Don't let anyone bug you too much

[easy-learn-to-earn.com]

This tale of woe will hopefully motivate you by showing that that if you are kind and patient with annoying people, they will go away eventually.

After reading the "Super Affiliate Handbook" is March, I started building an affiliate site, www.acousticguitargear.com, which promotes, of course, accoustic guitars.

About a week or so ago, I got a one line e-mail: "What's the serial number on this?" Don't you hate it when people can't be bothered to write "I have a question....I look forward to hearing from you."? This alone made me not want to reply, but I did reply, explaining that most guitar manufacturers put the serial number on a label that is inside the guitar, viewable through the sound hole. However, most don't stamp the number on the outside of the box. Unfortunately, it is not possible to open the box just to get the number, as opening the box automatically lowers the value. Furthermore, the guitar is not here by my side, but at a distribution center in Kansas City. He replied: The serial number of this guitar is on the back of the "head" of the guitar, not inside. If I was actually selling this item, I would know that, so this must be some sort of scam. I replied that the location of the number is not the point. It was not possible for the distributor to open the box to get the number. Next, he wrote asking for a more detailed picture of the guitar. I understand his concerns, as the item is nearly 2000 dollars, so again I replied that it was at a distribution center, and the box could not be opened, as this lowers the value.

Next, he wrote to accuse me of selling something I don't own. I explained I that I am not selling anything, just refering users to a site that sells something. He wrote back that this is like I had found a used car for sale for $1000, and I advertised it for sale for $1200. If someone gives me the $1200, I turn around, buy the car for $1000 and then deliver it. I replied that I am not attempting to buy and then resell, but recommend what I believe to be a good seller. Unlike the used car, which might be sold at any moment, the merchant site I recommend keeps a large stock, and also I was not marking up the price one cent of what it would be if anyone bought it directly.

Next, he wrote if he bought the guitar at his local music shop, he would have a warranty, and no shipping costs. I explained if he ordered through my site, he would have a warranty and the shipping is free! He replied that if I bought the guitar and resold it to him, the warranty would be invalid. Again, I explained I was not reselling. (Do you see a pattern emerging?)

Then he wrote that having "27% off list price" on my site was a violation of that particular guitar manufacturer's policy. I replied that the list price was taken from the manufacturer's catalogue, not just made up, and that I have seen this type of discount listed on many sites, but if the company contacted me to ask me to change it, I would be happy to do so.

In all of these e-mail, I tried to be as friendly and helpful as possible, while his e-mails were rather rude and ended with a sentence like: "Good luck in taking advantage of some ignorant and uneducated buyer" and so on. Eventually, he wrote back to say that he found the same instrument in a local shop for 100 dollars less this my price, so why should he buy from me? I replied that I couldn't lower my price, so if he fould something better, than congratulations.

The moral of the story is that if you are kind and try to be helpful, annoying people will probably not stop being annoying, but will eventually leave you alone. Just don't let them get under your skin. I now suspect this person might be a competitor who was trying to intimidate me, or basically just a mean person who wanted to complain about something, and never had a very serious intention of buying this item.

I do have some good new about my site: I got my first commission yesterday! Only 10 bucks plus change, but you gotta start somewhere. Also, with the kind advice of users of this forum, I was able to add a forum to my site. Thanks.

Good luck all.

kevin

[richerbrat]

OMG - it is always the most annoying people who never intend to buy anything who harrass you most isn't it?

I had one guy recently who kept emailing me - saying he was not willing to spend a penny on learning to set up an Internet business. His emails were ridiculous, and I don't know why he kept sending them.

In his last email, he said he was going to copy my Richer Brat website instead! Needless to say, I didn't bother replying to him.

Congratulations on your sale. Hopefully you will get more normal customers than the guy who kept emailing you. It sounds like he had nothing better to do.

[deborah]

I used to work for a large organization. One of my coworkers had to answer all the emails that came in over the transom. She even had to answer the crazy ones. One man wrote nearly every day. What he wrote made NO sense, and I felt bad my coworker had to be the one to answer him day after day.

Some people just want to antagonize others. They obviously do not have enough to do.

[Lowell Rieger]

Hi all,

You know what to do with these kinds of emails to keep from wasting your time, don't you?

DELETE

It will save you a lot of time and aggravation. There are a certain few in this world whose only function seems to be making the rest of us miserable.

When you get one of these, cut and run. They are pulling your chain. If they keep emailing you, filter them to your trash. There's enough insanity in marketing even without these loonies.

Treat the vast majority who have honest questions and concerns with the utmost respect and dignity.

Lowell