我初入行做采购时,不是特别明白自己的责任,为了安全,往往习惯把标准定得很高,很死,这样不准那样不行。十多年前的当采购确是优差,一句「不能接受」,人家就得花很大力气改过(今时今日恐怕供货商都不会鸟你)。到了后来才明白,我的责任是要去解决问题,而不是一只看门狗。职业成熟,还是需要一个过程的
今次的投稿,正是一个类似的案例。台风过后劫后余生,货品受损,交期无法如期。客户死活「不接受」,不管你怎样说也没用。同学不知所措,来稿Ben叔叔看有没招。既是基友团门徒,又是本叔铁粉,那我又试试给点思路,看看是否能参考一下。
以下是原文,我删了一些:
我是门徒的XXX,一直很佩服你的BE高度,你的BE我一直在读,还做了收藏,一直想着向你投稿,今天碰到的突发情况,实在想不到比较好的解决方法,也不知道怎么跟客户回复。可否麻烦耽误你几分钟时间帮我看一下这个问题?以下是问题和背景介绍:
产品:服装,需要用到面料和罩杯 – 流程是先订购面辅料,再生产成衣;G20峰会议后,面料生产因为环保原因关停了不少工厂,现在供应特别紧张
客户:美国进口商;
付款方式:0预付,客户收到货后付款
问题:9月15日福建遭受特大台风,工厂和仓库严重受损,包括面料和罩杯被水泡,导致我们按原计划进行成衣生产,原定的交货期无法履行,交货期推后是肯定的,新的交货期起码需要4天左右才能核算出来(当地水电今早停止供应,需要等水电恢复,结合工厂情况才能给出新的安排计划)
今早跟客户邮件,说明我们碰到的突发情况,并提供了受灾照片和新闻报导,希望能延迟交货。
客户回复不接受交货期延误,并说我们的进度一直滞后,且缺乏责任感。
作为供货方,我们理解台风受灾不关客户的事情,客户也没有义务理解和同情我们,而且延迟交货会影响他们自己以及他们的客户的销售计划;但是他们说的不同意延迟交货,我们目前确实是无法做到。
Dear C,
Regarding shipment schedule updated on 9/12/16: there's some changes because of 9/15/16 typhoon in Fujian, where our fabric manufacturer located.Some of the fabric and grey fabricare are soaked during the typhoon.Latest shipment status might be available till earlier of next week. I will update asap.Attached are the picture to show you the situation of the place and our ordered fabric.I will send you relevant public news in a seperate email.
Best regards,
XXX
客户很快回复:
This is not fair this may make me reduce the qtys ordered cause you are so late on everything I cannot accept all these sudden changes I'm in deep trouble of losing clients because of your lack of responsibility
Sent from my iPhone
第二封邮件:提供对应受灾新闻,证明事情的真实性:
Dear L,
Below is the public news regarding the typhoon:
Most powerful typhoon since 1949 batters Fujian
Best regards,
XXX
客户回复:
My customers will not understand and will not care about this problem because it's not their problem business is tough and cannot delay
Sent from my iPhone
最后是同学的回复。Logic是这样的:
表示理解客户的处境,但是出了这样的天灾,我们确实是无能为力。但是我们会尽我们所能赶货,尽量少延误,并且尽快给他们更新最新的交货期。
Dear ,
I apologize for this delays. This is the first time I meet during my 20+ years in the industry.
We will do our best to push the production and try to arrange the shipment ASAP. New shipment schedule will be updated very soon. It should be available on next Wednesday.
Best regards,
Ben叔叔看到这里,觉得最好是用point form 把这个案例的要点说话:
a. 首先,重中之重。老外你不接受又能怎样了?起死回生?我看他用手机秒回这件事,就知道老外根本没用过脑试图去解决问题,而是百分之百把问题扔回给供货商。看似很对,看以这是供货商做错了关我TMD什么事?呵呵。。老外,你知道什么叫 Force majeure吗?中文叫「不可抗力」。如果有合同,呵呵,对不起,老外您因这种天灾而来的损失并不在合同的保护范围之内。如果不顾什么长期合作什么客户关系的话,你根本不用理老外。帮你尽快,是人情;不帮你,虽也不是什么道理,但我也没什么错失
b. 还有,物料进水了,你的损失是晚了来货,我的损失是全批物料不能用了。所以,不要觉得我们什么都没做,你零预付款我也在帮你收拾滩子,这不是不负责任。
c. 懂得说明这一点,让他明白我现在是在帮你,你还在生什么孩子气?
d. 要赞一下,这种天灾必须要提供第三方报导。同学这次是做对了。
「不可抗力」几乎所有合同都会写上,不止是天灾,某些人祸,好像动乱,政变等等,也属于这例。作为一个优质负责的中国供货商,你当然也是会尽力「协助」解决问题,但「协助」和「责任」之间的距离,必须跟客户沟通。以下是我的回复。
Hi,
This is one of the worst typhoon I’ve ever seen in my life. We are definitely not the only one affected. The whole Fujian province is in a mess. Let’s say, we are lucky already the problem is visualized and we can have our hands on it. (他要明白,整个福建省都有事,我们不算什么。一般来说,在灾害中能清楚知道情况的进展也是一种成就。不信老外你找其他人试试?)
The material is soaked with water and unable to use. This is the lost we are immediately suffering and being absorbed by our own. (先把自己的损失说了)We spoked with our insurance agency and nothing they could do - it is called “Forced Majeure”. All contracts, including the one between us, are excluded from the responsibility caused by this typhoon. (重点来了!!!看我如何间接又含蓄地说关我P事?把保险公司拉下水,他们是最重条款的人,然后带出「其实所有合同在不可抗力之下无效」,那就不像直说「我TMD无责任了」那么讨厌)Yet, as a responsible supplier, we are still doing our best to meet your deadline, even though we have not receive a penny from you. (最后这句太霸,我一毛钱都未收就先损失了,你还吵什么吵。不过,慎用)
I have explained the course of action in the previous email, and I suggest you take a look to it. (老外你自己看看,我不从打了)Be assured we work on the same objective - to satisfy your customer. I will report status again soon.
Regards,
Ben