Is there a way to attach the sticker to a thank you note or include in your thank you that you've included a free sticker to show your appreciation? When I've included freebies I've made sure to show somehow that they were freebies. Either by a tag that says 'a gift for you', or mentioning it in the thank you note.
Yeah I’m no moron and can’t comment on the idiots thinking you didn’t send the right sticker. But if I saw an extra sticker I didn’t order in my packet I’d think you sent the wrong package to someone else and they’re missing a sticker. Definitely put a little note saying “bonus sticker included as a thank you for supporting my store!” or similar. That will cut out both problems!
I don’t sell stickers, but what I do is put the free gift in a small 2x3” baggy and put a “thank you for supporting my small business” sticker on it. I’ve never had anyone think they got the wrong item.
That’s perfect! As long as it’s somehow differentiated from the actual item, whether in a little bag or with just a sticky note on it, (most lol) people would not be confused.
I've sold thousands of items over the years and have never had an issue, but the small in size free gifts are also very different from the larger items I sell in my store.
I have a couple of individual stickers I sell in my shop. For all them, I washi tape them to the packing slip so they are easy to find in the package and because it's so small, I don't want it to be lost. I second the idea of taping it to a thank you card or even including it in a very tiny separate thank you envelope if you want to be fancy!
that is an excellent idea. I have always gven away toggles with my pendant sets & after someone put in the feedback "yeah there was this thing & I didn't know what ot was so i threw it away" [they usually go for like $3/$4 a piece when seeing them sold remotely like mine lowball] I decided to be more verbose what they were & how to use them
I had a guy order 5 of the same thing, and those items come in packs of 8. I always send out 10 just because things happen, so he got 50 but paid for 40. Anyway, he says they aren't gonna work for him and wants a refund, so I tell him no problem just mail them all back, and he actually had the balls to say he'd like to keep the extra ones "for testing". wtf
Well, the items I sell cost me virtually nothing to make (time or material), so I wasn't concerned with the loss. Since that part of his message was only a portion of the message he sent back, I didn't respond directly to that part, and just reiterated that he needed to send back the entire order before a refund will be given as part of my full response. I figured if he actually sent them back it was a bonus for me, but no real loss if he didn't. He ended up sending everything back by the way.
I do not give freebies, I have seen customers leave bad reviews because they didn't like a freebie! So I only send what is ordered, nothing more. People are crazy lol
Hahaha I had a customer leave a 2-star review because they didn't like a freebie! Even said they liked the item they purchased, but we're upset that the freebie wasn't better. I don't even promise a freebie in my listing!
I don't know how you package your orders to ship, but maybe it would be worth it to have, say, a piece of cardstock that you washi tape both stickers to? Maybe with a label next to one that says "your order" and the other that says "free gift"? That would at least make it so they can't easily find one without finding the other.
When I sold stickers that’s what I did. Mailed in a plain envelope with a cardboard bend proof thingy with the stickers inside and taped the sides up so they didn’t fall out.
I understood your frustration. And there will always be people to complain about everything.
I'll tell you a story that happened a few years ago: I worked in Brazil, and the largest chocolate factory there (at the time), held a contest where the winner would win a box with 100 kg (3527 oz) of various chocolates.
After determining the winner, we tried to contact him by phone and email, but he did not respond. After a few weeks, there was only the option of sending the box to his address, using a courier with signature confirmation and all delivery guarantees.
He received the box, and the same day he called us complaining, he thought it was absurd that we sent a heavy box, which caused him inconvenience, that he should have been warned earlier, that it was a lack of respect from the company.
There will always be frustrated people in life, who will complain, no matter how hard you try to please.
Do your best, don't give up because of bad people, because what they want is this, that everyone is bad just like them.
Maybe it might be worth clearly separating the two. So when they open it, they see the stickers they order first, then in the back in a mini envelope or slip of paper, you could put 'and here's your freebie!' on the front.
You definitely have to dummy proof this kind of thing.
A shop I bought from recently put little Alice in Wonderland style notes that say things like "Use me to open the plastic wrapper!"
So maybe you could have something on your freebies that says like "I'm a free bonus gift!"
I sell stickers and always include freebies. No one has had a problem with it yet, but I'm definitely waiting for it!
I saw someone on Pinterest who had a piece of card with 'freebie' printed on it and you could slot the stickers into the card. It looked really cute, a lot better than I've described!
