Rant: Replies to emails (or lack of)

DJAndyB · 17th March 2009, 20:35

I need to have a rant.

Why is it companies do not reply to emails? - especially in these tough timeswhere they are effectively losing sales leads.

Firstly the number of times I ask sellers questions on ebay and never get a reply.

Secondly I have emailed an ICE supplier and Connects2 with technical questions and again have had no reply.

Is it just me or is this common place?

Rant over - I feel better now.

Zeb · 17th March 2009, 20:45

Who said that

??

Typhoon190 · 17th March 2009, 20:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJAndyB

I need to have a rant.

Why is it companies do not reply to emails? - especially in these tough timeswhere they are effectively losing sales leads.

Firstly the number of times I ask sellers questions on ebay and never get a reply.

Secondly I have emailed an ICE supplier and Connects2 with technical questions and again have had no reply.

Is it just me or is this common place?

Rant over - I feel better now.

Thought it was so that you then have to ring them...on a national rate number....wait on hold for 20 minutes... only to be put through to the wrong dept!

M3NDEREZ · 17th March 2009, 21:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Typhoon190

Thought it was so that you then have to ring them...on a national rate number....wait on hold for 20 minutes... only to be put through to the wrong dept!

So true.. I use www.SayNoTo0870.com to search for their geographic number instead, and use those.. I hate calling 0870's..

Gone are the times of a courteous reply.. A technical question is a prime example.. If you ask "does your product do a, b, or c" and the answer is no, then instead of a polite reply saying that it doesn't, you get nothing. It' a case of, we can't sell him anything, so NAUGHTY WORD-NAUGHTY WORD-NAUGHTY WORD- him. If I don't get a reply back within 24 hours, I just assume they either can't supply what I've asked for, or the product won't do what I want it to, and they're just too ignorant to reply..

Tatts · 17th March 2009, 23:52

Emails in general people seem loathe to answer. I try to phone whenever possible nowadays, most places seem to work better on phone calls then email/snail mail.

BigRuss · 18th March 2009, 01:02

I agree with Tatts, far better to speak to someone directly and at least you can get an answer more quickly without having to bounce messages backward and forward.

Russ

GERFIX · 18th March 2009, 02:58

I must admit, I like to email people/Companies in the first instance as I am terrible for coming off the phone and thinking "damn, I forgot to say/ask......". If I email I can say exactly what I want and check it before sending and generally have a good old think about it.

As for not getting replies from eBay seller - I just don't buy from them, it's their loss!

Master Gunner · 18th March 2009, 10:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tatts

Emails in general people seem loathe to answer. I try to phone whenever possible nowadays, most places seem to work better on phone calls then email/snail mail.

Perhaps the reluctance to reply is the fear of you having something in writing which the author may be held to account for at a later date.
Or am I being too distrustful of so called ‘customer focussed’ organisations!

Raistlin · 18th March 2009, 10:58

I too believe that e-mails are just an excuse to be ignored.

I tend to use the phone but not for the above reason. The advantage with talking to someone is that the answer you may receive will almost always lead to another question etc. which seems to me best done in the dynamic manner of a real-time phone call when questions and answers are fresh in the mind.

In addition, when making a pruchase where time is of the essence, a reply to your e-mail the next day explaining that the item isn't ACTUALLY in stock, can be very annoying, especially when you could have tried another source and had the item in the post straight away.

The only caveat, of course, is when the clown who answers the phone has two heads, webbed fingers and toes and plays the banjo with alacrity

17th March 2009, 20:35	#1
DJAndyB Loves to post 1.8T ZT-T+ Commission Number 27101 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Wallington Posts: 401 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Rant: Replies to emails (or lack of) I need to have a rant. Why is it companies do not reply to emails? - especially in these tough timeswhere they are effectively losing sales leads. Firstly the number of times I ask sellers questions on ebay and never get a reply. Secondly I have emailed an ICE supplier and Connects2 with technical questions and again have had no reply. Is it just me or is this common place? Rant over - I feel better now.

17th March 2009, 20:45	#2
Zeb Banned MGZT V8 & ZTT 190+LPG Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 8,089 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Who said that??

17th March 2009, 23:52	#5
Tatts This is my second home MG6 TL Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Tarn Posts: 5,269 Thanks: 2 Thanked 46 Times in 37 Posts	Emails in general people seem loathe to answer. I try to phone whenever possible nowadays, most places seem to work better on phone calls then email/snail mail. __________________ http://www.wcgsig.com/115562.gif

18th March 2009, 01:02	#6
BigRuss Premium Trader 75 CDT Tourer,2.5 Launch Saloon, Omipro MG/Rover (T4) Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Liversedge, West Yorkshire Posts: 5,411 Thanks: 1,105 Thanked 1,340 Times in 661 Posts	I agree with Tatts, far better to speak to someone directly and at least you can get an answer more quickly without having to bounce messages backward and forward. Russ __________________ Replacement Key Service http://https://the75andztclub.co.uk/...d.php?t=244732 Full T4 Testbook diagnostics available. Diesel ECU repair and replacement. Options enabled or disabled as required. Diesel X-Power 135 and 160bhp, Rover 1.8T 150 to 160 MG 160 V6 to 177 upgrades available P.M. for details.

18th March 2009, 02:58	#7
GERFIX I really should get out more....... MINI COOPER S Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Tranent, East Lothian, SCOTLAND Posts: 2,834 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I must admit, I like to email people/Companies in the first instance as I am terrible for coming off the phone and thinking "damn, I forgot to say/ask......". If I email I can say exactly what I want and check it before sending and generally have a good old think about it. As for not getting replies from eBay seller - I just don't buy from them, it's their loss! __________________ .......................................Colin http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/g...Cooper-S-2.jpg

18th March 2009, 10:58	#9
Raistlin Banned 75 CDT Connoisseur SE Auto Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Wolverhampton Posts: 8,450 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	I too believe that e-mails are just an excuse to be ignored. I tend to use the phone but not for the above reason. The advantage with talking to someone is that the answer you may receive will almost always lead to another question etc. which seems to me best done in the dynamic manner of a real-time phone call when questions and answers are fresh in the mind. In addition, when making a pruchase where time is of the essence, a reply to your e-mail the next day explaining that the item isn't ACTUALLY in stock, can be very annoying, especially when you could have tried another source and had the item in the post straight away. The only caveat, of course, is when the clown who answers the phone has two heads, webbed fingers and toes and plays the banjo with alacrity Last edited by Raistlin; 18th March 2009 at 11:01..