|
Welcome to the YorkieTalk.com Forums Community - the community for Yorkshire Terriers. You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. You will be able to chat with over 35,000 YorkieTalk members, read over 2,000,000 posted discussions, and view more than 15,000 Yorkie photos in the YorkieTalk Photo Gallery after you register. We would love to have you as a member! Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today! If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please click here to contact us. |
|
| LinkBack | Thread Tools |
07-07-2005, 09:44 PM | #61 |
YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Rialto CA
Posts: 3,243
| wow!!! my husband's not going to be too pleased with this information. hehehehe. I don't know why,,,,, maybe it's because Gus has more clothing then him?
__________________ Monica, Proud mom of Gus who is forever missed! And new mom to Leiloni Gus's Dogster page |
Welcome Guest! | |
07-13-2005, 09:53 PM | #62 | |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 25
| Let's try not to speak ill of those we personally don't know.. I am sorry you experienced negative customer service from both "What a Pup Wants" aka Barks Pup Avenue and My Spoiled Pup. I am not personally familiar with the latter, but I do know the owner of the first company mentioned. This is the first time I have heard of a bad experience on Dayphne's website and if you would like to personally email me; I will contact Dayphne and see to it that the matter is taken care of to your liking. However, you and I both know....as well as the rest of the forum; that after one bad experience, you will be most likely to share your experience with 10 times more people than with a bad experience. For that, I am sorry for both you and the Dayphne's company. Do you realize that she has an extensive background in pet supplies and was one of the FIRST online pet boutiques? She also has a family to take care of as well. Now, I am not saying that this gives her the right to take your money and not ship product; BUT what I do know for a FACT is that there are about 7 other pet boutiques in the country that had her former name (which is why she changed it) and when she sent the Designer the order (like yours, for example); most often the product was being sent to a similar stores name due to the incomptency of the Designer, NOT Barks Pup Avenue. As any small business owner, exactly what did you attempt to do to resolve the matter BEFORE threatening to take legal action? But before you get into the "I am going to straighten this company out" try and find out WHY you never received your product. Always try to get a hold of the company owner, as in todays economics and the state of our country and how that affects how we live and work; I am sure there is a valid excuse as to why. Not to mention a load of potential technical issues: lost orders (it happens), failed email servers (this also happens and the online company never receives the order) or maybe it is the designer. Maybe they were overwhelmed with orders and your order was overlooked. And what about the charge? Did you see the order charged to your CC? Who was it by? Barks Pup Avenue or a Designer? Keep in mind....any product you buy--whether it is from an online retailer or offline retailer, comes from a designer. Especially in this industry. If you contact the Designer and tell them you bought the product from ABC Pet Boutique and you never received the product; ask them what the best way to solve the problem may be. You might also want to ask them if they ever received an order for your product (especially if they are drop shipping for the pet boutique/retailer). And please, don't mistake my response to your comment on the forum. I am simply saying that you or anyone else for that matter, really shouldn't "go off" about any one particular online retailer or offline pet boutique unless you have more than just your own poor experience to go on. It's not fair to penalize their overall sales potential, for if you simply didn't get along with a sales clerk or if your product was simply lost in the mail. I do know that many of her products were drop shipped in the past; however now she is stocking inventory. So, if this is a recent experience, I am VERY surprised. And in any case, CALL THE DESIGNER. And if you need assistance with locating the Designer; please let me know and I will forward you the contact information. Please contact me if the matter was never resolved and I will see to it that it is. You may contact me at: wholesale@bellapooch.com In regards to Teacups and Diva Pup; Teacups does sell puppies and also has one of the most successful pet boutiques in the country. I can't vouche for the quality of their puppies, as I myself am very much against puppymills and anything remotely similiar (not that I am saying that Teacups sells puppymill puppies, for I don't know); BUT....I know of another business woman in this industry who is very successful and she knows Kim very well and she respects Kim in this industry. So, unless you personally know Kim, the owner of Teacups, perhaps you should do some research before critizing and publicly stating that "we" shouldn't shop at Teacups. Now, Diva Pup - I checked out the website and well, yes, it definitely specializes in the Puppy Breeder NETWORK with a VERY LONG LIST of standards that ALL Breeders must follow. See: http://divapup.com/standards.asp I personally recommend rescues, human societies and of the like. But if someone wants to purchase a pure breed from a reputable breeder, it's their business, not yours. Again, it's really best not to slam a company without knowing a thing about the owners or what the company does. So, please don't take any of my response negatively for it's not meant to be. I am simply stating FACTS that I DO know of and what my research has proven and overall, I just don't believe it's a good idea to speak ill of those you personally don't know. Sincerely, Sidney Bella POOCH Senior Luxury Pet Boutique Consultant, Niche Industry Expert, Speaker & Wholesale Representative Quote:
