Compared to face-to-face customer service, I don’t think online customer service is that difficult. You don’t have to deal with a difficult or fussy customer in close proximity nor is there a need to do your utmost to ensure the customer doesn’t leave your shop empty-handed. I have chatted online with sellers when I am not sure of the product I am thinking of buying.

On Shopee, there are many sellers selling a huge variety of Chinese teas. Some of the descriptions are only in Chinese. So when I don’t know what type of teas they are, I ask the seller. I’d say most of the time they reply and tell me what kind of tea it is but there have also been instances when the seller gives me a reply which shows he/she is not that interested in selling.

Recently, I chatted with a seller and asked him/her what the types of tea were in an assortment box. The person replied that the descriptions were only in Chinese for the moment and that they were different teas. Of course I knew that but what types of teas were they? Surely it can’t be that difficult to type “Tie Guan Yin Tea” or “Jasmine Tea” Or “Black Tea” or “Oolong Tea”.

So I replied and said I was aware that they were different teas in the box but what were they? The seller didn’t bother to reply. If he/she had bothered, I would have placed an order but I guess the seller didn’t need a new customer. Most of the time I order from sellers who bother to reply y enquiries but I think that in this particular case, the seller didn’t want to entertain someone who can’t read Chinese.