Remember November – USD Selling Policy!
Winner is:
#42 – JewelsHud
In order to claim your prize you have to email me!
Include in your email: your name, address, and top 3 prize choices (just in case there are duplicate requests – prizes awarded in the order the requests are received).
Where are the prizes?: I have upload prizes onto flickr (set called: Remember November Contest Prizes).
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Tomorrow morning an email letter will go out to my newsletter subscribers, it will read like this (or close to it).
Newletter Subject: Important Changes — USD Prices for ALL customers @ thebabymarketplace.com
Effective Thursday, November 3rd 2007 thebabymarketplace.com will sell product in USD only. For our Canadian customers this means you get the same LOW price as our southern neighbors’!
Why? Well, you talk … and we listen! And frankly, I am tired of explaining that I bought the product @ a higher price (I did!) … I pay duty and brokerage to bring most items into Canada (I do!) … many of the manufactures require the posted CAD price to be set at a higher price (they do!).
I have decided that to even the playing field … I will sell to my customers in just one currency the USD.
Why the USD and not the CAD? As mentioned above many suppliers have a suggested price in CAD that is set much higher than the USD price, when I publish a lower price on the internet in CAD, the competition complains and LOUDLY. A few weeks ago I lowered my CAD prices for many items to equal the USD price and I was penalized by several suppliers. So while we are primarily a Canadian company it is in the best interest of ALL of our customers (world wide) to sell in the currency that offers YOU not me the best price.
You’re probably wondering, why if I pay a higher price, duty and brokerage how I can afford to do this? Truly, I probably can’t … my profit margin for many products will virtually disappear, BUT I believe that over the next several weeks (months) the dollar will stabilize, the manufacturers will stop ‘gouging’ the Canadian retailers and until then ïƒ I WANT TO KEEP YOUR BUSINESS!
I hope you’ll consider spending your holiday shopping $ @ www.thebabymarketplace.com. I appreciate your support.
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Psst … this isn’t the surprise … I will post about it another day (still can’t find the card reader.
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Remember November started off slowly, but let’s really make it something to remember and end it with a bang! I am continuing the give-aways with yet another twist –> this month instead of a prize-per-day, there will be a prize-per-post. Some days all you’ll have to do is comment, other days you’ll have to jump through hoops!
Comments Please … What do you think about the letter above?
MK
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EVERY post in November, I’m giving away a free prize (maybe more, but at least one). Just like in the past the winners will be randomly drawn and posted here on the site.
The winner(s) will be able to choose one of any of the prizes listed on the flickr set: Remember November. Once an item is chosen, it will be removed from flickr and will no longer be available (unless I have two … which I do for some).
All prizes are provided by: www.thebabymarketplace.com in conjuction with www.mommyknows.com
For detailed rules read this: DETAILED RULES
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For a great selection of Baby Clothes, Toys, Gifts, Cloth Diapers and accessories shop @ thebabymarketplace.com
We have a great selection of Baby Shoes too!
32 Comments
glittersmama · November 21, 2007 at 10:09 pm
I think the letter is good. Good luck with your changeover.
TheAngelForever · November 21, 2007 at 10:23 pm
Good luck with the letters and the response to it.
Happy Geek · November 21, 2007 at 10:30 pm
What a yucky spot the dollar has placed small Canadian retailers in. I hope this pays off for you and doesn’t hurt your business (and profit margin) at all. I LOVE your business. I also hope that you don’t get a bunch of cheapos (and I might be related to some of them) now demanding a refund so they can buy cheaper. STAND your ground. This is how you feed your kids! It’s a great policy. Good luck!
Angella · November 22, 2007 at 12:00 am
The US dollar is killing us in our business. UG!
You do what you need to do :)
Michelle · November 22, 2007 at 12:03 am
Very well written letter. Sorry you have to do that, but hopefully it will work out for you in the end, with happier, more loyal customers that spend more money!
heather h · November 22, 2007 at 12:38 am
I think the letter is fine and it is completely valid to do this. So many sites only do USD as it is. I hope the dollar stabilizes, this is wild. Best of luck to you, I know you are really feeling the crunch. Hang in there. I’m wishing a fantastic Christmas buying season to your business. I’ve found when dealing with clients that being very clear upfront usually helps things run a lot smoother and keeps complications to a minimum.
Jamie · November 22, 2007 at 7:35 am
Oh man. That so sucks that suppliers are gouging like that. It’s quite ridiculous.
I think that being open and honest with your customers is definitely the best way to go. I always appreciate knowing the why’s and how to’s of business goings ons.
Did that even make any sense?
Andrea · November 22, 2007 at 8:25 am
I agree with Jamie…the best thing is to be honest with your customers – and I think they will respect you for that and be even more willing to give you their business because of that!! I think the letter is great, and I hope it all works out really well for you!!
