Joined Dec 2007
L2: Beginner
Forum Thread
A little respect and understanding for coupon sellers please
May 3, 2011 at
06:50 AM
I have seen a lot of coupon seller bashing around SD and I feel I need to say something. First of all, no seller is 100% perfect all the time. We are humans and we do make mistakes. The good ones do their best to make things right.
Second of all, I know that a lot of buyers feel their order should go out asap. So do we. I don't think any buyer actually understands the amount of work that goes in to coupon clipping. It takes about 1 hour to sort 100 inserts. Longer if it is a huge one. So, if there is 3 inserts, 600 of each. It takes approx 18 hours just to sort them. Then, you have to cut them. Some are on double pages (on the spine), which has to be cut by hand. I personally work these hours to get orders done on an average week. Saturday, 8 am - 6 or 7pm (listing, pictures). Sunday, 9am-7 or 8pm sorting and cutting. Monday 7:45am to roughly 12 midnight filling orders. Tuesday, 7:45am - 5 to 6pm. This is just to get weekend orders out. That is roughly 49 hours in 4 days. If your order doesn't go out for 2 days, it isn't because we don't care or are being lazy. I know, I do as much as humanely possible until it is all mailed. If you buy on Sunday, it maybe Wednesday until it goes out because there are 300+ orders in front of you. If you order from any other business on the internet, it will be at least 2 days before they ship it. (I.E. Wal-mart, Target, Toys r Us). These are companies with thousands of employees. I do not understand the assumption that we shouldn't get the same amount of time, when there is only 1 or 2 people filling orders. We do not have large office spaces with 10, 20 or 30 people working. I don't want anyone to have the assumption that all of Saturday and Sunday orders go out Monday. I posted this on my site. It is absolutely impossible.
Also, we all have families of our own. We do work from home but dinners still have to be made, kids have to get to school, laundry has to be done, dishes, baths...etc. We are stay at home moms just like you. We use coupons just like you. I honestly just want the same understanding any buyer would want for themselves. I do everything in my power to make my customers happy, and I feel I am very good at what I do.
If any of this seems unacceptable or unreasonable, then, my apologies but I am not the clipper for you. Thanks for reading.
Lorihas3kids
Second of all, I know that a lot of buyers feel their order should go out asap. So do we. I don't think any buyer actually understands the amount of work that goes in to coupon clipping. It takes about 1 hour to sort 100 inserts. Longer if it is a huge one. So, if there is 3 inserts, 600 of each. It takes approx 18 hours just to sort them. Then, you have to cut them. Some are on double pages (on the spine), which has to be cut by hand. I personally work these hours to get orders done on an average week. Saturday, 8 am - 6 or 7pm (listing, pictures). Sunday, 9am-7 or 8pm sorting and cutting. Monday 7:45am to roughly 12 midnight filling orders. Tuesday, 7:45am - 5 to 6pm. This is just to get weekend orders out. That is roughly 49 hours in 4 days. If your order doesn't go out for 2 days, it isn't because we don't care or are being lazy. I know, I do as much as humanely possible until it is all mailed. If you buy on Sunday, it maybe Wednesday until it goes out because there are 300+ orders in front of you. If you order from any other business on the internet, it will be at least 2 days before they ship it. (I.E. Wal-mart, Target, Toys r Us). These are companies with thousands of employees. I do not understand the assumption that we shouldn't get the same amount of time, when there is only 1 or 2 people filling orders. We do not have large office spaces with 10, 20 or 30 people working. I don't want anyone to have the assumption that all of Saturday and Sunday orders go out Monday. I posted this on my site. It is absolutely impossible.
Also, we all have families of our own. We do work from home but dinners still have to be made, kids have to get to school, laundry has to be done, dishes, baths...etc. We are stay at home moms just like you. We use coupons just like you. I honestly just want the same understanding any buyer would want for themselves. I do everything in my power to make my customers happy, and I feel I am very good at what I do.
If any of this seems unacceptable or unreasonable, then, my apologies but I am not the clipper for you. Thanks for reading.
Lorihas3kids
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I give you a thumbs up!
I give you a thumbs up!
Thank you very much. Yes, the closer the better. Anywhere in Florida usually is 1 or 2 days. The usps is kind of wacky. I have had parcels get to California in 2 days and NJ takes 3-4. I don't understand.
Thumbs up to you too!
I am one of your "regulars" and do appreciate the fast shipping and most of all, the pricing.
You always are fair with the pricing on "hot" coupons.
I like the fact that you don't charge processing fees and shipping is free!
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I am one of your "regulars" and do appreciate the fast shipping and most of all, the pricing.
You always are fair with the pricing on "hot" coupons.
I also give you kudos to your post and I must remember to put myself in any clipper's shoes when I'm here waiting (im)patiently for my coupons.
However, unfortunately there are many clippers that don't have your business etiquette. They'll send coupons with cut barcodes, mail out over a week later, send incomplete orders, over charge in shipping, and/or mail them out with insuffient postage. Thus, the need of a "vent" seller's thread. We're only here to help eachother and we all appreciate everyone's experiences and comments, both good and bad.
You came to a forum filled with people helping other people, not taking advantage of them. Try fitting in instead of abusing the system. Then you will have your respect.
I also give you kudos to your post and I must remember to put myself in any clipper's shoes when I'm here waiting (im)patiently for my coupons.
However, unfortunately there are many clippers that don't have your business etiquette. They'll send coupons with cut barcodes, mail out over a week later, send incomplete orders, over charge in shipping, and/or mail them out with insuffient postage. Thus, the need of a "vent" seller's thread. We're only here to help eachother and we all appreciate everyone's experiences and comments, both good and bad.
I "only" have 60 papers, so my work schedule goes:
Saturday, DH sorts & cuts the papers while I type up listings. He's usually done by 11 pm (8 hours), while I stay up all night to get those listings done & posted.
Sunday, we do hand-cuts. Those are the coupons too close for comfort to others. Sunday evening, assuming all the listings are done, I start on mail. Sometimes there are soooo many coupons that I'm still typing Sunday evening (36 hours).
Monday is mailing day. I start ASAP, and work until I'm done, often until 11 PM (12-15 hours).
Rinse & repeat for Tuesday, usually less hours.
In between all that are answering questions from buyers, and maybe eating & sleeping, plus I have another job.
I am very sorry to hear about the poor service that many of you have had. When I started, there were fewer than 10 sellers on eBay. All provided good to great service, one or two may have had a temper.
Then new sellers started coming into eBay. These people did not read or seem to feel they had to follow the listing policy or any common sense either. After a few weeks, things would settle down, and they would improve.
Now it's new sellers every week. These people think it's sooo easy to make money. They don't know how to be polite, use common sense, or what a mailbox is for. But there are good new sellers too. It's always the case: read the eBay feedback comments. The better the seller, the more enthusiastic the comments.
Why do we do it? Because we love coupons, are great at customer service, and enjoy providing you all with the coupons you need. Oh, and we make an income too.
Lorna