New Wrinkle on Ruby Lane re Telephone Number

I just attempted to update my home page on Ruby Lane, only to add some additional text, and got a red warning of something amiss. It seems we can no longer have the hours we are available for phone calls next to our telephone number. So, bottom line, Ruby Lane would not accept my text that I wanted to add, so I guess I am unable to change my home page at all any more, or I risk losing the hours of availability.

I feel it is important for those attempting to call us to know the hours that we accept calls, but apparently Ruby Lane has other ideas.

Why they changed this, I can't even begin to understand.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by CheriShops - Admin on February 11, 2012 at 8:11pm

Hi Sandy

yes all your posts are showing here :)

Graceful Shops said:

can anyone see my posts here?

Permalink Reply by CheriShops - Admin on February 11, 2012 at 8:15pm

Nope there is no time lag on the actual threads...only on the main page timeline. That is a Ning thing and nothing to do with TVV tho.

You may need to "clear cache" to see the updated threads?

Antiques by Charla said:

I have that problem constantly. I think this site has some type of lag time. I will receive an email notification that someone has posted to a thread and when I visit the thread there is no post, and sometimes I will post a comment and later notice that there was another comment before mine, that was not there when I posted and only shows up later.

I've never understood why I get an email and pop over and see no new post (until later).

Graceful Shops said:

can anyone see my posts here?

Permalink Reply by The Old Grey Mare on February 11, 2012 at 8:19pm

Oh hey, hold on, wait! I'm happy for them to contact me by email, mental telepathy, notes in bottles, carrier pigeon, weather balloon and phone calls or any other way they can come up with, during normal business hours, I just put times in so they would hopefully have a concept of when I was best available. After some phone calls at dawn thirty on Sunday morning, on the house phone, I bowed to a very grouchy husband and changed my contact number to my cell phone, which I turn off at night. However, I always tell the client they can leave their information on my voice mail. I can't imagine not letting potential clients contact us by phone. If it's changed to where we can't leave the hours, I'm okay with it. But no WAY I would insist contact be only through email.

Jan Story said:

Can somebody please fix this? Dexter Grass and I can't be the only sellers who prefer to be contacted by email rather than by phone. If they're going to restrict the phone number field to a phone number format, then please give a "preferred contact method" or something.

Permalink Reply by The Old Grey Mare on February 11, 2012 at 8:23pm

Yes Sandy, I see them.

Graceful Shops said:

can anyone see my posts here?

Permalink Reply by CheriShops - Admin on February 11, 2012 at 9:07pm

lol Dexter thanks for the giggle on the contact methods ;-)

I use my cellphone as well as yes, I can turn it off when needed, but still get messages... and also have it linked to my PO Box, not my home addy

Having a phone number listed on the shops has brought in many orders from people who prefer direct contact

Dexter Grass said:

Oh hey, hold on, wait! I'm happy for them to contact me by email, mental telepathy, notes in bottles, carrier pigeon, weather balloon and phone calls or any other way they can come up with, during normal business hours, I just put times in so they would hopefully have a concept of when I was best available. After some phone calls at dawn thirty on Sunday morning, on the house phone, I bowed to a very grouchy husband and changed my contact number to my cell phone, which I turn off at night. However, I always tell the client they can leave their information on my voice mail. I can't imagine not letting potential clients contact us by phone. If it's changed to where we can't leave the hours, I'm okay with it. But no WAY I would insist contact be only through email.

Jan Story said:

Can somebody please fix this? Dexter Grass and I can't be the only sellers who prefer to be contacted by email rather than by phone. If they're going to restrict the phone number field to a phone number format, then please give a "preferred contact method" or something.

Permalink Reply by Jan Story on February 11, 2012 at 9:14pm

Nobody said anything about insisting or only - just preferred. Though personally I don't understand why anyone would telephone about a business matter rather than email, because email generates a written record and a phone call doesn't. Therefore in the event of a dispute there's something objective to refer to. As a consumer, I would never try to resolve any kind of business problem by a phone call when I could do so in writing - not only is there no record, but it's too easy to be distracted by emotions and personalities.

Permalink Reply by Graceful Antiques on February 11, 2012 at 9:26pm

Thank you. I never got a comment from yesterday about the Whats This.

I also do not think I am being clear on the phone issue on my site.

