People not replying to emails
Discussion
This is one of those 'is it just me?' things but I've noticed an increasing lethargy amongst an increasing number of people in the business community not to reply to emails. I'm not talking about sales emails but general communication as part of the general process of doing business... confirmation of receipt of something, a thank you, or any general response. This is noticeable more with Public Sector clients.
Rant over.
Rant over.
Rick101 said:
I saw a business owner bragging/showing off, whatever you want to call it by showing he had thousands and thousands of unread emails. A few others then joined it to show theirs off like a badge of honour.
I found it quite strange. Having more than about 10 really freaks me out!
6,700 !! But I’m my defence we do get client order summary’s daily and I forget to delete them.I found it quite strange. Having more than about 10 really freaks me out!
Many challengese these days: lots of pointless emails, poor organisational skills, a lot of demands on people's times to do other things.
Am sure most jobs you could just sit on email all day and never get to a point where you're finished. I know a lot of people that don't bother responding to a mail unless it gets a follow-up. That's how they distinguish between what is actually important.
This is why apps like Slack, MS Teams etc exist. So people can have a text-only discussion without clogging up an inbox.
Am sure most jobs you could just sit on email all day and never get to a point where you're finished. I know a lot of people that don't bother responding to a mail unless it gets a follow-up. That's how they distinguish between what is actually important.
This is why apps like Slack, MS Teams etc exist. So people can have a text-only discussion without clogging up an inbox.
p4cks said:
Conversely, I can't stand "thanks" or "you're welcome" emails in my inbox
Totally agree - I am working with some chump at the moment and almost all of his emails are 'thanks' 'understood' 'standing by' and similar one or tow word irreverent nonsense. I think he thinks it makes him sound like he's doing everything but in reality we all know he's just passing the buck.I work in IT, used to maintain an inbox of no more than 10 mails on the boil at any time.
In the last 5 years my organisation has started churning out so much mail I can't remember the last time I saw the bottom of my inbox.
People send too much email in my line of work. Don't get me started on pointless, arse-covering 'reply to alls' with 50+ recipients.
In the last 5 years my organisation has started churning out so much mail I can't remember the last time I saw the bottom of my inbox.
People send too much email in my line of work. Don't get me started on pointless, arse-covering 'reply to alls' with 50+ recipients.
I'm annoyed when I'm enquiring about a product I might want to buy, and they can't be bothered to reply. So I grudgingly phone them up, mention that I've emailed a few times and had no reply, and get "Oh, we're too busy to answer emails". So, put that on your web site, instead of just showing the email address and inviting people to use a form of communication that you're not going to respond to.
Easy enough to set rules up. Emails are just a part of business. It's something to be managed same as anything else.
On a point of 'rules', I used to get daily performance emails from my boss. I hadn't had one for ages and assumed thay stopped as that had happened before for several weeks. Anyway, a few months down the line I hear my colleagues talking about their scores. Thought it was strange I hadn't had an email but then checked my Outlook to find a - When received from boss/mark as read/move to a folder in the arse end of nowhere rule active
(You can't move internal emails directly to Junk, i've tried!)
On a point of 'rules', I used to get daily performance emails from my boss. I hadn't had one for ages and assumed thay stopped as that had happened before for several weeks. Anyway, a few months down the line I hear my colleagues talking about their scores. Thought it was strange I hadn't had an email but then checked my Outlook to find a - When received from boss/mark as read/move to a folder in the arse end of nowhere rule active
(You can't move internal emails directly to Junk, i've tried!)
Edited by Rick101 on Thursday 21st November 18:52
Rick101 said:
I saw a business owner bragging/showing off, whatever you want to call it by showing he had thousands and thousands of unread emails. A few others then joined it to show theirs off like a badge of honour.
I found it quite strange. Having more than about 10 really freaks me out!
Why do people see being busy as such a badge of honour? As opposed to what they have achieved?I found it quite strange. Having more than about 10 really freaks me out!
Women seem to particularly prone to this ("I logged on after my holiday and I had 300 emails!").
I delete most of the stuff coming from unrecognised sources unread (and some from sources known to be worthless, such as automated senders); deal with the evidently urgent as I see it arrive, then deal with the stuff that appears to be to my/my employers advantage to answer.
The rest tends to sink out of sight and be revived only if chased.
If I didn't do this- I would spend all day reading and replying to emails.
Must be lots of people in this position.
The rest tends to sink out of sight and be revived only if chased.
If I didn't do this- I would spend all day reading and replying to emails.
Must be lots of people in this position.
StevieBee said:
This is one of those 'is it just me?' things but I've noticed an increasing lethargy amongst an increasing number of people in the business community not to reply to emails. I'm not talking about sales emails but general communication as part of the general process of doing business... confirmation of receipt of something, a thank you, or any general response. This is noticeable more with Public Sector clients.
Rant over.
Was one of the people that hasn't replied called Cotty, per chance? Rant over.
We get customers Email us, also same message on Whatsapp and on Facebook. We reply using one and start a conversation then midway though they change from one format to the other !! Crazy.
But a agree that in that i have emailed a company about a product and got no reply, i did this yesterday with Earl's performance filled out the "online contact us form" (it was late at night so could not call) asking about a product got no reply in 2 days so called up asked the question and placed the order yesterday and will be with me tomorrow.
I really think it depends what type of business they are, in my case i could not get this produce elsewhere so had to pursue them.
But a agree that in that i have emailed a company about a product and got no reply, i did this yesterday with Earl's performance filled out the "online contact us form" (it was late at night so could not call) asking about a product got no reply in 2 days so called up asked the question and placed the order yesterday and will be with me tomorrow.
I really think it depends what type of business they are, in my case i could not get this produce elsewhere so had to pursue them.
Rick101 said:
I saw a business owner bragging/showing off, whatever you want to call it by showing he had thousands and thousands of unread emails. A few others then joined it to show theirs off like a badge of honour.
I found it quite strange. Having more than about 10 really freaks me out!
I found it quite strange. Having more than about 10 really freaks me out!
chippy348 said:
We get customers Email us, also same message on Whatsapp and on Facebook. We reply using one and start a conversation then midway though they change from one format to the other !! Crazy.
We get that with internal comms - email, Teams, Salesforce Chatter, WhatApp, Skype, Texts. Not to mention phone calls. I think some people do it on purpose so you can't put a history togetherGassing Station | Business | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff