Personal Responsibility & Accountability

One thing I always make a point of doing when I don't understand something or if an issue seems wrong, incorrect, a problem or "broken" is to double-check that my actions or lack of knowledge is not leading to that incorrect perception.

I know I don't know everything. I know there are things out there that I can learn about -- and do almost every day. What amazes me though is how many onliners think they know it all enough to point fingers, make accusations and come to wrong assumptions without thinking for a moment that the issue at hand could be due to their lack of knowledge, information or an incorrect perception.

In the last several days alone I've had 2 AOLers send me nasty and accusatory e-mails about items they purchased through my eBaY store. Both claimed I wasn't keeping them posted and that I was not a reputable seller. Why nasty and accusatory right out the gate? What is up with that?! Certainly if one were to review my high number of 100% positive feedback they would realize they were not dealing with a "dishonest scambo"! But they didn't -- they both decided to send rude e-mails making claims that simply were not true.

The fact is I did communicate and ship both items within 24 hours! THEY didn't bother to check their trash or add my e-mail address to their address book or approved senders list. I sent the e-mails, I shipped within 24 hours and that still wasn't good enough. Apologies? Well, one was very humble when they came back to state their neighbor had taken in their mail in and had my package and he apologized.

The other, as is the case with so many uninformed onliners, chose to still get in the last word in via e-mail even though their snotty e-mail was unjustified and uncalled for. That AOLer is blocked from purchasing any of my products in the future.

The moral to the story is, if you think something is amiss -- simply e-mail with courtesy first and you may find you were not only wrong but you will save face in the process.