"Should Businesses Make It Easy?" Topic

I hate faxing in orders, and really, who has a fax lying around the house these days? Fred Flintstone perhaps? Unfortunately with Navwar there arenīt any alternatives, so I will continue to fax.

No e-mail option??

:O

With Navwar one is lucky to even have the order form online, something that is a relatively recent addition.
On the other hand, Tony is great about getting the orders out once he gets them, but getting it to him is a pain in the nether regions.

who has a fax lying around the house these days?

Older computers may still have a modem that can send faxes.

I love being a lone voice howling in the wilderness – if they say cheques only, order by post, 28 days for delivery I'll still buy if I really want it.

I suppose you kids want someone to paint and base 'em for you as well ? Why not just get someone else to play the game too ? ;-)

What printers are not also fax machines these days. Most of the ones that come bundled with computers are.

That said, I can totally see the argument and it would hold me up from purchasing.

Stacy

Companies should do as they wish, and they do.

If they are dissatisfied with the results, they should look at their business practices.

Faxes can be sent with virtual fax machines or through legacy devices, but they are hardly ubiquitous.

Customers should buy from who they wish, and they do.

I continue to order from companies with outdated e-commerce capabilities.

The easier the process, the more orders and the more money a company can make.

It just depends if that is an important issue with a minitaures company as many are small operations and maybe can't handle more orders.

If I really want something, I'll find a way to get it. Otherwise if the website/store/process is too difficult then I may change my mind before completing the process.

FAX machines are an abomination. In my anarcho-fascist utopia they would be banned. So would writing checks at the check out line.

Just as a point of fact – Navwar also take orders by post, or you can go in the shop on Saturday afternoons and pay in cold hard cash.

Now, that may be inconvenient for some, but it is an option a lot of web site only stores can't offer.

Swings and roundabouts.

Any office supply store has a fax service available – might add a few dollars to the cost of the order but it's not a major hurdle.

Just about any scanner turns your computer into a fax machine.
Not to mention that large amount of people that have a multifunction machine capable of all three functions.

I still don't fax orders. I haven't faxed an order in over ten years. Email is okay, but some secure online way is best.

I hate the use of the word "should" in Polls like this.
This implies that TMP has the power to compell the company to behave as we like.
Nonsense.

Any company can operate any way they wish, and if you don't like it, don't order from them.

When this discussion first came around, everyone was demanding that companies "make it easy". For the buyer. Perhaps the seller does not wish to dominate the market.
Perhaps making you jump through hoops keeps them small, and under the VAT radar.
More power to them.

If you want to order Naismith Design Aztecs from Navwar, then jump through the hoops. They are fantastic figures. I had an Aztec army from them once.

That's the problem with today's technology. Everyone DEMANDS instant gratification.

It is best to make it as easy as possible for customers to order from a business. Anything a business can do to make it easy to choose and purchase is always a good idea. If a customer is torn between two businesses and one has some of the little things in place while the other doesn't, that might very well be the tie breaker.

I had to go "No Opinion" even though I feel strongly that it doesn't matter what order process a company has. Like others here if I want it I will order it. The poll has two questions in it-- "Would the practice of emailing or faxing your CC info to them stop you from buying their miniatures?" and "Should companies make it easier for you to order from them?"

The first gets an emphatic NO, it would not stop me (this would be a FAR better poll question to have!). The second finds me agreeing with John 100%.

As a side note, I did indeed recently order by mail from Navwar. Although it took a little longer I still got my stuff from the UK and more importantly saved about 50% since the pound had gone down a good bit. The US distributor of Navwar planes was still charging the old price. No contest!

Jerry

Any company can operate any way they wish, and if you don't like it, don't order from them.

What John said. The easier it is, the more I like it, but I'm not above buying a stamp and a money order to get something I want. I don't impulse-buy wargaming kit anyway.

Companies may do as they wish, frankly. If I like what a company has to offer, then I'll make the call on whether or not I'm going to part with my cold, hard money to make the purchase, regardless of their practices. I bought miniatures through the mail before PayPal, so it's not going to kill me to send a fax or whatever.

