Has your decision to do business with a vendor

[monarch64]

ever been affected by dealing with them on a social networking site? Also, do you feel ok with mixing business and personal social networking with someone who you are using as a vendor? Should separate business accounts be maintained rather than "friending" vendors' personal accounts? Curious of how others feel after seeing something on a social networking site this afternoon from a vendor that I felt was very extreme...I was personally offended and made the decision right then to never do business with them. Things you can't un-see. Sigh.

 

[MonkeyPie]

I know exactly what you're talking about, and yes. I think that any vendor that values their business will keep their personal beliefs and issues with customers OFF their business pages. The amount of business lost over something that would be trivial on a personal page would lose a ton of potential customers on a business page. I personally have no plans to do business with this vendor after their blatant disregard for personal opinion and choice.

 

[decodelighted]

C'mon now. Why be vague!? Spill!

 

[monarch64]

C'mon now. Why be vague!? Spill!

Nah. I'm not on a witch hunt here, I'm just bringing it up in general because I think vendors can learn something from this sort of discussion.

 

[iheartscience]

Edited.

 

[Kaleigh]

Yes, the picture that was posted, really got me. As in not a good way. Fine to have your beliefs and all. But don't share it with your audience?? Maybe just followers of your church?? IDK.. It was disturbing to me, and I know to many other's.. Having started the preggo thread on PS back in 2006. Many lost their babies, so I am super aware of that... Just sayin...

 

[decodelighted]

WOW. Yes ... seeing something like THAT would make me never want to patronize a vendor. And ... *has*.

 

[marymm]

[edited out] - but duly noted

 

[Kaleigh]

I think It's not right to put your personal stuff out there of a vendors website.... We don't have to read... But I really feel that pic will live with me forever, and someone who lost a baby.... Thanks...

 

[mrssalvo]

I'm not sure it's fair to post what was on his personal FB here.

 

[iheartscience]

I'm not sure it's fair to post what was on his personal FB here.

I don't think it's unfair, considering he is friends with multiple PSers that I'm sure he doesn't know IRL, and is well aware of it.

ETA if it was truly his personal page, he shouldn't be friends with clients.

 

[mrssalvo]

I'm not sure it's fair to post what was on his personal FB here.

I don't think it's unfair, considering he is friends with multiple PSers that I'm sure he doesn't know IRL, and is well aware of it.

ETA if it was truly his personal page, he shouldn't be friends with clients.

Yes, and from the looks of it, they let him have it on FB and now it's going to be rehashed over here?

Just saw your edit thing and I do agree with you there!

 

[iheartscience]

I'm not sure it's fair to post what was on his personal FB here.

I don't think it's unfair, considering he is friends with multiple PSers that I'm sure he doesn't know IRL, and is well aware of it.

ETA if it was truly his personal page, he shouldn't be friends with clients.

Yes, and from the looks of it, they let him have it on FB and now it's going to be rehashed over here?

Just saw your edit thing and I do agree with you there!

You know what-I'm not trying to cause a sh*tstorm here. I'll edit my post if I can, and if not, I'll ask the mods to remove it. I was just personally quite offended, but it's vendor pages only for me in the future, thanks!

 

[iheartscience]

I do think this is a great discussion to have given the prevalence of social networking, whether it's blogging/Pinterest/Twitter/Facebook. It comes up quite often-the latest being Roland Martin at CNN getting suspended for homophobic Twitter posts.

I used to be a buyer at a clothing boutique, and the owner never put up political signs or stickers, despite some businesses in the area doing just that. He said he didn't want to make half of his customers angry, and I completely agree with that logic.

 

[Kaleigh]

I speak from the heart. Always have. I have a right to feel offended by the pic. If anything?? I would like , vendors to know that posting pics for all to see could be very hurtful more than educational..

Have a private account so share this stuff. With those that are like minded...

We are peers, so don't need to be schooled.

 

[decodelighted]

I've learned a lot of things I wish I didn't know about acquaintances from social media. This new frontier is fraught with ies. Of which I'm certain I've been guilty of myself.

