unusual email I received

[Rmartin]

I received an odd email. The person gives her full name address and phone number. appears to be legit. She says she thinks she bought a pen from me about a year ago. It's been damaged and wants to know if I can repair it. She even attached a picture of the pen with a big chunk of it missing.

The problem is I don't have a record of ever making this pen. It's a red jasper Elegant beauty. I know I have never made a red jasper pen. And I don't think I started selling the Elegant Beauty until just recently.

How long has the elegant beauty been available?

what do you think?

 

[dgscott]

More than a year. I was making EBs two years ago. I'd tell her that while I didn't make it, I'd be glad to fix it: order a new red jasper blank, drill, turn, mount, finish and charge accordingly.
Doug

 

[glycerine]

Well, even if you didn't make it, you can always offer to repair it for her. charge her for it if you need to, but it could turn into more business in the long run...

 

[AKPenTurner]

Do you do shows? Just a thought, if there were a number of vendors selling pens at a show, she might have bought a pen from someone else, have it break, and then search online by town, show etc. and found you. Just a thought...

You could always offer to fix it anyhow (for a fee) if it is fixable...

 

[MesquiteMan]

My biggest order come from a situation just like this. A fellow contacted me saying he had bought a cactus pen from me at a show and that the plating was pitting. I told him I did not make the pen since I have never done a show but I would be happy to fix it for him for just the cost of materials, no charge for my time or any profit.

He was blown away and ordered 2 more Jr. Statesman cactus pens from me. Well, I got the pen and whoever made it, glued in the parts so I was not able to get it apart. I contacted him and told him the situation and told him that I would still honor my offer except that I would just make a complete new pen. Again, this was just for the cost of the kit!

A week later he called and ordered 32 Jr. Statesman cactus pens with custom mesquite boxes at a cost of $200 each for a total of $6,400! Come to find out, he is the CFO for a publicly traded oil company and makes over a million per year! As far as I knew when I first made my offer, he was just another guy.

 

[jttheclockman]

My biggest order come from a situation just like this. A fellow contacted me saying he had bought a cactus pen from me at a show and that the plating was pitting. I told him I did not make the pen since I have never done a show but I would be happy to fix it for him for just the cost of materials, no charge for my time or any profit.

He was blown away and ordered 2 more Jr. Statesman cactus pens from me. Well, I got the pen and whoever made it, glued in the parts so I was not able to get it apart. I contacted him and told him the situation and told him that I would still honor my offer except that I would just make a complete new pen. Again, this was just for the cost of the kit!

A week later he called and ordered 32 Jr. Statesman cactus pens with custom mesquite boxes at a cost of $200 each for a total of $6,400! Come to find out, he is the CFO for a publicly traded oil company and makes over a million per year! As far as I knew when I first made my offer, he was just another guy.

Nice one. Why can't I run into a person like that?

That is a good hit. I do get people thinking they have bought scrollsawn pieces from me when I know they didn't. I pretty much know what I sell and where. There is a couple man and wife that have been doing some of the same circuit as I used to do before they moved to Pennsylvania but i still get those that are confused. They as me to fix watches and I am happy to but charge for the insert. If it is a battery I will just give that to them. One day it may happen that I hit an opportunity like that.

 

[Drstrangefart]

My biggest order come from a situation just like this. A fellow contacted me saying he had bought a cactus pen from me at a show and that the plating was pitting. I told him I did not make the pen since I have never done a show but I would be happy to fix it for him for just the cost of materials, no charge for my time or any profit.

He was blown away and ordered 2 more Jr. Statesman cactus pens from me. Well, I got the pen and whoever made it, glued in the parts so I was not able to get it apart. I contacted him and told him the situation and told him that I would still honor my offer except that I would just make a complete new pen. Again, this was just for the cost of the kit!

A week later he called and ordered 32 Jr. Statesman cactus pens with custom mesquite boxes at a cost of $200 each for a total of $6,400! Come to find out, he is the CFO for a publicly traded oil company and makes over a million per year! As far as I knew when I first made my offer, he was just another guy.

The last millionaire I talked to was fascinated by the pens I had, but didn't want something he was gonna have to keep track of. Said it was a pain in the ass NOT losing it. I didn't find out he was financially loaded until after he had left. No big deal, but it was amusing.

 

[MarkHix]

I would explain that I did not make it but would be happy to fix it (charge of course). I had a MUCH smaller incident like Curtis....I have only done 4 shows and at the last one, a couple approached me about a pen I sold them the year before at that show that never wrote. I asked him if he had it, he did. I had a refil for it, swapped it and then explained that this was my first time at that show. He did not buy anything then several months later, I got an email from his wife for a couple of pens.

It never hurts to be nice to people and offer to help.