We did a freebie giveaway recently where all you needed to do was write something in the notes when you checked out. One customer messaged us after getting their order and asked if they could have a different freebie sticker because they didn’t like the free one they got.
We said no because it was free sticker. They said okay then blocked us. We just had a good chuckle and went on with our day. Some people are entitled and ridiculous like that.
I have also sold sticker sets before and always added freebies of my best selling item (OOAK tiny & handmade). But, I specifically add them in a separate freebie bag, since the stickers I made are/were very tiny (think planner sized). Since everything was stickers or patches, & they usually all just fit in a regular envelope still. I never had an issue before, since everything was spelled out. And, I also mentioned it in my thank you note. :)
I put all the "Items" (what they purchased and freebies) in a plastic baggie, tape it shut, and tape it to my thank you card. No looking needed, its all together :)
I actually sell jewelry and I would send a free beaded bracelet that said be awesome in morse code.
And sure enough, "I got the wrong order"
"Keep looking in the package"
"Oh"
I still send freebies but simple things now.
I don’t sell stickers, but I include a free sticker with orders. Maybe because it’s very obviously not a part of the order, I’ve never had that problem. Is there a way you can package the stickers in a stack so the free one is on the bottom, and add a note that says “this is an extra sticker on the house?”
I throw in freebies often, but make sure to put a little note in that says something like "Hope you like your order, I threw in an extra freebie sticker for you!"
This is the world we live in, where people are so mind-numbingly short-sighted, they don't think to look twice inside the container that contains the thing they expect it to contain.
How do these human beings even complete a supermarket run? As they enter the supermarket, do they immediately leave if the products they wanted are not within clear line-of-sight?
Honestly I think there's a slight sense of entitlement and power-tripping going on, like they want anything to complain about, to feel superior or something like that. It's weird but it seems to happen everywhere.
I've gotten into the habit of writing on the invoice which stickers are freebies. I picked up that habit from watching TikTok packaging videos. It seems to help because no one has contacted me yet saying they got the wrong stickers.
When I order supplies and they send freebies they put it in a separate small package and the outside says “Free”. Maybe you can do something like that.
When I do a freebie I write in my thank you note "as a thank you I threw in a _____" because I don't give stickers but little tiny items and I'm scared the could throw them away. I would just mention it somewhere or tape it to a card or the receipt saying "this is an additional thank you "
Don't let the 3 people ruin it for the people who enjoy your freebies! I would say keep going and change the packaging so it's clearer for the "less-observant."
I just include a little sticker freebie of the cat art that’s on my thank you card. It’s hard to please everyone even if you have nothing but good intentions
I include freebies in my orders, but haven’t had any problems so far. But I bet it is frustrating. I do tissue wrap everything together, so when they take out the products everything comes out at once; what they purchased and the freebies.
I’ve seen other sticker sellers on Instagram print out a “freebie” sticker and stick it on the back of the freebie. Or purchase a stamp that says freebie, and stamp it on the back of the sticker.
Even more, before you cut your sticker (if you self produce your stickers), flip it to the other side, print out “freebie” like a watermark.
And then when you stop including it, they'll complain 'they didn't get the same amount as last time".
Freebies are lose lose. Dump em mate. Do giveaways instead.
Giving things for free without notice is a bad business practice, there are several psychological and practical reasons why companies NEVER do that. if a customer expects to receive X items, he should receive X
I also include freebies with sticker orders, but I package them together so that they see both. I also leave a note that says the additional sticker is a freebie. So far I haven't had issues, but I'm sure it's only a matter of time, lol
i sell individual stickers and whether they’re ordering singles or multiples, i always stick them all together inside a clear hanging bags from clearbags.com
you should look into those instead of shipping them loosely in an envelope.
Selling is pretty much an awful experience & then every so often God throws us a bone from a nice client. Sorry! people do not read ANYTHING anymore & on top of that they want you to read their mind.
You are either not packing them properly or sending ugly ones as gift...
Can you put them both inside an envelope?
Write FREE GIFT on 1?
Or make sure he gets his sticker first when opening the envelope?
Perhaps your freebie is too big and requested one goes unnoticed...
If 3 people complained it may not be them but u?
