Vendors, Patience, Service and Communication

[CheffoJeffo]

We periodically see threads where people complain about a vendor, typically due to delays and/or communication issues.

Usually, folks chime in on either side -- some supportive, some condemning, some telling the poster to relax a bit, some telling the poster that they are being screwed.

Some of those threads have been epic and some of the delays in question have gone on for years. Some have contributed to vendors deciding to close up shop.

A recent thread over on KLOV even had vendors battling each other and got me thinking about it again.

For me, there are certain vendors that I won't deal with unless there is a very specific item that I need that I can't get anywhere else. There are also certain vendors that I will cut more slack because I trust them.

What do you think about dealing with vendors ? What is important to you when buying ?

I would prefer it if this thread didn't call out individual vendors on poor experiences. If you have a experiences (bad or good) to report, please add your review to the Vendors pages in the wiki

[Rick]

Good communication is an excellent way for a vendor (even a new, or small one) to 'make friends and influence people'.  That being said, people who jump out and say, "I will never deal with this vendor again" should really have a very, very good reason, or else they may need to adjust their caffeine intake.  If someone came out and said, "forget you - you'll get it when you'll get it", or outwardly stole your money, that's one thing.  If they come back with a good reason why they didn't (or weren't able) to communicate with you, I always give them the benefit of the doubt, rather than slagging their name.

When I worked for (ugh) Computer City back in the day (I helped open the flagship store, so that shows my age - again) we learned something very important.  For every one person who has a good experience, they influence up to (on average) twenty-five people's opinion by telling people they know.  Visually, they told some friends, and those friends told some other friends, adding up to the twenty-five people.  For every one person who has had a BAD experience, they influence up to (get this) three HUNDRED people.  That was based on a Marketing study that had been done in the U.S., so while the numbers might be a bit different, there's no arguing the percentage difference of how a bad experience will affect that company.

/TL;DR Version: Lighten up.

[Mikezilla]

When I worked for (ugh) Computer City back in the day (I helped open the flagship store, so that shows my age - again) we learned something very important.  For every one person who has a good experience, they influence up to (on average) twenty-five people's opinion by telling people they know.  Visually, they told some friends, and those friends told some other friends, adding up to the twenty-five people.  For every one person who has had a BAD experience, they influence up to (get this) three HUNDRED people.  That was based on a Marketing study that had been done in the U.S., so while the numbers might be a bit different, there's no arguing the percentage difference of how a bad experience will affect that company

Haha I remember Computer City! I used to go there back when I need floppy disks. Jesus. I guess Im old too.  Just think, the marketing study you did back then is probably worse by about 10 fold now, considering smart phones, social media, etc... Vendors should watch how they treat people before they mouth off. I think thats a good thing though.

[JustMichael]

I don't mind if the vendor takes a while as long as they don't charge the card.  Once they charge the card they need to quickly ship whatever I ordered.

[Hoopz]

I don't mind if the vendor takes a while as long as they don't charge the card.  Once they charge the card they need to quickly ship whatever I ordered.

Once they have what used to be my money, they have an obligation to deliver a product or communicate about why it's not going to be delivered in a timely fashion.  If they don't charge the card, I won't ---smurfette---.

Timely fashion is the key.  What's timely to me may not be to him/them/her/it.  That's where communication comes in.  I realize that some vendors are going to say that it takes longer to communicate than it does to ship.  Then fine, STFU and ship.  But don't give me the song and dance that you are doing blah blah blah before shipping it only after complaints are made.  If you have time to ---smurfette--- at me for asking questions, then have the stones to communicate to me during the process.  If this isn't build into your pricing module, that's your own fault.  Either suck it up or go back to business school.

Yes, I'm cranky today.  

And I voted for 3, 6, and 7.  Couldn't find the pick for how much is free shipping....

[CheffoJeffo]

Dammit! I knew I forgot something!

Fixt

[CheffoJeffo]

One option that I thought about, but didn't include was "I won't buy from a vendor who I think is a jerk."

I know that I have one vendor that I won't buy from because I don't like the way he behaves in the various online arcade communities (It is possible that he won't sell to me for the same reason).

[Ginsu Victim]

That kinda falls under "It depends on the vendor (I won't deal with a vendor with a bad rep)"

Not entirely, I see the difference.

Hence, "kinda".

[CheffoJeffo]

Yeah, that's why I left it off originally.