How long would you wait for a reply to an email Enquiry...

[McGirr]

Living in the desert I mostly email places for information to start with as the time zones make it hard with east coast companies / businesses.

So far:

Home of 12volt: enquiry on eBay sent to them on the 13th Feb regarding their AGM batteries, no reply. Emailed both their outlets from their Facebook profiles on 17th Feb, no reply.

Hankook Tyres: emailed their head office 2 months ago, no reply

ARB: Emailed their head office from their website 6 weeks ago, no reply.

Other numerous businesses in Alice Springs, Brisbane and Sydney and no replies.

Am I missing something. I always check when I use "contact us" on websites that I have filled the information correctly with my contact number and my email address.

I must have missed the booming market living here in the desert.

Mark

[xcvator]

I have found at times the email on their contact page doesn't work. Try copy/past their email address into your email client, then you also have a copy in your sent folder
cheers Keith 

[marvellous_matt]

one business I emailed in Alice took 9 months to respond, safe to say the battery I was looking into had been purchased (from business that did respond to emails!) and in use for 8.5 months.
I would give a business a week, and if it was important to me I would then call and say I had had no response to my email. OR forward the initial email to the same address asking what progress has been made. I am in the habit of not using contact forms, sending them from my e mail acc.

[Watty2975]

With those businesses being national and large chains I would think 2 days is plenty.
If they provide the function to contact them they should do you the courtesy of responding.

[edz]

Your not missing anything being out there McGirr.
 I gave up trying to contact companies  by email years ago .. Its hard enough to find someone these days that remotely knows what theyre talking about and  give a straight answer over a phone,   let alone expect them to be able to use a computer to do it .

[Fizzie]

I have found at times the email on their contact page doesn't work. Try copy/past their email address into your email client,

The problem there is that quite a few (usually smaller) companies don't list their e-mail address so your only option is the "contact us" box 

[wakychapmans]

as a (part time) business that lives (or dies) by our website and email communication, I'm always pissed off when no one replies to my contact.

I'm with Mark on this. If you put the contact form, or your email address out there for people to contact you... the least you can do is actually ANSWER THEM... (or is everyone making so much money they don't need/want/care about more business?)

I have a daytime job. So I can't phone people from work. But I can shoot off a quick email now and then. Which I do to get info on products and services.

My local ARB store (Penrith) is great. Maybe because they know me by name and I get replies within a few (work) hours.

I emailed Ironman about something (I forget what now) about 3 years ago... never heard a peep out of them.

Emailed Polaris about their in-dash GPS/entertainment unit about 2.5 years back... also no reply.

All Four x 4 spares in Newcastle has been absolutely amazing whenever I'm hunting something odd. They even send me pics of the 2nd hand bits and often within an hour or two.

Darren at Lifestyle Campers has been great too. Dealing with my endless silly questions via email and even in person at a camping show.

As have Track Trailer with my equally endless questions about upgrading/servicing a possible 2nd hand 2002/2003 Tvan (should I ever end up actually buying one)

But I've now emailed a diesel service guy (recommended by other 'swaggers), 4 times since 28th of Jan. Used their website contact form the 1st time, then copied and pasted the email address the other three times. Each time, I get a an automatic generated reply

"Dear {FullName:value},

we received your contact request. Someone will get back to you by {ContactBy:value} soon."

(very personal I know)

not heard a peep out of them...

'bit average I'd say

[Bird]

I've given up on anything but the phone... it works. you find out instantly if the business has Shit in stock, and how much the item is.

the email game has worn out its welcome, as for stalkerbook, from what I hear, most places setup a page to advertise, then never look at it ever again..

[Green rv]

my wife put in an enquiry via email to a blind and curtain mob
put in all the details it asked for and got a response a week or so later, from their dealer in mackay.
she told him all the details and that we live in brisbane not mackay
he got the ships and we never heard back from him or anyone else.
our last name is mackay no we don't live in mackay.

 
Adam       

[Goose]

Are you getting other emails inbound to the same address? Maybe create a new gmail account, send it a mail and reply back to yourself. Check you've got a closed loop. Happens occasionally that mails either aren't going out, aren't being downloaded or are being junked somewhere along the way.

Emailing a head office of a large company (ARB, Hancook) can be hit and miss as there is often no accountability for interacting with the end customer at that level. But i think if emailing the branch or salesman (12volt) you should expect to get a reply most of the time so i'm surprised you're getting so little.

[McGirr]

My email address is working fine.

Screen shots from a request to Lotus Caravans sent last Thursday.

I then hopped on their Facebook page.

I understand they are at a show but a simple reply with any thing would not hurt. Their business should not stop just because they are at a show.

I see it that a business that has contact details on a website, Facebook etc should monitor their emails. When I was in realestate and I received an enquiry for a property they would be emailed immediately and even called.

I may be expecting too much in my old age 

Mark

[Fizzie]

So, any response yet?

[McGirr]

So, any response yet?

No reply as yet from Lotus. 

Mark

[plusnq]

Business must be booming then 

[McGirr]

The Melbourne show is on so I guess that is the excuse for the poor service.

Mark

[tk421]

The Melbourne show is on so I guess that is the excuse for the poor service.

Mark

They won't all be at the show. Someone will be in the office....  Its just pish poor IMO not to respond to emails. I had a job quoted to me via email. I responded that day saying "Yes lets proceed - please give me the bank details for the deposit".  I'm still waiting for the details 372 days later. (yes, over a year). Needless to say someone else got my $6k....

A day or two delay is reasonable. No more than a week is acceptable IMO.

[McGirr]

Finally got an email from Lotus. I won't hold my breath for any other replies from the businesses I emailed. 

Mark

[Bird]

Finally got an email from Lotus. I won't hold my breath for any other replies from the businesses I emailed. 

Mark

Was it a useful reply, or just a thanks for the email kinda thing? I hate those...

[McGirr]

It was very basic information as expected.

Mark

[Bird]

It was very basic information as expected.

When do you take delivery then

[McGirr]

For $70k plus, too rich for me

Mark

[Bird]

For $70k plus, too rich for me
Mark

Shit at least you could afford to ask for a quote LOL!!!!!

[rotor138]

Home of 12 Volt replied to you on their facebook page. I noticed you had made a post whilst I left my 1 star review, don't count on them ringing you back at all.

[McGirr]

Home of 12 Volt replied to you on their facebook page. I noticed you had made a post whilst I left my 1 star review, don't count on them ringing you back at all.

Yes, I made the effort to call them. Still waiting on a reply from their EBay store but won't hold my breath.

Mark

[listo]

I find it weird that companies are forgetting customer service these days...
Myself, I don't wait very long for an email enquiry. They either want my business or they don't, and I express this in the follow up email while putting in my observation that business must be really good there if they can ignore potential customers.
With today's economy, it really blows me away that places aren't willing to work harder for their money. Sometimes I find myself thinking if I were to leave the power industry, I'd probably go alright in a job with commission, there's not a lot of tough competition out there.