Orders from Davidco and Emails...An Observation

G

gwpruitt

0
Have you noticed that if you order anything, even a free article, from Davidco that you get three separate emails. Not one...but THREE.

I just received his monthly email (I am not counting that one) and selected to download the article on how to handle email - but it takes three emails from davidco to get the article...

1. Order Complete
2. Order Receipt
3. Link to Download

Just an observation Davidco folks....just an observation...

Greg

www.ruthlessproductivity.com
 
gwpruitt;56747 said:
Have you noticed that if you order anything, even a free article, from Davidco that you get three separate emails. Not one...but THREE.

.....

Just an observation Davidco folks....just an observation...

Greg

www.ruthlessproductivity.com
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Having procedures in place that work for both downloadable items and physical items makes sense. After all, no electrons were killed for those emails; they were just moved around a bit. What I have noticed is the excellent and fast service I have had when I have ordered items that need to be sent.

Just an observation, Greg... :)
 
It's not about the service...

I have not had any issues with Davidco service, and I have placed my fair share of orders.

It just became obvious to me that I was getting three emails when I was trying to get an article about how to manage email - from a productivity company no less. To me that is a GTD disConnect.

The last time I checked - I don't get three emails from any major online retailer when I place an order. Two at max (one order receipt, and one when it ships).

I will even take it one step further - why have to log in and fill a shopping cart and checkout for a free article? (yes, I know, they are tracking all our activities in their database)...But I think it smacks of inefficiency...

This is not to lay criticism at the GTD/Davidco folks...they are a great group. Again, just an observation.
 
I've wondered why too

I have to admit, I've chuckled at the 3-email process myself....and your post about it. Good observation.
 
What I find interesting is how many people complain about the number of emails they get, when actually it is the number of actionable emails that really matters. Three confirmation emails equals a 1-3 second scan of each (in the preview pane, not by double-clicking and opening) followed by either a delete or a move to a reference folder. No action, a few seconds used, and moving on to the next thing with no residue.

I love my delete key.

On a related note, this is similar to people sending one long email with some reference, a waiting for, two actions, and a someday/maybe buried inside, all for the sake of not wanting to appear to be sending too much email. I would much rather have five emails, each with a single item, than one email with five. The processing and tracking time decreases dramatically when you can handle them all separately. No re-sifting and re-processing to find the one you want. No worrying that you missed one because you deleted it when you finished the fourth. Give me separate ones, and I can process them all one time.
 
We are fixing this process!

gwpruitt;56787 said:
I have not had any issues with Davidco service, and I have placed my fair share of orders.

It just became obvious to me that I was getting three emails when I was trying to ....
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I have the IT team working on this issue of receiving three emails per order, folks should see major improvements. I can't guarantee when as we are moving to a new building this year and just the logistics of that move is daunting (we move in May 9) but this project is off the someday/maybe list and moving up to higher priority. Both the three email issue and also the free article download- making both easier/cleaner for folks.

When you order physical product the third email is when the item ships, we have such quick turnaround on orders that those emails generally go out the same day and always with the articles. I am asking for an option of us sending that email at the same time so it will be "your item is complete (receipt) AND has shipped" option for me. Until we buy a new online store this has to be programmed and is a project! Thanks for your patience, hopefully the process will be a bit more convenient in the near future.
 
All of this makes perfect sense within GTD if you consider the following question: Is it more expedient and efficient for Davidco to use an off-the-shelf e-commerce program or have one customized to eliminate a few extra emails? The irony is noted and worth a smirk, but this is a reminder of the difference between perfectionism and production. Sometimes good enough is good enough.
 
Scott Moehring;56848 said:
On a related note, this is similar to people sending one long email with some reference, a waiting for, two actions, and a someday/maybe buried inside, all for the sake of not wanting to appear to be sending too much email. I would much rather have five emails, each with a single item, than one email with five. The processing and tracking time decreases dramatically when you can handle them all separately. No re-sifting and re-processing to find the one you want. No worrying that you missed one because you deleted it when you finished the fourth. Give me separate ones, and I can process them all one time.
Click to expand...

Huh. Thanks for the post! Interesting.

Whereas it doesn't matter to me, because I read each email once, process it, and get on with it. No "re-sifting and re-processing" for me (well, unless I'm out of the GTD habit). I'll extract the work from one long email as quickly as from five short ones.

I rarely read any email twice.
 
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