| |
07-13-2005, 10:01 PM | #63 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 25
| GiveMeKisses.com This website is actually an affiliate website. I spoke to one of current affilates and it really is best for you to buy directly from the retailers online and offline, rather than through an affiliate website; as each retailer has to pay up to 20% of each sale. When you click on any image, you will be routed to that designers or retailers "website" within a website. Take the name of the designer and go to: www.google.com - you will most likely find the direct website. Keep in mind; you really should support the RETAILERS. For if they didn't exist; neither would the designers. -Sidney Bella POOCH QUOTE=nemom]http://www.givemekisses.com/[/QUOTE] |
07-13-2005, 10:05 PM | #64 | |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 25
| Re: Diva Pup & Other Breeder Networks You CAN report these companies/organizations and networks to the owner of the website first and then to the following organizations: www.stoppuppymills.com www.peta.com Don't just talk about it on a message board. Make a few phone calls, but definitely contact the site owner first so she can cut ties with that particular breeder. -Sidney Bella POOCH Quote:
| |
07-13-2005, 10:16 PM | #65 | |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 25
| Re: Pet Carrier Grant it, this thread is a while back; but if you never received the pet carrier from the online retailer, then you should contact the Designer of the pet carrier and notify them. If they won't help you, contact me and I will make sure you get your pet carrier, but I will need ALL information associated with your sale. -Sidney Bella POOCH wholesale@bellapooch.com Quote:
| |
07-13-2005, 11:42 PM | #66 |
Tinkerbell, My Little Flutterpup Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Beautiful California!
Posts: 6,112
| If the company had good customer service, it would let their customer know if there was a problem with their order, what the problem is and give their customer options. Word of mouth is very important to building a business, companies should make every effort to make EVERY customer feel important and well taken care of. |
07-14-2005, 05:36 AM | #67 |
No Longer a Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Tucson, Arizona
Posts: 509
| I would just like to add that I have a business very similar to my spoiled pup, bark pups ave aka what a pup wants, and although I can respect what you are saying, I do want to make it clear that one of the reasons that I have nearly zero returns or complaints is because I follow my orders through from beginning to end, and if it takes me 24 hours to sit at my computer to write emails, I make sure that I let my customer know that their order has been sent and if there are any problems/concerns feel free to contact me. IMO There is no excuse for someone not receiving an order, I couldnt even comprehend losing one. I feel that if you are in this business you have a responsibility to your customer, the person who is investing their hard earned money in your product/service, to make sure that they are receiving what they are paying for. And you cannot blame it on dropshipping. Businesses (which many are doing today) are dropshipping everything. I started out that way as well only stocking some items, but I quickly changed because I didnt want the fate of my business to be relied on another company, even if they were my vendor. Of course not everything can be stocked, but when I do have a dropship order for a stroller or carrier, I personally call the company after placing the order to stay on top of it and make sure the right item gets shipped at a reasonable time. What I really want to say is that although business owners, especially in this industry, may run into some issues, that shouldnt be at the expense of the customer. My dad has been in business in Houston for over 30 years and has taught me some valuable lessons when it comes to running a business. You have to have a passion for what you do, you have to take it seriously, and if something goes wrong, you have to take care of it at your own expense. That is why I am in business, I am not perfect AT ALL, however I get things done at my own expense rather than the customers, because that is part of the responsibility of owning a business. |
07-14-2005, 08:17 AM | #68 | |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 25
