First off, I really really would like to thank you all! For voicing your concern and giving me so many words of encouragement! Through this whole incident, you have all made me feel strong by never doubted my doing! Though really….. from my previous post , I cannot say there had been much positive progress for my part, so this whole incident is still on-going unfortunately….. I have tried to put an end to it but was turned down….. not once, but twice now.
I know many of you are following my updated either on my Facebok page or else my Crysallis Creations Jewelry on Facebook , though some incidents has happened since my last blog post, but there’s still not much I can disclose just yet since, well…. it is not officially over, and frankly, I do not know when it will! But here are some updates with the whole situation, along with some observation for your consideration.
I have come to the decision that I should enforce my Store Policy due to her threatening contact of reporting me to sale site.
~ Contacted sale site’s Support ever since I’ve realized that I would like to cancel the whole transaction. And I kept Support up to date with each contact that she had made. I was advised that since each store is different and has its own store policy, it is best to follow and make my own decision since each situation is different. And that’s what I did.
I have asked her to cease all contact with me through sale site message system.
~ She sends me a few more message through sale site, and I’ve forwarded each to sale site’s Support. My last message to her was to inform her that I’ve issued refund, based on my Store Policy as advised from sale site’s Support, and please cease all contact with me.
I have issued refund (minus the initial Custom Order fee), but was refused payment through PayPal because she states that she cannot accept in this currency. (USD since that’s what she paid through sale site)
~ Since I’ve already submit cancel transaction process since I’ve issued refund, so I contacted Support again to let them know that I have no intention of cheating, and it is out of my control that she refused my refund. Support noted such incident and states that the site will not hold this against me.
I received an EMAIL from her asking me to reissue refund.
~ had to do some transferring around, with help of a friend, so I have the full amount in my account to issue this refund via direct transfer instead of e-check done through my Bank which may takes up to 5 days.
I RE-Issued refund, 2nd time, with equivalent of USD to the currency used by her Country, then she refunds me back, with no given message this time.
~ Within hours of issue refund, she returned my money again! Once again I informed sale site’s Support of this incident.
I received another message from her through sale site’s message system, TELLING me that I cheated her of her money, this transaction cancelled because I cannot get her ring size right! That I should look into my heart, may My GOD forgive me!
~ oh no darling….. this transaction was cancelled NOT because I cannot make the right sized ring! But because YOU gave me the wrong size to begin with! And then YOU chose to NOT wanting me to make another ring to fulfill my original commitment, but instead, YOU asked to be compensated with another piece that’s priced at 75% of the total cost / budget that you’ve given me for this Custom Order, for ALL THE TROUBLE that I’ve caused!
What I’ve learned through this whole thing is that even though I’ve been an online seller for such a long time, people will still surprise you! So the phrase “Customers are always right!” is totally utterly bullshit! I know how hard it is to create a ripple in this vast ocean of Artisan Jewelry, it is a gamble in a lot of ways, hoping and wishing that we will expose our creations long and hard enough so they will be seen by the “right” people…… then we do everything we can hoping that they’ll stay…..
That was me, because I’ve made a commitment. I’ve promised that I will make it work! Which was hard to do when the buyer opted for some unreasonable compensation instead of looking back at what she’s done! And to put icing on the cake, she still insisted that I plotted to cheat her out of that initial down payment for Custom Order, which was 1/3 of total budget that she had given me. Not for a minute had she thought about my labor + time + materials that I used, postage that had cost me, time spend to communicate, or postage!
THREE attempts of making wire-wrapped ring with 14kt Rose Goldfilled wire.
THREE sessions of 2 hours minimum EACH to make or remake the ring.
THREE times that I had to sort and pick out gemstone beads to be used on the ring.
ONCE via Registered Airmail, ONCE via EMS – Express Mailing Service.
TWO of the postage incurred when she had to ship my ring back to me, yes I’ve compensated her for both return shipments.
ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY+ of messages back and forth, and I do not know how many minutes of my time that translates into……
I was even ready to pay PayPal fee to refund her money just so she will receive the full 2/3 for the Custom Order that was cancelled.
Thoughts? You think I get paid minimum wage here? For keeping that initial Custom Order fee?
I certainly hope NO ONE will ever experience similar situation, but please, learn to respect what you do and DO NOT EVER compromise and bend your own rules just to please and make a sale! I have a feeling that this was NOT the first time that she has done this to others! And she has gotten away with it since most sellers were afraid that she will really file that report! IF you are doing everything you can, everything that you are able to, I urge you to stand your ground, because NOT EVERY CUSTOMER will be reasonable, or ALWAYS RIGHT!
