DEAR MISS MANNERS: I’ve an internet store and am in a position to maintain a excessive ranking resulting from critiques from clients who’re, fortunately, very variety.
It’s necessary to maintain the very best ranking, as that pulls consumers to my store. I’m additionally rated by the promoting platform in a number of areas, considered one of which is how rapidly I reply the messages despatched to me on that platform.
I can normally determine one thing variety to say to my clients. Nonetheless, each occasionally, I get somebody who simply desires to rant, largely concerning the costs of products in my store.
I assume these individuals don’t perceive that I’ve to purchase the issues I promote, and might solely promote them cheaply after I should buy them at a really affordable value. When that doesn’t occur, some individuals wish to unload their anger on me. I get hateful messages asking who I feel I’m to ask such outrageous quantities.
I’d simply ignore them, however to maintain my high ranking, I’ve to reply. I wish to be well mannered, however I’m generally tempted to answer, “No one is forcing you to buy this. If you don’t like the price, you are free to shop elsewhere.”
I would like one thing agency — a few of these individuals wish to begin a struggle and maintain preventing.
GENTLE READER: “Do you know other shops that are able to get these items and sell them for less? Because I’d love to ask them how they do it.”
DEAR MISS MANNERS: Because of the small measurement of our house, we host two vacation events annually, basically splitting one massive gathering into two occasions in order that we will see everybody.
We ship completely different invitations to separate visitor lists. It’s all the time a bit of uncomfortable when pals discuss to one another and marvel why considered one of them was invited on this present day and one other on a unique day.
Might I ship an invite that lists each events, and let the friends RSVP as to the one they want to attend? After all, that may require friends to reply. Many don’t even ship regrets, which is all we presently ask.
I wish to let my pals really feel open to return to whichever is most handy for them. Is that cheesy?
GENTLE READER: You might be asking for lots of bother on behalf of people that don’t even bother themselves to reply your invites.
Even when this new plan prompts them to reply, what if all of them wish to attend on the identical day? Lopsided attendance would defeat your judgment about the most effective use of your house.
If it have been Miss Manners, she would invite solely well mannered individuals, thus giving just one celebration. Maybe a really intimate one. However you presumably need all of them, as you’ve been kindly overlooking the rudeness of ignored invites yr after yr.
So here’s a kinder suggestion: Scrawl the phrase “‘A’ list,” as if by chance, someplace on each units of invites.
Please ship your inquiries to Miss Manners at her web site, www.missmanners.com; to her e-mail, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or via postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas Metropolis, MO 64106.