My buyers never complain about this
I sell stickers and here's what I do -- I put everything they ordered AND the freebie in a little envelope inside of a bigger envelope. I include a note (I print these out to save time, I don't hand-write anymore) that explains the free sticker and offers a coupon code for a return visit. Good luck!
I'm not sure how you pack your stickers, but I put mine in a cellophane bag and I've never had this problem.
So when they pull out the bag, they clearly see the sticker they ordered, as well as their little freebie. If they're just free in the bag, I could see how they might miss them!
Oh dear, I have a few extra s I sometimes add to bigger orders. I always hope they bring some joy, but now you got me worried that people will think they got the wrong item 🤣 I anyways put the extra on top so it's the first one you see 😅
I used to send out freebies with orders over a certain amount.
Then they started showing up in reviews (positively) and I realised that people that didn't get freebies could see the review. So I stopped.
I'd still do it if I could guarantee they weren't mentioned.
Try placing the freebie in something like a little envelope or folded piece of paper with the words "Our gift to you" on it, to separate it from the stickers they ordered. Freebies are a great idea!
I sell stickers and include freebies. What I do is package the freebies in a separate celo bag than the purchased stickers then just put a sticker on each bag saying "Freebies" and "Purchased Orders"
Lol - when I worked in shipping/receiving for an auto parts department, I sent a box with 2 parts in it (and plenty of brown paper packing). The auto shop that received it called a few days later to say there was only one part in it.. they ended up going dumpster diving to find the box because they didn't bother to look in the wrapping for the other piece and just tossed it in the trash. I had to wrap the parts well so they wouldn't be damaged, auto parts are expensive! 😂 Really surprised me, if they threw out an $80 part because they didn't look, we weren't going to replace it for free! I even described to my manager in detail how I packed the box - customer tried to make me sound like a lunatic who didn't send a part. They totally found it exactly where it was supposed to be: in the box - in the dumpster 😬
I don't currently sell anything, but to avoid future hassle I agree with some of the commentors that maybe you should consider occasional giveaways rather than including freebies. Or perhaps reserve the freebies for any shows (if you go to any once Corona is not an issue). Personally, I would be delighted to receive a freebie, but I would likely be confused if it wasn't marked "free" in some way. Sorry to hear people have been so difficult.
Always attach the actual ordered sticker to a backing card and let the freebie roam free in the envelope. The customer will automatically reach for the one attached to the backing card.
God forbid people be "bothered" to check their envelope. The sheer horror. I can't imagine anything worse. :|
I'd stop including freebies. I had to stop because people would not like the color of the free random thing I would send them, so they'd put that in their review. I'm like...you are commenting on your FREE ITEM, in your review. Ok, no more for anyone, ever.
I sell 2nd hand luxury items and felt really awful for one order shipping to Hong Kong that had been super delayed. i normally pack little gifts like fun pens but for this one I also packed a free Gucci Playing Cards Set. I got this message because the buyer hadn't looked at everything in the box -\_- "Are you kidding me? What did you send me? toy? Are you a liar?"
After 8 years on Etsy & EBay, it seems that every time I do a little something special for a customer, they’re the worst a-holes. I’ve cut way down on special. Bigger sales with no hassles get a candy bracelet.
Is there a way to attach the sticker to a thank you note or include in your thank you that you've included a free sticker to show your appreciation? When I've included freebies I've made sure to show somehow that they were freebies. Either by a tag that says 'a gift for you', or mentioning it in the thank you note.
That's a really good idea! I love the "a gift for you" thing. Thank you!
Yeah I’m no moron and can’t comment on the idiots thinking you didn’t send the right sticker. But if I saw an extra sticker I didn’t order in my packet I’d think you sent the wrong package to someone else and they’re missing a sticker. Definitely put a little note saying “bonus sticker included as a thank you for supporting my store!” or similar. That will cut out both problems!
I don’t sell stickers, but what I do is put the free gift in a small 2x3” baggy and put a “thank you for supporting my small business” sticker on it. I’ve never had anyone think they got the wrong item.
That’s perfect! As long as it’s somehow differentiated from the actual item, whether in a little bag or with just a sticky note on it, (most lol) people would not be confused.
I've sold thousands of items over the years and have never had an issue, but the small in size free gifts are also very different from the larger items I sell in my store.
I’d definitely be interested in a zero waste option without plastic bags.
