Pet hate - email forms instead of an address

[Techsyn]

In my business I have to send out quite a few enquiries to get parts manufactured. This means sending a number of PDF format drawings. From time to time I need new suppliers so I do a Google.

I am surprised how many companies that might be of interest to me do not provide an email address but instead request that I fill in a contact form. The forms usually want to know what colour my dog is etc. Some even request that I copy in a validation number etc. Of course I can't supply the drawings this way.

Now, I realise of course that this is an attempt to minimise spam. I'm sure it does that but at the same time at the risk of losing enquiries. I for one, move on. There are loads of suppliers around.

I get loads of spam myself but it's not that hard to sift through.

If you do it, is it really the right thing or is it costing you business?

 

[Robert Wheeler]

I do not like forms. Offering an email address makes much more sense. It seems more personal when you are not being forced to categorize your query under some narrow range of title.

It might have made sense to use forms in the days when email clients did not link so easily to the web. Maybe businesses that are selling to consumers that are more likely to use web based clients might also get a benefit. But in general, I don't like forms.

 

[Mattonella Tile Studio]

I offer both, let the customers decide.

 

[iboxsecurity]

we do the same offer a contact form and an email address - i suppose giving the user a choice is the best option as personally i like to email rather than contact form. Best practise to use both.

 

[mubin]

I wouldnt have a problem providing a phone number for you to ring, but providing an email address on an indexable webpage is negligant.

Due to the way that spam bots work, it is sure to be picked up and added to most spammers lists.

 

[Dawg]

I believe under EU legislation companies now have to show their email addresses as email addresses, i.e. not hidden in anyway to avoid the bots. Legal summary here. So companies who still only use forms are not only user unfriendly but also villains. Tsk for law breaking, but pissing off customers is a serious sin.

Forms are useful for info gathering, reminding/nudging people to put in the info needed/wanted which they might not put in an email. As above, a choice is best.

 

[fisicx]

Due to the way that spam bots work, it is sure to be picked up and added to most spammers lists.

It's really easy to obfuscate your maito link, keeps the spammers and phishers at bay

 

[NuBlue]

Depends how your back office system is setup. We inforce forms as it reduces spam and any email through the form goes into our ticketing system which then assigns it to the correct department.

If we had a free for all email address then it would be impossible to manage our communications as we get hundreds of emails a day.

 

[catherinewoods]

I'm not big on email forms, partly because I don't trust they'll get through to the right person and partly because my inquiries can be quite complicated. But maybe that's just me being a bit of a Luddite

Companies that don't include a phone number on their site also make me really mad!

 

[Steve202]

Personally I let the customer to decide how to contact me. On my contact page, there's a phone number, email and also a form. That way if they miss the telephone number and email address, they have a form that they can fill out.

Generally I don't like filling in forms, but I guess its down to everyone preference.

 

[fisicx]

Same here, email address over a form any day. Even worse are those forms that have an intelligable captcha. I bet an awful lot of companies have lost potential business because of naff forms and missing contact details. I know one businessman that won't even use email, if the company doesn't have a visible telephone number he doesn't get in contanct.

 

[Dawg]

It's really easy to obfuscate your maito link, keeps the spammers and phishers at bay

'obfuscate' excellent word.
There was no need to obfuscate the already abstruse addy, he said in a recondite sort of way.

 

[360interactive]

Just added an e-mail addy to my site. Didn't even realise I had stopped using them over forms. Visited my site from a 'punter who doesnt like forms' point of view, and couldn't find an address anywhere. D'oh.

 

[BlueprintAnimation]

Those of you who have a form and a visible email, which do you find people prefer to use?

 

[Emcar Vending]

Those of you who have a form and a visible email, which do you find people prefer to use?

It's about 50/50 with mine, but the phone still beats them both and I prefer that as it's easier to sell.

 

[Mattonella Tile Studio]

Those of you who have a form and a visible email, which do you find people prefer to use?

About 50/50 too