posted on May 13, 2007 11:45:08 PM new
But it did make me feel better <g>
Item- 1 new .5 oz bottle
question from buyer- You MUST be kidding - 1.50 for ONE bottle and then 2.98 to ship it??? Am I reading this wrong??? You must be joking.
My response(after several edits to calm down) - Unfortunately, that is the correct price. It takes me almost the same amount of time to process and pack an order with 1 bottle as it does an order of 8 bottles. I mainly sell essential oils but I provide the bottles for my customer's convenience. You can save money by purchasing this bottle in lots of 8 or combining it with other orders from my Store.
I would be more than happy to sell you 1 bottle at my cost, no labor charges, no overhead for managing the inventory,etc .
To buy this bottle at actual cost you are welcome to send me cash to cover the following:
.65 Bottle
.53 bubble mailer (.28) and label (.25)
1.30 1st class postage to 33xxx
.18 Electronic Delivery Confirmation
------
2.66 ( You save 1.82)
Sorry but this price is only available when you buy directly from me. It is not available on any of my websites (no listing fees), Cash only (no PayPal- fees, no checks- gas to bank). Limited to current stock on hand (because my next incoming order may cost more).
As for my pricing strategy, even if you do not take into consideration the time I spend locating bottle suppliers, repacking the product for distribution, spoilage from bottles broken in shipment or the inconvenience of having inventory taking up space in my home, I still have to consider the original product cost which included the shipping to me. Add to that packaging costs such as new bubble mailers, labels, ink, ebay fees (whether it sells or not), paypal fees, etc. Any excess from the posted price will go towards computer and camera equipment, gas to locate said equipment and supplies and hopefully something for my labor in creating listings, taking pictures, responding to customers and managing paperwork.
Trust me, I am hardly getting rich on eBay! But I do appreciate your returning to my eBay Store and sorry to give you the crash course in business costs.
Sincerely,
Dianna
Now watch the jerk try to get me kicked off of ebay for offering to sell direct!
posted on May 14, 2007 09:19:00 AM new
Dianna: You sent a thoughtful and unhysterical message back to that person. Good for you. Let us know what happens next.
_____________________
There is more to life than increasing its speed. --Mahatma Gandhi
posted on May 14, 2007 10:08:01 AM new
I would have wasted all that time to respond, but that is a good canned response that would be good to use in the future.
posted on May 14, 2007 10:31:56 AM new
Would be too funny if I received an envelope from them next week.
I left out the good stuff, ie, that 1.82 will be further reduced by their cost of an envelope, piece of paper and a .41 stamp. I wonder how much THEIR time is worth.
Sthoemke, you are correct. My time is certainly not justified when used to provide a meaningful response to someone with an attitude. I wrote the response more as anger management for myself than a desire to educate a small-thinking bottom feeder. I often write such replies and then delete them because I really have no desire to engage in future transactions with such individuals.
My time to sell these bottles individually is not justifiable either but I provide them as a convenience to my regular customers. I do not think the questioner will be amoung them <g>
Ironically, this person did buy a bottle order from me last June so I had her name and address on file. She sent the email through ASAQ and did not sign her name, probably thinking I would not know who she was. I responded to her direct email address and used her name. The postage quote included her home address.
I have not heard back from her and seriously doubt that I will.
[ edited by LtRay on May 14, 2007 10:38 AM ]