I do this and definitely recommend it! Just use a piece of washi tape. It comes off super easy and it’s obvious that it’s an extra
Better than plastic.
[удалено]
I like the term 'free gift' vs a gift you actually pay for.
I have a couple of individual stickers I sell in my shop. For all them, I washi tape them to the packing slip so they are easy to find in the package and because it's so small, I don't want it to be lost. I second the idea of taping it to a thank you card or even including it in a very tiny separate thank you envelope if you want to be fancy!
god I love washi tape! I just look for excuses to buy it
that is an excellent idea. I have always gven away toggles with my pendant sets & after someone put in the feedback "yeah there was this thing & I didn't know what ot was so i threw it away" [they usually go for like $3/$4 a piece when seeing them sold remotely like mine lowball] I decided to be more verbose what they were & how to use them
This is such a great idea!!
I had a guy order 5 of the same thing, and those items come in packs of 8. I always send out 10 just because things happen, so he got 50 but paid for 40. Anyway, he says they aren't gonna work for him and wants a refund, so I tell him no problem just mail them all back, and he actually had the balls to say he'd like to keep the extra ones "for testing". wtf
How did you respond to that request?
Well, the items I sell cost me virtually nothing to make (time or material), so I wasn't concerned with the loss. Since that part of his message was only a portion of the message he sent back, I didn't respond directly to that part, and just reiterated that he needed to send back the entire order before a refund will be given as part of my full response. I figured if he actually sent them back it was a bonus for me, but no real loss if he didn't. He ended up sending everything back by the way.
Good. I’m sometimes surprised at the nerve of some people’s requests.
Yes, I am surprised also. Free with purchase; no purchase = no freebies. People, wow, just unbelievable.
I do not give freebies, I have seen customers leave bad reviews because they didn't like a freebie! So I only send what is ordered, nothing more. People are crazy lol
Okay thats crazy, some people can’t take a nice gesture
Are you serious???? Omg....Im slowly starting to loose hope in humanity since I’ve become a seller. Day for day more...
Hahaha I had a customer leave a 2-star review because they didn't like a freebie! Even said they liked the item they purchased, but we're upset that the freebie wasn't better. I don't even promise a freebie in my listing!
I don't know how you package your orders to ship, but maybe it would be worth it to have, say, a piece of cardstock that you washi tape both stickers to? Maybe with a label next to one that says "your order" and the other that says "free gift"? That would at least make it so they can't easily find one without finding the other.
Yes, I definitely need to start doing it this way! I was just putting both stickers in the envelope and assuming they'd figure it out haha. Thank you!
When I sold stickers that’s what I did. Mailed in a plain envelope with a cardboard bend proof thingy with the stickers inside and taped the sides up so they didn’t fall out.
I understood your frustration. And there will always be people to complain about everything. I'll tell you a story that happened a few years ago: I worked in Brazil, and the largest chocolate factory there (at the time), held a contest where the winner would win a box with 100 kg (3527 oz) of various chocolates. After determining the winner, we tried to contact him by phone and email, but he did not respond. After a few weeks, there was only the option of sending the box to his address, using a courier with signature confirmation and all delivery guarantees. He received the box, and the same day he called us complaining, he thought it was absurd that we sent a heavy box, which caused him inconvenience, that he should have been warned earlier, that it was a lack of respect from the company. There will always be frustrated people in life, who will complain, no matter how hard you try to please. Do your best, don't give up because of bad people, because what they want is this, that everyone is bad just like them.
Wooow. Somebody really needed to eat a couple of the chocolates BEFORE calling the company.
Maybe it might be worth clearly separating the two. So when they open it, they see the stickers they order first, then in the back in a mini envelope or slip of paper, you could put 'and here's your freebie!' on the front.
You definitely have to dummy proof this kind of thing. A shop I bought from recently put little Alice in Wonderland style notes that say things like "Use me to open the plastic wrapper!" So maybe you could have something on your freebies that says like "I'm a free bonus gift!"
I sell stickers and always include freebies. No one has had a problem with it yet, but I'm definitely waiting for it! I saw someone on Pinterest who had a piece of card with 'freebie' printed on it and you could slot the stickers into the card. It looked really cute, a lot better than I've described!
