Amazing...

It's amazing how many web sites that cater to high end customers ignore email requests. I am in the market for a high end sail boat. I am actually going to be in Sweden next month to look at some, and unless you call to schedule appointments, you are totally ignored. Seems like a simple concept. I am on the road a lot, reading my blackberry. If I have a specific question, and I email it to your company, it would be nice if they would reply.

rant off...

Last week I called and left messages with 6 plumbers. Of the 6 only 2 returned my call. My son has a landscaping business that has grown by leaps and bounds. He tells me that customers are totally surprised when he returns a call. He relates several stories a week about returning a call and the person on the other end giving him the job just because he was the only one to return their phone call. We have come a LOOOOOOONG way haven't we!

mike

The realities of the web hasn't caught up to everyone.

I had my radar repaired last year, which I added to a cruise of about 300 miles. I wanted info on where I was to tie up for the work to be completed.

The company that did the repair had a web site, with all the links, but never returned any messages. Only calling them on the phone got a response. During business hours. They didn't even have a message machine. They operate much like a business did in the 1960's.

Bad business practice. A modern business would kick their ass, but most of these type businesses are run very poorly.

> It's amazing how many web sites that cater to high end customers ignore > email requests.

Consider that they may have a very low proportion of genuine inquiries, even after spam is filtered. It is difficult to qualify prospects who initiate email. It isn't like a walk-in dealership where you'll be sized up at a reception desk and matched to an appropriate salesman. For all they know, you're a Moldavian beggar.

But you're right that they shouldn't completely ignore email, if they solicit email. Likely the Web site was designed by an outside firm who didn't appreciate that the firm was not fluent in email.