OPINION, COMMON SENSE or GIBBER..YOU DECIDE!!!

This is the page where Tosh gives his answers to your questions; comments on what is happening within the industry; or simply airs some views on what is happening in and around the traps.

Common Sense, misguided opinion or complete gibber... you decide what works for you and what doesn't.

Hit the contact tab at the top of this page if you want to add or ask anything. Otherwise, sit back, relax and read on...

TESTIMONIAL SCHEMONIAL?

I have a problem with Testimonials.

You know the ones. You got to a website, they have nice words plastered all over the place, allegedly from ecstatically happy customers whose lives weren't worth living before they found that particular business.Hmm...

Stay with me here.

Have you ever been asked to give a reference? Have you ever asked someone for a reference? You may be going for a new job, or someone has left your business to pursue other interests and in turn they basically need you to say they are of good character and won't create any issues for their new employer.

Now have you ever given a bad reference? Most, I imagine, if asked to provide a reference for someone they didn't particularly want to, would find an excuse not to.

'I'd love to give you a reference but you wouldn't believe it - my arms just fell off. Get them to call me. On second thoughts I'll only be able to pick the phone up with my mouth...and then I won't be able to do anything but mumble really and it might count against you. Better to get someone else to do that reference don't you think? Sorry.'

When was the last time you visited a new web based business? Did you read the nice words written about them? Made you feel more secure in buying from them? A little more comfortable with what you were about to purchase?
Tell me this then - what do you know about the person whose name is attached to that glowing testimonial? (If one is attached at all).

My bet is not a lot.

May have been written by the mother of the owner of that website. Maybe it was from a friend who was asked to say something nice to help give the business a bit of a kick along. Maybe a group of friends. Maybe it was from a legitimate client of that website.

Bottom line is I would bet that even if you wanted to talk to the person who(purportedly) wrote the testimonial, you couldn't.

Most testimonials you see are based on the pretense that you aren't interested in talking with the person who actually wrote the kind words. Who has the time to these days? Even if you did contact the business and ask for the details of the testimonial writer chances are they couldn't or wouldn't give them out anyway. Even if you pressed whose to say they couldn't line up a friend to say it was they who wrote the words.

Like a bad reference, if you owned a web based business would you post a bad comment from a customer? Would you put up in lights nasty words of discontent? Of course not. Just like you wouldn't present the details of someone who would bad mouth you, as a reference, to a prospective new employer.

So all testimonials are bad then? Aren't I being a bit hypocritical by posting testimonials and then preaching that maybe they aren't that solid a guide to a business?

No,no,no. Not saying this at all. What I am saying though is that buyer should always beware. In the end the purchase decision will be protected by the surrounding legalities of business.

We have testimonials because every word,document,book ever written screams that you need testimonials if you have a web based business. I can see how this form of reference is deemed necessary.

However, we stopped posting testimonials a long time ago due to the line of thinking presented here. (Plus you feel like a bit of a dude if you go about talking yourself up). We'd rather look after people professionally, quietly and with some amount of humility enclosed.

Have you ever received a delivery from us? You'll find it uses recycled boxes where possible (our small way of trying not to use up too much of the planets resources - sure beats a Carbon Tax!); You'll find you receive a hand written note with a little message on it just for you; and more often than not you will also receive a little extra 'something' as a 'Thank You' for using us.

We find this way of doing business more important than some (alleged) nice words from somebody who, let's face it, is pretty much anonymous.

We also make sure delivery costs are INCLUDED IN PRICES. Another way of providing our own business testimonial without shouting it out from the rooftops. (How many times in the past have you purchased something at what appeared a fantastic price only to get to the checkout and have a huge sum added as 'delivery/postage' costs?!?)

Sheesh...we even have the business owner,founder and general lackey's mobile phone number up as the contact number for the business. How many others do that? Not many we'd bet. Most of the time you'd have to wade through a multi-layered mountain of call centre staff and the like before you finally gave up!

In the end, your best bet - as it always has been - is to talk with people who have used a business if possible. Find out what they thought of the service. You'll see the price - it is the service that counts. If no-one close has any helpful direction, go with your gut - isn't it generally your best indicator anyway?

And remember the old adage... 'If it looks too good to be true, it probably is!' (And don't get me started on those sites that use 'Ratings' to back up how good they and their products are!)