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Ew, weird. You'd think that in this economy vendors would be all over you like flies to honey. How odd. I'm sorry--keep at it though! Best of luck.
Ugh I have had this experience too. The way I see it, if they can't be attentive enough to respond to my questions in an email how will they meet my needs on the big day!! Sometimes vendors take a day or two to come up with quotes so they want to be prepared with all the info before responding. I would go for one of those over someone who sends one word emails...
i had mixed responses from caterers. some were very responsive, others took their time. or i would have an initial conversation with one of them, and never get any follow-up proposal.
if you just emailed today, i would give it some time, maybe a day or two. since their work is generally in the kitchen or out of an office, they may not check their email that much. and ceratin vendors can be more phone people than email people.
it can definitely be frustrating, though. see if any of them write back soon. if you don't hear, try giving a call to the ones that are at the top of your list. if still no response, i would write them off.
I've found that a lot of people who work in the wedding industry are very young, like recent college grad's and haven't really mastered the whole 'business communication' thing. Not that young people aren't ever professional, but I've seen this quite often in wedding vendors.
Oh it didn't bother me that the others hadn't written back... I'm am totally okay with them taking as much time as they need to answer my questions (within reason). It was the "sounds great!" and "sure thing" responses that had me taken aback. I don't even write my own mom two word emails, it's a total waste of time and doesn't tell me anything about the questions I asked!
Yeah, I'd be responding to that with a bitchy email of my own...
I've found that some vendors just don't like to communicate by email. I guess from their perspective, if they're not internet savvy and they're still getting as many clients as they need, they don't really have an incentive to change. For me personally email communication is pretty much required as I am planning long distance and at work ALL THE TIME so no time for visits or phone calls. So I just drop vendors that don't do email.
Before I hired my wedding coordinator, I found the lack of communication to be THE most frustrating thing about planning a wedding. I called places half a dozen times and rarely got responses. When I broke down and decided to hire a coordinator, I called the two in the place I am having the wedding. The first one never replied, and the second picked up the phone right away and has been responsive since. I hired her. And everyone returns her calls.
So, yeah, I know how you feel and hate it!
People need to get with the program and use email! Not only does it document everything that was said so I can refer back to it, but I forward the emails to my parents... you know, the ones who are paying 10 thousand dollars for catering. We're doing month of coordination but I feel like if they're not going to answer me without a coordinator, they aren't really worth my time since I'm not worth theirs.
I completely agree. But I am definitely guilty of the two word emails to my clients. For example if I ask a question and they respond I respond with sounds good, great or some other meaningless word simply to let them know I got the email and am working on it.
This was definitely one of my criteria for choosing vendors. If you can't get me info in a timely manner now, when I'm about to give you money, what makes me think you'll be able to be prompt two days before the wedding when I'm stressed out?
Ugh I feel your pain... my caterering company takes forever to get back to me when I email them!
I emailed a photographer that I reallllly wanted and he replied right away, asking about my wedding plans. I sent him a long email back, and he never replied. I went with someone else because I was so irritated that he didn't respond... but I secretly wish I had been persistent and went with him. I just drool over his work. *sigh*
That is very unprofessional! I had a similar experience with a DJ. I have called them 3 times and emailed them twice and have gotten no response. It's very frustrating! In this economy, you'd think they'd be dying for our business!
Ive had that frustration!! I go with the one that responds in an appropriate time frame!
It sounds like they're probably out on a job or busy and just trying to get a response in. I know from my event days a lot of the time we were pressured to respond even if we didn't have a response as quickly as possible. Some people think that a quick response is better than no response but I'm with you. Maybe give it a day. Usually if I was in a jam I'd send a client a message saying hey I'm really sorry but I've only just steped back in the office for a moment (or I'm out on a job) and I won't be able to give this the attention it needs until tomorrow afternoon so look for your quote then. However, not everyone works that way . . .
I wouldn't expect a response for 2-3 business days. These are businesses that you are contacting and many aren't available for immediate replies back. They probably receive a significant number of e-mails and phone calls about inquiries and most don't end up working out (you contacted 7 places and you MAY book 1).
I actually had this same experience with FI's brother's good friend! I emailed him for a specific quote (would have taken a while over the phone for him to write everything down) and got NOTHING back on his catering, not even a "received your email" response. It's crappy of vendors to do that! Don't offer an email address on your website if you don't check the email once a business day at least!
That was extremely unprofessional; and I feel your pain! I've been corresponding with a caterer since last August! They had the date available, but I couldn't nail them down long enough to get a menu finalized or their final prices! My wedding is in 3 months and I'm still in search for a reliable caterer that has extraordinarily great food! Wish me luck!
So apparently one of them got my email but decided to just add me to their email list instead of answering my questions...
What the heck?! People don't even want to play the game to even bother trying to win.
@tonya- in Lexington! I'm from Atlanta so it was important to me to represent both!
Gotcha! I am not sure what you are looking for, as we all have different tast. My caterer is in the Cambellsville area and a I am in Bardstown. She travels to lots of different locations. They can basically do any kind of food that you want and it is delicious. The name of the company is Swans Landing. Everyone in our area uses them, because their prices are great and the food is equally as good. You may want to check them out. If you do call, I will warn you that they are a bit "country" but are a super nice people and are great to work with. They are also very professional at the functions and can make it as simple or elborate as you want. Good luck with your search! It seems in this economy that vendors would be begging for business...go figure!
I feel your pain. It has always bugged me when I send someone an email with several questions, and they answer one of them. This happens in work, life, with wedding planning...I think people are so busy they don't take the time to read each email carefully and they miss key pieces of info, like that you have questions and would like answers!
Definitely make your choices between those vendors who take the time to answer your questions completely the first time. Attention to detail, to me, is more important than a fast reply.
hahaha omg, sorry to laugh but I got so many of these too and it's the most maddening thing! I'm one of those people who takes a lot of time and puts a lot of thought into my emails (personal and professional) and so when I got cryptic, vague or form response emails back from vendors, I moved on from them.
One of the things that annoyed me the most was when I'd ask a series of questions and they would write back "I'd be happy to answer your questions, please call me!" Oh it was so frustrating! If I wanted to talk to you on the phone, I would have picked one up! No, I want a few questions answered before I have to listen to you blabber on and try to "sell" me!
I feel your pain, KMSull. Hopefully one of the other caterers will respond soon and be adequately communicative!
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So I emailed 7 caterers this afternoon with a couple of questions- namely, if they were available on my date, average cost of different plans, ect. And I got two responses. Well,one was a phone call and the other was an email with one line "Have you already booked Talon?" so I wrote back "yes, paid the deposit on Friday, Sharon was great!"... I was expecting an email back with answers to the questions but instead got an email that said "Sounds great!"
...
...sounds great? That didn't tell me anything at all. That didn't even tell me if you were available. So I wrote back "I must have missed an email with all your answers, could you send i again?" and she wrote back "sure thing!" Maybe I expect just too much from people, but this was TOTALLY unprofessional! Just had to vent.