Right Start It's Over

Dear Right Start,

I am breaking up with you.  This time I mean it - it is really over between us.

I want you to stop sending me these cute newsletters and emails telling me about the sales you are having.  Trust me I know about the sales, I also know that, being one of your re-sellers, none of your re-sellers are getting paid for these so-called sales. 

I wonder if your customers realize that every sale you make, you do NOT pay us, I am always wondering that.  And also, stop following me on Twitter - I mean you have got to be kidding me.  I think that is sort of mean and cruel - after all you have done to me, you follow me?  And the letters, the letters I get in the mail from your attorneys, as if I did something wrong.  Enough Already!  I know I am not getting paid, I know you are bankrupt.....believe me I KNOW!  Stop tricking me, I am forever hopeful when I see another official letter from the Bankruptcy court....I know I should not be hopeful, but I am.

What Might Have Been

I am not one to be cruel, or to be mean spirited but I must mention this - you came and  courted me!  You came after me, your buyer called one day and begged asked me to be in your catalog.  And if memory serves me correct YOU came after me once before, a long, long time ago.  Your buyers approached me at the ABC Kids Expo, once again wanting to carry my products.  At the time you  had no personalization, not much of a website and your nursery decor' was limited.  Don't get me wrong you had me at;  "The Right Start is in your booth", but I had to wait till the time was right.

Which brings me back to last Spring when my accountant took the fatal call from your buyer.  The one that sent me rushing into the office without any make-up on.  You had me all a flutter and excited.  I mean you swept me off my feet this last time, with talk of multiple stores, catalogs and your hundreds of thousands of customers.  I was giddy with the possibility of this partnership.  Who cares if you only took two of our Name Plaques and Two Birth Certificates. The numbers you threw out there - had me seeing green.

Never did I think that you would betray me like you did, even though I had known you went bankrupt before.  Not even when you had me spend hundreds of dollars on bar codes for my products ( but the joke is on you, since I drop-shipped the products you will never know if I actually used them).

It's Really Over

I just want to come right out and say this harder for me to do than I thought.  I mean I figured after you refused to pay my invoices I would have been able to end this.  It was not like you were ordering anything after Christmas, but still I hung on.  However, I stayed with you and kept hoping things would get better.  Of course as you continued to abuse our relationship - it only got worse.  Things did not get better, they only got worse. 

Not only did you refuse to pay any of my bills due to your "Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Court" thing you kept throwing in my face, you also forced me to pay my own shipping.  

Shipping that you charged your customers for and then took their money.  And then you gave me a UPS account to charge your shipping to.  But, but what happens is if you do not pay ( I am sure you know this)?   I PAY YOUR SHIPPING BILL (sorry am I yelling?)!  So, guess what happened?  Well.... THEN, THEN you did not pay your bill - cause of your ol' bankruptcy thing you are covered by the courts.  I am not covered by the courts, I am just a small business that took a chance and decided to work with you!   Well UPS came after me and forced me to pay for shipping - shipping you already got paid for.

I do want to thank you for taking my tiles off your site recently though - it was the least you could do.  Thanks for that, I am guessing you did not want me to yell at you when you tried to take an order.  Or maybe you can only sell items in inventory?  I don't know which it is is....

You Can Go Your Own Way

So Right Start, I hope we are clear, I mean how could I not be clear.  It is really over this time.  I would really love to have you listen to some great break up songs, like Fleetwood Mac if you will - I mean Lindsey Buckingham got it - go your own way!

Sincerely,

Jamie R. Lentzner (bitter ex-girlfriend, partner)

Comments

[kyoot]

ok so what your saying here is that Right Start is dying a slow horrible death but still saying "come closer I must tell you something..."?
xing fingers other clients are atleast trying to continue to do real business, with ethics!

[Honest Contractor]

Thanks for sharing your experience. I am now aware about this company.

[Marnie Vollenhals]

Wow Jamie....I love your strong nature! Some people don't have that. My work is prepaid with everything but if i ever have a situation, I'll never forget this post...Thanks!

[Deborah Acquino]

Jamie I adore you!!! We are just little grains of sand to the so called "big companies" who step on us as if we do not matter at all!!! I admire you for speaking out. It may seem as if it is just falling on deaf ears but to all us small hard working companies... we feel your pain!!!
Before I started my own business, I worked for a childrens accessory company and I went to the atlanta and NY gift shows numerous times. I remember the feeling when the big companies walked into our booth. We would practically fall at their feet and do anything they asked. We would jump through hoops for them, blinded by their dollar signs!! And they knew they had that power over us too!! But without us they would be nothing!! We work hard to create products that they need to survive. We work hard to conform to their demands when they really should be conforming to ours. I always go the extra mile to be sure anyone who receives my product is 100% satisfied.
I am so happy that with the changing times more and more people are going to the internet to purchase products. Women have been creating amazing websites to sell our products on. And the best part is that they pay before I dropship. It is because they get it!! They understand the importance of treating their vendors fairly. They understand that we are the ones who create the products and ship in a timely manner which is a direct reflection on them. I respect these women and understand that running a website and keeping it fun and fresh takes alot of time and effort. It is hard work and extremely time consuming!!
I go the extra mile to be sure their customers are happy because I care about their business succeeding too!!
Lets continue to be strong in small numbers and work with each other to create our own force in the business world!!!

[dak]

You should update your posting to reflect that rightstart has been sold to Liberty Media and they are in the process of rebuilding with new management. Perhaps you two can date again if your not too bitter.

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