whomper Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 I got an email friday that really steamed me up. The email was from Express which is a major account of mine. The news was good. They adopted one of my styles for their holiday line. They also adopted a style for holiday from one of my competitors which is also fine. The woman I deal with is here in NY. The email had an offsore factory attached that will produce this garment for them. My problem with the email is that she addressed it to me and my competitor and put both of us on the same email. She included all of my pricing details and style #s as well. I found it very unprofessional and just flat out lazy. I am actually friends with the guy at the competing company and he emailed me that he thought it was ridiculous that she did that. You cant call the woman out on this because she can honestly find this somewhere else if she really wanted too. You basically have to look the other way. Its not a major deal and shouldnt cause hugh harm but I found it pretty weak. A friend of mine just went to work for thsi competing company so immediately the boss asked him what that style is and what does it look like . This guy is a hugh bottomfeeder and can easily try and swipe my pattern. I have a good enough relationship with Express that this wont happen but why offer my competitor my info. Anyway..Vent over. We arent really competing as we both should get business on these items so it wasnt a clever ploy on her part. It was just laziness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isleseeya Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 i believe you have to email her separately and explain that you found her method uncomfortable and ask if its possible for her to avoid doing this in the future my two cents Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twiley Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 i believe you have to email her separately and explain that you found her method uncomfortable and ask if its possible for her to avoid doing this in the future my two cents This is what I would do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bier Meister Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 was it that she was lazy, or rather ignorant to how one's style (uniqueness) impacts one's sales/success? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh 0ne Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 Call NSab. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whomper Posted January 28, 2008 Author Share Posted January 28, 2008 (edited) was it that she was lazy, or rather ignorant to how one's style (uniqueness) impacts one's sales/success? I think just laziness. I have known this woman for over 10 years and was surprised she did this. I am pretty close to her but she is very bitchy when confronted. I have to pick my spots. I have had major back and forths with her in the past in regards to price or testing etc ..heated exchanges. You never can avoid them when dealing with that company and there will be some with these orders no doubt. When I answered the mill I removed the other guy and he did the same so it pretty much ended there. She has never done this before. When I talked to the other guy he was surprised as well. If it happens again I would have to address it but this go around I am gonna let it slide as an isolated incident. Edited January 28, 2008 by whomper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azazello1313 Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 i think you owe it to yourself to drop her a line saying why what she did could hurt you and asking her to please be mindful of it in the future. it probably just didn't cross her mind, but it sounds like you have a good enough business relationship that she won't take it the wrong way or whatever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh 0ne Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 i think you owe it to yourself to drop her a line saying why what she did could hurt you and asking her to please be mindful of it in the future. it probably just didn't cross her mind, but it sounds like you have a good enough business relationship that she won't take it the wrong way or whatever. Yep. Just be nice about it, you don't want it to cost you her business. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushwacked Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 i believe you have to email her separately and explain that you found her method uncomfortable and ask if its possible for her to avoid doing this in the future my two cents Nope....don't address improper e-mail etiquette through an e-mail. One of my pet peeves at work is people e-mailing all the time and not talking. i think you owe it to yourself to drop her a line saying why what she did could hurt you and asking her to please be mindful of it in the future. it probably just didn't cross her mind, but it sounds like you have a good enough business relationship that she won't take it the wrong way or whatever. Yup....bring it up verbally....possibly at the end of a unrelated future conversation Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ursa Majoris Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 I think just laziness. I have known this woman for over 10 years and was surprised she did this. I am pretty close to her but she is very bitchy when confronted. I have to pick my spots. I have had major back and forths with her in the past in regards to price or testing etc ..heated exchanges. You never can avoid them when dealing with that company and there will be some with these orders no doubt. When I answered the mill I removed the other guy and he did the same so it pretty much ended there. She has never done this before. When I talked to the other guy he was surprised as well. If it happens again I would have to address it but this go around I am gonna let it slide as an isolated incident. Probably a good move but file the original for future reference in case it does occur again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
