The software system - Merchant Miva - leaves a bit to be desired. Slowly it keeps taking away things, if I had them in the first place. In my low budget, semi-Luddite manner, I'm trying to work around it since I don't have the capital or interest to invest in a more refined system. My latest way of working around the system in my Luddite, Quaker manner. (see my phone number policy comments here) I hope is working.
So, little Miva has taken away the ability for customers to select First Class as a shipping option (the method most often used for my lightweight products) and the third party software developers recently stopped providing a fix.
So, now:
If you chose Priority Mail, I ship Priority Mail. If you choose Parcel Post, I ship First Class and refund you the difference.
Orders over $50.00 are shipped free - US, Canada and Britain only.
These aren't quite discounts, but..I hope these help make up with a kind of personal interest and service for what technology isn't offering.
My Miva software is a much older version- I think I've had it for nearly 10 years, having updated only once since I started this business in 2000. And though I realize it would probably increase business to invest in a better system, I don't have a lot of money or time to invest in a better system. This is a tiny home based business, I'm not (at 64) hoping to grow this puppy into something huge and profitable.
That can't sound good to my customers.
(read also the post on how my system works with giving customers their discount)
Showing posts with label Luddite. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Luddite. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Saturday, August 20, 2011
No More Phone Number
Why do I no longer list a phone number on my website?
Because I don't use it. I don't ever answer it - my voice recording warned people of this - I rarely check it and this being an online internet business, I really prefer that people contact me via e-mail. I had a phone number because that's what you're supposed to have if you're a business. People want to know that they can call somebody.
Mostly that's because it's quicker. If you don't want to go through the annoyance of typing in an order, searching the website, it's easier to call someone. And when you're mad because you can't figure out something about placing the order, or because the order you placed Saturday morning to be shipped First Class didn't arrive this Monday morning, typing just doesn't do it. That indignant frustration gets out quicker if you can yell in person at someone.
So, no more phone number because I'm just leading you on to think I'd answer it or call you back. I won't and I don't.
Everything else can be done via e-mail, you know. You can place orders via e-mail though you have to type stuff out. You can type in caps and so yell at people, but sometimes it so much more satisfying to yell at a human being. I will answer questions and accusations, comments and all of that, via e-mail. I'm as real in e-mail as I am on the phone. Maybe realer. Using e-mail, you just have to be patient - the replies will not be instant. I'm not talking text messaging.
WHAT KIND OF A BUSINESS DOES THIS?
Oh my. Well, let me start by saying, despite the fears that some people have, it is not a business designed to rip off people of their hard earned $12.00 to $20.00 (average sized orders).
It is also not a business where a bunch of people sit by a phone all day, taking orders or making phone calls. It's just me.
I've been advised to hire people to do that - answer the phone. That's how my business will grow.
Yeah, no.
I'm a small time part time business now. Got the bookplates, need to do something with the inventory. And the money helps. But - this is not set up to be a business that will grow every year, bigger and bigger. At least not under my watch. I'm not a capitalist, I'm a Quaker. A rude Quaker.
This is a tiny little on-line business that was designed to supplement my retirement income some 10 years ago, grown out of a need to be busy and a love of bookplates.
Still not fully retired, but the internet and I have both changed. When I started, there was only one other site that sold bookplates on-line. They took big orders, I did small ones. Now there are a whole lot of bookplate businesses, plus a lot of places where the resourceful and/or creative can make their own.
Also, I'm around less, I'm doing other things because I'm realizing how short life is, and how much I'd rather be living my life. I long for the day when I can sell this little bookplate business and move on. Or just toss out the inventory I have and shut down the bookplate section and move on. That day is coming soon.
And then I will spend my time with grandkids, travel, friends and making stuff without having to do customer service, shipping, picking and packing and unnecessary complaints.
