Do you use email to enquire about parts?

[Gobes32]

Why does Gen Z dislike Gen Y so much?

Geez guys, in the 70's & 80's your generation had total disregard for your parents, now it's the new millennium and you hate your kids.......... You guys just don't get along with anyone. Ha ha ha. ( Remember it's just a joke..... )

[aussiblue]

I often email manufacturers and suppliers about products that aren't readily and generally available (i.e. special paints and related products, adhesives etc and ask them to tell me a local supplier) and sometimes the reply will come via the local supplier/retailer. But I don't shop for prices via email or look for common parts or products via email.

[bd737]

Originally Posted by Gobes32

Why does Gen Z dislike Gen Y so much?

Geez guys, in the 70's & 80's your generation had total disregard for your parents, now it's the new millennium and you hate your kids.......... You guys just don't get along with anyone. Ha ha ha. ( Remember it's just a joke..... )

I know, why is that? Envy? Jealousy? Resentment for what?

And...

[flappist]

Originally Posted by b2tf

Yet again we have another reply loaded from your good self with sarcasm and a general "if you dont agree with me you are wrong and I will prove you to be an idiot" tone to it. Flappist I know you sometimes have good points but sometimes you need to consider that other people do have an opinion which differs from yours - and they're not wrong because of it.

Call me Gen Y, call me whatever you like but I prefer email because I know what I said and when I said/sent it. It's easier for me to keep a record of all of this on my laptop and look back and say "yep there's the quote from xxxx to supply xxxxxxx" - as opposed to digging through a pile of post it notes from phonecalls or having to call again.

I buy stuff from Ebay too, I suppose I'm being a yuppie by doing so as opposed to getting into the car driving to the shop and buying it in person. Forget the fact that it's easier, available 24 hours a day and quite often cheaper, nope it's still just me (and people like me) being a Gen Y who is, coincidentally, paying off an FG falcon (silly me for buying something I want).

Yes email gets spammed but tyre kickers own phones too so I fail to see that as a legitimate excuse. If I send an email saying "dear xxxx, could you please quote me to supply xxxxxx part, I am looking to purchase within the next xxxxx weeks", is that spam? Or is that me asking a supplier for a price, and giving them info on my intended purchase time and supplying my contact details including a phone number, which I always do?

Perhaps if some of the businesses I came across that didn't bother to reply didn't adopt the flappist way of thinking, they would have my business as opposed to being just another company who misses out on a paying customer.

I never said or implied I was right or wrong. I just told you what I do.

The general course of the thread seems to show that most others do what I do so whether that is right or wrong is irrelevant, that is the way it is.

Don't take it as a personal attack, you wondered if others found as you did and it seems they do. I was trying to explain possibly why that is.

e-bay is a whole different scenerio, it is web based and e-mail oriented but it is interesting that there are many requests on here for people to go and look at a thing that is advertised on e-bay to make sure it is ok. E-mail is not always the answer although I also use it on e-bay,

I run an IT company and have done so for almost 25 years. I would get maybe 50-100 emails a week requesting prices for items. Two of the juniors downstairs usually answer them if they think there may be a sale but I cannot remember the last time someone actually bought something that way. Almost always they are just fishing to get a quote to use as ammo against the person from whom they ACTUALLY want to buy.

Remember when you want to buy something, you have money, they have what you want. ALWAYS there are more customers with money than the thing you want so it is best to buy the way that gets you what you want rather than dug your heels in and miss out.

Again, this is not right or wrong, it is just reality.......

[Daymoe]

Originally Posted by flappist

Am I right in reading that there are a number of people, all of whom are generation Y, are confused that they send emails to a parts supplier and get ignored, not by one but by ALL of them?

Did it ever occur to you that maybe the parts suppliers think of emails in the same you that your generation thinks of verbal communication, that is, something that you know how to do but could not be bothered?

I have a simple view on this; if you text me I will ignore you on purpose, if you spam email me, as in just do a random enquiry, I will ignore you on purpose, if you call and then email I will assist you in any way I can.

The reason.....

Too many idiots send off copied emails to everyone and their dog about crap and expect a large amount of time to be spent so they can choose the cheapest price and then not buy it anyway.
I deal with people, not machines and the reality is; If you do not wish to contact or do business as a human being then I do not want anything to do with you.

Gen Y will arc up I am sure and curse and swear and threaten to take their business elsewhere....

BUT

As stated above EVERYONE ignores them so where are they going to go.....

Its 2009 now, not 1969. I'd expect any business that wants to get as many customers as possible can spare 5 or 10 minutes to reply to ALL their emails with a simple email once a day at the end? You don't have to send off a 100,000 word thesis, a simple reply <100 words would do fine? Yes? No? We don't have that in stock? This is our price on x, etc. Maybe even the apprentice could even do that?

