Div: November 2005 Archives

In the past, companies had huge departments for marketing. Marketing means that you send your customers your message. You speak, and they listen.

But then came the Cluetrain, followed by the Hughtrain and we started conversations. The ideal tool for conversations is the weblog. On the corporate weblog you can write down your thoughts, and the readers can comment on that.

To me, this still does not feel alright. It is still the company who decides on the conversation topic. I can participate in a conversation, but I can't start one. OK, I could write my opinion on my own weblog, but wouldn't it be nice to have all conversations together?

Is there any tool that allows others to start conversations?

Voor·deel·zak (de ~)

1 fanatiek koopjesjager

I urgently needed a particular piece of electronics. So I checked the manufacturer's web site top see where I could buy it. After phoning all possible shops in Lleida, I reverted to an on-line shop. I looked at the available options and choose the biggest company. That turned out to be my biggest mistake:

On October 24 I connected to their site, found my item and saw that they had it on stock. The site mentioned a delivery time of 7 days, which was fine, since I needed it in 14 days.

October 25

I received an e-mail confirming my order ---after one day!--- and a request for a copy of my identification card. Of course I immediately sent this.

October 28

I checked the order status on the web, since I had not received a confirmation of reception of my message. The status mentioned 'missing information', so I sent an e-mail asking for the current status.

October 31

I still hadn't heard anything, and started to become a little bit nervous. So I phoned their customer support. They told me that there was a delay, and they were waiting for their supplier to deliver the goods. They could not explain me why the item was shown to be in stock when I made my order.

November 2

I received an e-mail from them, telling me that there had been an incident. I phoned them and asked them whether they would be able to deliver the item on time, since I needed it in 6 days. They assured me that it would not be a problem.

November 3

I would not let them forget me, so I phoned again. They told me that they had the item in their central warehouse, and that it was now passing quality control. They should be able to send it me in one week. I patiently explained them that I really need the item in a few days. The nice guy one the other side said that he understood me and that he would pass a message to the quality control department. I expected that it would be possible to ship it to me on the next day, but told me to phone again.

November 4

I faithfully phoned again, hoping that they'd been able to send me my device. But instead of that, the nice lady tells me that they can not deliver within the next two weeks. Besides that, she tells me that there has not been noted anything about my phone call the day before! I explain once more that I really need the device, and that they'd promised me that it would be possible to deliver it on time, but she says that there is nothing she can do. I cancel my order...

Only little time left, so all I can do is find a shop that has the device in stock and pick it up personally. I start with the big outlets in Barcelona, and after phoning 7 of them I am able to reserve my item. I hop in the car, drive 160 kilometres, pay some money ---hé, this shop is even cheaper than what I found on Internet!--- and drive home happily. I promise everybody that I won't buy anything from Carrefour!

This fun, dragging magnetic letters around the screen while 10+ people are doing the same!

[Via VoWe]

10. While diving home from work, you have to pull over three times to jot it down and empty your mind.
9. You put your weekly review on a Someday/Maybe list. ... NOT!
8. You go to McDonalds for lunch but --- before ordering --- you draw a mind map of what an ideal fast food meal would look and taste like.
7. You use your Brother P-Touch to label your kitchen drawers.
6. You actually know how to pronounce "Moleskine".
5. You actually understand the workflow chart in GTD.
4. You know the difference between 40,000 and 30,000 feet perspectives.
3. You know that the "two-minute rule" has nothing to do with the conclusion of football games.
2. When you get together with friends, you say, "Show me your project list!"
1. After five minutes of foreplay, you pause and ask your partner, "What's the next action?"

[Via the GTD forum]