Responsiveness

[CSpan]

Taking a cue from a few other threads but mainly my recent experience, have you noticed responsiveness from vendor decline? I don't have a good baseline what people were like pre COVID, except one or two vendors. I understand vendors are humans and go through seasons, have mishaps, personal issues etc. But I am really starting to wonder if it is me.

I am waiting on CADs from an IG vendor- radio silence but they still post (except for yesterday of course)

I sent a ring to a vendor to clean up some issues with initial production, in mid August. Never even heard if it was received.

Emailing a vendor who was replying weekly and silence for going on 2 and half weeks.

Is anyone else missing regular updates?

 

[musicloveranthony]

I've been attempting to contact an Instagram vendor about a product they have but haven't heard back. I've tried a few times. I'm taking that as my sign that I don't want to be a customer of theirs. I worry if they are that slow to respond to a potential customer they'd be even slower to respond to an existing customer with a concern

 

[Cerulean]

I have experienced projects / communication being much slower

This has only been with one vendor

 

[Mreader]

Also getting slower responses than usual. And now the holidays are coming up, then Valentine’s then weddings! Eek.

 

[diamondyes]

Is it a big vendor?

 

[blingmeupscotty]

This is like.. a global thing. From retail, to food service, from industrial to commercial. From supply chains to just about any industry you can think of. I am gobsmacked every day as a result of the pandemic. Supply cannot keep up with demand. From manpower to product availability. Everything is behind right now.

 

[leslie1956]

Here in the US this isn't helped by the fact that the US postal service is experiencing a significant slowdown

 

[Rfisher]

I don’t think it’s just you.
I think the scope of what‘s been disturbed by COVID is still working itself out and still TBD.

i do think it’s incredibly frustrating when a vendor repeatedly & voluntarily sets deadlines for themselves on (mundane and important) actions and repeatedly blows them by. aaand it’s like that convo never existed -it’s like they have no concept they even said it!
my experience with that (jewelry related) was years before COVID tho.

 

[T L]

I guess I’m fortunate to have a local jeweler who gets things done quickly,

Despite the delays, the vendors should at least explain to you that there is a delay. I mean, not even telling you that something was or was not received??!! What excuse could be for that? Did you use a tracking number?

 

[CSpan]

I guess I’m fortunate to have a local jeweler who gets things done quickly,

Despite the delays, the vendors should at least explain to you that there is a delay. I mean, not even telling you that something was or was not received??!! What excuse could be for that? Did you use a tracking number?

I did which is the only way I know it got there.
And I was only talking communication not transit. Surprisingly I have had great luck with shipping even from overseas.

 

[LilAlex]

For many, it's all about the next customer.

There are some industries where there is a loyalty penalty rather than a loyalty discount (i.e., auto and homeowner's insurance). I was disappointed to learn this the hard way.

The vendors I have continued to work with have consistently provided exceptional customer service and balanced -- the good and the bad -- descriptions (e.g., Adamant for smaller and lower-priced stones and Inken for something truly special). And my local brick-and-mortar place for (slowly) making and fixing things but not for sourcing stones.