Warning: Vent Alert
What drives record labels crazy. Okay, there is a record store in London called Dress Circle. When Kritzerland came into existence they were very excited to carry our product and we were happy to HAVE them carry said product because they'd agreed to our bold new way of doing things, i.e. no returns, ever. We sent them their first order. It took three months to get paid. When they ordered their next batch, I told the person I was dealing with that Kritzerland wasn't set up to wait three month, two months, one month, or one week, and that invoices had to be paid promptly. He assured me they would. Sent package - invoice paid about eight weeks later. Had another conversation and said I would not send orders unless the invoice was paid up front. And that was our deal. They'd order, I'd prepare the package and get it ready to ship. they paid the invoice via wire transfer.
Until two orders ago. The "person" who pays started saying our invoices were not done correctly and that he wouldn't pay them unless they were, blah, blah, blah. I reminded him of our deal, I asked him why if our invoices were a problem, he hadn't mentioned it until now, blah, blah, blah. I redid the invoice, he paid, I shipped. Then the person I'd made the deal with left Dress Circle.
When they placed their latest order, I asked the gal who placed it if the deal was still in place. She assured me it was. I believed her. She needed the product quickly, so, stupidly, I sent it out the next morning. I sent the invoice to the guy who pays. He said they don't pay invoices up front, that he wouldn't pay until the package arrived. I reminded him of our deal, he went on and on that we were the only company to do what we do, and I told him a deal is a deal. Bottom line - he refused to honor our deal.
The package arrived in London two days after I sent it, where it remained in customs for four days. Once cleared, a delivery was attempted last Saturday. Apparently, no one was at the store when the delivery was attempted. And that's the last news I've had. So, I called the USPS today and they said in England the recipient must schedule a re-delivery - it's not automatic. So, Dress Circle has blithely not done so. Bottom line - if they don't, the package is returned to me in thirty days and I will have to cover that postage (I already covered half the shipping charges myself). I've e-mailed Dress Circle, and we'll see if I get a response. If not, I may try to speed up getting the package back to me. Of course, USPS is no help and they don't give a crap - the worst customer service EVER - and this is for a package that cost seventy-five bucks to ship. With insurance, of course, so I'm covered. But, it's an $800 order and right now I'm out the dough and out the discs (and I could use the discs).
From now on, Dress Circle pays before shipping or they can get their product elsewhere.
End of rant.
