am I being too sensitive? Rude Avon lady

[AshleyWilkes]

Had the same Avon lady for around 6 months now, she's always been ok. I never spend huge amounts, just the odd piece of jewellery or bottle of perfume.

Last week I ordered a body spray for my MIL, was £1.50.
Avon lady texted to say she would deliver tonight, I was working late so asked DH to pay her (he had afternoon off and was at home).
He had no change at all, so I told him to pay with his card (she had previously let me pay with her card machine for an £8 order).

So she turned up and basically got really pissy with him.
"I'm not using my card machine for £1.50. Haven't you even got £1.50 on you?" Her exact words.

He explained no sorry, had absolutely no change, he wasn't even aware that she was coming before I'd texted him.

She was apparently really snotty then and was all like "well I suppose I can call back tomorrow evening, how's that for you?" with an angry tone and a condescending head tilt.

So DH wasn't bothered when relating it, but I'm quite annoyed, as I'm giving her my business, (plenty of other Avon ladies in the area to choose from!) and a pissy attitude is not what I expect, simply because on one occasion we didn't have change.

There's a chance I'm possibly just being over sensitive though

[AshleyWilkes]

At 4pm when I'm at work thinking about other things, and she texts asking to come over in 2 hours, its not a case of lacking common sense for me to fire off a text to DH asking him to pay her, not really thinking about the card issue.

[Only1scoop]

But surely by the time you'd fired texts back and forth

'Avon coming 1.50'

'Got no change'

'Pay by card'

'Ok'

You could have sent her one text to say not in and saved her journey and you're embarrassment.

However you don't seem embarrassed in the slightest.

I'm sure if you are a great customer with 50 plus orders then she will just happily wait for you to scratch around for the 1.50 next time.

[chillycurtains]

The commission on the sale shoudn't make a different as the Avon lady knew the commission when she agreed to be an Avon lady. She would be aware that the products are low value and not everyone orders £60 a time.

[chillycurtains]

Imo you should have contacted the Avon lady when you knew that DH didn't have any cash. Surely everyone knows that a small business does not want to pay the charges for a card payment for a such a small amount. Almost all small independent shops have a minimum of £5 at least.

The Avon lady should not be so rude but YWBU letting her come out to you and not having the appropriate cash.

[AshleyWilkes]

Only1scoop

Nowhere did I state I was a "great customer" I pointed out that the amount of Avon orders differ, from month to month, as does everyone's, especially this time of year.
My place of work was very busy yesterday and I was on a quick break, I literally had time to fire off a text to DH saying "Avon lady wants to come tonight, please pay her, only £1.50, she carries a card machine".
Didn't have time to sit around waiting for his reply. I also didn't know he had no change. He normally does.

Anyway, she's coming later so I will give her her £1.50

[Fallout4fan]

You said in your first post that 'he had no change so you told him to pay with his card'
How did you know this if you only had time to send him one text or wait for a reply??

[Fallout4fan]

You also said in your last post that 'I also didn't know he didn't have any change' but in your first post you apparently did know that's why you told him about the card machine.
Oh and YABU just because you can't get your facts straight. HTH.

[MsVestibule]

I know you won't accept it, but YABU. I thought everybody knew that card processing charges are really high for small businesses? An Avon representatives commission is a maximum of 25% - 37.5p in this case. Honestly, unless you have an order of at least £5, it's just not worth her time.

Of course she shouldn't have been rude, though - if I'd been her, I'd have said 'No problem, shall I pop back tomorrow at the same time for the cash?', whilst thinking 'FFS, I ASKED her if I could come over tonight .'

[MissBattleaxe]

You've only got DH's version. She may not have been "condescending".

To be honest she's given you notice that she's calling round. The delivery date is usually on the order form anyway and most people have got £1.50 down the back of the sofa or in their jacket pockets. It's November, it's cold and she nearly had to make two journeys for hardly any commission.

Small businesses and individuals get charged for card payments.

YABU. Take your £1.50 elsewhere if you feel she's not being grateful enough.

