AshTay
Well-Known Member
I would be put off by bad grammar because this is someone I would be intending to have a fair amount of communication with (if I were advertising for a loaner or sharer) and I'd need to know we'd understand each other.
Are you put off by bad grammar in advert replies?
- Thread starter Funkyfilly024
- Start date
SpottedCat
Well-Known Member
I've been selling a horse this week and TBH I've assumed anyone who emails first and doesn't phone is not particularly serious anyway and is probably window shopping. I've had a few of the ubiquitous emails that are clearly from a teenager who is dreaming, but even with spelling/grammar/text speak issues, I've just replied politely with video links and said to call me for more info. You never know, I might be wrong and they might be about to buy! It's easy to just draft a standard email response and copy and paste it to everyone. I just don't get my hopes up and assume anyone who emails first is unlikely to buy the horse - my 'level of interest' meter only counts phonecalls!!
AshTay
Well-Known Member
Ah, you see I emailed first when i was looking to ask a couple of questions that weren't in the ad or to request more photos and usually also said I would call that evening (and for them to let me know if there was a good time) or for them to call me at a convenient time for them. If I was really interested I would ring anyway but I think i pretty much always got an email reply and a time to call back which I liked as I knew that the seller would have time to chat to me. And I did ultimately buy a horse that I had emailed about first!
I would never text though. And if the seller specifically said to ring then I'd ring.
Luci07
Well-Known Member
It would put me off and I would not bother replying. If someone clearly has not bothered to take any time over the enquiry then why should I waste time in a response? I hate poor text speak with a complete vengenance now as well. The whole purpose of a properly written text or phrase is to eradicate the time that the recipient has to spend translating it! There are some standards which work (LOL etc).
When I sold my horse I did put my email and mobile numbers up. I was approached for more information via email by some people and from there, sold my horse to one of the people enquiring. The odd gramatical mistake is acceptable ( I make them!) as well as the odd spelling mistake but not an entire paragraph.
When I sold my horse I did put my email and mobile numbers up. I was approached for more information via email by some people and from there, sold my horse to one of the people enquiring. The odd gramatical mistake is acceptable ( I make them!) as well as the odd spelling mistake but not an entire paragraph.
jenbleep
Well-Known Member
It would put me off.....same when I'm doing any type of business. If you can't communicate properly why should I bother?! 
Just to clarify I do not send smilies in work emails
Just to clarify I do not send smilies in work emails
Billykid
Well-Known Member
Would definitely put me off, use text speak for when you're texting
Wagtail
Horse servant
Yes! I wouldn't sell ANYTHING to a person who enquired like that. I once made the mistake of selling a puppy to someone who wrote badly (not as badly as that). I met them twice and they talked a good talk so I took a deposit. Then I had a really bad gut feeling and tried to back out of the sale. The girl and her mother telephoned me in tears saying how I had broken the daughter's heart and the puppy would have the best home I could ever wish for. Hubby also told me as I had taken a deposit (which I was going to return) I shouldn't back out. So I sold them the pup. A year later I saw him for sale again but when I enquired they said he'd been sold. Then someone else rang up for me and he was still there! I arranged for my friend to buy him back. He was in a terrible state with bent legs (through bad nutrition and no exercise). So no, never, ever again will I sell to someone who writes like that.
BBH
Well-Known Member
DragonSlayer
Well-Known Member
^^This^^
My husband is also dyslexic and he either uses a spell checker, or asks me to check through things. People are too quick to blame dyslexia for laziness.
Faithkat
Well-Known Member
Fransurrey
Well-Known Member
As an examiner in A level Biology, I haven't heard this, but should it happen, I'm afraid I'm be telling them to "stk it wer sun no shin".
I wouldn't give that the time of day, either. I get similar on Freecycle, sometimes and I even put on my Offered Posts that incomplete sentences and discourteous requests will be ignored!
JFTDWS
+++ Out of Cheese Error +++
Put off by bad grammar? Yes, probably. Spelling less so but certainly put off by text speak. I am sure there are some genuine dyslexics out there but many who claim to be dyslexic would have just been called stupid when I was a boy!
But all this talk of phoning! I hate the phone and won't use a mobile! I know of nothing ruder than the incessant insistent ring of a phone demanding I drop whatever I'm doing and give immediate attention...so generally put "Email initially" in adverts. Then I have a written record I can refer to if necessary. If anyone phones without emailing first, it's "No"! Yeah, I know!
This, exactly. Most specifically the second part. I would always rather be emailed or texted by someone as it's never convenient when people phone. I would also respond via email or text preferentially - I don't want to put people's backs up by ringing at a bad moment. I'd probably put a sentence in along the lines of "I hope you don't mind me contacting you by text / email - if you could let me know a time that is convenient for you, I will call..." as I'm aware some people don't like it.
That said, my last two horses were bought off a mysterious gentleman who prefers to be emailed too
In text or email, I would forgive minor errors, but a complete disregard for grammar and coherency wouldn't be acceptable to me. I'd ignore them or politely refuse.
Java
Active Member
No, judgement would be reserved for face to face. You need to go on the person. I didn't even speak the same language as the person who I bought my last horse from. Made it interesting trying to get across asking if tack was included but that's another story lol.
OneInAMillion
Well-Known Member
I would be put off definitely, if you can't be bothered to write an important e-mail properly are you that bothered about the horse?
I can't abide ads that are written in text language either, it annoys me to read and I probably wouldn't carry on reading!
I can't abide ads that are written in text language either, it annoys me to read and I probably wouldn't carry on reading!
PolarSkye
Well-Known Member
This is going to offend - and I know some people are dyslexic - but bad grammar irritates me full stop.
Arrogant? Perhaps. I just feel (dyslexia and other conditions aside) that bad grammar and poor spelling suggests a general lack of care. Words, to me, are vital, important communication tools - not using them well seems a little - well - lazy really.
I'll get my coat . . .
P
Arrogant? Perhaps. I just feel (dyslexia and other conditions aside) that bad grammar and poor spelling suggests a general lack of care. Words, to me, are vital, important communication tools - not using them well seems a little - well - lazy really.
I'll get my coat . . .
P
MissMincePie&Brandy
Well-Known Member
Yes, it does put me off. It makes me think whoever wrote it must be a moron!
Its fair enough when hastily replying to threads on forums, using i-phones, etc, that typos will happen. However, an advert, and a reply to an advert should be written carefully and correctly IMO.
sport horse
Well-Known Member
Yes I definitely am put off by such texts. Bad enough to reply to a for sale ad like that but would you believe I have received several such offerings in response to a job advert. Yes, I ignored them, and, when they rang to see why, I told them!! I question what the schools do teach children about etiquette or is that a word that has left the dictionary? I guess it is hard to put into text speak!!
hessy12
Well-Known Member
I so agree with this! I won't reply to an advert for a horse if there is poor wording etc, etc. I think, well, if you cannot be bothered to correctly describe your horse, then why should I trust you?
Mrs B
Well-Known Member
By that example, I would be very put off, yes.
Hessy12 - I read the second part of your signature as "I'm bespotted'!
Hessy12 - I read the second part of your signature as "I'm bespotted'!