All the vendors I buy from don't openly publish their telephone numbers. I find this to be a strange business practice. Does anyone else feel the same way? 
Does the lack of telephone numbers strike anyone else as Strange?
- Thread starter desk1%
- Start date
- th_trl_thread_readers 0
- Status
Sad to say but I don't think it is strange. More and more I'm finding it harder to find numbers to call anyone who is selling anything. This goes for almost any business. I think it is poor customer service. It is much easier to ignore an email than it is I phone call.
Since a large portion of on-line e-cig vendors apparently work out of the spare room, garage or basement, I would guess they don't want to give out their personal phone number and are too cheap to get a business phone ..
I live in California, and to business in this state it is my understanding that a business must offer full details including but not limited to telephone number and physical address.
I would also suspect that with a posted phone number comes the obligation to pay someone to sit and answer it. Otherwise customers would start to complain their call went unanswered or it went to voice mail if the vendor was doing other things. At least with e-mail the vendor can tend to it between other duties.
I've worked in mechanical trades (mechanic and machinist) and often times folks do have to leave a message but it's still more professional than no phone number.
True, but e-mail tends to leave a paper trail which the vendors may find useful in resolving complaints.
Pretty simple for me. No phone number listed on website, NO purchases made by me from that website. That goes for ANYTHING I wish to purchase on the internet.
I am with you grandmato5. I go to the contact portion of any site I visit first, if I am not happy with what is listed I don't order. I am especially skeptical of sites that have cheap prices and no contact info. I was more gullible when I was younger but I have been burned enough I have learned to look before I leap.
For my service business I have my phone number on my site and I get 10 to 20 phone calls a day of solicitations while I'm trying to get things done, drives me nuts.
I tried putting the number on the federal do not call list, waited until it would be updated and started telling callers that I am on the do not call list.
I was soon smugly informed that business phone lines aren't covered by do not call list restrictions.
On the other hand, Visa and MC require that you have a phone number and address listed on your website to process cards, so I'm not sure how vendors are getting around that requirement.
I tried putting the number on the federal do not call list, waited until it would be updated and started telling callers that I am on the do not call list.
I was soon smugly informed that business phone lines aren't covered by do not call list restrictions.
On the other hand, Visa and MC require that you have a phone number and address listed on your website to process cards, so I'm not sure how vendors are getting around that requirement.
"For my service business I have my phone number on my site and I get 10 to 20 phone calls a day of solicitations while I'm trying to get things done, drives me nuts."
EXACTLY... constant interruptions... and then there is stupid question period... possible customers calling with the dumbest questions you can imagine (can I walk to work or should I carry my lunch?).. it does not end. I can easily see where small operations are trying to invoice orders, mix the juice and then get it shipped. Would you rather have your order shipped quickly or have someone you can talk about the weather with?
EXACTLY... constant interruptions... and then there is stupid question period... possible customers calling with the dumbest questions you can imagine (can I walk to work or should I carry my lunch?).. it does not end. I can easily see where small operations are trying to invoice orders, mix the juice and then get it shipped. Would you rather have your order shipped quickly or have someone you can talk about the weather with?
I realize that there are many more choices than those suppliers which are registered on ECF, but to be a registered supplier here a phone number is required according to the rules.
"6. All Supplier websites, where existing, must have Contact information with a valid mailing address, landline telephone number and email. If your website does not comply, and you ignore our request to update it, you will be reverted to Supplier - unregistered and will have no rights on the site."
"6. All Supplier websites, where existing, must have Contact information with a valid mailing address, landline telephone number and email. If your website does not comply, and you ignore our request to update it, you will be reverted to Supplier - unregistered and will have no rights on the site."
It depends what they are selling, type of business and location. I find that calling China is a waste even if the number is listed. Email works just fine. If they are a deep discount, home based, business in the US then I do not expect them to have a number that I can call. You are getting a huge discount why should they be available from 9-5? The whole reason the price is low is due to the low overhead. They could just get a Google number but not all people know about that.
Now your standard, market priced, vendor should have a number and as was mentioned earlier, I too look to see if they have one when I am evaluating them for a prospective purchase.
Now your standard, market priced, vendor should have a number and as was mentioned earlier, I too look to see if they have one when I am evaluating them for a prospective purchase.
My long defunct website business (15 years long gone) STILL gets phone calls, email, and snail mail from marketing people. Once your info goes into someone's database, it gets handed around, sold, and re-sold forever.
It amazes me.
It amazes me.
Normally I would agree and never order from any on-line site that doesn't show a legit. address (not a P.O. Box) and phone number. When I was making my first buying decision the lack of a phone number on one sight I was referred to bothered me. But the place had so many positive referrals on ECF that I jumped anyway. Never regretted the decision and got some of my best customer service ever - by e-mail.
Sure it can be a concern. But if there is a real stinker in the crowd a fast search on ECF will probably show them called out on it.
Sure it can be a concern. But if there is a real stinker in the crowd a fast search on ECF will probably show them called out on it.
I always check reviews on websites, but I do prefer if a vendor has a phone number posted.
- Status
Similar threads
- Locked
