[Norm Walters]

Andy, I was looking at the results of your survey on the home page. There are 39 members out of 469 that responded. I know people see it, I just wonder if they think they have no time for it,. or maybe the question is really not there for THEM to answer. Maybe if they had to answer the question before they could log on, then there would be better results, but then again, maybe they would just skip logging in completely. Sorry about the rant, I just don’t understand the lack of participation, its always the “dirty dozen” that support everything, which in turn begins to look like the good ole boys club, and then people think they can’t belong, blows my mind.

[Joseoh DiNicolo]

Great thread, Norm.

I agree with you completely. A person should contribute as well as take from the site. How about doing the survey before logging on? Or after every ten or twenty visits to the site?

I’m with you on encouraging others to join in. I have heard before that some don’t think they are good writers, so what, sometimes neither am I unless I am pi**ed off. Spelling, grammar? Who cares, how can anyone tell the difference between a typo and a mistake anyway? What is needed is participation and ideas from everyone.

[Seth Emery]

Interesting you bring that up, Norm. I just filled out the current survey today, and was wondering how I missed filling it out for so long. I can remember seeing it briefly, but I guess it just didn’t stick that I hadn’t clicked an option yet. Usually, my eyes go directly to the top-right hand corner of the page to see if I am still logged in and then to the log-in area on the left if I’m not. I then usually scroll down to see what other members are online, and, after that, I normally click on the Forum link immediately. So, I guess location may be an issue for me. I was going to ask if there was any place that showed the results from all of the surveys, but I just found it under Resources->Survey Says. It is really cool too that you can fill out past surveys that you have missed. I had a few. It may help also if someone started discussing the current survey and what the reason for your selection is. I read Surface Fabrication. There are usually three or four issues floating around the shop and office after it comes out. Jon’s column is a good excuse to read it, but there are a lot of other reasons to read it. The recent article about etching granite slabs was cool. They do nice work. There are many things to learn from the magazine, and a lot of shops are featured that have good ideas.

Have a nice evening,
Seth

[Andy Graves]

I have been working on these forums for awhile now and I finally figured it out after going to a faminly function with about 20 family members. We were all discussing some issue and some were talking non stop and some were just listening. After about an hour of discussing the issue my wife chimmes (sp) and says something profound (don’t recall what it was, that is not the point).

If you notice a forum works the same. Some will listen forever and speak up with one post. Just the way it works. I would love more people to post, but I totally respect if people just want to listen.

Some people think the survey can be tracked even though it isn’t. I don’t want people to do anything they don’t want to do. If you want to vote, great. If you don’t that is fine to.

[Tom M]

Survey?
Oh yeah, there it is. You mean the one question one? Sorry, I just filled it out.
Please don’t make it a requisite for logging in, though. That will result in nothing good.

I have to say, I hate surveys (the long kind, not the single question). The questions are never fromaed for a business like mine to give a solid answer. I’m talking remodler mag, right through NFIB surveys. I can just imagine the results from other shops like mine who answer the best they can, knowing it will be interperated wrong.
Much hilarity ensues.

Tom

[Norm Walters]

Tom, I didn’t intend for it to be changed, I was just venting about the percentage of involved members versus members. Some things are the way they are, just because that’s the way they are. I haven’t been able to figure it out, neither have others. Anyone have a major in psychology?

[Tom M]

Sorry, Norm,
That was a mangled reply. I’m bouncing between quotes, walk-ins and the forum.
If you think about it, those who read but do not reply (lurkers) are benefitting Andy as well as themselves just for the traffic alone.

They will contribute when they have an answer that us lugs haven’t come up with. We will love them for it, and all will be well. It’s the way it always seems to be, and that’s all good, IMO. Somewhere out there is the fabricator who will jump in when he is needed.

Tom

[Shane Barker]

Speaking of surveys I thought I would share something that
happened last week.

My Home Depot install coordinator (or whatever they call
him) came in to share the results of their survey of my company. Started out
really good, on a ten point scale we were at 9.5 and higher, in fact mostly 10s
for several quarters. Then he pointed out the third quarter of this year and
the highest score was 4.5 and he said I probably know what happened to bring
our score down so much and that I should talk to my installers about it.

My reaction was not good, I told him that I am not going to
talk to anyone about his bogus survey and that there is no way in hell it was
accurate. I wish I had a picture of the look on his face. I went on to ask how
many people were surveyed, he checked and was embarrassed to say five people, I
said FIVE people for a years worth of work. So the quarter that we got a low
score was from one customer.

He went on to say they are just getting this thing going and
they are trying to get more surveys back so it will be more accurate. I have
known this guy for over ten years and that was probably what saved him from
getting thrown out on his ass.

I showed him a bunch of our recent surveys that we sent out
and he was blown away how good they were. I then pulled out the ones specifically
from Home Depot customers and two out of five of them said bad things about the
store and good things about us. For not being planned it worked out pretty
well. So he left with his tail between his legs and I felt redeemed.

I think surveys can be a good thing if they are done
correctly and fairly for all involved otherwise they are not worth the paper
they are printed on. I know this has nothing to do with Norms post but it just
made me think of it.

Shane

[Norm Walters]

Shane, unrelated or not, that was good. Most of the time I post on here just to generate a discussion because you guys really do have alot to say, and I believe most are interested.

[John Christensen]

Andy,

I enjoy looking at the surveys when I open Fabnet. It might be helpfull to also trackhhow many responses represent the total. I can’t get a grasp on the meaning of the survey without knowing the size of the sample.

just a thought.

Johnny C

[Andy Graves]

I eliminated the number because I was getting complaints that because only a certain number of people voted, it didn’t matter. The reality is that because this website only speaks to a certain group the overall quantity doesnt’ effect the percentage.

The percentage should still be a fair representation of the overall users.

Let me know your thoughts.

[Gordon Doull]

I know!!

Let’s have a survey survey…….

I always hit up the surveys to help balance out the people who actually know what they are talking about.

Oh, and BTW, if I makeamistake,itsbeca useIama b adtypistand functionallyilliterate.

[Author]

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