A reader writes:
I’ve an especially low-stakes query: Is there a solution to say “did you obtain my reward?” that doesn’t come off as aggressively asking to be thanked however as an alternative expresses what I actually need to know, which is, “FedEx/and many others mentioned it was delivered however was it actually? Or do I want to analyze?”
My office has a really versatile work-from-home coverage so I don’t essentially see the small workforce I handle in individual on a predictable schedule. This was sophisticated this 12 months by me catching a chilly and dealing from dwelling the entire final week earlier than our two-week winter break.
I despatched the identical kind of reward I ship yearly (usually very enthusiastically obtained). I received emails from the seller that they have been delivered, and just one individual texted to say she obtained it. I waited two days after which despatched texts to the three others to make sure the items arrived. Everybody responded that that they had and “thanks” and “sorry, I used to be ready to thanks in individual (which might have been in over two weeks at that time). Then I felt like I’d been pushy. I truthfully simply needed to know if I wanted to analyze a difficulty!
This has occurred in my private life as properly. Proper now it has been over a 12 months since attending my pal’s wedding ceremony and I haven’t obtained a thank-you word for the reward I despatched. I’m questioning he thinks I’m low-cost or unmannered and simply opted out of gifting. I don’t need to ask as a result of a number of years in the past I did ask a pal a few reward greater than a 12 months after his wedding ceremony and I obtained a rapidly written thank-you word the following week. I don’t want thanks! I simply must know you bought it!
I used to be in a position to remedy this with my trouble re: items for my niblings simply sufficient; I mentioned that it was necessary to me to get a “hey, received the bundle” textual content, even when it’s not necessary to him to ship one. However I can’t say that to my workforce members or when it’s a one-off reward. Am I the one one who worries about this and I simply must tamp down my nervousness? Begin gifting in individual?
You aren’t the one one who worries about this, and you’re proper that it’s arduous to navigate with out coming throughout as in case you’re fishing for a thank-you.
The best solution to keep away from it’s certainly to offer the reward in individual, however that’s not all the time attainable or sensible.
The following best method is to ship a word near the time you anticipate the reward to reach, saying one thing like, “I despatched you one thing small within the mail — it ought to arrive this week.” That manner, they’ll know to let you realize if nothing arrives. If you’d like, you may even add, “I’m all the time nervous in regards to the mail at the moment of 12 months so please let me know if it doesn’t arrive.” However after that, you don’t must comply with up; you’ve alerted them that it’s coming, and so the half you’re apprehensive about is taken care of.
After all, it’s nonetheless attainable that they may not provide you with a warning if the reward doesn’t arrive — as a result of they’re forgetful or they really feel awkward about telling you they didn’t obtain something — however you’ll have taken cheap steps and don’t actually need to cowl each attainable base. The exception could be if the reward is one thing so invaluable that it warrants further follow-up — however I’m guessing you’re not sending workforce members diamond jewellery or something like that.
Alternately, it’s not that large of a deal if you wish to simply say, “Hey, did you get the bundle I despatched you?” However because you’re in search of options, these are some.