Look, heaps of people own phones too, they can just as easily waste your time.

P.S - stop being so arrogant, when anything comes to any other generation but yours, you go on some nazi crusade trying to put down anyone and anything in your path.

P.P.S - I'm pretty sure I'm "Generation Y" or am I something else? I was born 1991.

[Daniel]

Originally Posted by flappist

...Almost always they are just fishing to get a quote to use as ammo against the person from whom they ACTUALLY want to buy...

Why would clients be taking your emails and using it as ammo against the person from whom they actually want to buy?

Generally it is advantageous to give your general service or informative reply; then supply your list pricing (or a RRP if it suits your business) for X item, explain the nature of the quote due to the competitive market and then suggest for them to hit the phone or come in.. (most people understand this, as it is becoming fairly common practice. Once you have openly stated you're the market is competitive etc.. you come across quite accepting and informed of their hidden agenda of fishing for prices or 'ammo')

I understand nearly every field runs differently, but I would say we have a solid turn over rate from this practice; well over 50%, more like 70%..
Not saying this is the only way to do it, but it seems odd that some business' can have huge success with it and others "..cannot remember the last time someone actually bought something that way.."

[JamesR]

i think the main issue here is though, that if you are going to advertise an email, YOU SHOULD USE IT!
and if you dont, i think thats just bad business. not replying to emails is the same as not answering calls, and not serving customers.

if im after parts or services nearby, ill go in and have a chat face to face, i rarly like to call as its sometimes hard to explain what im after or what i need done.
and if its a business somewhere i cant get to in business hours ill occasionally email.
so far iv had a pretty good run with emails, and i always use email when buying off the internet.

[flappist]

Originally Posted by Daymoe

Its 2009 now, not 1969. I'd expect any business that wants to get as many customers as possible can spare 5 or 10 minutes to reply to ALL their emails with a simple email once a day at the end? You don't have to send off a 100,000 word thesis, a simple reply <100 words would do fine? Yes? No? We don't have that in stock? This is our price on x, etc. Maybe even the apprentice could even do that?

Look, heaps of people own phones too, they can just as easily waste your time.

P.S - stop being so arrogant, when anything comes to any other generation but yours, you go on some nazi crusade trying to put down anyone and anything in your path.

P.P.S - I'm pretty sure I'm "Generation Y" or am I something else? I was born 1991.

Daymoe, you are DEFINITELY something else..................

[flappist]

Originally Posted by Daniel

Why would clients be taking your emails and using it as ammo against the person from whom they actually want to buy?

Generally it is advantageous to give your general service or informative reply; then supply your list pricing (or a RRP if it suits your business) for X item, explain the nature of the quote due to the competitive market and then suggest for them to hit the phone or come in.. (most people understand this, as it is becoming fairly common practice. Once you have openly stated you're the market is competitive etc.. you come across quite accepting and informed of their hidden agenda of fishing for prices or 'ammo')

I understand nearly every field runs differently, but I would say we have a solid turn over rate from this practice; well over 50%, more like 70%..
Not saying this is the only way to do it, but it seems odd that some business' can have huge success with it and others "..cannot remember the last time someone actually bought something that way.."

You see an item at shop X that is local and easy to pick up from. The item is $100.
You email the world to find someone who is cheaper, i.e. $80 for whatever reason and then go back to shop X and say "I can get it for $80 from shop Y".
You have no intention of buying from somewhere else, you want it from shop X, you are just wasting shop Y (and Z and A and B and C)s time in order to help you aquire a discount.

[Daymoe]

Originally Posted by flappist

Daymoe, you are DEFINITELY something else..................

Retarded, I know but that doesn't stop me from shouting out my opinion ;)

"There are only two kinds of people who are really fascinating: people who know absolutely everything, and people who know absolutely nothing." - Oscar Wilde

[Daniel]

Originally Posted by flappist

You see an item at shop X that is local and easy to pick up from. The item is $100.
You email the world to find someone who is cheaper, i.e. $80 for whatever reason and then go back to shop X and say "I can get it for $80 from shop Y".
You have no intention of buying from somewhere else, you want it from shop X, you are just wasting shop Y (and Z and A and B and C)s time in order to help you aquire a discount.

I am well aware of this scenario, but if you don't bugger around with prices less than rrp/list price in emails it shouldn't be such an effort to reply them quickly and of course explain the situation effectively so that your prospective clients aren't also put off; you should be able to get rid of the time-wasters who are doing the price beating we spoke of above and get the possible business to give YOU some commitment in either a call or visit.

Obviously there is always exceptions however usually all this will simply do is get rid of the price beaters and ensures you don't waste your time on the wrong people while leveling with the real clients.

