Nov. 29, 2022
We’re so close to the end of November, coinciding with my last sandwich question.
Tell us about a time when you were in a sandwich. It could be literal, such as sitting in between two people, or figuratively, such as being stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Neither of situations are things that I would normally share here, so I’m going to share a true story I read. I was on Etsy’s seller forum a couple of weeks ago and a European seller sold something big, heavy, and expensive to a customer located on the other side of the country. The customer took a picture and showed the seller that the item arrived not to the customer’s satisfaction. The customer is unhappy with the loose stitching of the item and wants it to be re-upholstered by a professional to make the customer satisfied.
Unfortunately, this Etsy seller is stuck between a rock and a hard place. Of the options, this shop owner will have a loss on this transaction. Option 1: Pay to ship the item back, fix it, and resell it. Option 2: Reimburse the customer for re-upholstering the item (the Etsy seller is adamantly against this, because the quote the customer gave was overly expensive). Option 3: Pay for shipping to return the item, fix it, and then send it back to the customer (remember, this item is big and heavy). Option 4: Have this done officially, where the shop owner loses the item, has to give a full refund, and face a potentially scathing review that future customers will see.
Think about how forgiving you can be when you buy something online from a small business owner. The shop owner is not always right, and the customer is not always right. When the shop owner makes the customer whole, the business person is at a loss. Sometimes, Etsy sales is how they make it to the end of the month.
How to Play:
Answer the question in 1-2 paragraphs. No run-ons, please.
Warning:
Some responses and elements can be controversial, but all answers are correct. Yes, we’re still talking about sandwiches. If you disagree, please do so respectfully.
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