Business ethics
By Sunrise Fan
@sunrisefan (28524)
Philippines
November 16, 2018 7:30pm CST
It's been a week now and my order for 3 units of alarm with motion sensor still has not arrived so I made a follow-up yesterday with the supplier of the online store. It took about an hour for the supplier to answer my message and I was aghast when I received this reply from him (or her) :
"dar, don't worry, once the item arrived, the deliver man will conatct you , dear"
And further on he (or she) said :
"If there has any problems, pls kindly contact us freely. thank you dear"
"dear, don't worry , there have 1 month shipping time, the order won't be canceld"
"One month is the time specified by the shopee system. The actual time is 6-16 working days.dear"
"The parcel usually needs 6-16 working days to deliver, it is oversea transportation, pls kindly wait for shipping, thanks, dear"
I should have answered him (or her) "Don't call me dear because I'm not a deer; I'm not even a goat." LOL!
Online stores should at least brief their suppliers on the proper way of communicating with their customers. When I was in college, we were taught in our Business English class to always address the client or customer as "Sir" or "Ma'am" or "Madam".
Would you be amused or feel endeared if addressed by an online supplier whom you are not personally acquainted as "dear"?
10 people like this
10 responses
@moirai (2836)
• Philippines
17 Nov 18
In my experience online (just generally, not in online shopping), it seems to be Indians who use 'dear' a lot, even while addressing total strangers.
(I'm not trying to discriminate, I'm just saying that's what I noticed previously. I could also be wrong. Maybe other nationalities do it, too.)
Also, my impression is that they think it's absolutely ok to use 'dear'. I mean, it seems they think it's commonplace and normal and acceptable. Maybe it's a case of things getting lost or confused in translation. :)
If I were in that situation, I'd probably not mind the use of 'dear' so much. I'll just try to understand. But I do also understand where you're coming from, especially since the delayed delivery issue is already frustrating in the first place.
2 people like this
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
17 Nov 18
I don't mind it much actually but I just wanted to remind the online store that being in business, ethics should be observed - it does not matter where the supplier comes from - what matters is that the online store should at least brief their suppliers on the importance of good ethics (even though how minor it may be for some). In fact, I did not say anything directly to the supplier that it was not appropriate to call a customer as "dear".
1 person likes this
@moirai (2836)
• Philippines
17 Nov 18
@sunrisefan You are correct. It would be best for the shopowner to ensure that their staff (especially the person put in charge of handling messages) be briefed properly on how to answer concerns.
I guess, in this case, that person wasn't really trained specifically, or perhaps the shopowner didn't put as much focus on etiquette as one would expect.
1 person likes this
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
17 Nov 18
@moirai No, the one who replied to me is not a staff of the online store -- he/she is one of their suppliers. I guess that's generally how online stores operate - they just sort of pass on your order to the specific supplier of the item you ordered. I think they will be able to put things like this in order as they gain experience over the years.
1 person likes this
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
17 Nov 18
@sunrisefan Yes, that's how she was to you for callibg you dear! Didn't you ask her if it is double ee as in deer? 
1 person likes this
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
17 Nov 18
@SIMPLYD I have copy pasted what he/she wrote in my above discussion. What you see is how it was written hehehe! I would have not minded if it was you who called me "dear" hahaha! Your hubby will kill you LOL!
1 person likes this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
17 Nov 18
I'm not really that surprised now since we had become globalized, we encounter it from time to time even here so I just let it pass. I can understand your feelings, we were not taught that way more so when doing business.
Based on my experience, shipments coming from China usually take 3 weeks or more.
1 person likes this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
17 Nov 18
@sunrisefan that's bad, perhaps they run out of stock in their warehouse, I also buy from Shopee and so far so good
1 person likes this
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
17 Nov 18
All my previous orders arrived early or on time. This latest order of mine is already beyond the day they estimated for delivery and I have already requested for extension of the online store guarantee which is only for 3 days and it ends today. There's no option for further extension.
1 person likes this
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
17 Nov 18
@louievill They should have advised the buyer if that is the case.
1 person likes this
@sofssu (23662)
•
28 Nov 18
@sunrisefan You would have helped so many customers if they heed your mail.
1 person likes this
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
28 Nov 18
I wrote an email in a nice way to the online store and suggested that it would be good if they screened their suppliers and trained them about simple business ethics.
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38223)
• Philippines
17 Nov 18
@sunrisefan swamped with work, work, work. hehe
1 person likes this
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
17 Nov 18
Yes :) Shopee replied to my email and I told them to at least brief their suppliers on proper business ethics.
1 person likes this
@JustBhem (70555)
• Davao, Philippines
17 Nov 18
@sunrisefan
If someone called you Dear, this means that the one saying it is a woman.
1 person likes this
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
17 Nov 18
@JustBhem I think some men from some countries use the word too. We're not even close LOL! And I'm sure you have suspicions about where that supplier is from. Just keep it to yourself though :)
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45651)
• Philippines
17 Nov 18
really? that's odd. 'dear' isn't commonly used by filipinos (verbal or written) in "business" interactions (formal or informal). it's usually 'kuya' or 'ate', 'mam' or 'sir'.
1 person likes this
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
17 Nov 18
I'm sure you have your suspicions where that supplier comes from :)
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (73466)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
17 Nov 18
Sounds like the supplier is trying to butter you up. Such language use is definitely not proper Business English.
1 person likes this
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
17 Nov 18
Improper indeed. I emailed the online store about it and suggested that they should brief their suppliers on the proper way of communicating with customers.
1 person likes this
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
18 Nov 18
Indeed Ms. Judy. The items have not yet arrived till now.
1 person likes this
@Shellyjane (462)
• United Kingdom
25 Nov 18
This type of speech is quite common when I shop on Aliexpress which is in China I believe. I don't particularly like being called dear but I don't take offence by it. The annoying this is that you just get the same answer over and over again. It probably will turn up but things can take ages if coming from abroad.
1 person likes this
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
25 Nov 18
Yes it's annoying when the supplier keeps on repeating the word "dear". He/she probable thinks I'd feel good and be pacified if he/she called me "dear". Unitl now my order has still not arrived.
