The orders are placed online. I volunteered to coordinate the order distribution. That means I pick up the calendars at the printer, print out the invoice, and put the orders into an appropriate size bag/mailing envelope/box. The local orders get picked up, and the others are mailed.
Since the beginning of September I have fulfilled dozens of orders with only one problem. It was a doozie.
The errant order was for both shipped and local calendars. When I was packaging them I flip-flopped the numbers, and instead of mailing one I mailed ten! I didn't realized my mistake until the woman who was picking up the local order contacted me to ask why there was only one small package instead of the larger one she was expecting. I was embarrassed, but the woman was considerate about my faux pas.
Ultimately, she took the correct number of calendars from my inventory, and asked her out-of-town friend to refuse the large package so it would come back to me. I put the friend's mailing information on the singleton package and sent it on its way.
Today the postal carrier dropped off the incorrectly mailed package, which
looked like it had been through a lot. The plastic envelope had ripped, so the
Post Office placed everything in a Damaged Mail plastic bag and used quite a
bit of tape to close everything up. When I took the calendars out of the
packaging I noticed that a couple had come apart at the top where they were
glued together, but I think that can be fixed.
I can guarantee I won't make the same mistake a second time!
Five years ago: Just Me, Myself, And I
Glad it was sorted out I can see myself doing something like that, it happens
ReplyDeleteIt was a good reminder to me to always double check my work.
DeleteD'oh! Oh well, mistakes happen! So long as no one died, no big deal!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reminder. I needed it :-)
DeleteMost bad at the post office. They should pay for what they messed up. I know I know, never going to happen.
ReplyDeleteYou made me realize that the mailing fee came with $100 of insurance. I'll have to think about if it's worth having a discussion with the USPS.
Delete👍
DeleteMistakes happen. We're all human. 😎
ReplyDeleteAnd at least for me, too human when I get too busy.
DeleteOh well. That’s how we learn - when we make a mistake. It gets lodged into our brain to never repeat! But it still can rattle us because no one likes to make mistakes. I recently made a mistake and now I can’t remember what it was! Hopefully it will come back to me so I don’t repeat it.
ReplyDeleteOh I remember - when I hit the curb hard because I was distracted while driving. Yeah I won’t be doing that again.
DeleteThanks for reminding us to pay attention. I need the reminder sometimes. Believe me! Aloha friend. Have a beautiful weekend
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome. Thanks for reading my cautionary tale.
DeleteWe learn from our mistakes. God bless.
ReplyDeleteI once told a boss I would make mistakes, but never the same one a second time.
DeleteGlad you were made aware of the mistake before it got too far along. It will be smooth sailing from here on out. Take care.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't thought about how I had my learning experience early on. Thanks for pointing it out!
DeleteI'm glad it all has worked out for you even though there are a couple of calendars that need to be repaired. I have done similar things and at first your feel embarrassed for making such a mistake, but then you realize....EVERYONE makes mistakes. Happy First weekend in October.
ReplyDeleteYears ago any type of public mistake would mortify me. Now I can shrug (many of) them off.
DeleteSometimes mistakes just get more complicated, don't they? However, worrying isn't worth it.
ReplyDeleteI have the worst time mailing anything to my son in South Asia with a DPO address. It's so easy to screw up. It's great that your postal department was kind and understanding.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard enough to mail something within the USA; I can't imagine the extra hoops to send things out of the country!
Delete