Help!

[valis2]

Can anyone help me with this mess? I need someone to write up a simple letter for me in Japanese, tonight.

Seriously. I am completely at the end of my rope with this woman. She does not seem to understand what I am saying and I have no clue what she's saying. She uses relatively complex words, but strung together in the most impossible manner.

I am pleased in these two goods.
If my state of goods is good, I want much more numbers.
The number which I wish becomes below.

Because there are so many variables in this transaction I'm GOING INSANE trying to figure out what she wants. And I'm going out of town tomorrow, so I really need to clear this up.

cranky lion post #2!

Comments

[cordelia_v]

I think the burden is on her to communicate her wishes clearly. You have her payment, no? And you're negotiating how much to refund? She has to explain why you should refund or replace what she claims you should.

I'd write her and say politely that you cannot understand her English. Ask her to please write a letter in Japanese, and get someone to translate that into English. Otherwise, you can't understand what she wants, you should add.

And don't ever try this with someone in Japan again, obviously. I would say that your experience with her (someone who can't actually use English to really commuicate) is very typical of educated Japanese people. Their English instruction must be abyssmal over there, I've concluded, because they can't really speak it even after years of instruction (although they can often read it---they must teach in a way that stresses passive understanding rather than active use).

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I think the burden is on her to communicate her wishes clearly. You have her payment, no? And you're negotiating how much to refund? She has to explain why you should refund or replace what she claims you should.

I asked her to tell me the number of items broken, and that I would subtract the number of EXTRA items I sent, and then I would subtract the additional shipping charges from it, and then process a refund (though I said it much more simply and clearly than this).

She sent me round numbers (20 and 50) for the two items she claimed were broken. I'm sorry, I don't believe that exactly 20 and 50 were broken; that's really weird. Both numbers shouldn't be rounded like that. And apparently she didn't understand at all that I want to issue a refund, NOT send another package to Japan, which is why I'm going crazy.

I explained that I could not send any more of one of the items, that I have only a few left and I'm going to auction them off. Part of her response was that I should send her the replacements, and send her another 50. *groans*

I'd write her and say politely that you cannot understand her English. Ask her to please write a letter in Japanese, and get someone to translate that into English. Otherwise, you can't understand what she wants, you should add.

I'm going to try one more time to make myself clear. I just hope that it works.

And don't ever try this with someone in Japan again, obviously.

The thing is, I have another Japanese customer who is terrific, I just sent her a large package and it all went as smoothly as silk. As usual, eBay is 98% simple, and 2% aggravating.

Thanks for the comment. ;)

[childe.livejournal.com]

I know some Japanese.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Would you be willing to write out an email for me? It would be fairly simple, about twenty sentences at the most. Please let me know.

I think I can understand her email at this point, but what I think is happening is that she doesn't understand mine at all.

[childe.livejournal.com]

I'll do my best. Keeping it with simple concepts and direct statements and questions will help a lot. :)

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Please email me at valis2 (at) livejournal (dot) com so that I can send you the text.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU A THOUSAND TIMES