Moreover, the tone of the question struck me as unintentionally churlish, but that's just me. As has already been pointed out, this hobby isn't run by the equivalent of Wal*Mart; the folks we buy from tend to be pretty darned small in scale (no pun intended…honest).

It is so simple to set up a storefront these days it is almost silly not to do it. The only person you are really hurting is yourself if you make it harder for people to order.

The answers don't match the question. I answered "yes, companies should make it easy," but I nonetheless will, and have in the past, ordered from companies that don't have webstores.

It is so simple to set up a storefront these days it is almost silly not to do it. The only person you are really hurting is yourself if you make it harder for people to order.

The owner of Navwar doesn't care. He's obviously satisfied with his existing customer numbers, and it's not his full time business.

More power to him. I've never had any problems ordering from Navwar, and they sell some nice stuff at reasonable prices.

It is so simple to set up a storefront these days it is almost silly not to do it. The only person you are really hurting is yourself if you make it harder for people to order.

Yes, it is easy, but no it is not silly.
You seem to think that their entire purpose is to grow and serve the world.
The companies in question are small, and wish to stay that way.
Perhaps their "business model" means that if they devote more than 12 hours per week to their part time hobby business, they are missing out on what they really want to do in life.
Perhaps they feel that by making you jump through hoops, it weeds out those who would push them over the 12 hour mark!

Expanding and growing can be a pain in the ass. I really think that if they wanted to, they would have already. They seem to be perfectly happy to do business at the level they are, and I think it is arrogant of anyone to demand or expect that they do things differently.

20thmaine endorses every golden word that John the OFM wrote.

Wow, I've never said this before but John the OFM is completely right. I had this discussion at lodge the other night. Some times, you are more worried about quantity when you should be worried about quality.
Sure, if they put up a shweeeet slick ecommerce site they could sell lots more. But maybe they don't want to sell lots more. Maybe they like that their customers absolutely appreciate and respect their product since they have to work at it to actually become customers.

Wow, I've never said this before but John the OFM is completely right.

Even a stopped watch is right twice a day.

The ironic thing for me about Navwar is that I get a faster turnaround time with their antiquated system than I do with ordering from Heroics and Ros, which used to belong to Navwar, by email.
And to be honest, it is kind of nostalgic to order the Navwar way :)

If the business in question does not want my business it is of course up to them to make it as unattractive as possible.

I can't even remember last time I ordered by something like fax, or even sending my card details separately (split in parts or whatever).
I'll go somewhere else, and if that's fine by those I spurn, well, fine, I suppose.

I don't paypal, don't do business with paypal only companies.

Coincidentally this morning I have been looking at making an order – the US distributor requires a fax, the UK manufacturer has an easier to use web store.

Prices being about the same I caved to laziness and ordered from the UK rather than printing a form filling it out and scanning it back into the machine.

**RANT ON**

Screw Paypal. After my recent experience with them, ("Now that you have spent 10,000 with us you must either apply for our credit card or provide us access to your bank account") I won't use PAYPAL.

Apparently, they are actively seeking out targets for the NEW & IMPROVED PAYPAL credit card based on their collected data from past transactions and all but compelling it's use.

**RANT OFF**

No thanks, I'll support companies which offer me the NON-PAYPAL option.

Stop picking on Navwar. He's run his business that way for 40 years and he's obviously happy with it and still getting customers. Think yourself lucky that he makes the stuff at all.

I won't buy from manufacturers who don't make it easy, ie provide a website with clear photos of all their minis and a functioning, secure webstore. There are just far too many options out there for me to fuss around with snail mail or (ha ha, yeah right) a fax machine. Sorry, if your business model requires me to waste my time going to Staples to send you a freaking fax, I'll just buy from somebody who operates in the 21st century.

If a business deliberately makes their ordering process an ordeal in an effort to stunt their user base, then I will happily support their choice by not being a customer.

