1

I have noticed recently that there are some companies out there that expect their customers to have a Facebook account in order to communicate with them or to receive “special offers” from them. Why? Not everyone, myself included, uses Facebook, nor wants to. Nor does everyone want to “Like” a company on Facebook, especially in order to communicate about a problem that they have had with the company or it’s services. It’s a good chance that if they have an issue they don’t “Like” the company at the moment.

I just find it amazing that so many companies want you to “follow” them on either Facebook or Twitter. It’s like they think of their customers as no more than a pack of lemmings.

34 Spice ups
2

Most customers ARE lemmings. That’s just the reality.

25 Spice ups
3

Seems a bit Sh*t that. I don’t want to have to communicate professional issues through such a medium. Especially when Facebook will be on the decline within the next 5 years. (This is my firm belief based on no evidence)

7 Spice ups
4

@Scott: Yes they are, for the most part. For example:

Customer #1: Hey, XYZ Company, I have had really bad service with your company and have been over charged!

Customer # 2 - 100: (Replying to Customer #1) So have we! Isn’t it great?

@Kkyishkkii: I agree. It went on the decline with me about 2 years after I had it.

1 Spice up
5

Sadly they are just going with the flow, most people are lemmings and they all have Facebook accounts. I don’t so I don’t get information about companies like that.

I usually try and find a replacement if they aren’t willing to speak to me in a regular way such as their own web site, their own forums, email, etc.

3 Spice ups
6

Companies like it because once Liked they can continue to fill the user’s feed with ads afterward. It’s annoying but the nature of the beast. Remember when sweepstakes used to have the game piece on the merchandise? Now you have to visit a site and enter a code after providing all your info.

As a result I just never bother with them. A couple dollars of savings just isnt worth the annoyance and privacy intrusion.

2 Spice ups
7

I am also one of the few without a Facebook account.

4 Spice ups
8

I’ve got a Facebook account, but it’s for PERSONAL use. I keep up with old friends that have moved out of the area, old school acquaintances, former co-workers that I socialize(d) with outside the work environment, etc. I don’t use it, or want to use it, for business purposes.

2 Spice ups
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Nerpy derp…got rid of mine years ago. I really don’t take companies very seriously that do have a facebook presence.

2 Spice ups
10

I like using Facebook and Twitter to complain to companies. You tend to get a response quicker as other people can see it.

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11

I’m anti-social-networking.

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12

Seems to me you have choices. If Company Y prefers to focus it SM budget via Facebook - you can go over, create a simple profile and take advantage. Or not. Same issue relates to Twitter. If, for example, someone is going to reward me for simply sending a tweet, then sure - I’ll probably do it. But if the ‘reward’ is something useless or near useless to me (a free coffee in Boise Idaho), then Id not bother.

So ask your self - what price will you pay to play?

2 Spice ups
13

Personally, I have discovered something that works even better that this. It is a long forgotten art and practice. It’s called writing, (OK, typing) a letter to the CEO of a company. I have had better luck with a carefully worded 2-4 page letter of complaint to the CEO of a company than I ever had using any social media site! I have had nothing but positive results with this old-but-true method.

9 Spice ups
14

“…(a free coffee in Boise Idaho),…”

A good cup of coffee in Idaho is tantamount to a great baked potato in Columbia!

1 Spice up
15

Was ordering something the other day and the website wouldn’t let me process the order unless i subscribed to the newsletter!

Unfortunately i needed the item so used my spam E-mail address :slight_smile:

16

I have a FB account, but if any company forces me to use it to do something, then i immediately walk away

17

I tried getting into Twitter, and following various companies for useless updates. It didn’t work, I just got a lot of ‘trending topics’, and self-proclaimed, narcissistic ‘leaders of men’ in my ‘who you may want to follow’ box.

Twitter has more sheep than New Zealand.

All rants aside - I think the Facebook page is an okay addition. I’ve lurked Facebook pages for companies that I wanted to buy things from, only to find countless complaints. Most people sounded like they were the problem, not the product, but there were some useful posts.

A good way of finding reviews, rather than those stupid ‘testimonials’ on their website. Of course they are not going to put Barry from the desert, and a recording of his phone call, abusing staff about poor customer service, onto their testimonials.

I still prefer an awesome website, with a contact number or enquiry form.

18

You’re right actually.

My best customer service result was from a similar thing. I wrote a letter to the Customer Service Director at Sky when I was having issues which were dragging on for weeks, they then resolved my problem within a week and gave me a 75% discount on my internet subscription for 12 months.

1 Spice up
19

It annoys the hell out of me the amount of time wasted by people being on facebook just because its “socially accepted” in the workplace. I would love to block it on the routers as standard but we aren’t allowed.

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20

I only use the Spiceworks community as my only social media. Facebook will go away in the next few years when they can’t sell every part of their users identities for profit anymore.

1 Spice up