Website contacts and the lack of evidence to suggest any sign of life
 

Over the last month or so, I've attempted to contact a number of various companies for all sorts of different things. And some sites only have one contact email, while others have a listing broken down by function. i.e Sales, Tech Support, etc. in the spirit of directing you to the right department I would imagine.

What use is having a support/contact email on a website if NO ONE EVER ANSWERS IT. I am numb with disbelief at how many companies, both large & small, put up websites and then forget about them. What is the fucking point of having a "sales@_____" published on the fucking Internet if you NEVER LOOK AT WHAT COMES INTO IT. Some of them even go so far as to say, "We will respond within 2 hours".

2 hours in what time continuum and in what plane of existence are we talking about here? Because their 2 hours is so far coming up on 2 weeks and counting here in Earth time.

So what do you do when this happens. Do you try to phone them? Personally I HATE the phone. I don't like to have to call anyone, and I'm not too hip to being called.

Or do you just look for the product somewhere else? What if it's something that can't be bought anywhere else?

Point here: The fucking Internet is only as useful as the people that build it. If you're going to extend your business to the Net, keep in mind that it is not a fucking art sculpture. It needs to be useful or it's just taking up fucking space and devolves into Internet litter. Don't litter. Give a hoot, don't pollute.

My thoughts exactly.. and no, I won't phone them.. so it is their loss.

Sounds like you're a little pissed off.

But your right.
I would say right now that out of main stream websites almost 60% are useless.

Dont have to be - but are.

I have not heard "give a hoot, don't pollute in years " :)

I can not think of anything that fits that description except Krispy Kreme donuts . . . . and even then, I can find another source.

Lots of things fit that description. One example is an art studio. I filled out their online order form with the intent of buying 20 pieces. First, the form fucked up. Second, I emailed them using their contact addy. I NEVER got any kind of response from them at all. These art pieces are something that can't be bought anywhere else. The company/studio isn't some sort of a dealer or reseller, it's the artist. It's his business.

But that is only one example of the many companies I've tried to contact in the last month or so, and I may as well be sending emails to myself.

My experience has been they dont integrate their website efforts with the company.

So most fail.

Perhaps he sold out? If it is art you want, I have the ultimate hookup . . . . but only if you like stuff by Picasso, Chagal, Warhol . . . .guys like that

They have a website affiliate program?
Hook me up

Good backgrounds.
ICQ 32315652

I would think it would have something to do with all the spam people get these days

He hasn't sold out, he simply never maintains his site and doesn't check his email. And I wanted HIS work. I saw it on display somewhere, fell in love with it, wanted to buy it, and so now since his website is useless I'm supposed to do what.... ?

This is what I'm talking about. There is no point to having a website if the thing is useless junk cluttering up the Net. It wastes my time, and makes the company look lazy and incompetent.

And it isn't just the small guys. At least they have some sort of an excuse in that they lack a workforce to maintain their web operations.

But what about the big boys? People like Gateway, Dell, etc.... I've had just as much, if not MORE frustration with companies like this than with the one-man-shows. You would think an email sent to "sales@whatever" would come into their offices flaming hot with a big flashing "READ ME NOW" sign on it.

I guess they're too lazy and incompetent. See.... even I came to that conclusion. Because what other explanation can there be?

For me, this is the equivalent of walking up to the sales counter in a jewelry store (or any other store) and being completely ignored. And for the life of me, I can't figure out why ANY company would allow that to happen.