400NE

Comparing e-mail to the telegraph is like comparing a horse-drawn carriage to a car. In the business world, e-mail creates enormous efficiencies.

I also disagree that if I was serious, I would have called. Since I sent an e-mail, that somehow implied that I was not interested. If I was not interested, I would not have contacted them at all.

And of course, calling does not guarantee your call will be returned. And calling often leads to an interminable round of telephone tag.

Any business using the internet for advertising which lists an e-mail address for inquiries seems to be actually inviting those inquiries, and implying that they will respond to them. If you prefer to business by phone, you just say so on your site. You do not list an e-mail address.

For the record, I did receive an e-mail response which contradicted information on their web site. When I attempted to get the reason, there was no more e-mail communication. So it is pretty obvious they do have the capacity to address inquiries via e-mail.

I find that those who are not willing to put something in writing are a group I would rather not conduct business with. There is no real record of a telephone conversation as to what was discussed or promised. The telephone is the bullshitter's final refuge. And when making a large dollar purchase, I take a lot of comfort in someone's written word over a casual phone call.