proto this kind of situation can happen, I am sorry it's sounds very frustrating for both parties, more or so for you since you put in all the effort of buying/getting stitched
I recently had clothes shipped to me from lahore, and that person from get-go explained to me that she would only use fedex, (or else she won't take any orders) since it was reliable for her and I would get my clothes in 4 days. I did pay a lot of money for shipping but received my package within one week, perhaps you should find a trustworthy courier that can deliver without any hassles.
I hear your point that when you use cheaper shipping couriers there are more potential headaches.......but international shipping can get very pricey (expensive) and sometimes its alot of money to spend around $50 for a 2kg parcel (thru fedex). DHL is a little less expensive comparatively.......I have chosen get my parcels thru these 2 couriers especially when they are above a certain amount. It is commendable that designers offer a variety of shipping options to suit different budgets. But it is always best to be UPFRONT AND HONEST........please tell your customers the pros and cons of different shipping methods........For time sensitive material for weddings......special occasions ..........it is best to go with Fedex and DHL. If a package gets lost it is a huge headache for both sender and receiver to trace that package........calculate the time that is lost looking for that package.........
As alot ppl who have been following my case (I paid $925 to vendor who is also on GS (Shabnam Zahid (aka Shanna)) I specifically asked her to use realiable shipping method - and specified to her which one I wanted......I also paid her $25 (she wanted more.....) but said if it is more I will pay her the difference. It has BEEN MORE THAN 3 WEEKS I have no dresses, no resolution.....seller/designer/vendor refuses to speak to me......She has admitted so many times she has my money and wonders why I am getting so restless.........she said that she read on alot of blogs that packages get lost and is very common (I beg to differ.....not true....United Postal Service is one of the most reliable in the world). People this was not a parcel coming from Pakistan.......it was within USA......... Lastest development she has BLOCKED ME FROM CONTACTING HER ON FACEBOOK........She has told me numerous times that I CANNOT DO ANYTHING TO HER......because money was deposited into her account..........whether I can do something or not remains to be seen.........but remember Allah (swt) is most JUST and everything is within his power!
Another Suggestion if you are buying with US..........Please use Paypal (there are some hefty fees for seller........but again peace of mind is worth it) or pay by credit card...If sellers are selling wholesale or large volume its a good idea to open a credit card account (within USA and Canada)........DO NOT PAY THE SELLER FULL AMOUNT IF YOU DON'T KNOW THE PERSON ESPECIALLY FOR FIRST TIME TRANSACTION.
One other suggestion......when dealing with a new vendor/designer order 1 or 2 dresses..........unless they are strongly recommended by a reliable source.......) If that transactions is smooth then consider placing a slightly large order subsequently. Please don't jump the gun.........May Allah give everyone hidayaat and finally
for those designers (homebased and otherwise)........WHO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY.......MAY ALLAH (SWT) GIVE YOU BOUNDLESS SUCCESS AND may your businesses flourish....... May Allah protect us from all the Cheats! Designers it is job to advise and guide your customers...please listen to me them!
Finally, I am sorry for posting my own dilemna but I am hoping that it serves a valuable lesson for both designers and customers!
I couldnt agree with you more about this stoppit but the problem is everyone believes ‘customer is always right’ and it is them who are spending hard earned money to buy stuff and the seller is left with no right at all usually unless they set up straight rules and conditions that eventually ends up putting off the buyers.