You all do not have text. I have double text or repeated twice even though it only shows one on my maintenance.

Sandy

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I do have my phone but expect emails. I have a bad habit of even charging the phone number I have on the site for my business only.

Permalink Reply by CheriShops - Admin on February 11, 2012 at 9:35pm

Hi Jan

there are a lot of customers who seem to prefer to *place their order* by phone rather than via the Internet. They often will call to ask questions about the item they are interested in and then place the order. I do consider having a phone number available to be an important part of my business, but also understand why some sellers prefer not to.

I dont think RL is trying to force anyone to add a phone number...more that they just seem to have decided they would prefer not to have text in the phone field perhaps?

Jan Story said:

Nobody said anything about insisting or only - just preferred. Though personally I don't understand why anyone would telephone about a business matter rather than email, because email generates a written record and a phone call doesn't. Therefore in the event of a dispute there's something objective to refer to. As a consumer, I would never try to resolve any kind of business problem by a phone call when I could do so in writing - not only is there no record, but it's too easy to be distracted by emotions and personalities.

Permalink Reply by The Old Grey Mare on February 11, 2012 at 9:38pm

Jan, I only responded to this because I was surprised that you mentioned me, saying that I, along with you would only prefer to be contacted by email. I can't imagine what I might have said to give anyone that idea, as I think I've made clear tonight, I'm always happy to hear from a client about a possible sale, no matter how they want to contact me, and my phone number has always been available to them in several places in my Ruby Lane shop. I think it's important that each shop owner decide how they wish to do business, determine how they will be contacted, their preferences, what they feel comfortable with and then go with that. I've been in the antique business for quite a while, online, in bricks and mortar and doing shows. I think it's a personal business, clients often want to chat about something, as they might do with their interior designer. I'm not selling nuts and bolts, I'm selling things that people are making a connection with, things that they will have in their homes, possibly pass on to future generations. I don't think in terms of disputes and resolving things, I think more in terms of the treasures I've found finding new homes with people who will enjoy them. But as I say, everyone needs to have a business plan that suits them. Best wishes, Jan!

Jan Story said:

Nobody said anything about insisting or only - just preferred. Though personally I don't understand why anyone would telephone about a business matter rather than email, because email generates a written record and a phone call doesn't. Therefore in the event of a dispute there's something objective to refer to. As a consumer, I would never try to resolve any kind of business problem by a phone call when I could do so in writing - not only is there no record, but it's too easy to be distracted by emotions and personalities.

Permalink Reply by CheriShops - Admin on February 11, 2012 at 9:39pm

Hi Sandy

I don't think many people use the What's This on RL? I know I don't...lol I even forgot it was there!

I just looked at your RL and RP shops and am not seeing any duplicated text there?

Graceful Shops said:

Thank you. I never got a comment from yesterday about the Whats This.

I also do not think I am being clear on the phone issue on my site.

You all do not have text. I have double text or repeated twice even though it only shows one on my maintenance.

Sandy

---------

I do have my phone but expect emails. I have a bad habit of even charging the phone number I have on the site for my business only.

Permalink Reply by Graceful Antiques on February 11, 2012 at 9:50pm

Full Contact Information Provided with Purchase If phone help needed please email me first. xxx-xxx-xxxx Prefer Email. 9-5 CST on calls please.
NWA, AR
Tel: xxx-xxx-xxxx Prefer Email.

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in my maintenance it only shows:

Full Contact Information Provided with Purchase
If phone help needed please email me first.
xxx-xxx-xxxx Prefer Email.
9-5 CST on calls please.

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ok, I see what is happening. there are 2 places for my phone. I had no problem updating and text stayed. No little man?

Permalink Reply by Jan Story on February 11, 2012 at 11:58pm

Dexter, it was because you mentioned that you also had "please use email" and had to take it out. That's all.

I was a legal secretary for many years and that's why I think in terms of getting everything in writing - in my world, even if you discuss stuff on the phone you memorialize it in a letter because anything you don't get in writing will come back to haunt you!

Plus, I do better dealing with people at a distance. But I was also thinking about people who might have small children, or people with hearing or speech issues who wouldn't necessarily do well talking on the phone.

I'll have to run down what Graceful Shops said - in the morning! It's laaate and I'm typing in the dark...