I Lost a Profitable Sale on Facebook Marketplace Because of THIS! 

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Way to go, Ron. I really appreciate you sharing your experiences like this.

I've been stating this to young adult kiddos to do the same! It makes a world of difference.

A lesson we all learn. I learned this about 3 years ago. It was a tough lesson.

Thank you SO much for telling this story. I have been selling furniture pieces and I haven’t been painting the undersides either. I sometimes get a funny feeling when I skip painting those parts but then rationalize that it’s a waste of paint. Not anymore. I’m painting the whole thing. And just because only one of your clients returned it doesn’t mean everyone else is ok with it. They could have not liked it but didn’t want the hassle of returning it, etc. And I love your videos. They’re like chicken soup for the woodworker’s soul. Keep ‘em coming!

Thank you for sharing this, and I made my wife watch it... we paint furniture, when I paint I paint everything, bottoms, back, even if you can't see it, doesn't take much to paint, maybe 5 more minutes? and when the customer picks it up it looks nice and professional... My wife she doesn't paint the bottoms or back, and that runs me crazy, she tells me, you can't see it on the bottom and the back goes against the wall...WRONG! Buyers sees that, sometimes her customers tells her, if Sergio painted that I'll take it..so after few of those, she start painting the back and bottoms... So I make her watch this video and she said, yeah, you're right. Thank you again for sharing this. I'm glad that you found out the hard way also..NO OFFENCE.

Congrats on finding out for such a low cost a lesson all furnituremakers encounter at some point. I recently retired from 50+ years in commercial woodworking, but my intro to full finish came very early when I didn't stain the inside of a table that was not intended to be opened, the hinged portion was supposed to match another piece but setup in such a way that it was not used. My cost on that included two very long drives. that was n

A great lesson, thanks for sharing.

I commend you for sharing that learning experience for yourself and others that watch your videos. As professional woodworker the key to building is having a finishing plan for the piece being built before you ever cut the first piece of wood. Wood moves so what you do on one side of board you must do on the other and this includes when you apply oils and urethanes. Wood moisture content is effected by these steps. Poly one side and not the other and that board will cup and crack. Thank you again for sharing and remember skilled labor isn’t cheap, and cheap labor is skilled. Happy woodworking

Thank you for this. It is a worthwhile lesson and I appreciate you sharing it.

Thats so interesting. As a furniture flipper, I have considered that about the backs of cabinets and shelves. Now I wont even question it. Just make it look nice. Thanks for this channel.

Great learning experience.

Thank you for this video ronnie. I will definitely do that from now on. As kind of a new craftsman. That advice will definitely help me to sell. My work.

Credit to you for posting about your mistake. But, yeah, those sloppy fingerprints don't look professional (as you said). Just a guess, but I bet it was those messy fingerprints and not just that the bottom was unstained that caused their buyers remorse. It's like when you take your car in for service and you get it back with dirty handprints inside. It just plants that seed of doubt about what else they were sloppy with. Good luck with your future sales!

This story took a different turn than I thought. I thought you were going to say they couldn't afford it and you were going to just give it to them. Good lesson though it pays to be throurough.

Very good story)))

Ronnie. Listen after doing commissions for years. I have learned one huge thing about people. A) They want a deal/cheep B)They can't find anything C) They don't at all appreciate the time we put into pieces. D) They have a color/design idea in their head but can't tell you or show you. Now after 6 years. I will run from commissions. Heck if you stain the bottom apron it may stain their white carpet. I always paint the backs but never stain the underside. I put it on the floor and it sells. So sorry for this. Commissions take a mental tole. I just have learned the money isn't worth my time.

Good story. I am getting started in building pieces for sale more and more. Your story and journey is inspirational. TY.

Somehow, people who will buy stuff from China for 30% less price, 50% less quality in materials, and 30% less in Quality control and workmanship will take offense at anything that costs more than a 'novelty gift' price if it does not meet their expectations. Personally, if I had a problem, I would discuss it with you and express my surprise at it not being done (were that an issue for me) and ask if you could "touch it up." Being in sales myself though, I know everything can be negotiable up until I am insulted or I insult the customer. BTW, I have used your approach of explaining that I am new to sales and was there one thing that put them off from purchasing. I have found I have certain personality quirks regarding my humor that seem to irk some people. Like you, I am retired, so I just say to myself, "Effem if they can't take a joke." Heck, I backed over a guy's mailbox and he still bought a generator from me (though it was a top quality brand, and I was the only retailer of that brand that would come to his house). BTW my brother, mum, and sister in law all retired from USPS.