Sunday 1 February 2015

Chat Messages Are Better!



I had tried selling my Dad’s phone online. I placed the ads and shared my phone number. I received many phone-calls from prospective buyers. That’s when I realized the hassles associated. Selling appeared like a Herculean task as people wanted to know so many details! Let me tell you that as I pay much attention to details, I made special effort to first explain in the ad & then explain again in detail over the phone! Many kept on calling and demanded details though I had provided all the info about the phone in the ad! So much info was not enough for them!

Some reasons why I prefer chat over phone-call:
1.       Non-intrusive & non-disturbing – Unlike a phone call, we can attend to a chat message at our own pace & time. A phone-call demands urgent attention and reception! Before I call up anyone, usually I wonder whether it’s a right time to call. I do not have similar thoughts while messaging. One can fix up a suitable time for chatting & can devote time exclusively when one is free.

2.       Can be copied & repetitive – We  can copy and send the chat details to many prospective buyers as they have similar queries. Mostly people have similar inquiry about features and other details that can become a pain & repetitive on the phone! How many times would you like to make the same explanations? So simple! Just copy and send the same chat messages to  multiple people! 

Quikr cover
Source
3.       Photo Sharing- Pictures & Videos speak more than a thousand words - No matter how much we explain over the phone, we can’t say as much as a single picture or video can. In my dad’s phone’s case, where I shared many pics, an interested buyer even spotted the tiny black spot on the screen, while another got his answers about the screen's scratch-free condition. Phone-calls don’t have images or pictures or videos. Rather, the buyer may demand us to send them via chat. When we do so, we save ourselves from extra explanation & effort!

4.      Chat History- Chat-message history & record can be saved & retrieved later – I always like to access my chat-message history so as to be on the safe side. Phone-calls don’t provide us this benefit of saving and retrieving later. We have proof on our side!

5.       No problems with Family - Family-members like in-laws generally have complaints when we speak longer on the phone! My child had issues that instead of helping her with her studies or maintaining silence, I was discussing on the phone & she got disturbed!

6.       Number Privacy - We can chat with interested buyers without giving away our personal phone-number. This is a great feature available with chat. In my online-selling experience, some people wanted to make me their “friend” (and asked me questions like- "Will you friend me?!"), others tracked my number via WhatsApp and I received some indecent messages and proposals that I found very disturbing. Number privacy on Quikr while selling, will ensure chatting without giving away our details like gender or photo! That means peace of mind!

All the above points prove that chat messages are way better than phone-calls!


For the Quikr & IndiBlogger HH activity.

24 comments:

  1. Agree Anita and chat works big time for me over phone converso. Reminds me of college days when I would argue that chat is anyday better than tedious calls.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for sharing your experience, Vishal.
      Chat-messages have many advantages :)

      Delete
  2. :) I ma a fan of chat too.. plus you have everything in writing he he he he

    Bikram's

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes Bikram! Chat has its advantages :) Documentation proof is also there!

      Delete
  3. Chat is actually a better way to communicate. Except when your eyes hurt. Or when the discussion is sensitive and apt to be misunderstood.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree. "Especially when your eyes hurt" & fingers can't take it anymore :)
      Chat history is there should any misunderstanding arise. But, in case of phone-calls, we can't claim what words the other person has communicated as there's no automatic saving option or record :)

      Delete
  4. I agree Anita. Chat is better than phone calls. It is like a law with the phone calls, people call only when you are busy. The phone hardly rings when you are free.
    Have a great day!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Totally Kiran! :) It happens with me too- people call when I am too occupied or have forgotten my phone :)
      No calls when I am free & my phone is with me!!!
      Have a great week :)

      Delete
  5. All valid points, Anita. I also like chat since i do not have to get up from my seat and find a quiet place in office...i can just start chat whenever i have a few minutes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, that's a valid point, Alok! Thanks for sharing.
      In my office, I had to go to the corridor to talk comfortably without disturbing anyone. But, as the corridors smelt of cigarette smoke, I became a passive-smoker :)

      Delete
  6. oh, i always prefer chats especially when i have to share photographs or links which is not possible over phone. has quikr come up with the chat option? that would be great!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, Deb. We need SMS/chat-messages to share pics & links :)
      Yes, Quikr has the chat-message option that's very helpful. Number privacy is also a great feature provided.

      Delete
  7. Chatting makes everything hassle free. Phone numbers can make things complicated especially when random people start calling you.
    Good luck with the contest.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. True Red :)
      Thanks for your wishes. But, this is no contest, just a Happy Hours activity :)

      Delete
  8. Very informative post Anita :) I am planning to sell some old stuffs online and you gave me lots of tips :) Thank you., ..
    TC! Keep smiling :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Sindhu :)
      Glad you found this informative. Do take pics of the items you wish to sell & place their ads online.
      Be safe. Do let me know if you need any help.
      TC! Keep smiling :)

      Delete
  9. May the house sell quickly.

    Thanks for visiting my blog.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I managed to sell my dad's phone last year, Gail :)
      Thanks for visiting my Blog :)

      Delete
  10. Anita ,even I had a bad experience when using voice calls , chat is more convenient .

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for stopping by & sharing your views, Preeti :)
      Chat is better.

      Delete
  11. I don't know "chat" I always use Skype or my phone.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for commenting, Gattina. Skype is helpful :)

      Delete

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