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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To tell this shop owner I think her behaviour is unprofessional

265 replies

Dressily · 12/01/2018 05:31

I am buying a few expensive items from a shop (expense relevant because I expect a certain level of service when buying expensive items). I went into the shop a few weeks ago and selected the items I want. These items aren't just for me so last week the other person involved went to see the items themselves. Once they confirmed that, yes, they agree with my selection all was good and I wanted to go ahead and make the order. There was some rush to this as the items have (for a limited time) been placed on sale. This was further complicated by the fact that I don't live in the UK so needed to pay for the items from overseas using a foreign bank account.

I found the woman I dealt with in the shop (the owner) extremely unprofessional for the following reasons:

  • All email communications from her are extremely sloppy. She does not proof read so there are many spelling errors/typos. Whatever email program she uses is plain text so the emails look scruffy anyway, no footer image or contact details.
  • She has hounded me to pay for these items, despite knowing that I was waiting for the other person to confirm. I get explain to me that the discount is for a limited time so please confirm ASAP but to keep emailing so often is a bit much
  • I told her I would make a card payment over the phone expecting that she would ring the transaction through and then do a "cardholder not present" payment on the till. Nope, I called to give my details and her response was oo let me just get my pen. No! I don't want you writing down my card details! The connection was so bad that the call was terminated before I gave all the details.
  • I asked for a load of details to do an international transfer (you need more info than for a regular transfer) but she only gave me the usual account no. and sort code. When I pointed this out and asked her to refer to my previous email she sent me some details saying "this is what you need for an international transfer" but obviously hadn't read my request because she didn't give me all the details I needed. This was followed up a couple of hours later with a "how's the payment coming" email.
  • I really need/want these items, especially at the sale price, so I don't have much option but to buy from her

AIBU to email her letting her know that I find her behaviour very unprofessional and detailing why that's the case?

OP posts:
Bluedoglead · 12/01/2018 05:56

Posted too soon.

And when I do that there’s no fancy footer and I get spelling mistakes because I have fat fingers.

Original poster
Dressily · 12/01/2018 06:00

I don't want to "reserve" items at a sale price. I want to take my time to make a decision which she knew I needed to do. My doing this is not stopping anyone else from buying what I want to buy and if they did bad luck to me...

She hasn't had to process any transaction in an unfamiliar way, just give me some details so I can transfer the money to her.

So do you all not proof read emails to clients?

I guess the feeling is don't do it so I won't bother. I do wonder how many sales she loses though. If I was in the position to buy elsewhere I would, but I'm not.

OP posts:
GnomeDePlume · 12/01/2018 06:01

Homophones are words which sound the same but have different spellings and meanings eg flour and flower, there and their.

Spell checkers don't pick these up.

Bluedoglead · 12/01/2018 06:02

I will guarantee she rarely if ever gets paid via bank transfer from abroad.

Tbh with all the stuff over fraud via international bank payments I’d be asking you just to pay with your card.

Battleax · 12/01/2018 06:03

You're a NCer?

Original poster
Dressily · 12/01/2018 06:04

I'm a what?

I tried to pay by card, it didn't work because the connection was bad.

OP posts:
Bluedoglead · 12/01/2018 06:05

Give the other person the money and ask them to call in and pay with their card.

Original poster
Dressily · 12/01/2018 06:05

I could have done that but in either case I need to do an international transfer so it's easier to transfer straight to her

OP posts:
IamtheDevilsAvocado · 12/01/2018 06:06

Bottom line: yes it's mildly irritating...

BUT.... If you went OTT and complained about her 'sloppy: writing /unprofessional behavior....

She may well sell your desired items to someone else..... They're really under no obligation to sell to you rather than anyone else!

Bluedoglead · 12/01/2018 06:07

You sound so so entitled and snobby.

Original poster
Dressily · 12/01/2018 06:11

Fair enough if that's what you want to think Blue

OP posts:
redexpat · 12/01/2018 06:11

She probably doesnt know that you need an iban and swift to internationally transfer money. I think youre being a bit harsh. Proof reading would be nice but not everyone can and mistakes happen. I cant imagine she sends a lot to customers as part of her job.

Original poster
Dressily · 12/01/2018 06:12

It's hardly constructive though...you could have just said YABU and expecting too much from her. No need to get personal.

OP posts:
Battleax · 12/01/2018 06:12

Have you namechanged ?

You sound familiar.

Original poster
Dressily · 12/01/2018 06:12

Red she knows exactly what I needed because I asked her for what I needed, I didn't expect her to know.

OP posts:
KittysMyName · 12/01/2018 06:14

You sound like hard work and entitled. If I were her I’d tell you to shop elsewhere!

Original poster
Dressily · 12/01/2018 06:14

Oh, yes I have Battleax. I always NC when I post a thread on AIBU. If you know which poster I am I'd be grateful for you to keep it to yourself.

OP posts:
Mumsymcmumface · 12/01/2018 06:14

I run a Shop.

99% of over the phone card payments or international bank transfers are fraudsters trying it on and we don’t even spend the time speaking to people in those situations.

If that means we miss the odd sale, it’s worth it for the time and money we save trying to filter out the legitimate ones.

She probably thinks you will do a chargeback or the money will get called back after the goods are gone and can’t be arsed with the hassle.

Bluedoglead · 12/01/2018 06:15

She’s trying to do something she’s not familiar with. She runs a shop. Busy. It’s sale time. She’s trying to answer you and possibly on her phone and instead of giving the info again you’re wanting her to look back god knows how many emails to see what you said before.

You’re lucky she hasn’t sacked you off already.

Battleax · 12/01/2018 06:17

Of course Smile

Original poster
Dressily · 12/01/2018 06:18

Thanks

OP posts:
BeingATwatItsABingThing · 12/01/2018 06:19

I was at a training session for work yesterday. There were two spelling mistakes that I spotted in the presentation. One was clearly a typo and one was ‘there’ instead of ‘their’.

Now, I could make a complaint as it’s “unprofessional”. Or I could accept that everyone is human, so not perfect, and move on with my life.

Bluedoglead · 12/01/2018 06:20

Also. How’s she got to get the items to you? You aren’t going to collect them, so is the other party or is she going to have to organise post or transport?

Original poster
Dressily · 12/01/2018 06:20

She will have the goods for a while after I've paid for them (they need ordering) so I don't think she would be worried about fraud as you describe.

OP posts:
Original poster
Dressily · 12/01/2018 06:21

I expect them hand delivered to my door Blue

OP posts: