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Write an honest shipping delay email with a clear cancel option

  • For Small business owners
  • You practice Getting the tone right
  • Time about 5 minutes
  • Level Beginner

About this exercise

Order #4821 from Loom & Lantern is late. Write a prompt for an email to the customer: a line starting "Subject:", the new ship date, a sentence offering to cancel for a full refund by replying to the email, and the sign-off "Dana, Loom & Lantern". Under 75 words, plain text. Do not blame the supplier, offer a coupon, or promise the new date is guaranteed.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Blaming the supplier. Delay emails often explain the cause, and the notes give it. Try: Say: "Don't mention the supplier or the loom."
  • Adding a coupon. Apology emails default to a discount. Try: Say: "No coupon or discount."
  • Skipping the cancel route. The AI says 'contact us' without a clear option. Try: Say: "Offer a full refund if they reply to cancel."
  • Using the old date. The AI mixes up the two dates. Try: Say: "New ship date: Nov 19."
  • Letting markdown through. AI adds bold text and headings by default. Try: Add: "Plain text only, no bold, no headings."
  • Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting and often runs past a word limit. Try: Cap each part (for example "each line under 15 words") so the total lands well under the limit.

What a strong prompt includes

  • Gives the new date
  • Offers the refund option
  • Bans blame and coupons
  • Gives the sign-off
  • Caps length

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