Setting Up Desk Clocks??

[kmmcrafts]

I know not many sell online.. and doing so like I do poses challenges to describing what i am selling... 

If you was to describe the set up / time setting of a deck type clock with the 1-7/16 inserts.. what would you say?

I ask because I like my customers to know what they should expect when they buy a clock from me.. In the last 5 years of selling I've had approx.. 4000 orders.. across all the sites I sell or have sold on..  ( not all clocks but a good amount is ).. Out of this number all my feedback ratings has been 100% and my star ratings has all been 5 star except 2... in both cases.. they mentioned how they didn't know that the clock pops out of the wood to set the time and or change the battery.. in both cases they said they thought the wood would have a hole all the way through to set the clock and change the battery... Clearly you're not going to be able to do either from the back even if the hole went all the way through.. Every clock I have available I show pictures of the back side so they should plainly see there is no hole there to do so.. Some of my listings I actually typed up a 2-3 paragraph description on how to set up the clock.. this was stemmed from the first 4 star review a couple years ago.. I never did do all the listings because even with this info on there.. I've had customers ask me how to set up the clock, LOL so I'm not going though the work to do all that typing if they still don't read it.. LOL

Anyway since my last review... I scanned the little instruction papers that come with the clocks.. I now started adding these instructions to my photos.. suppose they'll look / read that?  each clock gets one of these instruction sheets packaged with the clock when i ship it out..  

Have been also considering doing a video instruction with a link to the video in each listing on how to do the setting up and battery changes.. I think this is going to be something I'll be doing as well very soon.. Only downfall to this is.. I cannot do this on Amazon.. as they do not allow links or anything that would take the customer off of Amazon.. Guess they must be worried another site might steal their business LOL

Just curious what others think a solution might be.. I know that two 4 star ratings isn't bad for 4000 orders.. and it's not about the ratings to me.. it's about making sure my customer knows what they are getting... no surprises..

So.. what is your take on this? what would you include or say in the listing / photos etc. to try to make sure the customer knows what they are getting.. This is truly probably impossible to achieve.. kinda like the old saying... you can lead a horse to water but you cannot make him drink.... I get messages all the time people asking how big a item is etc.. even though this info is in the description.. I used to even have photos of items with a tape measure ( not allowed any more for some reason ) and they still ask the dumb questions, LOL    

[edward]

I sell some clocks, not as many as you, I usually attach the directions that come with the clocks on the bottom, I also tell them to remove the little plastic protector on the clock.  edward

[kmmcrafts]

5 minutes ago, edward said:

I sell some clocks, not as many as you, I usually attach the directions that come with the clocks on the bottom, I also tell them to remove the little plastic protector on the clock.  edward

But, how do you tell a customer before a purchase that the clock pops out of the wood to change time and battery? That's what I'm asking.. yeah.. i also send out the instruction sheet with the clock.. But when customer gets the clock in the mail and realizes it has to pop out to make the changes.. it's not what they was expecting.. and some don't like that idea.. I guess.. though two out of 4000 I suppose ain't too bad.. but how do you MAKE the customer to know what they are actually getting I guess is what I'm getting at.. before they buy it.. This is something much easier done with in person sales I would think.. but then maybe not.. there are some real winners out there, LOL

[meflick]

Kevin, you have heard the statement, you can’t fix stupid haven’t you? Hate to say it, but you are always going to have those people who don’t read the info. provided, don’t look at the photos provided, etc. whether it is provided in the online description and/or the printed information sent to them. Some don’t take the time, others misread or miss it (we are all guilty of that at some time or another no matter how closely we read and look at things.) As you note, if you have only had two of those in all these years, that is pretty good odds compared to all your sales. I am not sure what else you can do if you already show photos of the back, provide detailed descriptions and all.   Video may be a good idea, many people are more “visual.” Even though you cannot link to it from Amazon, you could provide the link to the video site with the directions printed and mailed with it.

Sometimes, we try so hard to cover all the “ bases” that we put too much info. out there and people then only half read something or ignore it all together so perhaps, less info. can be more. The other thing would be to put the most Important information first so they don’t miss it if they skip half of it.

 Unfortunately even with that,  like you noted no matter what you do, you are still going to have those few!

Edited February 18, 2019 by meflick
Typos but probably missed some 😉

[kmmcrafts]

29 minutes ago, meflick said:

Kevin, you have heard the statement, you can’t fix stupid haven’t you? Hate to say it, but you are always going to have those people who don’t read the info. provided, don’t look at the photos provided, etc. whether it is provided on the online description and/or the printed information sent to them. Some don’t take the time, others misread or miss it (we are all guilty of that at some time or another no matter how closely we read and look at things.) As you note, if you have only had two of those in all these years, thst is pretty good odds compared to all your sales. I am not sure what else you can do if you already show photos of the back, provide detail descriptions and all.   Video may be a good idea, many people are more “visual” even though you cannot link to it from Amazon, you could provide the site with the directions printed and mailed to it.

Sometimes, we try so hard to cover all the “ bases” that we put too much info. out there and people then only half read something or ignore it all together so perhaps, less info. can be more. The other thing would be to put the most Important information first so they don’t miss it if they skip half of it.

 It, like you noted no matter what you do, you are still going to have those few!

Yeah, that is what I was thinking myself.. I pondered asking this for a week or so now.. but then thought maybe someone had some brilliant idea that I had not thought of.. so I went ahead and asked anyway..  

[meflick]

Always good to ask, as someone may have a brilliant idea 

You posted your reply to Edward while I was typing my initial reply so I missed that before I submitted my first reply. I guess, the main thing I would do is at the very front of the description I would put in all caps, bold, italics and underlined the statement, “CLOCK MUST BE REMOVED FROM PIECE TO SET TIME. YOU CANNOT SET TIME FROM BACK SIDE OF PIECE AS IT IS FULLY ENCLOSED.”  SEE PICTURES!”

if that doesn’t work, refer back to my first line of original reply,

 

Edited February 18, 2019 by meflick

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

I know not what you want but for me it is simple because I deal with them face to face at a show. I always change the battery right in front of them to give them a fresh battery those batteries will last over a year. I show them how and also tell them the instructions how to take the insert out and how to change time is written on the bottom of the clock. Have been doing this since I started. I also tell them if you can not do it take it to ajewler and they will change it usually just for the price of the battery. 

In your case as you sy the % is so low I would not lose sleep over it. But you can make a note somewhere that to change battery or the time you need to pop the insert out. I always take those little plastic holders off because even for me they are a pain. You ship with a new battery and they do not have to worry about it. I like to make sure the insert is working too. I also tell my customers that insert has a lifetime warranty and never had one come back to this day. Had one lady tell me she bought a clock from me and the insert did not work. I right away noticed it was not an insert I sell but i replaced for free anyway. Price of doing business and keeping customers. 

[kmmcrafts]

13 minutes ago, JTTHECLOCKMAN said:

I know not what you want but for me it is simple because I deal with them face to face at a show. I always change the battery right in front of them to give them a fresh battery those batteries will last over a year. I show them how and also tell them the instructions how to take the insert out and how to change time is written on the bottom of the clock. Have been doing this since I started. I also tell them if you can not do it take it to ajewler and they will change it usually just for the price of the battery. 

In your case as you sy the % is so low I would not lose sleep over it. But you can make a note somewhere that to change battery or the time you need to pop the insert out. I always take those little plastic holders off because even for me they are a pain. You ship with a new battery and they do not have to worry about it. I like to make sure the insert is working too. I also tell my customers that insert has a lifetime warranty and never had one come back to this day. Had one lady tell me she bought a clock from me and the insert did not work. I right away noticed it was not an insert I sell but i replaced for free anyway. Price of doing business and keeping customers. 

Thanks JT, Yeah I'm not too worried about it or loosing sleep.. as the percentage is really low.. That said.. I do try my best to offer the best I can to my customers and even with low percentage there is always a chance that I can improve it.. I try to give a product and customer service that I myself expect from others..  

[Fran L]

I have people call me EVERY day asking if their prescription is ready. When I ask them who it's for they say ME......silence. When I ask What's your name? they'll say their first name ,so I have to ask them what is the last name, you know, just in case I have more than 1- Joe or Mary in the computer. In other words, apparently common sense is becoming an endangered species and there is only so much hand holding you can do Kevin.

Edited February 18, 2019 by Fran L

[Rockytime]

I've repaired antique clocks for over 40 years. In my earlier days most people were familiar with winding and setting a mechanical clock. Not so these days. I have people buy an old clock at a yard sale and bring it too me to find out where to change the battery. They need the winding process explained. Of course after wasting my time which I don't mind as I love explaining their new treasure to them they think I am overcharging them when they need a $10 key. They really balk when I quote $250 for a complete overhaul.

[ScollSaw Slasher]

To paraphrase a famous Hollywood line. "DIRECTIONS! I DON'T READ NO STINKING DIRECTIONS".  So relax on this one Kevin. As posted before, can't cure stupid.

[JimErn]

Kevin, Since you can put up more than one pic, why not do a pic of the clock in wood, a pic prying it out, and a pic showing the stem adjustment.  Use that same set of pics on every posting.  could be one pic with three parts too

[kmmcrafts]

..  I may have to limit it too just one picture though because some of the clocks that I offer more than one type material I use up all the photo slots and wish they offered more LOL.. but most of them I do have a couple empty slots.. That's one thing nice about having your own site rather than a template based site.. because then you can make it how you want.. some of the sites I sell on only allow four pictures while others I have 10 slots, LOL.. I can probably take a few shots and merge them into one photo with gimp or inkscape and make it work.. Great idea anyway thanks... 

[meflick]

Kevin, if you are limited to 1 photo - photoshop and put the 3 images that Jim suggested into one photo perhaps.

[Rolf]

I think Melanie has it covered.  If they don't get it the it really doesn't matter as they probably cant tell analog time anyway.

11 hours ago, meflick said:

Always good to ask, as someone may have a brilliant idea 

You posted your reply to Edward while I was typing my initial reply so I missed that before I submitted my first reply. I guess, the main thing I would do is at the very front of the description I would put in all caps, bold, italics and underlined the statement, “CLOCK MUST BE REMOVED FROM PIECE TO SET TIME. YOU CANNOT SET TIME FROM BACK SIDE OF PIECE AS IT IS FULLY ENCLOSED.”  SEE PICTURES!”

if that doesn’t work, refer back to my first line of original reply,

 

 

[RangerJay]

Wow - 4000 sales with only 2 folks indicating some kind of problem?  That is about as good a track record as you can get!  Impressive!

Would a short You Tube video help solve the issue? - include the link to the video with your instructions.