Trust your own instinct, believe in your self and your creations! Do Not let anyone else take advantage or take your joy of creating, your joy of offering great custom service, or your abilities to make their dream into reality! That is ALL YOURS! And shouldn’t be in the hands of your buyers!
I will create to my own heart’s content! I will try my best to please my customers! But please do not take me as a fool, because I insert a whole lot of heart and soul into each and every piece that I make! And I deserve proper RESPECT for my time and creation! And it is MY CHOICE and MY DECISION whether or not YOU deserve to own my pieces!
And THAT, is what I believe in!
Been awhile….
As we look forward to 2017….
Free Shipping happening!!
Holiday Season is upon us again!
wow… i just read this + the previous one and a lot of expletives come to mind. the whole ring size thing was a joke man 🙁 i can’t believe you were so patient and accommodating. and yes, the customer is most certainly not always right!
Thank you for your time to read through these Jasmin! 🙂 I was hoping that maybe this will help others who might be new to online sales, things that they can do instead of just taking it all in… and in regards with the patient part…. well it was my job, I had a commitment! But when she slap me with such unreasonable request and make everything just about her, that drew the line…. And right now I just really want to get this whole incident over! So very much looking forward to that! LOL
Hi honey, oh I’m so sorry you’ve had to endure this c..p! for so long!! I for one know how much heart and soul you put into EVERYTHING you make, no matter how tiny and you are beyond exceptional at what you do.. As for this ”person” (oh I could think of many other words but not printable here).. JUST KNOW HONEY.. she will get HERS.. for treating you like this! What goes around, comes around! I love you very much dear Deb and so wish you hadn’t had to go through this garbage. I know though that you will move on from this and be stronger because of it! Suzi would be so proud of you! Love you honey xxxx
you made me teared up Phlip!!! hahahahahahaha!!!! And yeah…. this is why I kept this name since it will be forever special to me! Though I’ve only known Suzi for such a short time but she had made such a difference for me! She will always have that special place in my heart and will never be forgotten!
Thank you love! Truly! For all these years that you’ve been around! I can’t say that enough but please do know that I appreciate you!
Deb, I’ve followed this saga via FB and your blog, met you personally when I was over in HK and heard the facts – and you were very objective and gave both sides of the story – you never once tried to influence my thought process but after all that was said and done and after doing my own evaluation, as a crafter, I feel you have been above board, gone way out of your way to accommodate the buyer’s ridiculous requests and at the end of the day, I feel she wanted to ‘use and return’ the item and get a full refund but you called her bluff by cancelling the order and refunding what she had paid. I also would be personally offended if I were you by her statement on “your God”………… you mean there’s an Asian God, A European God, an American God and so on??? I am appalled by this woman. I’m very proud though to see that you have treated her with velveteen gloves, gave in to her requests until you reached breaking point and even then, you did not lash out. You are the “bigger” person here Deb. Everybody who knows you and your work, will understand the time and effort you have put in to try and fulfill the ridiculous requests of this buyer. I know this is water off a ducks back for you and you are not allowing it to stagnate you or your creations. Good on you!
XOXO Belinda! Nothing left to say here, and thank you so much for sticking with me through all these thick and thin! It is never too late to gain a friend for life, and I am certainly you know how I feel about you and your family. Thank you for being there, thank you for your ever supporting friendship! Thank you! XOXO
Hi Deb, I hope I never have a customer like this, but if I do I will know how to handle them, because you have shown me how to do it gracefully & with a great deal of patience. I appreciate how honest & open you have been about this, I really hope this customer goes away, they really have a serious problem. You have done all you can, they are very unreasonable. Good luck, please continue to create, you do beautiful work, don’t let one crazy person squelch your wonderful creativity!!!!! “HUGS” to you! Love ya Val
awwww thank you Valorie! 😀 XOXO I do not wish this buyer onto anyone else really….. and you know me well enough to realize that I do not usually share much about what’s going on behind the scene, but this has been such a rediculous experience and I really want to let it be on record! It is not right to keep quiet since I know for certain my reputation is on the line, and I’ve worked way too hard to let this happen! And I know for certain it will end up to be one side of the story if told by the other party, which will not be fair to me! So it is time to voice out and share my experience, hopefully will help others along the way too!
well said!
Thank you Katie! 😀