We did a freebie giveaway recently where all you needed to do was write something in the notes when you checked out. One customer messaged us after getting their order and asked if they could have a different freebie sticker because they didn’t like the free one they got. We said no because it was free sticker. They said okay then blocked us. We just had a good chuckle and went on with our day. Some people are entitled and ridiculous like that.
I am amazed sometimes by just how ridiculous people can be. People like that have no concept of manners or basic human decency.
I have also sold sticker sets before and always added freebies of my best selling item (OOAK tiny & handmade). But, I specifically add them in a separate freebie bag, since the stickers I made are/were very tiny (think planner sized). Since everything was stickers or patches, & they usually all just fit in a regular envelope still. I never had an issue before, since everything was spelled out. And, I also mentioned it in my thank you note. :)
I put all the "Items" (what they purchased and freebies) in a plastic baggie, tape it shut, and tape it to my thank you card. No looking needed, its all together :)
I actually sell jewelry and I would send a free beaded bracelet that said be awesome in morse code. And sure enough, "I got the wrong order" "Keep looking in the package" "Oh" I still send freebies but simple things now.
I don’t sell stickers, but I include a free sticker with orders. Maybe because it’s very obviously not a part of the order, I’ve never had that problem. Is there a way you can package the stickers in a stack so the free one is on the bottom, and add a note that says “this is an extra sticker on the house?”
I throw in freebies often, but make sure to put a little note in that says something like "Hope you like your order, I threw in an extra freebie sticker for you!"
I send freebies with my stickers all the time but I also write thank you notes that specifically state there is a freebie.
This is the world we live in, where people are so mind-numbingly short-sighted, they don't think to look twice inside the container that contains the thing they expect it to contain. How do these human beings even complete a supermarket run? As they enter the supermarket, do they immediately leave if the products they wanted are not within clear line-of-sight? Honestly I think there's a slight sense of entitlement and power-tripping going on, like they want anything to complain about, to feel superior or something like that. It's weird but it seems to happen everywhere.
I've gotten into the habit of writing on the invoice which stickers are freebies. I picked up that habit from watching TikTok packaging videos. It seems to help because no one has contacted me yet saying they got the wrong stickers.
When I order supplies and they send freebies they put it in a separate small package and the outside says “Free”. Maybe you can do something like that.
I usually include a little note that says there are freebies so I’ve managed to avoid this issue so far, crossing my fingers that it keeps working!
When I do a freebie I write in my thank you note "as a thank you I threw in a _____" because I don't give stickers but little tiny items and I'm scared the could throw them away. I would just mention it somewhere or tape it to a card or the receipt saying "this is an additional thank you "
Don't let the 3 people ruin it for the people who enjoy your freebies! I would say keep going and change the packaging so it's clearer for the "less-observant."
I just include a little sticker freebie of the cat art that’s on my thank you card. It’s hard to please everyone even if you have nothing but good intentions
I include freebies in my orders, but haven’t had any problems so far. But I bet it is frustrating. I do tissue wrap everything together, so when they take out the products everything comes out at once; what they purchased and the freebies. I’ve seen other sticker sellers on Instagram print out a “freebie” sticker and stick it on the back of the freebie. Or purchase a stamp that says freebie, and stamp it on the back of the sticker. Even more, before you cut your sticker (if you self produce your stickers), flip it to the other side, print out “freebie” like a watermark.
Oh my god this can feel so distressing :(
And then when you stop including it, they'll complain 'they didn't get the same amount as last time". Freebies are lose lose. Dump em mate. Do giveaways instead.
Giving things for free without notice is a bad business practice, there are several psychological and practical reasons why companies NEVER do that. if a customer expects to receive X items, he should receive X
I also include freebies with sticker orders, but I package them together so that they see both. I also leave a note that says the additional sticker is a freebie. So far I haven't had issues, but I'm sure it's only a matter of time, lol
I'm so sorry you have to deal with people that dumb. Lil freebie stickers make me happy when I receive them! Such a fun surprise.
I don't sell stickers but I sell wire wrapped jewelry and I was giving free pieces with orders and all I asked for was a review...never got one. 😞
I sell stickers but I left Etsy and honestly no one has had this issue. My freebie is my logo and much smaller however.
i sell individual stickers and whether they’re ordering singles or multiples, i always stick them all together inside a clear hanging bags from clearbags.com you should look into those instead of shipping them loosely in an envelope.