[mik]

emails have their place , but i`m a fan of the phone, you ring up "how much for part x .....do you have it in stock if not which branch can i pick up the part ....thank you mate", no mucking around and usually phone pick up is instant.

[flappist]

As I have said before, whether it is right or wrong is irrelevant.

The younger generations, gen Y etc are the ones who tend to prefer text and email over voice for communication. They often do so between themselves even when they are next to each other.

Older generations tend to prefer voice.

Older generations also tend to be the ones that own and run the businesses.

When I was 20 there were places (pubs, clubs etc) that I could not go unless I wore a jacket and tie. Despite all my complaints to my peers I had to play by their rules or miss out.

As stated by someone else it is really a generational thing and the young ones are not the ones controlling anything yet. They will one day and will also have exactly the same issues with the next generation.
If you want to interact with someone who is different to you, you can do it their way or wait until they do it your way. Waiting can be a long process.

[Daniel]

Sorry flappist, I think that is fine for your own personal life and what not; but when it comes to a business I strongly think it should come down to your clients.. they are the reason you have the business and even more so, if its a computer related company or IT based there is more chance of email or similar.

I do think if you offer the option; stick by it - I wouldn't consider doing business with someone who offers you an option to only say 'nah, thats not my personal preference, bugger ya'

If you provide a telephone number and they wish to call you, answer the thing when it rings!
If you provide an email and they email you, reply to it!
If you have an address and they mail you, as bizare as it may be, reply to it...
If you provide a website, make sure its up to date and informative ffs; the number of sites that are well out of date or under construction without any plans to CONSTRUCT them is a joke!


For the record, if its internal or a regular contact then unless you have setup something for email to save time, then I agree its a joke and you should pick up a phone.
Both certainly have their place and the point I am really trying to stress is when the communication is incoming, deal with it.. you get full choice on outgoing communications.

[flappist]

Originally Posted by Daniel

Sorry flappist, I think that is fine for your own personal life and what not; but when it comes to a business I strongly think it should come down to your clients.. they are the reason you have the business and even more so, if its a computer related company or IT based there is more chance of email or similar.

I do think if you offer the option; stick by it - I wouldn't consider doing business with someone who offers you an option to only say 'nah, thats not my personal preference, bugger ya'

If you provide a telephone number and they wish to call you, answer the thing when it rings!
If you provide an email and they email you, reply to it!
If you have an address and they mail you, as bizare as it may be, reply to it...
If you provide a website, make sure its up to date and informative ffs; the number of sites that are well out of date or under construction without any plans to CONSTRUCT them is a joke!


For the record, if its internal or a regular contact then unless you have setup something for email to save time, then I agree its a joke and you should pick up a phone.
Both certainly have their place and the point I am really trying to stress is when the communication is incoming, deal with it.. you get full choice on outgoing communications.

This is good advice, the sort of thing that should be in a textbook.

What sort of business do you run and how many years have you been running it?

The point here is not what should be done theoretically, it is what actually happens.

Many here seem not to be able to understand that the world does not actually work the way they think it should.

Life goes on..............

[BOSHOG]

Originally Posted by b2tf

This is my point exactly. Nobody can use the excuse that they dont have/dont know how to use email.

if they dont know how/dont want to use email, they shouldnt have the option on their website to email them directly

[b2tf]

Originally Posted by flappist

You see an item at shop X that is local and easy to pick up from. The item is $100.
You email the world to find someone who is cheaper, i.e. $80 for whatever reason and then go back to shop X and say "I can get it for $80 from shop Y".
You have no intention of buying from somewhere else, you want it from shop X, you are just wasting shop Y (and Z and A and B and C)s time in order to help you aquire a discount.

Isnt this known as "competition"?

[Lynch'd]

Originally Posted by Daymoe

Its 2009 now, not 1969. I'd expect any business that wants to get as many customers as possible can spare 5 or 10 minutes to reply to ALL their emails with a simple email once a day at the end? You don't have to send off a 100,000 word thesis, a simple reply <100 words would do fine? Yes? No? We don't have that in stock? This is our price on x, etc. Maybe even the apprentice could even do that?

I'm also Gen Y and couldn't agree more with Flappist's point (for once). I average 100+ email enquirys a day that come through my inbox. I tried for months to respond to each and every one of them but quickly realised I was spending 4+ hours a day just sitting at my computer to get a sales rate of about 5% AT MOST. Compare this to the 10-15 phone calls a day where on average i'd convert 50%+ of them into a sale.

Emails, while an effective means of cummication at times, especially accross international boundaries, in general waste more time than they are worth in sales enquiry sense (IMO).

