Business · FORTUNE
Fortune #23
Mixed — reflect carefully
When a supplier is late, identify affected orders and tell buyers about real options.
QUOTE CARD
A quote for you
“เพียงเพราะบางสิ่งบางอย่างไม่ได้ทำในสิ่งที่คุณวางแผนไว้ ไม่ได้หมายความว่ามันไร้ประโยชน์”
— โทมัส เอดิสัน
นักประดิษฐ์ชาวอเมริกัน ผู้พัฒนาระบบไฟฟ้าและเทคโนโลยีบันทึกเสียง
- Person
- Thomas Edison
- Source work
- As quoted in Artifacts: An Archaeologist's Year in Silicon Valley (2001) by Christine Finn. p. 90
- Source text
- Just because something doesn't do what you planned it to do doesn't mean it's useless.
STORY & REFLECTION
The packaging delivery that is late
Guidance-based illustration · The packaging delivery that is late
Illustrative scene: A gift shop awaits printed boxes for a Saturday event. The printer reports a machine failure while the shop still accepts orders under the old delivery promise.
The owner counts available boxes, identifies affected buyers, offers plain packaging with a price adjustment or a later delivery, and changes new order dates before day's end.
The FTC says online sellers need a reasonable basis for promised shipping times and must address delays under applicable rules. Laws differ by place, while the practical promise still needs to fit real capacity.
A backup plan matters when each buyer can see their choices.
Reflection
A backup plan protects customer promises.
A small action today
Inform affected customers and offer realistic options.
A question to reflect on
Which orders depend on stock that has not arrived?