If a vendor keeps their more extreme political beliefs to themselves, fine. If they try to push it in my face -- (didn't we used to have a vomiting emoticon? )

 

[iheartscience]

I've learned a lot of things I wish I didn't know about acquaintances from social media. This new frontier is fraught with ies. Of which I'm certain I've been guilty of myself.

If a vendor keeps their more extreme political beliefs to themselves, fine. If they try to push it in my face -- (didn't we used to have a vomiting emoticon? )

Ha, agreed! This is why I don't friend people I went to high school with.

 

[junebug17]

A person has a right to express his viewpoints on a personal account, whether i agree with it or not. Free speech and all that.

Probably not a good idea for a vendor to friend clients, as this thread illustrates.

I see more harm than good coming from this thread.

 

[Maisie]

I was part of that conversation. And yes its upset me. I didn't expect it or see it coming so it was horrible to see the photo. I go to FB for a bit of fun, and to interact with my family. My son was sitting next to me when I first saw the photo and it shocked him too. So yeah, not nice all round.

 

[iheartscience]

A person has a right to express his viewpoints on a personal account, whether i agree with it or not. Free speech and all that.

Probably not a good idea for a vendor to friend clients, as this thread illustrates.

I see more harm than good coming from this thread.

I think good will come from it if it makes businesses and just regular people more aware of their audience. I know many small business owners who friend clients as well as friends on their personal pages. The agent who sold my house friended me on Facebook and she had over 1000 friends. I doubt she's that popular, so I'm sure many of her "friends" are actually clients.

Also, I've seen vendors on both sides of the political spectrum post content that will almost certainly offend someone who doesn't share the same views. It just doesn't make sense to me, business-wise, to alienate half your customer base.

I think most people assume their views make sense and are correct, so obviously no one will be offended by it, which is probably exactly what happened with what prompted this discussion.

 

[Kaleigh]

A vendor who does this misses the mark, because the people that see it, are mostly looking forward to becoming parents...They bought the ring, are married, and are looking forward to having a family and all that comes with that....

Not that all want a family, kids ....

Just saying that many who express concern over this do want a family...

I don't want to cause drama.. We can all agree to disagree, fine with me...

 

[Snow_Miser]

Okay, I know this is nosy, but I think you should state who the person is, or at least the company where they work, so the rest of us can make a decision for ourselves as to how we feel about the picture.

 

[monarch64]

Okay, I know this is nosy, but I think you should state who the person is, or at least the company where they work, so the rest of us can make a decision for ourselves as to how we feel about the picture.

Again, I'm not on a witch hunt here, and my intent in starting this thread is not to single out one person and berate them publicly. The point was to begin a discussion of what is or is not appropriate since the client/vendor relationship dynamic has changed since the advent of social networking.

Here is another GENERAL question: how do people feel about vendors contacting consumers via group on social networking sites asking advice on how to deal with problem customers? I recently witnessed that scenario and thought it was completely unprofessional, and I decided never to work with that vendor, either. I'm speaking in hypotheticals because I feel like this is a good general discussion topic, not because I'm trying to air my personal grievances.

 

[slg47]

Okay, I know this is nosy, but I think you should state who the person is, or at least the company where they work, so the rest of us can make a decision for ourselves as to how we feel about the picture.

Again, I'm not on a witch hunt here, and my intent in starting this thread is not to single out one person and berate them publicly. The point was to begin a discussion of what is or is not appropriate since the client/vendor relationship dynamic has changed since the advent of social networking.

Here is another GENERAL question: how do people feel about vendors contacting consumers via group on social networking sites asking advice on how to deal with problem customers? I recently witnessed that scenario and thought it was completely unprofessional, and I decided never to work with that vendor, either. I'm speaking in hypotheticals because I feel like this is a good general discussion topic, not because I'm trying to air my personal grievances.

I do not think it is OK for vendors to contact consumers and ask them for advice on how to deal with 'problem' customers. that is just not professional.

I do think that vendor disclosure (or a hint) would be nice since there are only so many 'he's and I am sure a lot of us are wondering and would not want to make conclusions about the wrong vendor...but I am also just nosy

for those of you who are friends with vendors...(on their personal accounts and not just on their company FB page) do you know them personally? I don't see why vendors would be 'friends' with consumers...just sounds like a bad idea.

