why have a web site if you're not going to use it.

[fenderbelly]

Because of a medical condition I take warfarin daily.

I also suffer from arthritis, about a month ago I saw a cream in the chemists.
Goanna cream which targets arthritis. I tried it and did get some relief.
A week later I had my usual blood test for the warfarin levels in my body.
They were not good, the only thing I was doing different was using the cream.
I emailed the company asking if their product would be affecting my warfarin.
Next day I had a reply from a lady saying she wasn't sure but would find out.
Next day got another email saying don't use it.

Jump forwards to about ten days ago. I was in my local newsagents and the owner asked if I had hurt my leg.
I said no it's arthritis, she went into the other room and came out with a tub of cream saying she had arthritis in her feet and this really helps.
She wrote down their web address for me and so I had a look and there was a " contact us " button.
I sent a message asking if it would upset my warfarin, no reply after a week. I looked at their site again and found a telephone number.
rang that and they didn't even answer the phone so why bother having a web site.

So today I was visiting a friend, he's searching the net for new tyres he said.
He emailed three different companies, the first two didn't respond but the third replied within the hour.
so a week later and the two still haven't replied so I can guess who will get the business.

rant over

[KBs PensNmore]

A lot of businesses are like that lately, advertise that they'll answer with in such and such a time, ye right. Never to be heard from again.
A bit like Walking Eagle. If you're not sure what this means, look in the jokes section "I Guess That This Hits The Nail Right On The Head..."
Kryn

[elanjacobs]

The weirdest ones are when you're asking about buying something; I'm trying to give you money, why don't you want it???

[Big Shed]

This appears to be far more prevalent with Australian companies than overseas ones.

US and UK ones are far more web oriented and actually want your business.

[Yanis]

This appears to be far more prevalent with Australian companies than overseas ones.

US and UK ones are far more web oriented and actually want your business.

Yes - I suspect that this comes from the very long history of mail order businesses in the UK and US. Australian companies never got the whole mail order catalogue thing. That then translates easily into a web business.

A lot of Australian companies think that a Web presence simply means that a single html page with your name on it. Also have you seen what some of these clowns charge for a few lines of html?

John

[Christos]

Having a web presents should be more then a single page. If you put up a email account then you need to have the ability to read those emails from anywhere. That's one advantage of having a smart phone. And even be able to divert those calls to your mobile.

[malb]

I'm in a similar boat fender, committed to rat poison for life now (or at least until I am locked into a nursing home and cannot injure myself) and arthritic to boot. For a long time when I free of Warfarin, I used a horse liniment product to keep the aches and pains at bay. Major clotting issues 3 yrs ago, back to Warfarin, end of liniment therapy so now I just live with the aches and pains when they bite. Cannot get info from the local manufacturers of the liniment because it was never intended for human use and has never been tested for humans. I suspect that the cost of trials etc just to get human use approval would exceed the current annual gross sales of the product, and then there are a range of interaction tests that would need to be conducted so that they can answer everyones questions. Then there is product liability insurance to factor in. Very soon a worthwhile product looses all appeal to manufacturers and consumers alike because the price has gone up 1000% or more.

I understand your point about having a web site or means of contact, but not making it viable, but there often little hurdles like the above that mean that it's better for them to hide somewhere dark and deep.

[Handyjack]

I have had similar problem.
I am looking for a replacement vehicle. Sent an inquiry regarding an aftermarket multimedia unit in a car to a used car dealership. Got an automated response a few minutes later saying my inquiry would be answered. Three days later no response so I sent a reply that I guess they do not want to sell the vehicle.

[fenderbelly]

I'm in a similar boat fender, committed to rat poison for life now (or at least until I am locked into a nursing home and cannot injure myself) and arthritic to boot. For a long time when I free of Warfarin, I used a horse liniment product to keep the aches and pains at bay. Major clotting issues 3 yrs ago, back to Warfarin, end of liniment therapy so now I just live with the aches and pains when they bite. Cannot get info from the local manufacturers of the liniment because it was never intended for human use and has never been tested for humans. I suspect that the cost of trials etc just to get human use approval would exceed the current annual gross sales of the product, and then there are a range of interaction tests that would need to be conducted so that they can answer everyones questions. Then there is product liability insurance to factor in. Very soon a worthwhile product looses all appeal to manufacturers and consumers alike because the price has gone up 1000% or more.


I understand your point about having a web site or means of contact, but not making it viable, but there often little hurdles like the above that mean that it's better for them to hide somewhere dark and deep.

Hi malb, yeh I tried the horse liniment didn't help much so gave up on it.

[rrich]

What is worse is a web site with outdated or inaccurate information.

SWMBO is going to lunch with 'The Girls'. The restaurant's web site says that Wednesday is free corkage day. In other words, bring your own wine and they will uncork the bottles at no charge. SWMBO arrives with two bottles of wine. She is greeted with "We don't do that any more. The fee is $7.50 per."

Too late to change to a different restaurant but the girls won't be back.

[Ed..]

What is worse is a web site with outdated or inaccurate information.

SWMBO is going to lunch with 'The Girls'. The restaurant's web site says that Wednesday is free corkage day. In other words, bring your own wine and they will uncork the bottles at no charge. SWMBO arrives with two bottles of wine. She is greeted with "We don't do that any more. The fee is $7.50 per."

Too late to change to a different restaurant but the girls won't be back.

She should have said, that's OK, I will contact the ACCC tomorrow and send them a copy of your webpage which I have printed out at home and they can look into the misleading advertising of your restaurant, I hear it's about a $10000 fine! and your name is?

It probably still isn't too late to contact the ACCC and let them know what happened!

[Sturdee]

It probably still isn't too late to contact the ACCC and let them know what happened!

I know the ACCC is good but I doubt that they will take on a restaurant in the USA.

[Tonyz]

I'll make a few comments from the other side of the coin
We have two businesses both with own websites and social media pages.

When setting up we used .com.au but added .com, .net.au, .net, and about 4 other possibilities, cant remember now we have a advertising/marketing business handles all the crap and we willingly pay them to take care of all this.

So you could google in one of them and find a dead end but it saves foreign outfits trying to hog in.
I have a mate who has a online business selling worldwide (NOT through evilbay) but he had only .com.au after 4 years of a very successful growth he was concerned to find business dropping off markedly, some scumbag we know who but cant pronounce his name had set up same trading name.com no au and he was selling 'dubious flesh'from his site.

[q9]

If you want reliable advice (at least in Aus) about medicines and interactions, go see your pharmacist and talk with them. But talk with the actual pharmacist, not one of the assistants.

[Ed..]

I know the ACCC is good but I doubt that they will take on a restaurant in the USA.

I didn't realise that rrich is in the USA, I thought that he was in Oz.