When all else fails, read the instructions!

Okay.  I really need to rant.  My rant? “People seem to have forgotten how to read”.

Background:

I have mentioned before that I am a jewelry artist trying to turn my hobby into a business.  I have had an online shop for almost 2 years now.

I am careful and meticulous about the descriptions I write for my listings.  I place the most important information in the beginning as I realize that many people do not read all the way to the end.  I put ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT information in ALL CAPS as well.

As in this example:

Listing is for PATTERN ONLY. Kits of materials for those who just want to try one will be available in “Kits” section in a week or so as I get some made up.

Listing is for an E copy (electronic copy). I will need your email address, so I can email you your copy. If you would prefer a paper copy printed out and mailed to you, please convo me, and I will make a “Reserved for…” listing just for you. (Paper copy will cost $2.00 extra for printing and postage costs.)

An aside:  I normally offer kits of materials for each of my patterns, but did not yet have enough beads in stock to make kits for this new design.  It was made from beads I bought to “just try out” and so have not yet built up a stock of these beads.  They are central to the design and substitutes simply will not work.  I have some on order and they should be here any day now.

Many times have I received emailed questions that would have been answered if only the person had read the listing’s description!  Sometimes, it is hard to bite my tongue and not provide the tongue-lashing to they so richly deserve.

Today, I got another email from the worst case so far.  And, yes, I intend to provide all the details (except, of course, personal data).

First, I recently created a new pattern for one of my designs and listed it in my online shop.  A few hours after listing this pattern, I received an email question “Do you have kits for this design?”  (see above quote for first two paragraphs of the description to this listing).

I wrote back that no, I do not and gave the explanation as described above (in the aside).  I told the person that I do have some of the beads in a few colors and could make a kit up for her.  In reply, she said that would be great and chose a color that I have on hand.

Once I got the kit made up, I sent her a message to tell her the kit was ready and that I had made a special “Reserved for (her username).” for the “pattern and kit”.  I also wrote in the description of that listing that it was for the “pattern and kit”.  So, she made her order and bought that reserved listing AND a copy of the pattern.

So, I had to refund her money as I was sure that she did not want to pay for two electronic (pdf) copies of that pattern.  I emailed her the pattern and shipped the kit.

Today, I get an email stating she received the kit, but there was no pattern with it!

Did she not read the emails I sent or the description in the listing?  Perhaps she had not checked her email, you say.  But, she did receive the email that told her she had received a refund for overpayment…

So, I forwarded a copy of the email that I had sent with her pattern…

I try so hard to be clear in my listings and it is frustrating when people simply do not read information that is relevant to their purchase.  I mean, I can understand just skimming when reading for fun…but when I spend money, I read everything related to what I am buying.

Perhaps it is only because I was in the military where you really learn to read “the small print” before signing something.  But does it not make sense to read relevant information when you are spending your hard earned money?