Sometimes it's hard not to take thing personal

[Americasprice]

Sometimes, it’s hard to not take things person (and I don’t) but when a customer sends in an extremely low ball offer ($5.00) on a 17 dollar product that includes free shipping, it makes me wonder…. Do some customers really think that some sellers are so desperate for a sale that we would accept such an offer? I appreciate the offer but will pass. This is a business not a hobby. Americasprice has to generate a profit.

 How do you usually handle low ball offering customers? I never disrespect or belittle the customer.  That low ball offering customer may actually become a customer.   At least that person now knows Americasprice exist and like I said, maybe one day become a customer.  I hope.   

[AskRalph]

I agree. I tried this with a few clients and many opted for going for the full deal. In my business of delivery service the full deal includes communicating when I am arriving, when I picked up, when i am enroute to the receiver and when delivered and whom received, eg I am enroute to pickup at Home Depot, next I picked up 2 boxes, pictures to follow via e-mail,  then an hour later as I have picked up other orders or delivered else where, I am enroute to your location. I might text, oh we have accident to route around on Deerfoot Trail (This usually in our area could mean an hour delay), will advise.  Then I am 5 minutes away. {This signals the receiver to make sure dock or home is ready for unload.}  Customer can say to staff or helpers Ralph is enroute, lets get ready or reply with change of plans, bring to receiving Carl will meet and sign or take to 16th floor storage area. versus the basic is I pick up, and deliver and customer is left waiting possibly 3 to 6 hours unless paying for Rush or Priority. Difference in pricing $15.00 basic, $20-30 best service, Rush $40.00to $50.00, Priority $75.00.  I found this niche of communicating also works to keep clients very happy.  This niche also entails me asking questions, ie I am carrying fragile/ delicate items? Am I needing to make certain extra loading requirements?  We are in a new world where people compare services versus the gig economy type service.  We are better if we treat each of our clients as luxury purchase clients until they ask for only basic and see the difference.

[PartyManiaMD]

I know this feeling all too well. I'm in the party industry and our biggest pain point was creating value for stuff that is generally disposable. It's hard especially when costs go up over time but the perceived value stays the same. We're cheaper than our biggest competitors and I undercut Amazon 90% of the time, in addition we have a rewards program. Any lower and I'm essentially pricing myself out of business, most people understand but then there's the ocassional person that thinks we should be the $1 store. We're in a high cost of living area where rent is super expensive and unfortunately as costs go up so do our prices (shocking right?).

The funniest thing is I'm getting calls weekly asking if we ship out of state because our base price is cheaper than most online shippers... until I factor in shipping. 

When hagglers ask me if I can drop my price I offer to check amazon or google and meet or beat their price. Usually a quick check on the first two items changes their perception. 

I do take it personally because I don't go to another business and try to haggle over pricing and I work hard to keep my prices down. I don't let it show but it's quite disheartening when people say you're too expensive but they haven't done any research on pricing.

[AskRalph]

I agree with your statement. I have had people ask us to ship for them items from Pottery Barn, Urban something, Home Depot etc to other parts of Canada or the USA. I tell them the shipping costs plus my fees. Most say oh thats not what FED EX or UPS quoted over the phone?  I tell them my costs are usually $25 to $50.00 but the UPS / Fedex fees they were quoted probably did not include customs, fuel surcharges or other fees. I get an all in fee. If they call the company back, they find out my carrier fee may be less than theirs as I receive discounts for volume/industry fees, but also is all in. the carrier clerk tells them when they were quoted by their company they could not offer that all in fee and its subject to finalizing.  Yes Americans try buying at A Calgary location, not having a Provincial/ state tax included, but then exchange rate can reduce that savings.  I also remember a lady ordering an area rug, but she failed to disclose the real size of area rug as you see, customs would unwrap the carpet etc and when put back to continue shipping it will take up more space,  My fee became less because I got it documented for customs as pre customs cleared inspected, as a known shipper, I could get it through the Canada US customs not needing to be reinspected only scanned by Xray, saving Fedex time [which is money] and having a local carrier pick t up and deliver in a smaller truck.  Fedex would have sent it locally in a trailer versus I had a local Fedex pick it up and deliver in the utility truck.  If you are an American company whom wants more information contact me at [email protected].