I doubt that there are many in the communities that The Jewish Link services who do not order on Amazon. Especially in the crazy times that we are living through, ordering online has been a Godsend. No one has to worry about spreading germs or contacting germs from others; almost too easily we can push the enter button and within 48 hours, in most cases, for those of us who have Prime, receive whatever we wish. It is indeed amazing. There are times when I literally forget what I ordered until I open the package and there it is. Wow, that was fast.
The percentage of items returned is between 15 and 40%, which for many is the most attractive element of buying online. Don’t like it? Just send it back and the buck is on us. Even more ridiculous are the times when the seller will ask you not to return the item and just do whatever you like with it. It reminds me of my Gevalia coffee story:
A number of years ago Gevalia had a “coffee club.” If you signed up for it they would send you a free coffee maker and four pounds of coffee. The price was something like $12.99 for all. If you wanted to maintain membership in this club you would receive 4 lbs. of coffee each month and would be charged for it. If you wanted to withdraw your “membership” from the club after 30 days you could do so at no expense. After receiving my coffee maker and my 4 lbs of coffee I inadvertently forgot to withdraw my membership. One month later I received 4 more lbs. of coffee and was billed for it. I immediately called the company and told them that I wanted to cancel my membership and did not want the coffee that they had sent me. They politely told me that they would put the cancelation into effect and when I asked what I should do with the coffee they advised me to “just keep it.” This happened for four months. They kept forgetting to cancel my subscription and each month I would receive 4 lbs. of coffee. In the end I had 16 pounds of coffee I did not have to pay for and which they told me not to return.
Over and over again I have heard from others that when trying to return products and receive credit they are told that the credit has been made but that the customer should just “do whatever” they want with the merchandise. Is this not the craziest world?
That brings me to what I intended to focus on, the concept of feedback. Every time that I purchase an item on Amazon, several days after the package is received I receive a request from the seller to give feedback on the item and the service involved in sending it to me. Many, many times I overlooked this request. However, lately, when businesses are having difficult times and so many are struggling, I have begun to realize the importance of taking the time (30 seconds) to fill out the short questionnaire as to whether or not I was satisfied. Why not do it and help them if I can?
My mind meandered to feedback in general. I was thinking about how great I feel when I prepare a special dish for Shabbat that really took extra time and my family reacts positively to what they just ate. Often I have heard women comment that they work so hard to prepare something special for a meal and are frustrated to find that no one acknowledges it. Also common is the complaint from men that they feel they are doing something special for their spouse only to find out that there is little or no recognition (feedback).
We need to stop taking things for granted and show as much recognition as possible to those by whom we are surrounded each day. Children relish the positive feedback they receive from their parents and siblings. Frequently we assume that they know how great we think they are. It is never the wrong time to tell them over and over again. It can never be too much because when these little ones grow up they will have a sense of confidence that was instilled in them from the time they were little.
Positive feedback to the clerk in the store, to the Amazon seller, to our spouses and most definitely to our children can do nothing but instill a greater feeling of confidence and accomplishment. A small action can do wonders in ensuring a person’s happiness and fulfillment.
By Nina Glick
