Re: Customer service - what customer service?

From: Stephen Agar <stephen@nospam.demon.co.uk>

Date: Thu, 11 Mar 1999 00:00:00 +0000

In article <36E83737.56AECDB3@asaunders.freeserve.co.uk>, Adam Saunders
<adam@asaunders.freeserve.co.uk> apparently said...
>Yeah, this sort of delay is pretty much what you expect in England -
>I've waited on occasion for significantly longer than 8 weeks to start a
>game. Hell, I've waited more than 8 weeks between turns in a game. The
>thing is - once you're used to the way the hobby works, you come to
>expect this sort of thing as the norm - and just put up with it.
>
>Imagine the scenario. You've never played PBM before. You send off your
>money, and (hopefully) get something back quickly in return - along with
>a message that there might be a short wait for the game to start. Then
>you don't hear anything for several weeks - you've paid your money, but
>got precious little in return. I can see how this puts people off.
>
>If you stick with it, eventually you find a company (like Pagoda or
>Madhouse) where, once a game's started, you get a good, reliable
>turnaround. Any likely delays are broadcast well in advance and you're
>not left wondering what's going on. I think the problems arise, when PBM
>companies get used to the way the hobby works, and forget what it's like
>for the uninitiated.
>
>It's all very well advertising outside the hobby - but if people get
>bored waiting - and give up on PBM before they've actually started a
>game, you're just wasting your money - and, perhaps, putting people off
>PBM for life.
>

Ever tried the amateur PBM zine scene? It's far cheaper (say 1 pound a
month) and very chatty.
--
Stephen Agar, Brighton, UK
www.diplomacy.co.uk

References

Re: Customer service - what customer service?
Martin Nicholson <Martin@crozet.demon.co.uk>
Wed, 10 Mar 1999 00:00:00 +0000
Re: Customer service - what customer service?
lindahl@pbm.com (Greg Lindahl)
Wed, 10 Mar 1999 00:00:00 +0000
Re: Customer service - what customer service?
mlwilliams <mwilliams@signal.dera.gov.uk>
Thu, 11 Mar 1999 00:00:00 +0000
Re: Customer service - what customer service?
Adam Saunders <adam@asaunders.freeserve.co.uk>
Thu, 11 Mar 1999 00:00:00 +0000

Referenced By

Re: Customer service - what customer service?
Martin Nicholson <Martin@crozet.demon.co.uk>
Wed, 10 Mar 1999 00:00:00 +0000
Re: Customer service - what customer service?
lindahl@pbm.com (Greg Lindahl)
Wed, 10 Mar 1999 00:00:00 +0000
Re: Customer service - what customer service?
mlwilliams <mwilliams@signal.dera.gov.uk>
Thu, 11 Mar 1999 00:00:00 +0000
Re: Customer service - what customer service?
Adam Saunders <adam@asaunders.freeserve.co.uk>
Thu, 11 Mar 1999 00:00:00 +0000