Because I don't use it. I don't ever answer it - my voice recording warned people of this - I rarely check it and this being an online internet business, I really prefer that people contact me via e-mail. I had a phone number because that's what you're supposed to have if you're a business. People want to know that they can call somebody.
Mostly that's because it's quicker. If you don't want to go through the annoyance of typing in an order, searching the website, it's easier to call someone. And when you're mad because you can't figure out something about placing the order, or because the order you placed Saturday morning to be shipped First Class didn't arrive this Monday morning, typing just doesn't do it. That indignant frustration gets out quicker if you can yell in person at someone.
So, no more phone number because I'm just leading you on to think I'd answer it or call you back. I won't and I don't.
Everything else can be done via e-mail, you know. You can place orders via e-mail though you have to type stuff out. You can type in caps and so yell at people, but sometimes it so much more satisfying to yell at a human being. I will answer questions and accusations, comments and all of that, via e-mail. I'm as real in e-mail as I am on the phone. Maybe realer. Using e-mail, you just have to be patient - the replies will not be instant. I'm not talking text messaging.
WHAT KIND OF A BUSINESS DOES THIS?
Oh my. Well, let me start by saying, despite the fears that some people have, it is not a business designed to rip off people of their hard earned $12.00 to $20.00 (average sized orders).
It is also not a business where a bunch of people sit by a phone all day, taking orders or making phone calls. It's just me.
I've been advised to hire people to do that - answer the phone. That's how my business will grow.
Yeah, no.
I'm a small time part time business now. Got the bookplates, need to do something with the inventory. And the money helps. But - this is not set up to be a business that will grow every year, bigger and bigger. At least not under my watch. I'm not a capitalist, I'm a Quaker. A rude Quaker.
This is a tiny little on-line business that was designed to supplement my retirement income some 10 years ago, grown out of a need to be busy and a love of bookplates.
Still not fully retired, but the internet and I have both changed. When I started, there was only one other site that sold bookplates on-line. They took big orders, I did small ones. Now there are a whole lot of bookplate businesses, plus a lot of places where the resourceful and/or creative can make their own.
Also, I'm around less, I'm doing other things because I'm realizing how short life is, and how much I'd rather be living my life. I long for the day when I can sell this little bookplate business and move on. Or just toss out the inventory I have and shut down the bookplate section and move on. That day is coming soon.
And then I will spend my time with grandkids, travel, friends and making stuff without having to do customer service, shipping, picking and packing and unnecessary complaints.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
You have an account but are you gettting your discount?
Are you getting your wholesale or returning customer discount when you order your bookplates from me?
Lately I've noticed orders coming in from customers who are listed as faithful return customers or booksellers, librarians, teachers or other shop owners. I can see they have have faithfully logged into their accounts - but there is no discount showing. Since others are getting their discounts, I thought the answer might lie in the peculiarities of my software system.
First you need to set up an account. Then you need to let me know you've set up an account by e-mailing me (check out the website for how to do that). Wait for me to manually set you up. Now, the important part.
In order to get your discount you need to FIRST sign into your account, then place items in your basket. The discount will ONLY apply to items you place in your basket AFTER you have logged in to your account.
If you wait to sign in until the check-out process, the discount won't apply.
This info will be tweeted, too - when placing an order - please log in first!
Lately I've noticed orders coming in from customers who are listed as faithful return customers or booksellers, librarians, teachers or other shop owners. I can see they have have faithfully logged into their accounts - but there is no discount showing. Since others are getting their discounts, I thought the answer might lie in the peculiarities of my software system.
First you need to set up an account. Then you need to let me know you've set up an account by e-mailing me (check out the website for how to do that). Wait for me to manually set you up. Now, the important part.
In order to get your discount you need to FIRST sign into your account, then place items in your basket. The discount will ONLY apply to items you place in your basket AFTER you have logged in to your account.
If you wait to sign in until the check-out process, the discount won't apply.
This info will be tweeted, too - when placing an order - please log in first!
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