RE: Let’s Talk About That Ugly Problem...Shall We?
I'm assuming he’s one of your loyal customers who is possibly going through some difficulties in life. He’s avoiding you because he’s not too proud of what he did and how he handled his dealings. At the very least, he’s self-aware, so just let it go and move on.
Instead of wasting your time chasing, spend it in doing things that can positively influence your business. Like building a website that’s set up as a membership site where your existing and potential customers can create a profile then log-in to shop and choose their preferred payment method. There are online payment gateways that offer customers the option to pay in installment plans. Also, some e-commerce platforms provide shipping and fulfillment service while marketplaces welcome local merchants.
He’s a loyal customer so he’ll come back, and while he’s gone, value him still. Have him experience something that encourages happy customers. Send him a loyalty thank you discount card, he’ll appreciate it and hopefully help you in promoting your business through word of mouth.
If you need a hand on an online shop, I can definitely help. Just let me know. Goodluck!
He was a loyal customer. The last time he was in was in August. I’ve moved on. I’m just telling a story here and talking about a common problem in this particular business.
I’m guessing I’ll never see him again in fairness as this has happened time and time again over the 10 years we’ve been here. No biggie. It was just a small part of the story here. Thx though!
Hi @blewitt! Apologies. I didn't mean to be offensive in any way.
Right now, I oversee an e-commerce business located in the US. Though face to face customer service is something I don’t have to do since the business is online, my comment, however, describes my story and how I personally deal with online shoppers similar to that customer you just characterized.
From the customer’s point of view and if I’m experiencing some difficulties (financially for instance), that’s how I’d love to be treated.
That’s nice and all but i spoke to this specific person several times. Each time we were told to keep it going and that they are good for it. It was 5 months before we realized that there wasn’t no chance they were coming in. Then 4 more months past since that point. Then he saw me and turned the other way. This person has multiple opportunities to right the wrong. Each time they chose not to leaving me over $2000 out of pocket yet I’m supposed to chase this person further? It’s fine. It’s done and overwith. We cut our losses in 2017 and learned a lot from that experience. Things to do and not to do. Limitations and such. It was a valuable lesson in more ways than one zero chance I reach out to this person again. I wasted too much time initially. Now on the other hand if they reached out to me I would forgive them but I’m not chasing folks anymore.
It’s understandable when we feel like we have to chase customers sometimes so we can keep the business going. However, it’s important to be mindful of the message chasing sends, that it comes from a hotbed of desperation which in most cases ends in desertion. I learned that one of the best possible ways to deal with them is to reach out to them to help them.