| General Business & Customer Service Excellent reply, thank you. I agree with you. A business owner should take it upon the expense in fixing a wrong. And I am not saying that Dayphne of What a Pup Wants is right for ignoring an obvious problem. The customer made a purchase and with all the scary things going on with stolen identities and credit card numbers (this just happened to me last week); the product should have been shipped on time. But, I also know in business -- there are TWO sides to EVERY story. I always tell online retailers to NOT drop ship. With so many designers selling retail on their website (something I advise them NOT to do); when they drop ship a product to your customer and you don't have a packaging agreement in place, you risk losing that customer. Why would the customer shop from you when they can easily shop from the OEM/Designer? It feels almost like privilege to do so. But I am adamantly against Designers competing against the very people who put them into business in the first place. They should not sell retail. The only sort of ecommerce they should offer is wholesale and yes, a gallery of images/descriptions and route all potential customers to their retailers. I understand the benefits of drop shipping, but it is not helping you build your brand. You are, effectively, building the designers brand. Also, every one of the 30 designers I represent, don't drop ship. I want them to focus on designing. The better they are at designing and focusing on upcoming trends, the better off and more successful retailers will be. I am sure we can both agree on that. Regarding your website: www.imapreciouspup.com, I did check out your site and am very familiar with many of your designers. I seem to have a knack for looking at particular product and knowing where it came from. I do have a few suggestions for you that will only increase Internet traffic for you: -In your page titles: drop the word "item" and use the following to build brand and attract customers: "Im A Precious Pup Luxury Online Pet Boutique - Luxury Dog Products & Pet Boutique - Designer Dog Clothing for Teacups and Small breeds - Yorkies" (don't use the quotation marks) You will notice a serious increase in traffic. The top search engine keywords, besides dog toys are: luxury dog products pet boutique(s) luxury dog designer dog products teacups yorkies Do you receive some sort of webstats? You need to track your users on your site and see what your most popular product offerings are. At first glance, I personally and professionally think you have too many products on your website. Keep in mind that the average online consumer of luxury dog products doesn't have the attention span to go though every page and look at all the various dog products. Gorgeous as they are, I advise you to keep your top sellers and focus on no more than 6 styles. You can always change product every 2-3 months. Also, when I click on any particular link, I want to be taken directly to the page that sells any particular product. I don't want a box to appear before my eyes in which I have to scroll and select. Trust me on this one, remove those boxes - have the links connect directly to a page that offers all your designer beds, toys, collars, harnesses, clothing, etc. and your users will be much happier. An online website is all about the user’s experience. Make it easy for them. Another thing I noticed: you mention where your products come from. REMOVE all designer names from product descriptions. Did you know that the vast majority of users that go to online pet boutiques are people who OWN online and offline pet boutiques? Yep....you are advertising to them what you offer in product. Essentially, instead of them doing the research for their own pet boutique (i.e. sourcing), they can go to your website read who the product is made by and google that company. Protect your product offering. Don't make it easy on future direct competition and indirect competition (offline). Also, you may want to proofread your Policy (amd = and) - I am just picky about that..sorry! Well, I know you didn't ask for my advice on your website, but I have a pretty hefty background in ecommerce consulting and producing successful pet boutiques; both on and offline. Please take my suggestions positively. Quote:
| |
07-14-2005, 08:51 AM | #69 |
No Longer a Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Tucson, Arizona
Posts: 509
| Thank you for your advice, you might be an "expert" however I feel it is EXTREMELY unprofessional to comment on my business on a public forum. |
07-14-2005, 08:55 AM | #70 | |
Stewie Rox the Sox Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Chicago
Posts: 6,306
| Quote:
__________________ Kristy & Stewie | |
07-14-2005, 08:56 AM | #71 |
No Longer a Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Tucson, Arizona
Posts: 509
| btw- I know you were just trying to be nice and help me but I feel insulted that you would private message me. |
07-14-2005, 08:58 AM | #72 | |
YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Rialto CA
Posts: 3,243
| Quote:
__________________ Monica, Proud mom of Gus who is forever missed! And new mom to Leiloni Gus's Dogster page | |
07-14-2005, 09:00 AM | #73 | |
YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Rialto CA
Posts: 3,243
| Quote:
__________________ Monica, Proud mom of Gus who is forever missed! And new mom to Leiloni Gus's Dogster page | |
07-14-2005, 10:52 AM | #74 |
My Precious Pup Donating Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: New York City
Posts: 2,092
| I happen to think Brooke's site is great and I have taken the time to look through it. I think she offers great products and hate to see her or her site criticized here. BTW: I have not dealt with Barking Pup or whatever but i have 3 friends who have and all 3 of them, independent of each other, told me what horrible customer service they had and that they will not order from them again. |
07-14-2005, 11:18 AM | #75 | |
Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bay Area, California
Posts: 1,042
| Quote:
I think this forum is great because we can share our experiences. I am sure you were only being helpful to offer her advice but the advice would have been much better received if sent through a PM or an email.
__________________ Jennette Missy & Max | |
Bookmarks |
|
|
Thread Tools | |
| |
|
|
SHOP NOW: Amazon :: eBay :: Buy.com :: Newegg :: PetStore :: Petco :: PetSmart