Yup, I'm gonna rant. Don't know if I've ever done that before here, but now's the time.
As most of you know, I sell my designs on my website. Each design has two prices shown, one for the pdf version delivered via email, and one for the printed version shipped via USPS. Printed has to be more: paper, ink, plastic bag, hello?
I recently received an order and PayPal payment for a Bargello Techniques book and 2 of my patterns. I carefully checked to make sure the amount paid was for the pdf version of the patterns (the book has to be mailed as it is too big to email). I emailed the customer with the two patterns attached and told her I would be mailing the book via Priority Mail (she had paid for the shipping).
A couple of days later, I received an email reply asking if I could send the patterns with the book because she didn't have a printer or Adobe. Ok, right off I thought, no printer? And no Adobe? Adobe is a free download and is used for all sorts of things. Hmmmm.
Well, I emailed her again right away pointing out that in order to send the patterns with the book there would be a balance due for the printed versions plus a little bit additional shipping and sent her a PayPal invoice to make payment easy. I also suggested that perhaps she had a friend who could print them for her.
A WEEK later, she emailed me with "What balance due? I already paid for the patterns."
I explained again and requested payment, again. Well, we were getting ready to go on a short trip, so a few days later I sent her a PayPal reminder with a note to that effect. Nada.
I decided to go ahead and send the book and the patterns, hoping that she would send the additional funds. Nada.
So, OK, $5 isn't much. It's the principle of the thing! Yes, this is the first negative experience I've had selling my patterns online. I'm very sorry there had to be even one.
Thanks for listening. I feel better now.
7 comments:
I'd be tempted to post the miscreant's name, just to make sure someone else isn't cheated. I know from my friend Marianne who sells needlework books how rotten folks can be over very little money.
Always best to get things said, sorry for your experience, so many things go on via the internet. Last year I managed to purchase a couple of German pattern books with traditional Christmas images, I have been very surprised to see some of the designs on Pintrest, we all like a free design, but I always track a place to purchase the designs I want to stitch.
How annoying, frustrating, and maddening. Did I miss anything? Just mark her name down on your blacklist. If that ever happens again with another customer (which it probably won't), tell him or her all sales are final and suggest sending the file to Staples or Kinko's to have them print it. The person will end up paying for the printing anyway and maybe learn a lesson, but you aren't out the trouble and costs.
If she doesn't have a printer, she can always download the file, save to a thumb drive and take to an office supply store to print out for her. The $5 you were charging was probably cheaper than that, and MUCH easier! So sorry for your bad experience!
Thanks everyone. I appreciate your support.
Your patterns (either way you buy them) are so reasonably priced that it is hard to believe....but there is always that one or two that makes it hard for all the rest. You were the "bigger" person.
So sorry to hear about your bad experience. Makes me sad. Glad you were able to rant.
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