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FIFTEEN THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW WHEN ORDERING ANYTHING FROM ANYONE BY MAIL
Have you ever sent away for something by mail and waited... and
waited... and waited? Maybe you didn't receive what you wanted
or what you thought you were ordering. Perhaps you didn't
receive a reply at all. At one time or another this has
happened to all of us. Our first thought naturally, is that we
have been ripped--off. Sadly, sometimes this is true. In many
cases it is not.
We have been selling by mail for over 20 years. We try to
fulfill all orders the day we receive them and send them out in
the next morning's mail. Sometimes, for one reason or another,
it's nearly impossible to handle orders promptly. We have
listed below, the most common causes for orders being delayed,
or not shipped at all. By taking a few extra seconds to do the
following, you may receive your requests several days or even
weeks sooner.
1. ADDRESSING: When ordering anything by mail, always be sure
to address the envelope exactly as stated in the ad or
literature you are ordering from. Include any department or
suite numbers in the address.
2. RETURN ADDRESS:If you do not use printed envelopes, a
rubber stamp or return address labels, clearly print or type
your name and return address on the upper left corner of your
envelope. Many firms use the return address from your envelope
as your shipping label.
3. INSIDE ADDRESS:Always include your letterhead or a slip of
paper with your name and address neatly printed or typed with
your order. Sometimes through the handling of mail, the return
address becomes smudged and unreadable. We often receive orders
with money in them and have no idea to whom or where to send
them.
4. CLEARLY STATE YOUR REQUEST:Many mail order companies
handle dozens if not hundreds of products and services. Always
include the original a copy of the ad or literature you are
ordering from. If a reply coupon is included in the literature,
by all means use it. At the very least, include a note stating
exactly what it is you are ordering.
5. POSTCARDS:When using a postcard to request information,
state exactly what you want and place your return address on the
front and back of the postcard. The return address on the front
of the card is often obliterated by the postmark.
6. SEND PROPER REMITTANCE:When ordering a product or service
by mail, be sure to send the correct payment. Include shipping
and handling charges as well as sales tax when requested. When
you send a short payment, some firms will go ahead and ship your
order and bill you for the difference. Many firms will notify
you and hold your order until you send the additional amount.
7. COMPANY AND PERSONAL CHECKS:Most mail order firms will
accept personal or company checks for purchases. Many will hold
your order until your check clears the bank. Others, (as we do)
will ship upon receipt of checks from established customers. If
you're not sure of the check policy of a particular company,
send a money order or cash for the fastest possible service.
Note: Most small mail order dealers will accept mint postage
stamps as payment for small orders.
8. S.A.S.E. REQUESTED:When an advertiser requests a
self-addressed, stamped envelope with your order, simply address
a long #10 size envelope to yourself, affix the requested amount
of postage and send it unsealed with your order. Contrary to
what many believe, mail dealers who ask for a S.A.S.E. are not
too cheap to buy stamps and envelopes. They save hours of time
by not having to address and stamp envelopes. This savings of
time and money is passed on to the customer with lower prices
and fast service.
9. STAMPS REQUESTED:When an advertiser requests stamps with
your order, send only stamps and not a S.A.S.E. In many cases,
in order to save time and give you the fasted possible service,
the mail order firm will have pre-packaged their product or
information packet, ready to stamp, address and send out. When
including stamps with an order, do not stick, staple or tape
them to anything. Just drop them loose into the envelope with
your order. Not only will this be less effort for you, it will
make things a lot easier for the person who is going to use the
stamp you send.
10. MULTIPLE ORDERS:When requesting information or ordering
from two or more companies at the same time, double check to
make sure your orders and payment are inserted into the proper
envelope. We recently received an order intended for another
company. When we contacted them, they also had received an
order intended for still another firm. It turned out that one
of our regular customers had mixed up three orders and sent them
to the wrong sources. It took three weeks to straighten it out.
11. REQUESTING INFORMATION:Perhaps you have seen a tempting
ad or editorial about a product or service that you would like
more information about. When you write to the company it's
considered courteous and plain old-fashioned good manners to
include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. You should get a
speedy reply.
12. QUESTIONS:Periodically you may have a specific question
for a mail order dealer which requires a personal reply.
Perhaps your question will require considerable effort and
research. You should get a fast response if you will slip two
or three dollars into the envelope with your request. This will
turn your request into a bonafide order.
13. ENCLOSING LITERATURE:Many of you who order from mail
order companies have something of your own to sell. There is
nothing wrong with sending some of your own sales literature
with your order. Just make sure that you indicate on the front
of the envelope that an order is enclosed. Write "Order" or
"Order enclosed" in the lower left corner. When we open our
mail, we sort it (as most others do) into three categories.
First priority goes to orders received. We process them at
once. Next comes bills and correspondence that needs answering.
Finally, there are the solicitations, from people who what to
sell something to us. All of our mail is opened and read but
the solicitations are read when time allows, sometimes days
after receipt. When enclosing your own literature with an order
to anyone, let them know that an order is enclosed.
14. BE CAREFUL OUT THERE:Most of the companies you will deal
with are honest, reliable and give prompt service. They want
your repeat business and will give you a fair shake for your
dollar. There are a few however, that are stinkers. Watch your
step when ordering money making or business opportunity plans
and programs. Now, many of these plans and programs will work
if you do. Lots of them are totally worthless and unworkable.
Some of these ad writers can tell the truth a thousand ways and
still deceive you. They are more full of beans than a ten-cent
burrito. Look carefully before you spend a lot of money on a
money making program.
15. KEEP ACCURATE RECORDS OF YOUR ORDERS:Record the following:
- Name and address of the firm
- What you ordered and the date.
- The amount you paid.
- How you paid (cash, check, money order).
- Date you received your order.
If the company processes your order promptly and ships via First
Class Mail, you should receive your order within 5-10 days. If
they use 3rd or 4th class mail it will take considerably longer.
If you haven't received your order or an acknowledgment within
30 days, you will have all the information necessary to follow
up.
By applying the above, you will help those you do business with
to provide the prompt efficient service you deserve and expect.
Your purchase of this special report entitles you to reprint and
sell it in any manner you see fit. Selling this report is one
of the best ways we know of to build a mailing list of cash
buyers fast. | |
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