Hidayah, I know you are going through a lot of mess regarding your last order with shanna but I dont agree with the part where the buyer shouldnt send full money until she has the goods with her .I would rather return her advance payment deducting the transfer fee and sell that dresf off to get my money back if she wants to go with this route instead of sending her stuff and waiting and running after her for my money ! (this is for new customers,with due respect) I have learnt this lesson the hard way recently when a customer in USA decided to not to pay the payment for her BRIDAL outfit after I sent the parcel. She ordered a bridal dress because the dress her mil sent her was ugly and she wanted another one, sent half of the payment, ordered other outfits for her mom later so the advance payment went to that ; and sent me a WU code when I told her the dress was ready and by the time I went to WU,I came to know that she had withdrawn the payment within few hours on the day she submitted it. I called her and when i told my name, she hung up and never attended my calls or to text msgs for a week after she picked up the parcel from DHL and when I emailed her with threats of legal action, she finally responded and said she didnt like it (it was a custom made dress where she chose the colours,border,style and was totally hay and excited when I sent ehr the final product pictures before dispatching) and wanted me to refund her advance before she sends it back. She either wore it to her wedding and wanted to dispose it off since wedding dresses are useless after the event or she had to wear what her MIL got for her due to family pressure and played it this way. Anyways,long story short, after numerous emails and waiting, she has sent it back to one of my friends in USA a couple of weeks back and I will be paying her for shipping it back to me. So I would rather let people wear their eid/formal dresses to their own weddings than sending them ‘presents’ without any payment to wear and send me back because there is a difference in running away with a formal dress or two and a bridal outfit
Holy moses proto! That is crazy! what kinda person does that huh?! Id say safest bet for a client is to do ure research on a vendor before placing an order and hope for the best. If it doesnt turn out well… Koi baath nahi…one order wont kill u nor thhe payment for it make u poor.
@prototype.........I think I didn't get my point across properly........Seller Shanna showed me readymade dresses from her colllection on skype.........She herself contacted me on facebook and sent link for her collection.........at Sehri time.........I usually would careless to such an offer.......but when I looked at collection I really liked the collection..........She was in USA (Houston) for an Exhibition according to her........for only a couple of days........she said I could buy immediately......and she could show me on skype......... a day later I saw the dresses on skype and she told me I could buy on wholesale prices.......I had told her I do really like the dresses but there were 2 issues.......dresses needed to be altered......to which she replied that some of them could easily be shortened and tightened.......she rapidly showed numerous dresses and strongly convinced me to buy.......which I decided to do.......because I saw she had the dresses in her possession and she didn't have to make them..........anyways......I directly asked about how I could make payment and traveled more than 30 minutes by car to make a direct deposit to her personal account.............I never questioned full payment at all because I have sold stuff to some GS members and elsewhere and of course I didn't send goods until I got full payment.....but as soon she got full payment her story changed about when she could mail items and give tracking number.......yes, there are lots of BEYMAN customers and many wear the dress and want to return after wearing 1 time........that is cheating full time......they do it even in stores.......I totally agree for custom dresses returns should be unacceptable.....so I am not advocating by any means to any customers to cheat sellers .....and believe me I know people try to do that all the time......I have tried my hand at reselling so I know how that feels that people while borrow dress to try on and return after some times and sometimes they wear the dress......manage to remove tag and then reattach tag.......and then say they didn't like dress afterall............make it a policy that there is NO RETURN OR EXCHANGE on dresses....for online orders I specify to buyer that there is no return or exchange to any dresses and I will try my level best to describe and show enough pictures to avoid future mistunderstandings......
but tell what do you suggest I do in a case like this when I acted in total good faith with a buyer......paid them the way the wanted and I have no dresses in hand.......I have strong doubts that the package was properly mailed.........it was definitely insured but very difficult for me to understand how a buyer can mail act so irresponsiblily.........If I mailed a customer over $900 worth of dresses (and remember this was WHOLESALE prices because I planned on reselling some of the dresses) and simply state that post office lost the parcel.........there was something unusual about the way seller is acting....before I paid her she told me how she personally goes to post office and compares the best way to send parcel and she sends stuff all the time by mail and looks for best and most inexpensive way to send parcels.........at that time she sounded very convincing but later on she blamed it on alteration seamstress for not altering dresses properly and left USA without mailing then she tells me her mom would do it..........the mom gives story about how alteration lady didn't do alteration properly......initailly Shabnam says oh the alterations can