Main > Everything Else
Look at me, I, I mean WE are a real company!
paigeoliver:
This might just be me, but does anyone else get really annoyed at all the low self esteem, striving for legitimacy that I see at some of the commercial sites related to our hobby.
Things like constantly using the term "we" for a part time one man operation. Sorry, I don't believe you have a full time staff selling downloadable cabinet plans. If Bob Roberts can do it by himself I simply can't believe you have a staff.
Fake "customer feedbacks"
--- Quote ---The cabinet is fantastic! Was a breeze to put together. Great quality. My co-workers are drooling. Thanks for everything. -Bernie W. CA
--- End quote ---
Sure, crazy how you had all those phony sounding feedbacks from across the country the FIRST DAY your website went live.
Phony pictures of the product.
Not going to name names, but I have seen more than one website selling mame cabinets that did not have a single picture of an actual cabinet anywhere, just computer renderings.
Look at me, I, I mean WE are a real company.
I am really happy for you that you registered as an LLC, but I really don't need to hear about it on every page, and frankly it adds no legitimacy to your product, if anything it detracts.
Affiliate programs.
Wow, you mean I can sell YOUR (downloadable) products on MY website and keep a tiny percentage of the money. WOW, I'll bet the cash will just roll in. Where do I sign up?
Cabinet plans.
I mean COME ON. At this point the number of free plans out there is insane, and some of them are better than the commercial ones. Trying to make money selling cabinet plans just makes you look like a tool. People always end up feeling ripped off later when they find out about all the free plans. Not to mention the fact that MOST of the "commercial" plans produce cabinets looking nothing like an actual commercial arcade game, and something more like a heavy lusid cab.
I have also noticed that the truly respected names in this hobby engage in almost NONE of the above, except for letting the occasional "we" slip out.
paigeoliver:
Just spotted this gem of a statement on a website I have never even heard of before that sells control panels.
--- Quote ---At NAME WITHHELD, we have a culture based on the belief in going the extra mile for every customer.
--- End quote ---
That from a premade control panel site that doesn't have nor offer 4-way sticks, yet talks about nothing but donkey kong.
patrickl:
I noticed the change to "we" with 1UP's conpany. I guess with a company even if you are a one man operation you still deal with several other companies (so there will indeed be more people involved even if not all from the named company)
I always say "we" when referring to my company too, but then there are two people working with "us" :P
danny_galaga:
i agree it sounds wanky to say we when describing your one man business. but i'm guilty of doing it too :-[ . i wouldnt if i was selling stuff on the internet but in the real world it looks more professional when you pluralise...
the best way would be to just use the company name while avoiding 'we'. instead of 'at BLAH inc. we specialise in blah...' you could say 'BLAH inc. specialise in blah...'
anyway, we must go now :)
RayB:
I understand your rant Paige, but you're smart enough to understand the use of "we". Come on. Should be obvious that if you own a business and you want potential customers to trust you, you need to portray an image that will gain that trust.
Advertising yourself as "hi, I'm one guy in a basement with a day job and I do this on the side" doesn't exactly give people reason to trust your services, even if you were the most honest guy in the world. Just look at how often we get newbies posting here asking if Bob Roberts should be trusted. It's exactly BECAUSE he portrays himself as "one guy", (and let's face it, his website looks pretty amateurish), that people not familiar with his "story" don't know if they should risk sending him their cash. ArcadeShop is just one guy too, but their website gives the impression they are more of a legit busines than Bob's site. It's all about impressions.
Everyone has to start somewhere and if you have any hope of building your activities into something that becomes your full-time job, and then becomes a job where you are successful enough to hire staff, then you should from day one think professionally and think like a business, rather than an individual. I know this is pushing it for some guy selling cab plans, but still. You get my point?
~Ray B.