers has published a report explaining price increases for thousands of items as of this month (with no prior notice) and my accounting package has gone up by £2 per month as well.
Complaining about that after no contact for 9 months is.. naive, to say the least.