Wednesday 24 March 2010

The More You Ignore Me The Closer I Get You're Wasting Your Time

On Monday I contacted a seller on etsy to ask a question about colour options. The listing said that other colours were available but I wanted to confirm that the specific colour I wanted was available and also to know approximately how long it would take to prepare the item if I wanted the optional colour. (Sorry to be all vague; I'm not interested in calling out this particular seller, I just want to know what you would do in my situation.) So. On Monday I sent the email (through etsy.) I haven't heard back from the seller. I know it's only been two days but the seller updated her shop yesterday with a whole slew of new items so I know that she has signed into her account and has likely seen my email. My question is this: Do I re-send my email or do I give up trying to contact her? I really like the item she is selling and I haven't been able to find something similar. I could look for a different item from a different seller that could serve the purpose but this particular item really makes my heart happy. However, I have a hard time supporting people who appear to not give a shit. Maybe I'm being harsh but I feel like etsy is a place to support artists and buy handmade and if this lady can't be bothered to reply to a simple email, maybe I should spend my money elsewhere. What would you do in this situation?

20 comments:

  1. I would email again and just say hi, not sure if you got my email...and ask again. Maybe she really didn't get it.

    I mean, you're trying to buy something from her, not date her. Who cares if you seem persistent? And I am the same - I don't want to buy from people I think I dislike. But cute things are cute things. Email!

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  2. I am in this situation! Are you trying to buy pacifier clips too!?!?
    :)

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  3. Some artists aren't great business people or communicators. Maybe this particular artist really didn't notice that she had a message. If you really like her work, why not email her directly. And if that doesn't work, then move on.

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  4. Try her one more time. You never know what happens on the receiving end of an email. Maybe her cat jumped on the computer and hit delete before she knew it. Or maybe the phone rang and she got distracted and opened the email without reading it and then went on to the next thing.

    If she doesn't respond to your second email, then chalk that up to all her talent being in her art, and none for business.

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  5. I would also try her one more time. Like Nilsa said, it's likely she didn't realize she had a message. Does she have a direct e-mail through which you can contact her, instead of through Etsy?

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  6. agreed! one more email, especially since you have your heart set on her item. then feel no guilt if you write her off after that ;-)

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  7. I agree - one more time. Then, if she doesn't email, she obviously doesn't want your business.

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  8. As someone who is insanely busy to the point of getting business e-mails per day and at least as many phone calls demanding immediate action, I must stick up for the Etsyist (new word!). She may be overwhelmed and have a pile of requests to address (in her Etsy life and her real life, besides). She may also be looking into different options so that she can answer your question.

    Don't take it personally. Just give her another ring-a-ling and ask whassup, yo? Remember: Monday was only 2 days ago. When you're waiting impatiently for something, that is an eternity. When you are bogged down, that's a blip in time.

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  9. i would probably try sending her a message one more time and then if she doesn't respond just move on. hopefully she'll answer you!

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  10. Did you e-mail her separately, or did you convo her in etsy? I know that some etsy sellers are manic about their etsy shops and are terrible about their e-mail.

    When you're on the page, looking at the item you want, click the "contact" link under their name. This sends them a message, includes a link to the item in that message, and sends them an e-mail.

    Worth a try! =)

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  11. Looking at the pile of thank you notes that are now 3 weeks late, I can understand how a person might not get around to responding right away. Give her the benefit of the doubt and give her another chance. If she can't respond to the second one, take your business elsewhere.

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  12. I'd send her another email. If she doesn't get back to that one (with an apology for being email delinquent!) then I'd be taking my business to another seller.

    I hate it when people don't respond to email. Huge pet peeve.

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  13. I'd send another email, especially since you really want it :)

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  14. I also cannot stand it whenever people ignore/don't respond to their email in a timely fashion. GRRR.

    But, as others have said, I know that some artists just suck at the business-y/customer service-y stuff (Brad builds websites for artists and OMG I never cease to be amazed at how much some of them are truly clueless about that side of things). I'd say hit her up via email again. If she ignores you a second time, take your money elsewhere BUT be sure to email her again letting her know she lost a customer and why. She needs to know that shit.

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  15. I would email one more time and just make sure you voice your frustration... and if she doesn't get back to you again, then definitely go somewhere else!

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  16. I'd try contacting her once more - and then peace out. Because I'm like you - if she doesn't give a shit enough to answer an email about a sale, I don't want to give her my money. But I'd give her the benefit of the doubt and try once more before writing her off.

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  17. I second (or 17th) all of the aforementioned suggestions. Giving the seller the benefit of the doubt is great, and will 9 times out of 10 work out for the best in the end (at least in my experience), but sometimes people are just a bit flaky, and yeah, you don't need to deal with that on Etsy of all places.

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  18. Email again - sometimes I don't respond to questions about my Ebay items ASAP outta laziness. If it's ending soon I get an answer to them ASAP but if there is four days, I figure they aren't in a hurry. Maybe she's just dragging her heels thinking there is no hurry.

    Or maybe she missed the email. I don't think she is purposely ignoring you, because she WANTS to make money I would think.

    Let us know how it goes - another polite email will put her in action. Works for me!

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  19. The same thing happened to me. I ended up just deciding to move on.

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