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Post by felicity on Mar 17, 2016 16:21:16 GMT
I've sold two my fish recently. The customer found me on ETSY from Facebook and asked for sale. I listed the items with - "Reserved for" first name - in the title as I usually do, especially in that busy pre-Xmas time. Bought, paid, shipped. Nothing out of ordinary. But after a couple of weeks I'd got a letter from the customer asking to remove the name from the title as "it's a violation of her privacy". Here I need to explain that on ETSY I have no access to SOLD listings, I just can't change the title of the sold item! So I asked for advice on ETSY forum and got two: - ask ETSY admins to remove the name; - to cancel the purchase (refund the money), change the title (remove the name) and sell again with proper listing. I asked ETSY (they answered but too slow) and after a few days of waiting I did cancelled, refunded money and removed the listing from public view. And that was it. No money paid to me back and complete silence from that side of Atlantic Ocean. I still feel uncomfortable about it and just need to talk...
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Post by MTRuth on Mar 17, 2016 16:42:02 GMT
Well that sounds like a complete rip off. I'm not sure if the customer knew this would happen somehow and figured they could get your work for free or not. But I would keep pressuring for payment. Especially since it was only the first name. That is not a violation of privacy at all. If it was their full name, I could understand it but many people have the same first name.
You did what the customer requested and then she treated you shamefully. You don't have any other form of recourse through ETSY? Perhaps giving her a bad customer review so that others won't be shamed into doing the same thing? I don't use ETSY so I don't know all the ins and outs but when I have an issue where I don't get paid at the shop, I have always been able to resolve it by contacting the customer. Even if I have to contact them every day until they respond.
I can understand why you would be upset by this and I hope it works out in the end.
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Post by lyn on Mar 17, 2016 17:36:43 GMT
Etsy is generally not so good with communication (ask me how I know).
What planet is the customer on? Violation of privacy using a first name?
Your fish is sold so you should have your money!
As you're in the Uk, then should Etsy Ireland be able to deal with your complaint? Here's some details:
Etsy Ireland 66/67 Great Strand Street Dublin 1 Ireland
Phone: +353 1 513 7100 Fax: +442035142331
E-mail: legal@etsy.com
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Post by felicity on Mar 17, 2016 18:38:15 GMT
You are a business lady Ruth and have met very different customers apparently! For me it was the first time when the customer was concerned with some ethical issue and I wanted to avoid further complications and make her happy. What upset me most - you try to address the problem even if it's nonsense and treat the others as decent people and they just use you! Thank you for the ETSY contacts Lyn! They actually answered me and were ready to do what I'd asked but they were slow (busy with more complaints I suppose!) and by that time I'd already done what I should not have done! I do not think they will intervene in the case now... Thank you all very much for your support! I think I should consider the case as a part of learning! But it's a sad experience...
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Post by Teri Berry on Mar 17, 2016 18:58:50 GMT
Thank you for posting about this Galina, it is a warning to all of us who use Etsy, it does sound like a scam. As Ruth and Lyn say, she cannot be identified just from a first name. Let us know if you ever get a response from Etsy. Ruth, alas Etsy doesn't allow sellers to give feedback on buyers like eBay does
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Post by MTRuth on Mar 17, 2016 19:04:55 GMT
Well that's too bad that you can't give feedback on customers. There should be some kind of recourse for this type of thing.
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Post by jwugg on Mar 17, 2016 19:53:04 GMT
That's terrible. I've never heard of such a thing happening, sounds like very bad luck. I'd guess that she had maybe bought it as a gift maybe & didn't want the recipient to know how much - she probably wouldn't know you can't see the price of bought items. Then perhaps she just realised she could get away with it....
... but I would certainly write to her again, in case she is unaware she needs to buy again, just maybe she thinks you can do it at your end. I know, I'm probably being kind to her!
You can put in a complaint to paypal, but as you reversed the payment perhaps that won't work. Sorry.
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Post by felicity on Mar 17, 2016 20:22:40 GMT
I wrote to her once reminding that she owed me money with no reply. I still do not think it was an intentional scam first and then as Jill said "Then perhaps she just realised she could get away with it"...
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Post by lyn on Mar 17, 2016 21:27:36 GMT
If you've done all you can, then put it behind you and look forward, otherwise you'll go mad and perhaps tear your hair out...and that's not a good look.
For every bum deal there are many good ones.
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Post by MTRuth on Mar 17, 2016 21:39:47 GMT
Personally, writing once is not enough in my opinion. I would try again. You can be very nice about it (although at this point I probably wouldn't be as nice) but remind her that she did receive the fish and the amount of work that you put into it that you deserve to be paid.
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Post by Pandagirl on Mar 17, 2016 22:47:17 GMT
That's terrible Galina! I agree with Ruth, Lyn and Jill. I wouldn't give up and take every recourse possible. There was no privacy issues and she should pay for the item or return it.
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Post by felicity on Mar 17, 2016 23:30:19 GMT
I think I'd write and ask her to return the fish. If there is no reply again I'd better forget about it. I do appreciate all your support...
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Post by Shepherdess on Mar 17, 2016 23:32:17 GMT
Sorry to hear you had a bad experience. If you have her email you could send her a PayPal invoice for the fish. Then make a note for her saying for goods received, felt fish. Than at least if you are not paid you can claim it as a loss against your other sales.
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Post by felicity on Mar 18, 2016 7:54:18 GMT
I will do that Ann!
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Post by lyn on Mar 18, 2016 11:04:08 GMT
Good idea Ann.
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