Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Will I Change My Shopping Policy?

NO

I don't provide any refund or exchange on stuff I made. Perhaps, that what makes people hesitate to shop from me (^o^). I don't mind though. It's a rule. I play by my seller rules so that I want my buyer also play my rule as well...

I know what I made, I stand behind my stuff. They are made from expensive material and made it carefully by me (I took intermediate cloth sewing classes. I sew like a 'neat-freak'. Someone said once that i sew it neatly. she just saw it in a forum about a thing i asked to a forum. It wasn't even a 'photographic' pics. Just a regular one but people can see it). Should I refund something that I do my best? Should I be the one who supposed to be responsible when earthquake happens, when shipping company fails to deliver. HEY! Even i read on the back of my post office often: they can't be responsible for uncontrollable condition. They even sometimes refuse to deliver breakable stuff! If we insist, they will confirm us the risk over and over again YET, me and husband took the risk once. Our stuff arrived in broken pieces. Did we complain? NO. Why? because we had REALIZED the risk!

Some people don't want EMS because they are expensive, YET, when they are using regular shipping, they want it arrive safely. (^o^).

Sometimes, I wonder. I don't live in a developed country but I think about this matter, people here are more open minded and more 'developed'. We learned every risk. We are ready to take the risk. Some disappointment happen when the pics provided are not as same as the merchandise or the same but the quality is not as expected but do we ask for refund just because the material quality is not as expected? No BUT next time, we are more careful when shopping on internet.

Some people from some countries talk about this. It was so funny that seems like they have that 'culture' in their place BUT I didn't feel it. I purchased from 2 sellers from abroad with that refund or exchange culture. Didn't arrive, and no refund.

I respect each seller policy and learn the risk all the time. A seller told me, if you use regular air mail, your stuff will not be insured. If it's lost it will be your risk. Are you sure? He/She always asked the same question: Are You SURE?. I said, That's ok. I TOOK the RISK. The merchandise arrived although within 3 weeks (or perhaps less...more than 2 weeks though). Did I complain about the time? NO. I realized that!

It's even for stuff that were made in batch. Imagine for stuff that are made in OOaK concept like mine with great materials and carefully made (^O^). Should I refund? How do I know my stuff  isn't ripped off just to learn how i made it? Oops. Sorry, too rude? I don't think so...Just to straight to the point. It happens. People rip off some good products to get the pattern or the 'idea' or the 'technique'. And in real case it happened to other seller. She sold a tiara and the buyer tried to modified it. Instead of succeeding, she broken the tiara...she asked for refund. I just (>.>)''''''''' . My my...talking about buyer is a king. It's not a 'king' attitude. Should I remake stuff (as I can't resell the stuff that was asked for a refund or exchange)? Using the same material, etc? Who wants to pay the material?
1. I pay the refund or exchange.
2. I still have to pay for the material for restocking.

I purchased a stuff in Bali, a top. After one wash, it turned out like a ripped off mope (-.-)'...I just laughed to my husband and said,"gosh! it's too quick to rip off." But what can we expect from cheap stuff? That's always been my quotes and my husband's as well (^.^).

My sister once always want a great well made cloth. But instead of looking for one in a designer or real boutique, she looked for it in a mass production boutique. She complained about the motif didn't meet and such...I said to her, that's the 'cost' of the 'price' (price is cheap...so, quality is sacrificed). I sew, so I know very well about meeting the motif from side to side. If I want to do it perfectly, I may need a lot of fabric (usually I do). The energy poured on matching the motif is not small. It took some minutes, some thinking...to make sure things are alright and we don't have to purchase more fabric.

There are always risk when purchasing stuff either in internet or not.

I just want to share my point of view here. I live in a country where no refund and no exchanged are applied and we are get used to it and it has nothing to do with either we are a 'developing' country or not. We LEARN to differentiate the good, bad, and medium quality and also make a decision which one to purchase and accept the risk. It's including 'shipping type choice' made by us, buyers (i'm a buyer, too).

If you think Fedex is the best...oh well this was the case when i purchase stuff from amazon japan using fedex (the only shipping they offer):
1. all books are wet, wrinkle...terrible.
2. i must pay the 'custom'...which actually, i don't have to...but seems like using this kind of carrier, customs has their own policy.
3. the books were resent again to me.
4. i must pay AGAIN the 'custom'...
5. Total custom i must pay: i can buy another book with it. Did Fedex replace my custom? NO. Did I ask them to? NO. Why? Because it's useless. They would say (in polite manner of course):'if you want the book, pay the custom.'

I don't mind if some people got turned off when seeing my shipping shopping policy. Really. I'm protecting myself, too. I'm offering EMS. If they don't want it, and that's ok. It's for them, too, anyway. I can't bear the cross for them as it's a business. If people think i don't have a risk as a seller myself. They are totally wrong. In internet world, negative feedback spreads like a hell. I stand behind my stuff. I must give the best. All my sewing knowledge, skill, etc, are poured out on my craft. If i don't take it seriously, it will be hard to clean a bad reputation. Moreover, my stuff is mostly only one. I can't mess up so I don't have to refund (from my own saving) or exchange.It's the risk, too because I may not waste a single cm fabric. Wrong cut, too small, I must modify eveything (thank goodness, i haven't...haha...i'm always careful), resizing the stuff.

Try OOaK crafting, with your own design, with your own pattern...you'll understand what i'm talking about.

PS: I love it when people directly see my sewing so they can judge it themselves and it's great to hear the idea (moreover. I don't have to worry about shipping as it's shipped locally. So, when there's a complain. It's easier to know what's going on). It wasn't the first time I heard about it but whenever I knew someone said it it was always new to me: 'you sew very neat.' I know I've done my best but whenever the words come from other parties, I always feel relieved like...oooooohhh, thank goodnesssss! Bad thing is: they don't leave me feedback in my webstore so a lot of people can read it (^o^). (Even my sister in law said...this isn't kind of mass production stuff. It's a 'boutique' class product...meeaning: it's unique and made by the owner). They can't write any feedback because it was all direct sales and glaaaad they love it. They now even 'dare' to ask me to make them clothes. Clothes are a higher risk but I'll be feeling honored to make one for them. They gave me a challenge and opportunity to grow. People like this, I always heart them (^.^)
 

(^.^) cherio,