Why do people not want money?

"William Byrd" (thedriver)
06/04/2014 at 09:34 • Filed to: None

Twice in the last few days, I have reached online out to some business/service provider and requested either a quote, or to set up some sort of meeting to discuss me giving them money in exchange for something they say they do. None of them responded. What's up with that? Do they have so much business they don't need more? Doubtful. Or do they just hire lazy people to read their emails? This applies to car purchases as well, I'm amazed at the number of dealerships and salespeople who will only do business in person or over the phone. I value my time and love it when someone will engage in a meaningful back and forth over email.

My best car purchases were a 2007 Infiniti, where I had (2) trades and did the entire deal virtually (showed up and signed and left) and my most recent !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! ('14 Focus ST and '14 Fusion SE) where I was able to negotiate, locate the right cars and value the trade(s) mostly over email. That means NOT sitting in the dealership for 6 hours and I like that.

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Anyone else find that it's hard to do business online with some places?

DISCUSSION (18)

macanamera > William Byrd
06/04/2014 at 09:36

It not as easy to take you for a ride online.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > William Byrd
06/04/2014 at 09:41

The place I'm living, the building manager doesn't respond to her emails, it's highly frustrating.

signintoburnerlol > William Byrd
06/04/2014 at 09:42

A lot of businesses don't take emails seriously, a call they will take seriously.

My father would be the same way, if you sent him an email asking for a custom made jewelry piece, he'd ignore it.

William Byrd > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs
06/04/2014 at 09:43

Oof, don't get me started on the lady who used to manage the building I rented in. Whens he finally would reply, it was in all caps and very short and rude. No email etiquette whatsoever.

Good example though, "Hey the air conditioner isn't working". "No problem, we'll send someone over". Simple, easy, don't have to play phone tag.

MonkeePuzzle > William Byrd
06/04/2014 at 09:49

finding it hard to do business with craigslist people. Have seriously been asking a guy about his car for weeks, I even texted him a picture of the cash I had to give him, it was as close to fry yelling shut up and take my money as real life can get

The Transporter > William Byrd
06/04/2014 at 09:50

Not everybody that owns a business is a good businessman. Not everybody in sales is a good salesman.

William Byrd > signintoburnerlol
06/04/2014 at 09:50

So you think it's generational? That could be.

Pockets > William Byrd
06/04/2014 at 09:51

People are more likely to back out of a deal they've arranged via email than in person or over the phone & there's a lot more speculative enquiries with email to sift through. Lots of places take that as a reason to put little effort into replying to emails.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > William Byrd
06/04/2014 at 09:51

Haha yeah. I got an email stating if I resign my lease by may 1st I'll get to keep my rate, this was in early April, come April 29th-ish I start wondering and email her and email her again on the 30th... Nothing. So I call and she says: "oh yeah we'll get those out in the next few days". I'm think ok... Fine. Now, in early June, I finally have a lease to sign, she gave me two copies and said I should sign both and throw them in the drop box, what? I don't get a copy?

Also, like you said, email etiquette, she should have responded to my emails to keep me apprised of the lease situation.

William Byrd > MonkeePuzzle
06/04/2014 at 09:51

lol, you did? That's hysterical. That I don't understand, he is using the internet to sell a car and then isn't replying to people who want to...buy his car.

signintoburnerlol > William Byrd
06/04/2014 at 09:55

Anyone can write an email, with spam so prevalent, why should a small business waste their money on a email?

I was looking at high end exhaust for my Audi, majority of places never replied to emails. But they would call me if i left a number in the fill out form. Of course we're talking about $3000+ exhausts, none of which i ever did buy. Haha

Same thing for high end car parts, they'll always want to talk to you on the phone. A lot of people like that personal touch, even if it might be a bit

William Byrd > signintoburnerlol
06/04/2014 at 09:58

I suppose, but wouldn't it behoove them to at least reply and see what's going on.

In these cases, I have done business with both places before and was looking for some follow-up. Seems like laziness to me.

MonkeePuzzle > William Byrd
06/04/2014 at 10:04

he told me in a previous text he works nights, so after a few more unreplied emails and texts I thought I'd show him I was serious and worth the effort. Now I suspect the car is sold and he just cant be bothered taking the ad down or replying.

E92M3 > William Byrd
06/04/2014 at 10:05

My wife is like that. She never reads her email. Could be because she gets 200 a day. Most people have learned if you want to do business with her you better pick up the phone.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > William Byrd
06/04/2014 at 10:30

It really comes down to the individual. The problem is you occasionally run into "old school" guys who can't be bothered to do email. If you can change salesmen, always talk to the manager and do so. The sales market and newest crop of sales managers are having less and less patience for those kinds of people.

DipodomysDeserti > William Byrd
06/04/2014 at 11:01

I bought my 335d via text with the sales guy. I looked at it and test drove before actually signing papers, but did all the negotiations before going in. I have two kids and two jobs. Ain't nobody got time for dealerships.

William Byrd > DipodomysDeserti
06/04/2014 at 11:16

Excellent. I think it's the luxury car dealerships that have figured it out.

BoulderZ > William Byrd
06/04/2014 at 11:55

Too common, and frustrating. I feel like that every time I have to pick up materials at Home Depot. I can pick and pull an entire room's worth of stain-grade trim in less time than it takes to get through the 2 or 3 open checkouts, including the scan-it-yourself ones.