Reader 179
Dear FT,
I've been an avid online shopper since last year and there's something that I would like to point out in this email of mine.
There was once when I backed out after confirming a purchase at a blogshop (I really don't want to name names so I'll call the owner X). I sms-ed the reasons of why I'm backing out and apologized and everything I said was polite. But, X did not reply my sms. Alright, maybe this is not a big deal to most of the blogshop owners or online shoppers out there but
I'm really concerned about this. I just don't believe that X have not received my message as I sms-ed it to her, and not via email (coz sometimes our emails end up in their spam mail or junk box). Why can she reply my messages when I enquired about the item and not when I'm backing out? Is this a way of showing that their not happy about this? By not replying us buyers' sms-es or emails? Well, at least reply by saying "Okay" or maybe something longer like "It's ok. Please don't do this again." or something. This will at least give a confirmation to the buyer that their order is confirmed cancelled. It's just so rude not to respond to someone's apologies when it was done very politely.
I know I'm wrong to back out after confirming a purchase. I admit that I have a really bad habit while doing my shopping. I would go over and over about the stuff that I want to buy and sometimes I end up buying nothing after much consideration to cut back expenses. This, I admit that I'm wrong.
I even sent X an email a few days after I sent her the sms to double check with her on whether she received my sms or not. If not, she could have read my email right?
And, still, I got NO REPLY.
So, I checked her site everyday ever since I cancelled my order coz she did not give me a confirmation. And guess what?
A few days later, the item that I backed out from purchasing was SOLD. Of course, this is not wrong and I'm not complaining about the item being sold or anything.
But, it's like she did not comfirm with me whether I can cancel purchase or not and the next thing she's selling it to another shopper.
I just don' feel good about her attitude. This is doesn't make good business sense and is not good business manners.
I was so so so so tempted to email her and say, "WTF do you mean by this?" but I refrained myself from doing so coz I know it's just plain rude.
I would like to voice out to all blogshop owners out there:
Please don't go MIA when someone backs out of the purchase. It's only one sms. Not more that RM 1 and I'm sure what you guys have been earning is way way over RM 1.
Or maybe reply by email if there's no credit left in your phone. It's just manners. How can the blogshop owner not know simple manners?
There are some other blogshops like Designers Bag, Angel's Shopping Corner...they were really polite and understanding. And most importantly, they replied my emails and sms-es of cancelling orders. Even though they are not really happy about it (I can tell), but at least they replied and gave me a confirmation. And they are really understanding about my situation.
Even though, this may not be a big deal to most of the online shoppers or shop owners, but this is just MANNERS THAT PEOPLE SHOULD PRACTICE.
Thanks
why don't you also practice the simple manners of making up your mind first before placing an order??
Agree with andrew's comment. dont confirm before making your mind. State that you wish to ask if you havent decide yet, and place your order once confirmed you wont change your mind. it would definitely save time for everyone :).
Anyway, Blogshop owner can learn something from here. :D
lastly, no offense. :D
i totally agree with andrew. it is so inconsiderate to make an order and cancel it after. do think of how it would affect blogshop owners business if everyone were to be like you. do you think there will be this problem if you just think it through properly before making an order?
ishh.. how insensitive.
OMG after reading the readers story about this A2F eshop, i'll keep in my mind not to be blinded by the sweet looking cloths A2F posted. Felt so cheated (base on the reading)...
since when was it part of manners to make up your mind first?
what if you filled out the form pressed the 'Send' button and 2 hours later you go to a mall and see the same item, try it on and think, "oh no, this doesn't suit my tone."
one thing about buying retail and online is we can't visualize the item in our hands, so you can't help if we have doubts and decide we'd want to back out.
e-shoppers are just like any regular retail customers. and simple courteous policy of buyer and seller is simple, 'customer comes first'. whether you like it or not.
if it had said 'give respect to get respect' we'd all be at war.
it's natural to have anger and frustration. if you haven't experienced it, i'd say highly likely you're not human.
but i do say this, everyone should have common courtesy and MUTUAL RESPECT to actually be in this business other wise you'd just sink and be another 'has-been'.
I think it's really a small issue on not replying and MIA doesn't really suit the situation =.=. At least seller didn't reply you rudely or blacklist you right?
It's very frustrating to reserve the item to somebody, only to have them backout/cancel/MIA later on. I'm a seller and for more than once, I had buyers who reserve first, then comes another buyer who wants the same thing but I can't sell it because it's reserved, and then the reservation is cancelled as the first buyer changed her mind. In the end I didn't make any successful deal, and the second buyer who are really keen on the item is being disappointed.
I think people who like to backout frequently should also have some courtesy at least to actually think throughly before reserving anything.
If the seller angry cos you back out the order last minute.. just be grateful she didnt make things worse. better she cool off her anger by not replying your sms/email. guess its just normal for everyone who had feeling. i knows its about manners but sometimes, understand that seller can also be FRUSTRATED like you.
thanks.
i just don't think it's fair for some of you to say things like that. try putting yourself in her place. we're humans and we have feelings. i'm not trying to say that only e-shoppers have feeling and not the e-sellers.
what if you have just confirmed purchase with a blogshop and the next thing you saw the exact same item in another site selling at amuch cheaper price? ANY NORMAL CUSTOMER would have chosen the cheaper one and cancel the more expensive one.
for sure, blogshop owners would think, "you shoudl have compared prices before confirming purchase." FYI, there are COUNTLESS e-shops online and the number is still increasing. i'm sure many of them would sell at least ONE same item and do we have the time to browse through each and every one of the sites just to compare prices? e-shopping is made possible to help customers save time by not having to drive all the way to the mall and sometimes get stuck in traffic jams, just to go shopping. since e-shopping is for customers to save time on shopping, should they use up all the extra time to browse every single site online just to get the lowest deal? they might as well just go to the mall and it might even save their time as well.
e-shop owners must understand this point that all shoppers are looking for the best deal and if you can't offer what they think is the best deal, then you have to be prepared that they are going to back out even after confirming. nobody knows what's going to happen the next second and shoppers might find a better deal the next minute after comfirming a purchase on your site.
even though it's really a small matter for e-shop owners not to reply, but this has brought up further issues which, in my opinion, the online shopping community should take note.
lastly, no offense meant to anye-shops or e-shoppers.
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