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Answer a 'where is my order' email with the real new date

Practice: Keeping the AI to your sources. About 5 minutes.

About this exercise

A customer wants to know where her order is. Reply under 90 words. The first sentence gives the carrier's new delivery date. Offer the shipping refund your policy allows and say it's automatic, and don't promise anything faster than the carrier's date. Skip the stock lines 'We apologize for any inconvenience' and 'Rest assured'. Sign it 'Jess, Fernway Support'. Write a prompt that gets that reply.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting. Ask for "under 90 words" and it often lands well over. Try: Cap each part: "4 sentences, each under 16 words."
  • Opening with empathy filler. The AI starts with "I completely understand your frustration" and the date shows up later. Try: Say it: "First sentence: her order will arrive Nov 14."
  • Using an old tracking date. The record has an outdated Nov 9 estimate that the AI may grab. Try: Add: "Use the latest carrier date, Nov 14."
  • Promising what you can't. To calm her down, the AI offers to reship faster or adds a discount code. Try: Add: "Offer only the $8.95 shipping refund, automatic. No reshipping, no codes."
  • Stock support phrases. AI support replies lean on "We apologize for any inconvenience" and "Rest assured". Try: Ban them: "Don't say 'apologize for any inconvenience' or 'rest assured'. Sign it Jess, Fernway Support."

What a strong prompt includes

  • Sets a word limit
  • Puts the date first
  • Offers the right refund
  • Bans stock phrases
  • Says how to sign

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