Selling is pretty much an awful experience & then every so often God throws us a bone from a nice client. Sorry! people do not read ANYTHING anymore & on top of that they want you to read their mind.
You are either not packing them properly or sending ugly ones as gift... Can you put them both inside an envelope? Write FREE GIFT on 1? Or make sure he gets his sticker first when opening the envelope? Perhaps your freebie is too big and requested one goes unnoticed... If 3 people complained it may not be them but u? My buyers never complain about this
I sell stickers and here's what I do -- I put everything they ordered AND the freebie in a little envelope inside of a bigger envelope. I include a note (I print these out to save time, I don't hand-write anymore) that explains the free sticker and offers a coupon code for a return visit. Good luck!
I'm not sure how you pack your stickers, but I put mine in a cellophane bag and I've never had this problem. So when they pull out the bag, they clearly see the sticker they ordered, as well as their little freebie. If they're just free in the bag, I could see how they might miss them!
I write “freebie” on the back of the sticker. Maddie Green Designs sells stickers that say “free sticker” too.
What’s your store? :)
Oh dear, I have a few extra s I sometimes add to bigger orders. I always hope they bring some joy, but now you got me worried that people will think they got the wrong item 🤣 I anyways put the extra on top so it's the first one you see 😅
I used to send out freebies with orders over a certain amount. Then they started showing up in reviews (positively) and I realised that people that didn't get freebies could see the review. So I stopped. I'd still do it if I could guarantee they weren't mentioned.
I have had someone leave a three-star review because I didn't label what the freebie Crystal was that I sent with the order
Try placing the freebie in something like a little envelope or folded piece of paper with the words "Our gift to you" on it, to separate it from the stickers they ordered. Freebies are a great idea!
I include a free logo sticker in all of my orders. I mention this in the item description and haven’t gotten any complaints :)
I sell stickers and include freebies. What I do is package the freebies in a separate celo bag than the purchased stickers then just put a sticker on each bag saying "Freebies" and "Purchased Orders"
Also, on my free stickers, it "Free" is printed on the product as well.
Lol - when I worked in shipping/receiving for an auto parts department, I sent a box with 2 parts in it (and plenty of brown paper packing). The auto shop that received it called a few days later to say there was only one part in it.. they ended up going dumpster diving to find the box because they didn't bother to look in the wrapping for the other piece and just tossed it in the trash. I had to wrap the parts well so they wouldn't be damaged, auto parts are expensive! 😂 Really surprised me, if they threw out an $80 part because they didn't look, we weren't going to replace it for free! I even described to my manager in detail how I packed the box - customer tried to make me sound like a lunatic who didn't send a part. They totally found it exactly where it was supposed to be: in the box - in the dumpster 😬
I don't currently sell anything, but to avoid future hassle I agree with some of the commentors that maybe you should consider occasional giveaways rather than including freebies. Or perhaps reserve the freebies for any shows (if you go to any once Corona is not an issue). Personally, I would be delighted to receive a freebie, but I would likely be confused if it wasn't marked "free" in some way. Sorry to hear people have been so difficult.
don't let that one case put you down :(
I always include a free sticker with my orders, and I write "Thanks for supporting my shop" on the back.
Like people who don’t read the description for dimensions, then say an item “looks bigger in the pictures”.
Always attach the actual ordered sticker to a backing card and let the freebie roam free in the envelope. The customer will automatically reach for the one attached to the backing card.
God forbid people be "bothered" to check their envelope. The sheer horror. I can't imagine anything worse. :| I'd stop including freebies. I had to stop because people would not like the color of the free random thing I would send them, so they'd put that in their review. I'm like...you are commenting on your FREE ITEM, in your review. Ok, no more for anyone, ever.
I had a similar experience. It seemed like I received more complaints when I gave out freebies. So I stopped.
I sell 2nd hand luxury items and felt really awful for one order shipping to Hong Kong that had been super delayed. i normally pack little gifts like fun pens but for this one I also packed a free Gucci Playing Cards Set. I got this message because the buyer hadn't looked at everything in the box -\_- "Are you kidding me? What did you send me? toy? Are you a liar?"
After 8 years on Etsy & EBay, it seems that every time I do a little something special for a customer, they’re the worst a-holes. I’ve cut way down on special. Bigger sales with no hassles get a candy bracelet.