That big Spring order that was going to help push me to record Q1 sales...well, it's in limbo right now. Customs limbo. Despite the fact that I've been filling out the customs forms the same way for the past two years, apparently this time the form landed on the desk of someone who decided they wanted to complicate my life and keep asking for more and more information before they decide whether or not the items will be allowed into Canada.
Keep in mind, I don't make contraband, guns, ammo, medicine, or anything else fun (and probably much higher margin). My product is little, it's relatively boring (to some), and it's made with great care and attention. But for some reason (most likely the Olympics) our good friends the Canadian customs officials are now worried that my product will potentially do great harm to a portion of their population.
Right now it's not looking good. We're not totally out of the game yet but it's not looking good. And if I can't get this cleared up then not only will this current sale not go through (and I will not get paid despite the fact the product has been made at my cost) but it also means I can kiss those holiday orders from this company goodbye too. So if you wouldn't mind telling any Canadian Customs Officials you have as friends to please please please (pretty please) let this go through then I'd be forever in your debt. Heck, I'm just 90min south of Vancouver, they can come meet me and see my products in person down here if they want if that will convince them that I'm not out to harm the world.
On the plus side, if I can't sell these products right now at least I'm 300 units closer to the holiday inventory I need to have on hand.
Other positive news: I finally got an outstanding check from said BIG company today for orders that were delivered 90 days ago. It's been a Tom & Jerry experience trying to get it from them because the first set of invoices I sent were lost (though I didn't know that until after the invoices were already due), then when they finally cut the checks I think they must have been put in some backpackers pack and walked down here by the looks of how crinkled, dirty, and otherwise mishandled the envelopes were. Well, that was one envelope. The other one - with the remaining check - was missing until today. It finally showed up and I honestly believe it got stuck in some piece of postal processing equipment from the looks of the envelope and how much longer it took to get here then the first check. But it doesn't matter, it's here and it's cashable so it's going in the bank tomorrow.
And it's a sunny sunny day in Seattle. So I've got that to be thankful for as well.
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