Here’s the email I Don’t like:
Hey Portia, you around tonight? sent by someone I do not know at all, or have never met.
So, while I am nicely responding to them, asking them for references of some sort, and then they never respond, I spent 5 minutes of my life that I can never get back. And surprisingly, it happens more often than one would think. Yet, still a small percentage. Yes, I could become one of those providers who say in CAPS on their website, First emails to me that don’t include all the following info, yadda yadda yadda, will be ignored and go unanswered, but I hate "to go to there". But I can see why they do it, and if it works for them, great.
There are pros and cons to being phone only, email only or having both options for contact.
I personally love it when potential friends go through the "channels" of using my contact form on my website. I've tried to make it user friendly, fairly short and I don’t require your "real name", just your hobby name. The reason why I like it, because many hobbyists do not include the info I personally want when screening. So, a few of the fields are “required” . Yes, it does give an IP address when it's gets delivered to my email, but I could care less about all of that, although it's helpful when it is someone coming in from out of town, to verify that they really Are from out of town. Otherwise, I'm not meeting an IP address. I'm meeting a PERSON. Once I have made contact with them from my other email, I DO delete the contact form email that shows the IP address. I do not have software that maintains a client database, nor have I ever heard of such a thing. But I'm sure it's out there.
I have a phone number that I advertise, but it's soooo much easier to make “first contact” with someone via email.
As far as the OP question aboutt WHY providers that dont maybe use email and dont like email and to WHY that may be....
many reasons: the top three that come to mind are,
1) They perhaps don’t have handy access to email via a laptop or PC. or even a smartphone. (However I must say that even typing responses to emails on my IPhone is a drag, so I use my laptop whenever possible.)
2) They don’t care about having a planned out schedule, doing more last-minute type appointments.
3) They don’t verify their clients by getting references, so in their mind, email is having a paper trail, which in fact, it IS.!! Duh.
Backstory: Before I personally started asking for references last August, I did not use email. Because i did not want any sort of a paper trail. Now, I do delete emails though, after we have met. And I would hope my clients do as well. Just in case they happen to leave their email open by accident on the home pc. yikes. Last thing I want are directions to my place read by an angry SO. Which is why I send them using my hushmail email account, and a passcode is needed to open that particular email. That's another thread.....secure email, oh my, don’t even get me started about That. Lol
I’ve often found that when the phone rings, and it's someone I do not know, usually it is someone that wants an appointment literally NOW or in the next hour. On the rare occasion that getting a reference check back that fast could actually WORK..... well, you get the idea. But occasionally it can happen. In fact I had a great time with someone last week, where I was able to verify within 10 minutes. But it is rare. And when I’m not at my apartment, I’m home, doing private things, and it can be difficult to answer the phone. I will return calls though, if a voicemail is left. But it can be tough to do. And more time consuming I have found. But I continue to do it.
I LOVE EMAIL!!
Quote:
Posted By: Holden22
It's been a while since I've engaged with anyone in this area of pursuit but I'm surprised at the number of ladies who do not respond to emails in any way, shape or form. If an ad or profile says "no email," that's fine and I won't send an email. No texting and no blocked calls are obvious no-nos. In this age of online commerce, advertising and social media, it seems strange that some people won't do emails. For me, emails are a necessity most of the time because phoning is out of the question (late hours, work, etc.). Just wondering if this is an issue for anyone else.
And no PM's please. I'm kind of a hypocrite that way and only activate VIP membership periodically.