Just a mention about getting back to a potential client ASAP a brochure on eastern white pine wide plank flooring (10-15″ random widths….6-16′ long).
I must have written half a dozen companies. I got back three replies.
The one guy I really liked sent me info two weeks after getting my Email.
He called me yesterday as a follow up. I told him I already bought the floor from Carlyle. He told me it ruined his day…lol. I told him he should have gotten “right” back to me because after speaking with him I’d most definatly have bought it from him.
I only ordered 350 sq ft of it and probably have about another 1500′ to order once the additions are done so……
But it shows to go you………..CALL THE CLIENT RIGHT BACK ASAP!
Be as they say…”you slow, you blow”!
andy
My life is my practice!
Replies
If I need something and contact a number of suppliers, then the one that gets back the quickest is the one who is going to get my business, unless there is some obvious reason why they shouldn't.
I don't know what it is about some firms and emails, whether they don't read them at all, or read them and ignore them, or read them and assume they came from a timewaster?
John
I must have written half a dozen companies. I got back three replies.
I've pretty much given up trying to get answers to emails. Have no idea why they post an address if there's nobody willing to respond. Recently I went through a lengthy (phone) search for undermount (concealed) drawer guides.
The ones I last happily used are no longer made. The Mepla-Alfit rep promised me a new catalog almost a month ago. The quadro folks at Hettich kept giving me phone numbers of distributors in the mid-Atlantic region, none of whom have gotten back to me with pricing and availability. The Grass importer FAXed me 15 pages, none of which were about undermounts.
In desperation I gave up and went back to my Blum distributor who doesn't even have an applicable undermount. <sigh> At least they give good customer service.
My one notable exception to non-results was a nasty email to Caterpillar. Wow, got the phone ringing off the hook from everybody. All I wanted to know was the lining thickness of new brake shoes for my 933. Apparently an uncommon question. Required a security clearance to get into the file. For a 40 yr old tractor!
PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!
A good salesperson (IMHO) always has a sense of urgency when it comes to getting back to folks. Even if I just call/email to say, "I got your message and am working on it" (auto emails that say that don't count) I try and respond same day.
I have gotten a few chuckles from some customers lately when I call next day (instead of same day) and say, "Sorry it took so long to get back to you" To most people in most circumstances, that is still a prompt response. . .
I think the quote is attributable to Mario Andretti, "If you don't feel like you are just about to lose control, you aren't going fast enough." I know, I know, doesn't apply to everything or everyone, but for me it applies to sales. I like to "delude" myself into thinking that I am a valuable resource to my customers and they really need me to get back to them. (I sell stuff for factory automation - not construction mat'ls)
Andy, thanks for rewarding the go-getter.
Edit - I try and change my voicemail message every business day to say when I'll be in or out of the office and that they can "0" out to the recept for my cell. I wish I had a quicker or easier way to do that with email. A lot of people send emails to me expecting fast responses, but if I'm out I don't get them (obviously) until I come back in. I realize that they can always follow up with a call, but if setting up the email auto answer was easier at my company (or if they'd buy me a blackberry ;-P) I'd feel better. . . .
Edited 2/7/2004 3:21:01 PM ET by Jim
Looking for builders for this house, I wanted to know about building with metal and sent an e-mail, called and talked with a fellow that built our last metal barn and did a very good job. He works for another company now that also builds metal houses and he told me to fax him the plan and he would get back to me with a bid.
Well, I did fax the plan, tried to call him twice in the next month and then finally, three months later, gave the bid to another person.
Would you know that a few days later he called back and told me that he was getting the bid ready and needed some more information???
I was seriously considering metal because of the termite problem but his way of doing business was a worse problem than termites, I think.
your post gets my blood pressure runnin BUT talk about a company that seems to have its sh*t together Carlyle! have never had the opportunity to install their product but have had two clients entertain the notion so have had experience w/ their personnel & product - I practically drool at the thought!
what are your thoughts? fantastic product? did you use their preferred method of finish more and more tung oil
within wks looking to approach them about two pieces about 16" wide 7' long for a country table on the charts