[smasht]

for me - a personal trainer running my own business naturally i need to buy equipment - i will generally by the first thing i see that meets ALL the conditions i have placed on that item, im generally not TOO worried about shopping around for different prices etc....although; due to being really busy and not having alot of time on my hand (as well as the fitness industry does really well using e-mail communication) i will send e-mails to X, Y, Z for a run done of that particular piece. This isn't for negotiation of price purposes its simply because things differ form brand to brand and company to company (warrenties etc) if i get no response they company generally will not get my business (i do also call but sometimes time just does not allow)

Im Gen Y (i believe 25) and i will spend IMO equal amounts of time on phone calls / face to face and e-mail - all have there pro's and con and everyone will look at them in their own way in terms of 'which is best for a sale'.

The fact that companies advitise they have e-mail and they allow you to send e-mails to them tells me that they would use it and respond to it - i know all about spam etc as i recieve approx 150 e-mails a day ( I DO MY UPMOST TO ANSWER EVERY ONE)....again i say it 'why have it if your not going to use it?' thats just the sames as saying this is my number 9586 xxxx but i wont answer the phone, you can try but i pulled the ringer out 15 years ago!

like it or not e-mail is aorund and the web is invaluable to business for advitisment etc, as i said earlier i can understand some places not having time etc but it really does not take long to scan through the e-mails recieved and respond to ATLEAST those that are asking a genuine question.

this thread SHOULD NOT even begin to bring in anyones age or year they were born, my grand parents were nuts for the net and mobile phones and so is my little sister (70+ years difference in age)....my mum is doing an ONLINE course and communicates with everyone via e-mail but my dad HATES it - go figure

my 2 cents (and i have actually confused myself now zzzz :()

[flappist]

Originally Posted by b2tf

Isnt this known as "competition"?

Yes it is. The suppliers are competing for your business.

They do this to make money, not to sell things at any price. It is quite easy to never miss a sale, be the largest in your field and go bankrupt in a huge way.

Now I am sure that you enquiries were fair dinkum but unfortunately the majority of email enquiries to many types of businesses are not.

So it comes down to what is the most efficient use of time, wander through one bazillion emails or work in other ways. The supplier has to choose what works for them based on their skill set and environment.

Running a small business is quite complex which is why most fail. Not everyone that does not fail is run well either.

As I said eairlier I do not do SMS and only used email to communicate with known customers and suppliers. The squillion unsolicited emails I get every day trying to sell me stuff or randomly ask prices are just ignored.

One thing that always amuses me is how many constantly compare prices and bargain for discounts as it is their "right" to pay the least amount of money for goods or services critisizing those who don't discount and/or ignore requests for such and then about 20 seconds later scream "exploitation" when their employers compare costs of labour in Australia vs Asia/India and move the jobs offshore.

Isn't that known as competition?

[GT0132]

Originally Posted by flappist

As I have said before, whether it is right or wrong is irrelevant.

The younger generations, gen Y etc are the ones who tend to prefer text and email over voice for communication. They often do so between themselves even when they are next to each other.

Older generations tend to prefer voice.

Older generations also tend to be the ones that own and run the businesses.

When I was 20 there were places (pubs, clubs etc) that I could not go unless I wore a jacket and tie. Despite all my complaints to my peers I had to play by their rules or miss out.

As stated by someone else it is really a generational thing and the young ones are not the ones controlling anything yet. They will one day and will also have exactly the same issues with the next generation.
If you want to interact with someone who is different to you, you can do it their way or wait until they do it your way. Waiting can be a long process.

I'm not Gen X and probably only just scrape into Gen X by a whisker. Crikey ...born in 1962 whatever that makes me! Possibly at the tail of the baby boomers...haven't a clue.

Most people I know in my age group live and breath e.mail and to a lesser extent, SMS. I use the phone for purchase inquiries only because, in my experience, the person at the other end often won't reply to an email, otherwise I'd use email as my preferred communication method... benenfits being that you have a record of the communication so there's no ambiguity unlike verbal communication which can't be proven.

The actions of the OP goes to prove that business owners who ignore email will miss out on a significant amount of business given that there'd be a helluva lot of people around with the same attitude.

Sure, there's gonna be those who flick off a dozen emails to get quotes then haggle with their preferred supplier to get a better price. That's the beauty of competition in the free world. The same quote scammming can be done by ringing around in any case.

If business owners chose not to use email then they should either get rid of their email address or don't advertise it on their website or business card. That way the prospective purchaser has no option but to phone.

[The Yeti]

I use Email and PM if I'm dealing with a member its a little hit and miss, but I figure if they list their email adress and dont reply they anrt a real switched on organisation so I go elsware, thats not to say I always order of th eperson who has been polite enough to reply it comes down to price and availability alot of the time