.com E-mail responses
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.com E-mail responses
What has been you experience with E-mail inquires to companies about their products or services?
The F150online regular dealers are generally great, Mike Troyer of Performace Products and Roger Lemere of the Online Store have always gotten right back to me with a response.
Zaino Bros. have always been quick with a response too.
Fumotovalve took a few days, but got 2 responses back.
I have written to GibsonPerformance, Magnaflow, KNFilters, Jeraco Caps. Gibson took a week, only there was no text in John's reply (w/history). The other companies never responded.
I also mentioned to them (except for Mike and Roger) about this site and the buying power we pose.
Since someone may mention this, the Webmaster here sometimes takes a while to respond too. But I discount this because as dealers are looking for our money, Steve is putting his own money out to make this site possible. He has to go work to make that money, instead of jumping on our requests, but still finds that time somewhere.
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Y2K F150 XLT SC SB 4.6 V8 M5OD, 3.55 LS,RED!,
K&N FIPK, Superchips, Gibson Swept Side Exhaust,
Fumoto Oil Drain Plug, Added extra leaf to rear spring,
Jeraco Deluxe High-Rise Cap, Duraliner, Clear corner lenses, Super White head lights, Ventvisor, 2 Century NextStep Child Car Seats,
F150Online sticker on rear window
Previous Ford Trucks '84 F150, '87 Ranger
NEW JERSEY the GARDEN STATE
The F150online regular dealers are generally great, Mike Troyer of Performace Products and Roger Lemere of the Online Store have always gotten right back to me with a response.
Zaino Bros. have always been quick with a response too.
Fumotovalve took a few days, but got 2 responses back.
I have written to GibsonPerformance, Magnaflow, KNFilters, Jeraco Caps. Gibson took a week, only there was no text in John's reply (w/history). The other companies never responded.
I also mentioned to them (except for Mike and Roger) about this site and the buying power we pose.
Since someone may mention this, the Webmaster here sometimes takes a while to respond too. But I discount this because as dealers are looking for our money, Steve is putting his own money out to make this site possible. He has to go work to make that money, instead of jumping on our requests, but still finds that time somewhere.
------------------
Y2K F150 XLT SC SB 4.6 V8 M5OD, 3.55 LS,RED!,
K&N FIPK, Superchips, Gibson Swept Side Exhaust,
Fumoto Oil Drain Plug, Added extra leaf to rear spring,
Jeraco Deluxe High-Rise Cap, Duraliner, Clear corner lenses, Super White head lights, Ventvisor, 2 Century NextStep Child Car Seats,
F150Online sticker on rear window
Previous Ford Trucks '84 F150, '87 Ranger
NEW JERSEY the GARDEN STATE
F150online
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Founder
Joined: Nov 1996
Posts: 3,008
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From: Roswell, GA USA
On a (somewhat) related note, I was asked by a major (Fortune 1000) corporation about a year and a half ago to head up their development of an online "community" similar to this one to connect them with their customers (not vehicle related).
Part of their "charter," and something they were legitimately excited about and proud of, was they intended to respond to all online inquiries within 72 hours.
I told them unless they would change that to "less than 12 hours" that I had no interest in being involved, as if they had no interest in moving in "Internet time" they were setting themselves up for failure.
The venture ended up launching, without my assistance, about six months later and lasted less than 60 days before they killed it. Why? The customers they interviewed saw no added value. They could get their questions answered by 800-number within a few minutes of being on hold, why wait three days?
What does this have to do with your question? I think this: many companies have web sites because a few years back they were told that they had to. YOU GOTTA BE ONLINE! YOU'LL MAKE MILLIONS! They have not incorporated the true power of the web into their business models.
I just hope that company learned something...
As for my presence, please please please remember that this is still a hobby. There are times when I go so inundated with mail it takes me several weeks to reply.
Tom - you contacted Street Scene to find a dealer, I assume because you were interested in purchasing their product. It seems to me that two days is an eternity! Frankly, if they have a dealer database they should put it online and make it searchable. Instant gratification. Faster time to order. And, it would have cost them less than what it costs for that person to "man" the phone for one week...
Steve
Part of their "charter," and something they were legitimately excited about and proud of, was they intended to respond to all online inquiries within 72 hours.
I told them unless they would change that to "less than 12 hours" that I had no interest in being involved, as if they had no interest in moving in "Internet time" they were setting themselves up for failure.
The venture ended up launching, without my assistance, about six months later and lasted less than 60 days before they killed it. Why? The customers they interviewed saw no added value. They could get their questions answered by 800-number within a few minutes of being on hold, why wait three days?
What does this have to do with your question? I think this: many companies have web sites because a few years back they were told that they had to. YOU GOTTA BE ONLINE! YOU'LL MAKE MILLIONS! They have not incorporated the true power of the web into their business models.
I just hope that company learned something...
As for my presence, please please please remember that this is still a hobby. There are times when I go so inundated with mail it takes me several weeks to reply.
Tom - you contacted Street Scene to find a dealer, I assume because you were interested in purchasing their product. It seems to me that two days is an eternity! Frankly, if they have a dealer database they should put it online and make it searchable. Instant gratification. Faster time to order. And, it would have cost them less than what it costs for that person to "man" the phone for one week...
Steve
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I realized when I was mentioning the webmasters response time, I forgot to mention F150online = Steve's HOBBY (not business) but 13 hours 6 minutes ain't bad for a Sunday afternoon in the middle of Spring!
On a point Steve was making, some companies don't keep up with there websites. For instance, last month when I was research a replacement Cat-back, magnaflow was one of my prime considerations. I went to there website, went to their dealer page for my area. I called 5 listed dealers in a 20 mile radius. None of those 5 were still dealers for that company. 2 were no longer in business. Magnaflow lost my business.
I know when my employer's online (internet) applications even slow down, phones are ringing, people are awakened out of bed until
the problem is resolved. Then a situation review meeting is held a few days later to review the entire event.
On a point Steve was making, some companies don't keep up with there websites. For instance, last month when I was research a replacement Cat-back, magnaflow was one of my prime considerations. I went to there website, went to their dealer page for my area. I called 5 listed dealers in a 20 mile radius. None of those 5 were still dealers for that company. 2 were no longer in business. Magnaflow lost my business.
I know when my employer's online (internet) applications even slow down, phones are ringing, people are awakened out of bed until
the problem is resolved. Then a situation review meeting is held a few days later to review the entire event.
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 276
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From: Tacoma, WA, USA
I was looking for info from Street Scene Equipment at http://www.streetsceneeq.com. I emailed them and got a reply back in two days. They provided me what I was looking for (a local dealer).
Tom in Tacoma
[This message has been edited by TColegrove (edited 04-30-2000).]
Tom in Tacoma
[This message has been edited by TColegrove (edited 04-30-2000).]