 

[kenny]

Can anyone describe the pic?
I'm not on FB but I'm curious what kind of pic would create a brouhaha.

 

[monarch64]

Kenny, it was an anti-abortion picture.

I don't really care about people's personal beliefs about that sort of thing--the nature of the pic isn't what most offended me. What most offended me was that this person is a vendor and sharing that sort of controversial thing with his FB friends, many of whom are also clients or would-be clients. If I am considering spending a large amount of my hard-earned disposable income on something like jewelry, a luxury item, I want the most professional transaction possible. I might be singing a different tune if I knew this vendor personally, but I do not. It is my opinion that vendors who do online business (in any industry) should maybe think twice about what they choose to share of themselves personally on social networking sites with existing clients and potential clients they have online relationships with.

 

[lapelirroja]

Agree that a hint would be nice.

It's like saying... "i know a secret... but... sorry you can't know"

 

[Matata]

Kenny, it was an anti-abortion picture.

I don't really care about people's personal beliefs about that sort of thing--the nature of the pic isn't what most offended me. What most offended me was that this person is a vendor and sharing that sort of controversial thing with his FB friends, many of whom are also clients or would-be clients. If I am considering spending a large amount of my hard-earned disposable income on something like jewelry, a luxury item, I want the most professional transaction possible. I might be singing a different tune if I knew this vendor personally, but I do not. It is my opinion that vendors who do online business (in any industry) should maybe think twice about what they choose to share of themselves personally on social networking sites with existing clients and potential clients they have online relationships with.

While I agree that keeping business and personal info separate is a good idea, I think it is a moot point with the advent of social media. What I'm confused about is why you feel a vendor's personal beliefs that offend you = an unprofessional transaction. You have the freedom to choose not to do business with someone you find offensive because of his or her beliefs or behavior, but that doesn't equate to someone being potentially unprofessional. I'm a bit confused.

 

[monarch64]

Kenny, it was an anti-abortion picture.

I don't really care about people's personal beliefs about that sort of thing--the nature of the pic isn't what most offended me. What most offended me was that this person is a vendor and sharing that sort of controversial thing with his FB friends, many of whom are also clients or would-be clients. If I am considering spending a large amount of my hard-earned disposable income on something like jewelry, a luxury item, I want the most professional transaction possible. I might be singing a different tune if I knew this vendor personally, but I do not. It is my opinion that vendors who do online business (in any industry) should maybe think twice about what they choose to share of themselves personally on social networking sites with existing clients and potential clients they have online relationships with.

While I agree that keeping business and personal info separate is a good idea, I think it is a moot point with the advent of social media. What I'm confused about is why you feel a vendor's personal beliefs that offend you = an unprofessional transaction. You have the freedom to choose not to do business with someone you find offensive because of his or her beliefs or behavior, but that doesn't equate to someone being potentially unprofessional. I'm a bit confused.

It doesn't have to be a moot point. Separate accounts for personal and business use can be maintained. As far as "potentially unprofessional," both of the scenarios I presented in this thread were about the same vendor. I would not feel good about doing business with them based solely on their behavior on other sites, that's all.

 

[Matata]

It doesn't have to be a moot point. Separate accounts for personal and business use can be maintained. As far as "potentially unprofessional," both of the scenarios I presented in this thread were about the same vendor. I would not feel good about doing business with them based solely on their behavior on other sites, that's all.

So ignorance is bliss? If you would have purchased from said vendor prior to the offensive behavior and then saw the offensive behavior, would it color how you feel about the jewelry you purchased from him? Not trying to be argumentative, I am really interested in this phenomena of total access to info we have and its repercussions on us personally and professionally. There are a few vendors here I wouldn't do business with because they are, IMHO, buttheads of a malicious nature. Then there are buttheads of a nonmalicious nature that I would do business with. But it took a few years of reading posts here for their true nature to manifest. As with other forms of instant communication, there seems to be less common sense exercised about what is appropriate for public consumption. Seems like we have no boundaries or self-filtering anymore. I suppose the good that comes from that is instantaneous identification of buttheads.