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What would you do if you received a client gift (shipped by the seller, not the sender) and the price tag was still on the item? Would you tell the sender? Or is that like telling a stranger that he has toilet paper hanging from his backside?
Well, that happened to me. I received a lovely gourmet food jar delivered by Neiman Marcus - and it happened to have a $38 price tag on its side. Now, that can be embarrassing for the sender, but only if someone tells her.
So, since it's the holidays, and I didn't want to make her feel badly, I decided to do what she would likely have done. I called the toll-free number on the packing slip and asked for a supervisor. When I told the supervisor about the price tag, she was very apologetic, and yes, she did thank me for calling to bring it to their attention. So, that should be that. Now it's up to Neiman Marcus to check their shipping production line.
This resolution doesn't give the store a chance to "make it right" with the sender, who likely sent dozens of these gifts to clients this year. In fact, she sends holiday gifts to clients from Neiman Marcus every year, so she's an important customer.
So, did I do right by not upsetting the gift sender? What would you do if you received a client gift and something was wrong with it - even more than leaving a price tag on the item? Does the sender have a right to know?
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Comments
Elaine,
To be honest, I likely would either not have noticed the price tag and if I had, I wouldn't have thought anything about it. I don't know why the send would be embarassed?
I think you did the right thing, because you are sensitive to how the sender might have felt. I'm a dote on this subject so am not sure why the sender might have felt badly, since it was obviously not her mistake. So much for my sensitivity.
Thank you for making me aware.
Posted by: Lewis Green | 12.17.07
Lewis, maybe it's a "girl" thing. Let me ask you this...what if the gift you received had a piece missing, or was chipped or broken? Just curious what you would do.
Posted by: Elaine Fogel | 12.17.07
You absolutely did the right thing by calling the 800-number. That was actually very nice of you as you may have helped spare others embarrassment.
On the general question of price tags on gifts, I think Miss Manners would probably suggest pretending to not see the price tag so as not to give offense as a thank you note.
Posted by: Neil Anuskiewicz | 12.17.07
Elaine,
If I received a damaged gift and knew which store sent it, I would contact that store. If it were insured, I would contact the carrier. If the only recourse I had was to contact the gift-giver and tell them the gift was broken, I would send my thank you note without mentioning it probably. Although the giver likely would want to know that I received a broken item.
To be honest, I'm not a very good gift receiver. I'm better at giving than getting. Don't really feel worthy of gifts, and there is nothing I need and so little I want.
Posted by: Lewis Green | 12.17.07
Neil, thanks for your comment.
Lewis, you are a good soul. That makes you worthy of a gift once in a while.
Posted by: Elaine Fogel | 12.17.07