So, I'm going to change the tone of my blog slightly today because I need to rant. You may have noticed I still haven't found the time to get the items mentioned in my last post onto my website yet. I got side tracked by another order for Santa Barbara Winery (yeah!) but it unfortunately moved several things down my to do list. The one that bit me in the ass today was my intent to restructure the way I charge shipping on my website (yet again). I changed my prices late last summer to include shipping because I thought it might help me sell more items. Turns out it did not help me sell any more. What it did do was to make me lose money on the sale of a few candles. The one I mailed today cost more in shipping than I collected. I believe I mistakenly posted it with my retail (not including shipping) price. Duh. The double duh is that I had another sale a month or two ago that turned out the same way and it was posted with the right price.
It is very hard to account for the fluxuation in shipping cost without looking like a pricing jerk. Etsy doesn't allow me to list west coast and east coast shipping prices... just one price for the entire USA. So, I decided the last time I lost money I would go back to my old policy. (In the past I charged my best guess for the cost of shipping and then issued refunds afterwards if the price I charged the customer was exorbitant.) Unfortunately, I had not yet had the time to do that either. I do hope to get around to it soon though (this weekend?), so if you have suggestions of a better way to do it please leave them in the comments section.
Thankfully, I didn't leave the post office angry because I witnessed one of those unexpected comedy moments while I was there. The line for the main counter was nearly out the door (as usual) but this location has an automated machine. (That's why I go there.) A middle aged woman was using the machine to buy postage for four or five envelopes when I walked up and there was an elderly woman standing behind her... and I mean right behind her. At first I thought maybe they were together or that the younger woman was helping the older learn how to use the machine. However, right after I walked up, aging miss spunky pants asked, "Are you going to be much longer?" (Wait... really?! There are 12 people in line at the counter and you're going to harrass the one person in front of you?) The woman using the machine turned around and kindly told her she was almost finished. I stood there for another 1-2 minutes watching the elderly lady hover 2 inches behind the woman using the machine. She kept peeking over her shoulders from various angles, making it very hard for the woman to bend over and grab her postage without bumping the old lady with her butt. About 10 seconds before the woman finished, the old lady declared, "That's it. I can't wait any longer." Then she left. I started busting up laughing as soon as she was out of ear shot. Who would have thought a little old lady could be so pushy about buying stamps?!
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