easily be done after payment is done and dresses would immediately mailed........anyways to make very long story short there are cheats and beymans on both side........I am not by any means suggesting that people cheat designers........but when buying stuff ONLINE I suggest both buyer and seller be very careful.......Proto......do not mail anybody any dresses without full payment......they way I have set up with one of my vendor is that I give 50 percent initially and then I pay the remaining balance when I receive pictures of dresses I ordered so of course I pay in fulll before receiving any dresses.....but pictures reassure me that dresses were prepared according to my choice and color preference........but with Shabnam Zahid she showed me all the dresse on skype but I am afraid she did not mail them to me at all........she used the worst possible way to send.......and when you look at package details it transaction history appears unusual......how do I know if she even mailed the dresses at all? she has not taken my calls or responded to my emails.....she says she is on phone 4-5 but 3 weeks after parcel was mailed I have no parcel in hand......I am not a idiot that was born yesterday......it does not take that long to get parcels in the mail......there something more going on that meets the eye.......just like there beyman buyers .....there are beyman seller......one has to be careful of both........she has insisted that once money is with her I cannot touch her..........which seller with morals issues that statement? Both buyer and seller should be upfront and straightforward....but to hold onto to my money after I have no dresses in my hand is simply THEFT (STEALING).......I told her that to mail it in a safe method and $25 dollars is fair amount of money within usa to mail those dresses......I NEVER ASKED her to purchase insurance because I have never in the many many years that I am purchasing and sending packages via mail have lost a package......yes some packages have been delayed and were not received in the specified time but never have they been lost........almost half of the money which I paid was used to insure package ........usually buyer has to specify if they desire insurance and it is extra.......but PRIORITY MAIL within USA is a TRACKABLE mail........at any point they can track where the parcel is at ...........this is what I specified the seller to send it via......but she or one of her relatives which she uses blatantly ignored this.......if it cost a few dollars extra I had specifally told I pay her back.......i have given these details countless time and am trying to beg for help from some moderators and members..........a member should not be allowed to cheat customers......nor should customers cheat designers.......
Due to my horrible experience I have suggested to customers in USA some protocols for transaction within USA..........use Paypal and credit cards.......they offer added protection from beyman buyers.......somehow the seller knows that for check payment.....no one can do anything to her.......I was made a fool and am wasting hours on end trying to get my money back......but I do want to do public service and make sure that she doesn't continue to cheat others.......and absolutely don't think this was simply mishap......there is something else going on here....you can cheat and fool people but you can fool Allah (swt).......Prototype this doesn't apply to you because there are enough people of GS to guarantee your work .......my mistake was I didn't check out her references and didn't realize that somebody could show the dresses and take payment and then not even bother to mail them....I have a tracking number for a package that can't be located?? even local postmaster said this type of thing is not a common occurance......what am I do think?
.I originally placed an an classified ad asking what are the best readymade dresses available in market in pakistan....
Proto, i think that is an absolutely disgusting behaviour, how can buyers behave so badly (im referring to protos second example of the person who ordered the bridal). To be honets guys i dont think the "customer is always right" statement works when it comes to ordering from abroad. Its all well and good in countries like the UK and US where there are proper consumer laws for dealing with the likes of Topshop and Tescos, There is no doubt that as buyers we've got all got horror stories BUT i also think bichaaray sellers also get a real raw deal.
Hidayah: I know you're having really awful time but honestly posting in every available thread isnt helping the situation. Hopefully you'll get things sorted.
I don't think in this case buyer is behaving badly. I just don't understand how. She paid proto money and expected her outfits to arrive on time. Yes it wasn't proto's mistake because the shipping got messed up. It wasn't anyone's mistake but yes the buyer is frustrated because the way she sees it, its her money that got lost. Proto I am sure did hard work making her client's outfits, she always does. I still dont' think that buyer shouldn't get upset. I can't imagine placing an order for the first time with someone as reliable as proto and my order getting messed up and my reliable and honest vendor does nothing about it. I know proto is doing something about it, but I am talking in general. If proto, gives this ONE customer refund, she'll have TEN others who will want to place their orders with her for her excellent customer service. Customer is not always right but sometimes you just have to do a little bit more than what's required to keep your customers happy.
A little bit off topic but I remember back when these home-based designers were starting out, they would happily accept 50/50 payment (pay a deposit and then the balance when outfit is sent), now its virtually impossible to find anybody who will work without having the entire payment upfront.
