Pet site owners (and staff): do you receive a lot of messages?

[cpvr]

For all the pet site owners and staff members. I have one question, do you receive a lot of messages from the users either asking for help, or just trying to talk to you. Have you since disabled the receiving of messages because of this, or do you try to talk to everyone even when you're busy.

[your_annoying_me]

sometimes I get log on and have a good number of messages, especially on the ccf forums, but I answer all of then whenever I get a chance, even the stupid ones from people I dont like.

[bigdude]

Yes. I have over 300 nMails in my inbox right now, which is the most I have ever had. Not to mention I deal with the customer support mail as well. For the most part, most staff members will receive a good amount of mail, and they should. They are the people that the users look up to for help and information.

[cpvr]

Of course, and that's true, but if you're the owner and you have staff members that deal with what the users are asking? If you have a help center and such, then why do they need to contact the owner?

[bigdude]

I tell that to users frequently. I actually have a little message in my signature that says that I do not chat through nMail. I have a message in my profile that says "Hey, if you are asking me a question that can be answered in the help forum, I won't be responding to your message." And I usually hold true to that statement. I don't really have the time to respond to all of those types of messages like how to get a colored pet.

[cpvr]

Ya, exactly. So, questions that are actually meant to discussed with the owner, or high-end staff member, then it should be answered?

[bigdude]

Yes, I will always answer those. If other users are basically incapable of answering a question, I will provide the answer to the user if it's within what I am allowed to tell them.

Other than that, the message either gets ignored or directed to the help forum. For whatever reason, possibly summer break for kids, I've been getting absurd amounts of mail lately asking all kinds of questions. I think users just get a better feeling when they mail staff members, especially owners, and get an answer. Then again, they probably feel let down when they don't get a response. I just expect users to read my profile and follow what I am saying. It doesn't really make a whole lot of sense to spend my time answering any basic question for a user when a normal member could do it for them. Know what I mean?

[cpvr]

Yup, I understand completely. It's not your fault that you don't have the time to respond to them if the answers already there. It's just common sense, but it's like if you give them a response, they'll go and tell their friends that you responded to him or her, and then everyone would message you thinking that they'll receive a response.

[Patrick]

I closed myself to the messaging system, so I really don't know about that.

Everytime I go on the chatbox I get plenty of people trying to ask me things though. Its hard to keep up.

[King]

Usually, I answered as many as I could...a lot of times because I was in a great mood. However, most of the time, I was simply worn out and didn't have time simply because I was trying to advance the site.

[William]

I'm a moderator on Nutrinopets, it's part of my duty to help people when they have questions, so that's what I do :)

But I do tend to get quite some more Numails when I'm online then when I'm offline and log in again. I read and reply to all of 'm.

William.

[cpvr]

How long does it usually take you to respond to all of them?

[Russell]

I could imagine how much messages owners get from users especially if you own a website like marapets and rescreatu.

If and when I own a website I will try to keep up as much messages as possible.

[SaiKaorii]

Oh dear...I can't imagine what I will be like if users message me nonstop O_O

Probably screaming into a pillow XDDD
Ah well, I wouldn't know, will have to wait >.>

[peekypets]

When I was a moderator (still am but dragon won't give me my pass :) ) I got around 20 messages a day, I answered them very quickley and my hands hurt xD
But yeah don't answer everyone like I did, cause not all of them will be important.

[chickapets.com]

Yep, we all get lots of mail. It can get annoying at times but its just part of owning or working on a pet site. Plus its good to get to know your users better. Even if its just a brief hello, it makes them feel more welcome.

[cpvr]

Oh dear...I can't imagine what I will be like if users message me nonstop O_O

Probably screaming into a pillow XDDD
Ah well, I wouldn't know, will have to wait >.>

I receive messages all the time, but I'm not a pet site owner. I love getting messages. =D It shows how important the owner really is as well as staff.

[MyLilLisa]

the main thing, though I don't have a site as yet. *Crosses fingers for some day* I don't like automated responces or responces that give some answer that has nothing to do with the question you asked. If they're going to bother sending a reply it should at least look like they read the question.

[Shiresu Riku]

Yes o_o;
I answer all of them, whether I want to bang my head against a wall because it's written lyk d1s or I reply asap because the person used proper English.

Depends on my mood and the way they wrote it really :P

[Chichiao]

well... i got fanmail on da ..>...< sometimes annoying ....XD. but well i try to respond to them. although i can imagion i won't be able to do it ones i get over 100messagesxD... then i will only respond to a few.. and back to work !!! :D

[Emmy]

I can understand all the views stated so far but once Celos is open I am hoping to reply to all mails sent to me. I know it will take a while but as I don't currently code I will have that little bit more time to respond to them. I want the users to feel valued and the community is one of the most important things on the site for me.

[Phoenixsong]

I don't get swamped with messages, but I respond to those I get. Most of them are filled with chatspeak and irritate me, but I answer politely anyway. Actually, I added a request for users to try to use normal English when they contact me on my profile. Whether that'll work I'm not sure, and it's not a huge deal, but yeah...

Anyway, I see no reason not to be helpful. Some questions can be exasperating, but you still have to be patient and not come off as standoffish.

[Viral]

I respond to all messages I get. It doesn't bother me to do it. I get about 5-10 messages per day via Lodi mail, and a crap load via other forum PMs (questions about Lodi), and another crapload via MSN/AIM.

I think I'm going to put: "I don't understand chatspeak, so if you want me to respond, speak intelligently." XD