@Margard: I donīt think anyone here is picking on Navwar, in fact, quite the opposite. His range, prices, and customer service still make me a loyal customer, even though I dislike his old school way of doing business.

It is so simple to set up a storefront these days it is almost silly not to do it. The only person you are really hurting is yourself if you make it harder for people to order.

Is it? I'm an old foggie and I wouldn't know where to begin. Really.

Sorry, I don't care how nice your products are if I have to use a FAX machine to get them. We haven't had a landline telephone for the last 6 or 7 years and I am not driving someplace and using their FAX machine.

I can handle it if a company cannot take pictures of every miniature and post it to the web. But, if you do not have an online cart that takes either a credit card or PayPal that's a deal breaker.

Don't like Fax ? Send a letter. It really isn't rocket science.

Law of the jungle.

If the premise of this poll is correct, said business will eventually cease trading. If not, they will do fine.

Personally, never having run a business I don't feel inclined to offer advice.

As a very small wargaming business I find PayPal to be the only usable choice since many UK banks stopped guaranteeing cheques.

Taking direct credit card sales is far too expensive for the number and size of orders that I get and I refuse to ask customers to pay a surcharge.

Obviously there are going to be those who insist on every transaction they make to be at the cutting edge of finance – it is easier for them after all. Most people do however realise that businesses do not operate on a single model and are prepared to be a little more tolerant.

If there were not a significant majority of potential buyers in that category then a large proportion of the wargaming market would collapse. Most gaming business are small and just don't have the throughput to 'tool up' for every trend going.

while I prefer to use PayPal, if I want something bad enough I will use snail mail or fax to do so. You can always use an online fax service to send one. I have not had a home phone for 8 years and do not miss it.

So, 80% of the respondents to this Poll are infavor of forcing Navwar to accomodate their childish whims.

Now, try to engforce that.

Fax is only slightly more convenient than telegram.

So, 80% of the respondents to this Poll are infavor of forcing Navwar to accomodate their childish whims.

Now, try to engforce that

Who's going to send navwar the Fax to tell them ?

80% of people won't. And 20% don't feel the need to.

Fax is only slightly more convenient than telegram.

How about Telex?

As a consumer, yes companies should make it easier. However, they are running their own business in the best way they can/ want to.
As an online shopping addict, I appreciate that some companies make it harder to spend my money impulsively.

I'll not send my credit card info in an email. Period. I won't buy if I can't use a more secure method of payment. If the company doesn't offer some way that suits me, they don't make a sale.

If the company doesn't offer some way that suits me, they don't make a sale.

Which is obviously fine with them!
I doubt very much that Navwar is losing any sleep over it.

Which is obviously fine with them!
I doubt very much that Navwar is losing any sleep over it.

It appears that many posters are missing this small, but vital, fact by a country mile.

The displays of petulance from would be non-customers are most amusing!

who has a fax lying around the house these days?

I just bought my second all-in-one printer/scanner. It faxes, as did the last one. Maybe all the people who refuse the fax are the ones stuck with an old time mentality about technology …

I really don't care if it's Navwar or any other company, we live in a world of dissatisfaction. We have multiple options of miniatures, companies, places to buy – stores, web stores, magazines, etc, and yet we bitch and complain. Why?

Does every company need to do everything the same way? Do they all have to be up on the latest technology, have the same web page design or have a web page at all?

Face it, companies do what they do and don't change because they are satisfied with the results they are having with their present operations. And, some companies that have jump through the consumer hoops (demands) to be more up with times have shown over and over again that the work put into creating that effort has not yielded the returns verses the hours and cost invested.

The truth is, if we want it and need it, we will comply with the method prescribe to get it.

Interesting that PayPal a commerical service is the option listed.

I am not a fan of paypal at all.

I have found that most of the companies I do business with will take my information on a phone call or any other means of communication. It is not a benefit to me for PayPal as an option.

Curious though would you accept the costs a business has for PayPal passed on in the form of higher prices?

What is more funny is the questionable outrage for the results of a meaningless poll.
M