i_am_the_swammi Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 The woman I deal with is here in NY. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cre8tiff Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 Lunch on you would be a good venue. I think you meet her face-to-face. Point out that emailing you and the competitor on the same email is fine, but you would rather not share your financial data with competitors. She should understand that, being in retail. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whomper Posted January 28, 2008 Author Share Posted January 28, 2008 What is wrong with that ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Irish Doggy Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 Sometimes you just have bad customers. If talking to her or emailing her will just end up in another go around, I'd consider letting it slide and moving on. If it happens again, then bring it up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isleseeya Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 Nope....don't address improper e-mail etiquette through an e-mail. One of my pet peeves at work is people e-mailing all the time and not talking. Yup....bring it up verbally....possibly at the end of a unrelated future conversation disagree ..would rather have in email so its documented but either way it would be prudent to contact her to advise that its not comfortable to receive such emails Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bier Meister Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 What is wrong with that ? what's worse than a pats fan? ....... a new yorker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isleseeya Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 What is wrong with that ? Nothing but maybe swammi is calling you a Mary ..just saying Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isleseeya Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 what's worse than a pats fan?....... a new yorker thats it ..i am done as your punter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushwacked Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 disagree ..would rather have in email so its documented I kind of got the feeling that Whomper wanted to address the problem in the best way possible...if it comes up in conversation rather than through an e-mail it might ruffle a lot less feathers. He can still document the conversation through an internal memo if he deems necessary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whomper Posted January 28, 2008 Author Share Posted January 28, 2008 Nothing but maybe swammi is calling you a Mary ..just saying Just dont call me late for dinner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bier Meister Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 thats it ..i am done as your punter you didn't get the memo, did ya? your locker was clean out after the season and a box was left ouside of the facilities.... an "aquaintance" of yours named rupaul signed for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isleseeya Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 you didn't get the memo, did ya? your locker was clean out after the season and a box was left ouside of the facilities.... an "aquaintance" of yours named rupaul signed for it. i knew it was too good to last Rupaul will be a great addition to your team ..especially in the locker room Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whomper Posted January 28, 2008 Author Share Posted January 28, 2008 (edited) I kind of got the feeling that Whomper wanted to address the problem in the best way possible...if it comes up in conversation rather than through an e-mail it might ruffle a lot less feathers. He can still document the conversation through an internal memo if he deems necessary. I can see both sides to this discussion. The guy who I consider my mentor as a salesperson is an 80 year old self made millionaire. Awesome guy. He has since retired. He would say dead on what you said Bush. He always used to say people will say a lot less and carry on a lot less if you do things in person as opposed to the phone. He never embraced or cared to learn or pay attention to email though so Isles point of leaving a documented paper trail would be lost on him. Our business is fiercly competitive right now..Worse then it has ever been so I am going to let this one slide unless it happens again. Since she has only done it once in all the time I have known her I am going to chalk it up as isolated..One more time and a pattern has developed that needs to be stopped. Edited January 28, 2008 by whomper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Country Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 Here is your reply: Why did you e-mail pricing to my competitior?? Can you explain please?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
i_am_the_swammi Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 Here is your reply: Ah, the tactful route as to not ruffle any feathers...I like it. On second thought, since Whomp stated that this lady could take her business anywhere, and certainly doesn't want to do ANYTHING to potentially put her on the spot/in a defensive mode, the best approach might be to just casually mention to her that it is "bad form" to include your pricing in an email that your competitors will also be viewing. What i'd do: I'd call her and thank her generously for her business, letting her know that in today's tough business climate, it is long-time customers like her that Whomp can rely on going forward. At that point, she should be plenty full of herself, after basking for several minutes in Whomp's praise. it is now that i would casually say" Hey, Mrs. so-and-so, I was hoping you could do me a big favor in the future. I'm not sure if you realized it or not, but my pricing was incldued in the email that you sent. If there is any way in future correspondance that this could be omitted, it would mean a lot to me, as it is compnay-sensitive info.". And I would leave it at that forever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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