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Is it acceptable to take a week to reply to email?

by sloanjim
11 replies
Man.....maybe I am getting old and misreable? :-) but it's a pet peeve of minewhen it takes somene a week or more to reply to an email question I have. It takes forever to sort out ";ittle problems" or get answers.

Am I being unreasonable to expect a reply within 1 working day? I mean this day and age where you need to engage customers quick is it really a good idea to reply to my email one week+ later?

I love peope /business thet reply to my email the same day but I realize sometimes it's not possible but I do expect one the next day.......When I get nothing I kind of sit there shaking my head wondering what the H*** are these people doing.

Am I wrong?
#acceptable #email #reply #week
  • Profile picture of the author Ernie Lo
    I totally agree with you. It depends on how big the person/company is though.

    If its Google, Clickbank etc, I think a few days is reasonable but for the majority of 1 man operations who obviously go online every day I think 1-2 days is not asking too much!
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  • Profile picture of the author mattalways
    Originally Posted by sloanjim View Post

    Am I being unreasonable to expect a reply within 1 working day? I mean this day and age where you need to engage customers quick is it really a good idea to reply to my email one week+ later?
    Well I agree... I hate waiting. When my brain gets going on something, I don't want to wait to hear back, but from the sounds of the above, it doesn't matter if they move quick, as it really seems like you want what they have to offer...so I guess they can take their time haha

    I agree though. I hate waiting on people! That's like the only thing holding me back from making tons of money. I think in this business you need to find a way to get good ideas and put them into action, but then use your time inbetween waiting on results to do more. Don't sit back and wait even though that's the only thing you can do... You need to have like 10 things on the go at once, or you will wait a week and find out something didn't work. If you have 10 things you have initiated, at the end of the week you have more chances that something you did went well!
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  • Profile picture of the author sloanjim
    these are very small operations....I am trying to get my head around why they seem to take so long to reply. I almost tempted to ask them why it is taking so long to get replies but I did this before and they got so mad at me..I now tread carefully.

    On one hand I am thinking they are sooooo busy they can't reply...but that doesn't really wash. I mean can you be that busy not to reply to a question? Maybe...

    On the other I am thinking is it some kind of arrogance/power play to keep me waiting? I hear some people NVER reply to email right away for what-ever reason. I guess some people might check there email once every few days. Then why bother having a web site?

    The trouble is what should be resolved today is taking a week. Any how......I might kind of ask them in a "playful way" and see what they say.
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  • Profile picture of the author sloanjim
    Yeah but I am also thinking how quick do these people reply to "customer" questions and queries...becasue if it is as long as this......they're going to be losing so much interest/business. But they may reply to custoemrs much faster...which then telsl me what? I feel devalued.

    I might test it as a customer and see if it's faster. But either result isn't going to leaving me feeling happy is it?

    On the othe rhand I have companies who reply within hours. I am not asking people to sit by the email waiting to reply. But with so much competition if you take too long to reply you are losing customers.

    I agree though. I hate waiting on people! That's like the only thing holding me back from making tons of money. I think in this business you need to find a way to get good ideas and put them into action, but then use your time inbetween waiting on results to do more. Don't sit back and wait even though that's the only thing you can do... You need to have like 10 things on the go at once, or you will wait a week and find out something didn't work. If you have 10 things you have initiated, at the end of the week you have more chances that something you did went well!
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  • Profile picture of the author rehema
    that can no be acceptable and even in the future that we are heading too that will never be acceptable. The best will be to reply to email immediately as sson as you get them and you are on your PC.


    if you are getting many email for best customer service you will have to hire a staff who will be replying to email only while you are attending to other issues.
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  • Profile picture of the author Dean Martin
    You've discovered the difference between someone who cares about their customers and someone who just says they care...

    Lip service is easy (millions of businesses SAY they put their customer first) but actually putting that into tangible actions is a little more difficult. Who's going to win in the end? The business that returns phone calls the same day, emails ASAP and has a backup plan for when the key person is out of the office someone else is following up.

    Caring is hard work but the rewards are great.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jec
    HI,

    I agree with you. In any business it is vital to consistently give your customers service value. I strongly believe that the key determiner of a sucessful business is value.

    Why don't you try to email them again as a reminder.
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  • Profile picture of the author sloanjim
    ^^ I do...^^ still takes a week. Is it because I am not a customer?
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  • Profile picture of the author JakeRhodes
    I think it depends on the type of site you are contacting. If it's just a site offering free information and making a little money off advertising then I wouldn't mind waiting a week for a reply from an email. If it's a business trying to sell me something though I do expect my email to be replied to within a working day, otherwise I won't deal with them again.
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  • Profile picture of the author sloanjim
    it is this. I too just cannot get my head around it....I am kind of speeachless as to why they are like this.

    If it's a business trying to sell me something though I do expect my email to be replied to within a working day, otherwise I won't deal with them again.
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  • Profile picture of the author Michael Oksa
    Perhaps they are following the 4-Hour Work Week model of only checking their e-mail once per week?

    Also, smaller operations are, well, small. Usually run by one person. That person may also have a life outside of IM, they may even have a full-time job.

    That being said, as long as they treat it like a hobby, it will pay like a hobby. Once they take things seriously, such as responding to e-mails in a timely fashion, their business will start to improve.

    I think EXPECTING to have your e-mails answered within one business day is only asking to be let down. For the sake of sanity, expect no reply at all. Then if you get one, it will make your day.

    All the best,
    Michael
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