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The fuck off contact page

nicchan.me

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Re: The fuck off contact page

#41

Post by happymellon »

hhh wrote: post #22
dotancohen wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're going to laugh, but this is why I stick with AWS. They've twice helped me with billing issues on my personal account - as in an actual human helping me. They have no idea I manage large (not huge) AWS deployments at my day job. They just demonstrate great customer service to me as a small client. So they have me as a loyal customer. And advocate, it seems.

AWS support is extremely good. I have had the same experience in personal projects and in turn have quadrupled down on our leverage of their support at my work.

Absolutely. I've communicated with product teams at AWS in my day job, which is pretty sweet as I've worked for some large organisations, but I've also been put in contact with product teams in my personal projects when I encountered bugs with the AWS SSO, for example.

It's annoying that they actually solve my problems because it would be so easy to hate them as the 900 lb gorilla.

Re: The fuck off contact page

#42

Post by fabian2k »

permo-w wrote: post #39

I'm not sure I've ever seen a contact page that wasn't like this. I always felt it was basically reasonable. if you can direct someone to an answer without having to waste money/time/compute on providing custom service, then that seems basically reasonable to me. yes it's annoying, but it's not a pattern I've ever felt was particularly dark. I'm perfectly happy with "speaking to a human" being the last port of call t…

It really depends on how hard they make it to actually make a support request.

Re: The fuck off contact page

#43

Post by praash »

I hate generic name-text-submit-forms as the only method of contact. Somehow the article makes them the definition of not a "f** off contact page" - why?

I think such forms are a direct downgrade from providing an email address.

- Responding to the submissions likely requires email anyway

- Impersonation/spam is even less difficult

- Sender isn't guaranteed to get a record of sending the message

- A faceless form with unknown machinery feels like sending messages in a bottle

Re: The fuck off contact page

#45

Post by Rebuff5007 »

oneeyedpigeon wrote: post #32
Rebuff5007 wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The expertise offered here is "how to build a website". If the client is insisting that the dev use a specific javascript library, that would be odd. The client here is just requesting specific content on their website , similar to someone requesting a granite countertop in their kitchen; that seems fine, even if its not particularly classy or aesthetically pleasing to the contractor.

Do we know that for a fact? You described them as a "web development consultant", but I couldn't tell for certain what their exact role on this project was. Their services page ( https://www.nicchan.me/services/ ) lists both "Web Application front-ends" and "translate your designs into a scalable system", so I think they offer a range.

Both of those sound like expertise in building a website, and not like expertise in business strategy.

To be clear, I would personally have a similar view to the author here. I'm just surprised that they think their opinion on the strategy side matters so much to their client!

Re: The fuck off contact page

#46

Post by ChrisMarshallNY »

oneeyedpigeon wrote: post #27
Veen wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You have to judge it client by client though. Some are amenable to and grateful for a flatly stated analysis and recommendation, even if it goes against their ideas. Some will feel belittled and undermined. You need both sorts to pay their invoices and refer their peers, so you pick your battles.

> Some will feel belittled and undermined. This has always frustrated me. You wouldn't go to a doctor, hear that you need an appendix removed, and feel "belittled and undermined"! The 'problem' (it's a problem from my pov) is that clients simply think they know better when it comes to digital/computer/online stuff. They're used to browsing the web, so they think they know what a good website is. They know how to writ…

There’s a site that collects stories about experiences like this. It used to be called Clients From Hell, but got absorbed into a bigger site, called Not Always Right[0]. I suspect some of the stories are apocryphal, but it can be entertaining.

[0] https://notalwaysright.com/

Re: The fuck off contact page

#47

Post by EZ-E »

oneeyedpigeon wrote: post #32
Rebuff5007 wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The expertise offered here is "how to build a website". If the client is insisting that the dev use a specific javascript library, that would be odd. The client here is just requesting specific content on their website , similar to someone requesting a granite countertop in their kitchen; that seems fine, even if its not particularly classy or aesthetically pleasing to the contractor.

Do we know that for a fact? You described them as a "web development consultant", but I couldn't tell for certain what their exact role on this project was. Their services page ( https://www.nicchan.me/services/ ) lists both "Web Application front-ends" and "translate your designs into a scalable system", so I think they offer a range.

> "translate your designs into a scalable system

To be fair telling customers to f** off when they want to reach out for help scales infinitely

Re: The fuck off contact page

#49

Post by EZ-E »

Meanwhile on the other side of the world - I noticed in SEA businesses are more like "just contact us" with a phone number directly available / facebook page. Like, they don't want you to do anything with the website, they expect you to chat with them directly.

Re: The fuck off contact page

#50

Post by ChrisMarshallNY »

Veen wrote: post #34
oneeyedpigeon wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Some will feel belittled and undermined. This has always frustrated me. You wouldn't go to a doctor, hear that you need an appendix removed, and feel "belittled and undermined"! The 'problem' (it's a problem from my pov) is that clients simply think they know better when it comes to digital/computer/online stuff. They're used to browsing the web, so they think they know what a good website is. They know how to writ…

A lot of it is internal politics. As a consultant, you see the tip of the iceberg. There may be rational reasons for seemingly irrational decisions that you're not privy to. Your contact's boss wants it done some particular way, so your contact insists on doing it that way. Or your contact has recommended doing it some way internally, and they don't want to be made to look a fool by an outside consultant. Etc.

That’s the topic of this classic post (Beans and Noses, by Jared Spool): https://archive.uie.com/brainsparks/2011/07/08/beans-and-nos...
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