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AIBU?

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Original poster

To have cancelled and refunded this?

414 replies

Bottletopsx · 08/04/2019 09:51

I have an online shop. Message below from a customer.

I cancelled and refunded her as I am obviously too stupid to post her item!! Cheeky Cow! Angry

Hi there. I'm ordering this for a master's degree project and would appreciate the most expedited shipping I can afford. Not that you could possibly know what that is, but I'm willing to pay a bit more to get it sooner if that's at all possible. Thanks!

OP posts:
JammyGem · 08/04/2019 12:42

To be fair to OP, I read it the same way as her as well (and also have a MA) and it took several re-reads before realising the other interpretation.

SupremeDreamz · 08/04/2019 12:42

I have an online shop too.

Customers are often not quite sure what the options are for quicker delivery and how much it will cost them. It might be a case of both the cost of the shipping and whether you can make the item quicker whereas some people aren't in a rush at all.

She is basically asking you to suggest some options for her to narrow it down. I would say you got her order mixed up with another cancellation and sort it out.

Did you really think she meant "look, you big thicko, I need this quickly, bet you can't guess my budget" Confused

SparklyMagpie · 08/04/2019 12:48

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

reallybadidea · 08/04/2019 12:49

@JammyGem

But you read the email after reading the OP which states "I am obviously too stupid to post her item!! Cheeky Cow!" You were primed to expect the email to be offensive (confirmation bias).

I don't think any one is denying that it could be interpreted that way, but what is funny is the OP's assumption that it was rude and knee-jerk response to cancel the order.

BlackCatSleeping · 08/04/2019 12:49

Did you really think she meant "look, you big thicko, I need this quickly, bet you can't guess my budget"

No, the OP thought she was saying that she is obviously too stupid to understand what "expedited shipping" means.

springspringing · 08/04/2019 12:49

How awkward Blush
She is saying you can't know her budget and being friendly and apologetic
Oh OP!

Funnyface1 · 08/04/2019 12:50

You can't really have thought that's what she meant! She doesn't even know you, how could she possibly decide how intelligent you are?!?

JacquesHammer · 08/04/2019 12:52

To be fair to OP, I read it the same way as her as well (and also have a MA) and it took several re-reads before realising the other interpretation

The thing is, surely it doesn’t matter how she meant it, if you have a business where you interact with the general public you have to accept you’re going to get rude people. You can’t cancel orders because you don’t like their (in this case imaginary) tone!

Harry Potter Grin

LondonJax · 08/04/2019 12:53

I have an on line shop too. I usually clarify what a customer is saying if I've got an email that could be construed as rude rather than lose a sale - and have my reputation damaged when he/she tells his/her friends...

BTW I read it as 'I realise I'm being a bit of a twit expecting you to actually know what my budget is but can you help me by telling me what the quickest method of shipping is likely to cost me'.

Never lose a sale rather than bite your tongue and check.

sparklefarts · 08/04/2019 12:56

Oh, OP! face palm

KitKat1985 · 08/04/2019 12:56

Oh dear OP. I do hope you didn't send her a rude reply.

sailorcherries · 08/04/2019 12:58

I've not rtft but have the jist. I agree that OP was rude and hasty however why would someone send a message saying "I have a budget for shipping, you don't know what it is, tell me the best options" as opposed to "I need this item quickly can you please list your delivery options".

originalbba · 08/04/2019 12:58

Oh bloody hell OP 🙈

Oysterbabe · 08/04/2019 13:01

Look just message her and say that you cancelled the order in error and that if she places it again you can do next day for a 5er or whatever.

MirandaGoshawk · 08/04/2019 13:06

I read it the same as the OP. In fact I had to read it three times to see it the way the rest of you saw it, but I think you are right - she is saying that she knows the OP is not a mindreader wrt her budget. Awkward way of saying it, though.

MirandaGoshawk · 08/04/2019 13:07

Yes, I agree with Oysterbabe. Message her now! She didn't mean to offend and she needs it urgently. Plus she might well leave you negative feedback!

OKBobble · 08/04/2019 13:07

Poor student is sat there thinking WTF! she is waiting for an item to help with her Masters and some weirdo has simply cancelled her order.
It was obvious that she was saying you wouldn't know her budget but she wanted it sent the quickest she could afford so was expecting a polite email back saying next day before 1pm signed for is £xx, next day signed for £x and regular first class is £x-1.

I hope it was a one off sale rather than you selling as a business as not great customer service!

Contraceptionismyfriend · 08/04/2019 13:08

Damn OP. You're awkward turtle just had babies.

I'd just walk away from the order and deny all knowledge of it ever happening.

AngeloMysterioso · 08/04/2019 13:09

Given that it’s going to take a few days for your no-longer-a-customer to receive her refund you may have really screwed this poor woman over, OP. Hope her budget includes forking out for another whatever the item was as well as expedited shipping from someone else!

grumiosmum · 08/04/2019 13:12

You misunderstood.

She was talking about affordability, not 'expedited'.

Are you always so quick to judge people? Not a great way to run a business.

JenMumma · 08/04/2019 13:13

Seriously, she's saying you'd have no idea of what she can afford, not that you don't know what expedited means. Sorry but it's ironic that you misunderstood 😂. Can't believe you cancelled and refunded an order over an inferiority complex 🙂

Twickerhun · 08/04/2019 13:14

I read it the same way as the OP. I’m feeling bad for the op now 10 pages do people laughing at her or telling her her business skills are crap

LondonJax · 08/04/2019 13:15

@sailorcherries the person emailing could have English as a second language, could be quite self depreciating, or might be a little too friendly in emails sometimes (so forgets that the person they're emailing doesn't actually know them or understand their way of typing).

I've had people order things from me before and give me their life story (including the death of a sibling and one woman telling me she was going through a divorce) when they wanted things a little quicker. It can sometimes mean that they're not used to ordering from a smaller business rather than the likes of Amazon, so aren't sure if they're over stepping the line.

The point is that, as a business, you are going to have rude people. Which this person wasn't being. You need to work with those people who are whether you like it or not. Turning away a sale just because you think someone is insulting you who's contacted you out of mid-air needs to be seriously thought through. Unless there's a back story where the person emailing has been rude prior to the message, why would you even think they were being rude? That shows a very low self esteem I think and you need to get that sorted out if you're going to be successful.

Plus the greatest 'revenge' for a rude email during a sale is to take the customer's money and enjoy it!

I'd be more concerned that, as a potentially young social media savvy student, that story will go a long way...especially if there's an email explaining why the sale was cancelled...

PreseaCombatir · 08/04/2019 13:15

Well, if the mere implication that OPs intelligence was to be put into question, made the OP pissed off enough to cancel the order and start this thread, I can only imagine why they’re feeling now. Must be apoplectic with rage.

sailorcherries · 08/04/2019 13:17

Very true LondonJax the whole message was a bit difficult to follow.
I've also not come across many online businesses, including those using the likes of Etsy/not on the high street to not list their delivery options.

It's an odd one all round.