Okay…remember this recent rant?

Well, I decided to open a PayPal dispute. I couldn’t get in touch with the company, via phone, because their voice mailbox is/was full. How do you run a business, but don’t check/clear your voicemail messages? I was already getting nowhere with emails.  Everything else I ordered (from every other handmade company) has arrived, and I’m still waiting for some spray leave-in and body lotion from this company.

PayPal disputes seem to always make folks “do right”, and that’s a shame. So, get this:  Remember, the company has NO shipping policy on their site. When I talked to the owner, I was given a two-week shipping policy. HOWEVAH, the owner promised to get my order out “right away”, and send me an email THE SAME DAY.  Nevah heard from her.

Now, since it’s clear that she was in the wrong, instead of just saying “My apologies”, and sending the tracking number. She replies with “…according to our policy, your order is not late…”, and includes the tracking number.  Oh, and she mentioned that she had a really bad computer virus.  Whuh?

See that’s what makes me upset with folks. When they mess up, they have a hard time admitting it, and moving on. They always wanna imply that YOU missed something, so they won’t have to take all the blame. I’m telling you, this kind of stuff gives CLEAR insight into what’s wrong with relationships – business, work, personal, etc.

My mistake? I should have ordered from one of her resellers, or not at all.

A Nappy Girl

Enter the Product Giveaway Contest! Deadline for entries is Friday, October 30th, 2009. Don’t miss it!

I’ve often raved about a particular product, from this company. It’s listed on my products page, and I really it. But, the customer service is…terrible.

First off, this sista took WAY too long to get up and running, in the cyberworld…for whatever reason. “Coming Soon” should mean that…not a year or more later. Don’t put a site up, until you’re ready to launch (within a reasonable time). I let that go, because I could order the product elsewhere.

I ordered two products from this company, a week ago, and while I did receive a confirmation from PayPal, I never received any kind of update. Plus, there is no shipping policy on her site. So, you order…and wait. Let customers know when they can expect shipment of their products.

I sent two email inquiries, and got no response. If I email you about my order, I expect you to email me back…and soon.  I finally called the number listed on my PayPal receipt. A woman answered the phone, with “Hello”. No mention of the company name, whatsoever. I asked, ‘Is this *company name*?” She apologizes and puts the owner on the line. Very unprofessional. Your business phone is for…business. When customers call, they should be greeted with the business name.

I explained that I was waiting for the status of my order. The sista apologizes, and gives the classic, “I’ve been out of town and haven’t had a chance to check my email” excuse. I’ve heard that a lot. I don’t like that, either. Just because you’re not in town doesn’t mean your business goes out of town with you. You’re still taking orders, right? So, you have to continue to do business. Either send auto responses, letting your customers know you’re unavailable, when you plan to return, and when their orders will be shipped, or close the shop till you return. That’s business. Good business.

Have a backup plan in place, to notifiy your customers, should anything happen to you…accident, family emergency, etc.  When the owner of Afroveda made a recent trip to Ghana, she posted the info on her site, closed the shop during her absence, informed customers when the shop would reopen, and when orders would go out (for those who ordered right before the shop closing). That’s what you do, when you wanna protect your customer base and not turn away new business.

The final straw? She stated that normal turnaround time is 2 weeks (why isn’t that on her site?), but she promised that my order would go out right away, and I would receive an email from her with the details…the SAME day I called. I never got the email. I usually order the product from another online source, and I’ve experienced great customer service. I just figured I’d get the same level of service, from the owner, especially since it’s more expensive to order direct.

Never promise something and don’t deliver. There’s no greater turnoff. If you say you’re going to do something, do it. If you can’t do it, then don’t say you will.

Everybody wants to be an entrepreneur, but everybody doesn’t want to do what they need to do, to be successful. It’s work.  It’s more than a notion.  People have high expectations, and they have choices. I haven’t started my soap business yet, because I’m too busy with weddings…right now.  I can’t do everything, and do it all well. I just can’t.  Neither can anyone else.

I hope I get my order soon.

A Nappy Girl

Enter the Product Giveaway Contest! Deadline for entries is Friday, October 30th, 2009. Don’t miss it!

Okay. I’m surfing the web this morning (it’s after 2AM, and I should be in bed), and I come across this blog post, referencing a comment made by a used-to-be-napptural sista, who gave up the her natural hair (and went back to the “creamy crack”) because….she wanted male attention, and brothas were not feelin’ her.

Another napptural  sister made a comment about how Black men have been “colonized” . Another agreed, offered no remedy, but stated she would only be with a Black man. Wow.

Hmmmm…well, I guess I don’t get it. I wish I WOULD relax my hair for a “brotha” who has hair growing out of his scalp just like mine….just to get “attention”. Is  “attention” all we want? Cuz you can get an abundance of that, and STILL end up lonely and alone.  People will often require that you fit into their box, in some way or another…hair is just one way you may be asked to conform. If you conform, you will eventually come to your senses (when you’ve matured), and while the awakening is freeing, it often means the end of relationships that were built on shaky foundations. So, you end up alone again.

There’s something about being willing to be something else, to get love and acceptance…it often makes one appear broken and pitiful. The vultures hover above, waiting to descend and destroy. You’ve set yourself up to not receive what you want most. How ironic.

I’ve never seen a woman, with napptural hair that suited her features and personality, who lacked attention from men. You won’t get attention from all men, and that’s okay, right? But if you wear your natural hair “apologetically” (like you’re sorry about it), you will have no problem drawing those who will find fault with your hair (to start), accept your apology and ask that you change. Why would you want that?

A Nappy Girl

In case you’re wondering, Bishop Thomas Weeks, III (Juanita Bynum’s Ex) is on the hunt for a new wife! If he succeeds in finding a woman who will marry him (I have NO doubt he will), it’ll be his third trip down the aisle. Hmmm…three times. Interested in the position? Check out the requirements in the video, below. Be sure to visit his website, and check out The Holy Hookup.

Now, I probably shouldn’t say this, but…it AMAZES me that he has the audacity to think he’s supposed to have another wife — he’s been divorced TWICE, and he’s a “bishop”. He can prophesy over everybody else, but can’t seem to get a “word of knowledge” about marriage, nor does he seem to care what the scriptures have to say about divorce and remarriage — which is not surprising. Doctrine is never as important as “anointing”, to these guys. The “Anointed Ones” aren’t called to the same standard of conduct as the rest of us.

They get to twist the scriptures, ignore the scriptures and totally misuse the Word of God — and folks eat it right up. Oh…and did you read that part about the “Holy Hookup” ending in a wedding for…somebody?

A Nappy Girl