Friday, February 24, 2012

Etsy: More Like Stresstsy

Yeah, I really just went that cheesy with the title, but we'll be okay!
My shop is still very much in progress, and after this crazy week, I don't even know if I'll have the reopening I was planning.
On Valentine's Day, an order came in for an item I hadn't made in awhile for Amanda. Apparently, Etsy doesn't contact you when orders are made. So I didn't see the order until 2 days later. Stressful enough as it is, that's just the first problem.
Amanda tells me that I can be as creative as I want on the order and that she's really easy to please. I go to WalMart for my supplies and they're all out. I have to go the more expensive route and end up losing money. Problem 2.
This is the product that I came up with. I was really excited that it turned out so cute and I absolutely loved it! So much so, that I wanted to keep it for myself! I didn't mind losing the few extra dollars for it to end up so fun.
Believe it or not, it's incredibly hard to find a box that holds such a large frame. This process included another trip to WalMart and 2 trips to the post office. Problem 3.
I end up finding a box, and go to the Post Office for shipping. On President's Day. After already confirming shipment. I felt awful that I lied to my customer and had to send it yet another day later.
I wake up bright and early on Fat Tuesday (so many holidays in such a short amount of time!) and rush to the Post Office. I try my hardest to fit the frame in the box and it barely fits in right along the sides. Therefore leaving no room for bubble wrap. Problem 4.
Also, at the post office, in an attempt to just get it out there, I had to pay $13 dollars in shipping! When all Amanda paid me was $13.50 (including shipping). So this is a major loss in profits for me.
At this point I'm so stressed, and I just tell the post office woman to ship it and that I'm just really really done with it. I could tell that she felt bad for me, which just made me a little more stressed out.
It's off on probably a 14 or 15 hour drive. But I suppose they fly these types of items. I don't know how it works. I just know that somewhere in the process, the glass ended up breaking. Problem 5.
In hindsight, I can see what a ridiculously dumb idea it was to not to somehow find a way to add bubble wrap. But do you ever get to those points of stress where if just one more thing happens, you're going to break down in tears? That's where I was at in the post office, and in all honesty, I was just ready to get it out of my sight.
Thankfully Amanda was a really sweet customer. Yes, she was disappointed, but she didn't yell or anything. I was so happy with her business, even if I failed majorly. She sent me this picture:
And that is when my heart just broke. I, of course, issued her the full refund, and ended up losing myself about $30. Problem 6.

Needless to say, this is an item that will never ever be sold again on my shop, if it ever reopens after this experience. Thanks for listening to my rant. Anyone else have an awful Etsy experience they'd like to cheer me up with?

PS. Remember that until the 29th I am giving all of my new followers a free gift (without glass) so follow before then!

5 comments:

  1. I'm sorry! That sounds so so stressful & I've totally been there :( Sounds like you need to raise your prices. Some of the best advice I've gotten is to make sure you're being fair to yourself in pricing! Don't give up though. You'll figure it out. I found a nice post office employee and she was a crazy amount of help when I first started :)

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  2. It is like that saying they say "when it rains, it pours". I hate having moments like that. That really does sound very stressful. I don't have a shop but I am often mailing packages for the husbands business and packaging and making time to go to the post office is all stressful. I hope you have better luck in the future and hope something like that does not happen again. Poor you.

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  3. Wow, that definitely sounds stressful. You'll figure it ou though! It's like your header says, "Give the Lord your burdens, and he will take care of you." :) cute blog! The background is darling.

    xo, Samantha
    http://theadventuresoftwosams.blogspot.com/

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  4. hahaha i love the title. don't back down on it. and i can't wait for the shop! hope youre having a fab week kara!

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  5. So glad to have found your blog!!

    Trust me, I've had similar experiences to this -- especially when my shop was new. I've lost money, too, on shipping. If you're really serious about your shop, you should buy boxes in bulk. I buy mine from Uline. Even when my shop was brand new and very small, I invested in one size of boxes [I still have a lot left]. It saves money in the long run. :)

    Also, one more tip....are you sure you don't receive notifications from Etsy on sold orders? I do! I'd hate for you to miss out on another order. That would really stink.

    Take care!!! And good luck with your shop.

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