Buying things off localsmall business or home start ups

[Welltroddenpath]

Just a mini rant. My friend does body shop at home and if I want anything from body shop I buy via her as it’s a good cause. However I ordered lots of bits for Christmas presents in early Nov, she hasn’t even posted yet. Ok she’s got a full time job and little kids but I don’t see how I will get them in time to give out as gifts...

Bought something off Etsy for the first tim ever in End of Nov with a four day delivery as a present, had a email today over two weeks later that they are waiting for new stock...

But the one that is really pissing me off is a friend of a friend selling things via FB who I bought off in Nov, says she has my order but has for the last two weeks had every disaster under the sun why I can’t have what I paid for (via family and friends on PayPal I know what kind of idiot am I?)

I get the feeling the first two are just disorganised and have no concept that you don’t see everyone you gift on actual Christmas Day so a parcel arriving a few days before Christmas isn’t great.

But the last one I’m pretty sure is trying to rip me off as no one can be so incompetent that they can’t deliver by any means over a two week perioid.

I am sticking to the shops next year for gifts where I can expect a delivery with 28 days or a refund if it doesn’t turn up.

Now I will be wondering what to do with a shed load of Christmas scented bath shit in January! If your that disorganised who the hell thinks it a good reason to set up a business?

Bah humbug 😂 rant over

I think that people underestimate what goes into running a venture like this. Organisational skills are essential.

Slightly OT...I'm on local selling pages on Facebook and the amount of tat I'm seeing is from "crafters" is unbelievable. There's a paucity of genuine talent. Someone is selling sparkly fairy dust in jam jars at a fiver each, for example.

I would love to buy local, from people who lovingly make stuff, rather than from Amazon. I'm looking for knitwear, wooden toys, good quality earrings. But there's so many naff items out there. I once bought hair accessories for a little niece, but when they arrived they weren't good enough to give as a gift, the photos were deceptive.