I don't think in this case buyer is behaving badly. I just don't understand how. She paid proto money and expected her outfits to arrive on time. Yes it wasn't proto's mistake because the shipping got messed up. It wasn't anyone's mistake but yes the buyer is frustrated because the way she sees it, its her money that got lost. Proto I am sure did hard work making her client's outfits, she always does. I still dont' think that buyer shouldn't get upset. I can't imagine placing an order for the first time with someone as reliable as proto and my order getting messed up and my reliable and honest vendor does nothing about it. I know proto is doing something about it, but I am talking in general. If proto, gives this ONE customer refund, she'll have TEN others who will want to place their orders with her for her excellent customer service. Customer is not always right but sometimes you just have to do a little bit more than what's required to keep your customers happy.
the issue is resolved now Alhamdulillah :) I offered her full refund but she chose to adjust with another order for next eid. so all is settled now.
sara516: the policy is still the same for myself and most of the other vendors. I was talking about hidayah's advice for not paying the full amount until the order is with the buyer.
so just an update (esp. for those who use skynet) :
They called me today after I gave up calling and asking for updates and they asked straight for the contact number and address of my customer in london (this shows how good they are! they sent a parcel and they had no record of details with them) and said straight they want to pick the dress they sent accidently to my customer to drop the parcel at the correct address. I asked what about the parcel I sent? and they plainly said ‘jub milay ga , bataa dayngay ! apkay lawn kay suits hain, ap apna claim file kar dayn’ I said lawn,yes but SS lawn suits and I paid her back for shipping as well. I am no way giving you other parcel until you pay me back ! and he got really rude saying that I am in business and should have nerves to bear losses at times and I gave him a good piece of my mind that I am no way bearing losses due to idiots like you ! Anyways I told him I am waiting for few more days until i get my claim money back,NOT giving him my customer’s info until then,and THEN I am selling the dress they sent by mistake to get my money and they can deal with the owner of that dress accordingly !
Good for you Proto! Anyways, one word of advice.........try to avoid using Skynet and these (Pakistan post , TCS) services......I know you have no gain in this.....but can't you set up an account with DHL or Fedex and the should give u volume discount..........try to negotiate this with them......since this is apparently a full time business for you........
I have been ordering from Pakistan for a couple years now....but I have found that it is peace of mind to get it delivered thru a service like DHL and fedex (yes the are more costly but the peace of mind is worth it and these are trackable once you have an airbill or waybill ).........My fiasco/misahp/disaster within United States proves it......I have lost enormous time and not to mention enormous time.......AND TIME IS MONEY......especially if you have another job and family.......in my case I didn't even want to take a risk and ask for cheaper method......the seller decided to save a few dollars and went this route.......when you have to spend countless hours on internet and phone it is a loss of time and income not to mention the frustration.......once you experience that these people are reckless and don't know to conduct business avoid them like the plague!
That dress is pretty I am sure someone will buy it from you. You shouldn’t give your customer’s info to anyone. Your customer seems to be understanding and with you in this whole process. I think you handled the situation very well. You gave your customer no trouble. I am sorry but in Pakistan people have 0 concept of good customer service but you did a good job :k:
thanks for your advice hidayah. DHL is very expensive for europe as compared to US/canada.
saadia, yes I will put it up once i get it back here with me. Actually I am still in a dilemma about selling it I feel bad about the lady who sent that dress and the one who ordered it from her. they are suffering because of the skynet people as well and atleast I know where their parcel ended up. I might return their outfit and put up the Lawn suits I sent to my customer for sale.
I was thinking Proto…is it possible to send all of the suits that are ordered from Europe to one contact in Europe and then have that contact in Europe mail it out to various people…would that not be cheaper…for example larger shipments are cheaper per suit than just mailing 2 suits thru DHL…you could have some deal setup with a trustworthy client or contact in Europe…and that person could send out thru Royal Mail or something…there must be scheme in Europe that are cost effective to ship…I would seriously suggest you consider this method…of course your contact needs to honest and trustworthy…(imaandar) even in this day and age…
what kinda person does that huh?! Id say safest bet for a client is to do ure research on a vendor before placing an order and hope for the best. If it doesnt turn out well… Koi baath nahi…one order wont kill u nor thhe payment for it make u poor.