[Branleuse]

im sorry but the only places that let you pay such small amounts on card are supermarkets and large chainstores, and thats only because it brings people in who then end up making larger purchases so they take the hit

In every single small independent shop, they either only take cash, or they will take cards if you spend over £10, ocassionally £5. I cant think of many adults who would think you could pay by card for something that cost pennies from a small time avon lady

[Unreasonablebetty]

Why don't you go to her house and pick up the body spray so she doesn't use petrol trying to deliver again?
That's what I do with my lady, it's slightly different as I often go and pick up my stuff at odd times so it's easier to go to her instead of her to me.
She really seems to appreciate it, but then my orders aren't small, I order once every few months and the first order was 50 odd quid, the second was 90 and the one I got last night was 135- got new jimmies, nightgowns, throws, cushions and candles for me and dd.
So maybe she makes a special effort for me as my orders are quite big but it's easier on her if I pick it up.
If you've ordered with her before she could have left it, it's not much of a risk to lose £1.50 even if you didn't pay it on top of your next order.

[AshleyWilkes]

Falloutfan
I meant I didn't know originally he had no change on him, he replied saying he had none, so I texted back"she has a card machine" before going back to work.
I'm perfectly able to get my facts straight, thanks anyway. Lol

MsVestibule
Yeah I was thinking about it whilst at work , sort of thinking "hope its ok to use that card machine" in hindsight I realise it costs her more than its worth just for £1.50 , however my issue was her attitude.

[crumblybiscuits]

If the issue is her attitude, just don't buy from her again. She probably will be expecting you not to if she was as rude as you say.

[AshleyWilkes]

Delivery date is actually Friday. She texted yesterday asking to come last night.

I realise about the card issue, I work in retail so am clued up. However it was just how everything worked out I suppose, eg.the short notice, me being at work, DH being at home, me not thinking clearly, plus she had said previously she had a card machine so I guess it all happened without me giving it much thought.

[BlueMoonRising]

Ashley, your story changes every time.

'My place of work was very busy yesterday and I was on a quick break, I literally had time to fire off a text to DH saying "Avon lady wants to come tonight, please pay her, only £1.50, she carries a card machine".
Didn't have time to sit around waiting for his reply. I also didn't know he had no change. He normally does.'

'I meant I didn't know originally he had no change on him, he replied saying he had none, so I texted back"she has a card machine" before going back to work.'

You didn't experience 'her attitude'. You only have your husbands word on it, and you said he wasn't bothered - so why are you?

This is one of those:

AIBU?
YABU
YABU
YABU
IA NOT BU

Threads.

If I was you I would be very apologetic tonight, for dragging her out twice with your £1.50 body spray.

Somehow I don't think thats going to happen though.

[BastardGoDarkly]

I'd give her £2.50 for the fuck around.

[AshleyWilkes]

My story hasn't changed at all, perhaps I've worded it badly.
I sent a text to DH "Avon lady wants to come tonight, please pay her, only £1.50." He replied saying "got no change." I replied before going back to work, "she has a card machine."
I couldn't sit around waiting for anymore texts etc from him.

Yes I personally didn't experience her attitude but my DH doesn't tend to exaggerate and last night when posting I was stressed and cross (pre-wine).

[Only1scoop]

Hilarious

'Avon lady coming she carries a card machine'

[Only1scoop]

Oh

It's changed again

[AshleyWilkes]

Why is it hilarious that she has a card machine and has told me its for customers to use when they have no change?

Story hasn't changed, maybe just worded badly

[Only1scoop]

How does this doorstep 'card machine' rev up exactly....

Does it connect remotely on cue with the 'ding dong'


My neighbour has a beauty room set up in her barn but I've seen her have to plug it in when she has taken a card.

Or is it normal to pay by card on doorstep or this stuff?

[KoalaDownUnder]

Expecting her to accept a cart payment for a £1.50 item, which she is delivering to your door, is ridiculous.

[KoalaDownUnder]

*card

[AshleyWilkes]

Only 1scoop

Just a handheld wotsit with a stylus pen, I was quite impressed with it last time!

[ilovesooty]

I can't imagine why you actually thought it appropriate to encourage him to pay a small sum like that by card.
And you don't even know first hand what her "attitude" was.
I feel rather sorry for her.