If only some people would learn.........especially some of the 'top brass' here on this site. Read JC's posts and Bebi's posts and perhaps some of you will go half way to learning something.............
Bottom line - Anyone who has worked in modern business will understand that there are many, many, many keys to running a successful business but two that really come to mind in this instance are:-
1) that 'returning' business is a big key to success.
2) the correct way you handle an upset customer and 'turn' him or her around to be a happy customer........with the ultimate aim of keeping him or her as a 'returning customer'.........is another biggie.
Every happy customer will tell other people and hopefully you will get more happy customers...........unhappy customers tell other people who then won't use your services...............
I'm sure Stardock are absolutely thrilled with the way that some of their PR is handled by some of the senior staff on this site....NOT!!! If I was Brad I'd be pissed! Very very pissed.
In the many years that I have frequented this site and purchased Stardock software I have gained a lot of experience in my own working life of customer care and how to grow a product and a brand.............I learnt - after emigrating from the UK to the US - and going on to working for two of the biggest companies and brands in the World - and gradually working my way up the ladder to a position where I honestly feel that I have now 'over-achieved'. Some of the things I learnt..........Cherish your customers, nurture them, listen to their 'blasts', try to reconcile their problems, give sound and reasonable explanations when things go wrong or do not appear to be of their liking...........There are many more........BUT Most of all DO NOT FIGHT FIRE WITH FIRE.............especially in the eyes of everyone looking at a discussion board like this.
I guess I've grown up a lot...........and hopefully learnt a lot..........over the years...........but it saddens me that the attitude here - from time to time - does not encourage people to partake in our beloved pastime. There are so many talented artists around in the customization world that won't entertain this site or the products that come from Stardock simply because of some of the attitudes shown here on this site. Both Wincustomize and Stardock lose as a result.
I'm not an artist..............I'm an admirer of all the artists here...........I'm an admirer of the software that Stardock makes.......I'm a consumer......but to watch all the hard work that you guys and Stardock do, ultimately go down the drain, because - senior people who should know better - can't handle an upset customer is so disappointing.
I'm a very passionate person about the things I do and the things I care about............one of the things I care about is this place..........and time and time I see the same mistakes of how a person is 'roughly' handled............and no-one gains from these experiences..........neither the customer, WC or Stardock..........matter of fact...........everyone loses and continues to lose.
This is a great place..................wonderful people...............but a real change of attitude and thinking is needed on this angle of approach.
SERIOUSLY!...........