Naomi · November 22, 2007 at 10:12 am
Sorry about the currency situation. What a drag. I ordered a nursing bra from a Canadian seller on Ebay recently and paid $7 for shipping. Then she needed $6 more to ship to me in Kansas! I can’t believe it costs so much to mail a padded envelope. Insane.
Heather · November 22, 2007 at 10:52 am
I also think your letter was very well written and your decision completely understandable/justifiable. I hope that your market flips on Friday like it does for so many others; I can’t see how it won’t, I think your products are fabulous. ;)
jenB · November 22, 2007 at 11:30 am
The letter reads nicely, but I feel badly for you. Who ever thought the CAD would go so high?
mama k · November 22, 2007 at 1:43 pm
that whole thing is just crazy. The letter sounds fine. Good luck with everything.
Jaime Stephens · November 22, 2007 at 2:35 pm
I like the letter. Did you change the prices November 3rd or are waiting until Dec 3rd? I agree that its a great idea to be honest with your customers. Honesty goes a long way. And hey… if the prices are in USD and we pay in USD then we get a little bit of a price cut anyway. One question though… don’t some CC companies charge a fee for transactions is USD?
Carissa · November 22, 2007 at 2:57 pm
your letter if fine. they way you write makes it seem like it is coming from a real person,and not just some internet company. that will make your customers understand. i didn’t know things like that happened because of our dollar. sorry :( about that.
katie bowen · November 22, 2007 at 4:35 pm
hi-just got done stuffing myself and family after a big gathering for Thanksgiving here in VT! So sorry to hear your news…i hate when other fellow small business owners get screwed…i really hope that all gets better and you can increase your profit margin. so sad to hear that, but maybe it will simplify some things.
Deb · November 22, 2007 at 5:46 pm
I do feel for you. There are many people (or complainers?) who do not think about the fact that you have duties, taxes, shipping, etc to worry about when it comes to prices. I appreciate you putting us (customers) first.
I do promote your website to moms I come into contact with (especially when they notice things I’ve won off your site). :)
Deanne S. · November 22, 2007 at 8:24 pm
Hope things go smoothly for you! You have great products!
lace · November 22, 2007 at 9:41 pm
It’s too bad that you have to lower your prices and lose your profit margin.
the letter does a great job of explaining everything.
Michelle · November 22, 2007 at 10:05 pm
I hope this all works out for the best for you. This is a hard time for many Canadian businesses. It sucks that your suppliers have dinged you as well when trying to right the wrong of a market that doesn’t keep up to the changing dollar!
Cocoa · November 22, 2007 at 11:23 pm
I got my e-mail newsletter before reading the letter on the blog. It’s totally understandable, but created more work for you. Happy Holidays!
Jenny M · November 23, 2007 at 7:05 am
Good letter. Great decision. Even though, I live in the US, I too was puzzled by why the Canadian dollars were different. Thanks for the clearing up=)
Kait · November 23, 2007 at 7:23 am
Nice letter. Hope things go smoothly.
Joa · November 23, 2007 at 8:14 am
C’est tout à fait compréhensible comme décision, jouer au yo-yo avec les prix ne doit être une grande perte de temps. Je vais finir par m’habituer à l’affichage des prix en USD.
Audra Marie · November 23, 2007 at 5:48 pm
I think the letter sounds fine. I hope it works out great for you. Sounds like it was a bit stressful.
Lisa · November 23, 2007 at 8:18 pm
I hope everyone is understanding. I think the letter is very easy to comprehend.
Kristen · November 23, 2007 at 8:44 pm
Thanks for the giveaways. I’ll be checking out your blog.
Susy-Q · November 24, 2007 at 12:56 pm
I’m sorry to hear the soaring and volatile Loonie is giving you such a hard time. I have advertising your site to as many Mommas as I know. Good businesses make it through the tough times, and your business is a a REAL GOOD business. Hang in there. I hope things get better soon.
Monique · November 25, 2007 at 3:21 pm
Sounds like a good change and a good way to simplify.
ginny · November 26, 2007 at 12:59 pm
You can bet I’ll be spending some money on your site in the next few weeks… I just received a bunch of Baby Marketplace gift certificates for my shower! Yay!
Caryn · November 27, 2007 at 10:51 pm
Well written. Your customers will thank you! : )
mommyknows.com » Remember November - Stupid Parenting - great baby shoes, baby clothes, baby toys, cloth diapers and parenting tips! · November 24, 2007 at 11:34 am
[…] *** Winner from the previous post is: […]
mommyknows.com » Me Missing Stuff … - great baby shoes, baby clothes, baby toys, cloth diapers and parenting tips! · December 5, 2007 at 12:31 pm
[…] I miss the low CAD … sorry whinging about that again won’t help! […]
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