I'm convinced: most people have no business sense.

[NuclearNed]

It really makes me cringe to rediscover how few people have good solid business sense. I think many people think a college business degree guarantees success, but I couldn't disagree more.

Case in point:

A couple of weeks ago I found a website that offers something I may want to buy. In fact, it is very possible that I might be able to offer them somewhere in the range of $50k to $100k of business over the next year. They had an email link where a person could request pricing information. I fired them off an email, and waited. And I waited some more. Finally, after about two weeks of waiting, I decided that something was wrong.

I emailed them again yesterday, told them in the email that I hadn't received a response from the first one, and I waited. Today I still have no response from them. Obviously, they aren't real concerned about me and the money I want to give them.

If I were running a company, it would be a high priority to respond to customer requests just as quickly as possible. Maybe I'm just old-fashioned that way.

There are some concepts that just can't be taught in school.

 

[Unheard]

What product you looking @, I'll gladly take your $50-100k!

 

[NuclearNed]

Originally posted by: Unheard
What product you looking @, I'll gladly take your $50-100k!

Handcrafted log homes with custom fitted logs.

 

[cyclistca]

I think it's more of a case of companies and organizations feeling that they have to have an e-mail address. Of course just because they have one doesn't mean they actually monitor it. I find that sometime you get better response by phoning. Then again you might get stuck in phone menu hell.

 

[mugs]

This is a far smaller scale, but when I used to work at a convenience store it really bugged me that if another employee was doing something away from the counter and a customer came up to the counter to pay, the other employee would finish what they were doing (i.e. cleaning something), THEN go wait on the customer. It's a convenience store - people don't shop there because of the rock bottom prices, they shop there because they can get in and out quickly. You don't make a customer wait if you can avoid it!

 

[DeadByDawn]

I agree with you 100%.

I have customers that will waste 30 minutes of their employees time (and mine) trying to figure out a $1.75 price difference on something, etc. They are probably paid $10-$15 an hour. You do the math.

 

[Chunkee]

most businesses suck arse in that realm...the solution is REAL simple...

find the one that treats you well and tell the other one...why....

in our country and our economy.....CONSUMERS have the power...too bad most forget this....for some reason they convince themselves that they must have something....i will gladly pay more for better and consistent service rather than....thanks for buying our low low price product....here is the lube in case you have problems afterward....and most dont even give you lube...they dry gulch in the arse with crappy customer relations and have the attitude of EFFF OFFFF>..

jC outem

 

[Cookie]

Originally posted by: NuclearNed

Originally posted by: Unheard
What product you looking @, I'll gladly take your $50-100k!

Handcrafted log homes with custom fitted logs.

My dad does that. I can hook you up. However I think he is quite busy this winter and I doubt he even knows HOW to check his email. Send me your contact info and specifics of what you want, if you like. I can pass it along to him at Christmas, or before if I can track him down.

 

[FoBoT]

you are correct

 

[dullard]

Sadly, I work for one of those companies. And it is going to be going down in flames soon because of that practice.

A big potential deal comes in, usually through email, but sometimes on the phone. Then, my boss sits on it for weeks/months on end as he decides what to do. The other party is just left hanging. No response at all until it is perfected and the lawyers have read it over and approved of it. By then, the other party is long gone and the deal is dead.

I say over and over again to keep sending the other party progress updates. Respond immediately that you are thinking of the offer. And while thinking, give them a schedule, a friendly hello, a tentative yes/no, anything to keep their interest alive. But I fail each time.

Anyone looking for a good chemical engineer? I'll be needing a by next summer I'm certain.

 

[JS80]

404 bad business sense not found.

So you had this experience with one website and you somehow extrapolate that "most people have no business sense"?

 

[43st]

Considering your vocal frustration after 2 weeks, with contractors no less, I think the business has amazing business sense. Certainly enough to avoid customers like you.

 

[rh71]

They probably hired some freelance web dever to do the website for them as additional marketing... the email was setup as customary... but it's possible the owners couldn't give a crap about it. Think of the business type and if they are the tech-kinda-people...

In all honesty, I never use those email / form submission pages to request info (and I build the damn things too)... the phone is the way to go, still.

 

[NuclearNed]

Originally posted by: 43st
Considering your vocal frustration after 2 weeks, with contractors no less, I think the business has amazing business sense. Certainly enough to avoid customers like you.

All I'm asking for is pricing information. Their web site clearly states that they will gladly send this information if I just email them and ask.

 

[NuclearNed]

Originally posted by: cyclistca
I think it's more of a case of companies and organizations feeling that they have to have an e-mail address. Of course just because they have one doesn't mean they actually monitor it. I find that sometime you get better response by phoning. Then again you might get stuck in phone menu hell.

You are probably correct, but they need to think of the consequences of having an email address that they don't monitor. In my case, and undoubtably in other cases as well, they are making people feel like they don't really care about their business.

 

[NuclearNed]

Originally posted by: JS80
404 bad business sense not found.

So you had this experience with one website and you somehow extrapolate that "most people have no business sense"?

For me this is just the latest example. I stick by the statement.

 

[swimscubasteve]

phone?