POLL: What's Your Forum Usage?

[Autotailor]

3) Do post but seem to also disappear for weeks at a time

[Matt400]

I voted #3

I am having trouble with thread subscriptions, what I get in an email notice just doesn't "draw" me to the thread.

[atobias]

I do post from time to time. I only log on from time to time. I think I'm a power user of the program but don't feel like my needs are being met by the forum or the developers. I have been asking for enhancements for years and they are being met ever so slowly. I'd like to see a quick books interface (that works), tech time management system, major overhaul of the inventory, and a better report interface than Crystal. I want to unlock my database for my use.
Andy Tobias
Tobias' Automotive Specialists, Inc.
Cave Creek, AZ 85331

[Matt400]

When email notified of Andy's post, I would have liked to seen his post in my notification to decide if I wanted to jump in and if so when clicked on the link.. was taken to his post rather than the top of the page.

Just little things like that are nice in other forums I frequent.

[csela]

Maybe a six

[nortire]

Mostly a lurker here. Check a few times a month to see if anything new is coming and to get new ideas & tips. Check more often when I know something new is coming. I find the forum very helpfull.

Bob Nassar

[Chuckh58]

Tim,

My forum usage is #2.

Thanks

[asample]

What I have discovered is that if you participate in a topic you then will receive an e-mail notification when someone else responds.

Also when you log in just above the first box of topics you will see three links, "unanswered posts", "View new posts" (that's the one I use because it will bring up just the ones you haven't read. Once you read them and sign out they disappear from that list. Will still be active in the main index.), and "Active topics".

By using any one of these you don't have to wade through all of the posts and topics to find the most current.

Arlin

[tlautomotive]

this just goes to show you who reads thru the topics, and who really cares. I care.

Hurtful... I would cry because my customers have removed my soul and fed it to me as nice little snack.

I use the forum whenever I need it. And honestly, I find the search feature useless. Not necessarily because it is bad, but because it doesn't give me the results I want based on the information I give it to search with. Prolly user error.

And like many of you, I am running this business, but unlike many of you, I am a noob at the autorepair gig. And with responsibilities that range from Cust Ret, to Advertising, to Serv Writing, to Bookkeeping (only word in the english language with 3 double letters in a row), to Employee Wrangling, to Parts Ordering and Returning, to EVERTHING YOU CAN THINK OF. I don't always have time to spend hours reading the forums. But when I do... I find tons of useful information and I try to implement it all. Which in turn increases my work load and gives me less time to read the forum.

SO... this brings me to the conclusion that it is in fact YOUR fault that I don't have time to "care" enough to read the forum based on YOUR continuous "caring' and posting of useful content on the forum. Thanks Bud...

I sure hope you understand sarcasm and dry humor or this could all be very very very bad.

[timbre4]

I sure hope you understand sarcasm and dry humor or this could all be very very very bad.

Outstanding! That is the kind of predicament to have.

Search is an on-going development; we wanted a search that looked everywhere and still working on that. We added the very top box to Search Quick Answers because that was something important because many of the FAQs were answered there, not in the forum so much. The lower search box (forum posts) is MIA because we have the KC Workshop banner in place right now but the Search text link (on same line as Board Index) is still available.

The reason I harp on spelling is directly related to Search; I don't want to see important posts get missed by search! When I spot something wrong, I'll use Search to track down all instances and correct them. Strange hobby I know....

It's also important to create subject lines that tell users what the thread is about. "Question, Help, Emergency, Parts, Customer, Issue, Problem" really don't tell us much of anything. Below is a link to a topic I keep adding to called How To Post Messages Like A Pro:
http://managerforum.net/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=2014

Thanks again for the intriguing feedback and taking the time to create it.

[finn]

#5

thanks,kevin

[Tim Martin]

I voted because I really do appreciate what this forum has contributed in my business. I only wish with the total numbers that are registered as users that more guys would be regular contributors. I watch it as often as I can which is usually at least a couple times per day although it varies with my work load. Business is absolutely mushrooming and I feel like I need all the input I can get in this business.

Thanks to Mitchell1 and the fine folks there that make great products and this forum available to us!

[steven kiser]

even an old timer like me can learn from the forum. i learn more about the management end of the buisness evey day. i started pumping gas, became a lube guy, became tire and brake guy, became a parts replacer, became a tech, became a manager that encompassed all of the above, opened my own shop, went nuts . being able to repair and manage are two different jobs. the only time they meet is at the register. i've learned so much about the management end of the buisness through the mitchell program and the inputs in the forum. i learned to charge what i was worth and how to get the optimum profit from each job. i learned how to approach the customers with an upsell and be able to back it up with informational data either directly from mitchell or guided through a post. prices may vary area to area but the basic principal of dealing with people remains the same. being in th buisness for so long i've run into probably every senario that a bottom feeder can conjur. i know people and the way to deal with them. i know or have the ability to learn how to fix damn near anything that a customer can drive, tow, or drag into my shop. i can fabricate and have a fully operatonal metal work shop. i repair plows, frames,etc during the winter and all other seasonal equipment. cutomers come from miles away and i'm always busy. yet i almsot went out of biusness. i joined the forum just because it was there. i saved my buisness by implimenting suggestions i got in the forum and courses i heard of in it. just a quick example is on line ordering. i can look at pricing at the touch of a button, see availability and produce a quote in the blink of an eye. this is just one of the many life savers i picked up in the forum. i'm thankfull for all the people that keep it running and all the people that know about implimenting the management system and strealining it to fit their needs. i like being able to cirlce the posts and pick and choose how, what,and why. now i just have to break out of my shell and become more outgoing....................

[KathleenDarst]

Number 3

[slowtech]

#2- Not used to posting yet.

[timbre4]

I replied last week but don't see it in the thread so I'll post again.

I think I'm a power user of the program but don't feel like my needs are being met by the forum or the developers.

I would agree you are a power user and don't require any coaching on most operations. But there's more going on here, marketing and shop business discussions and a burgeoning vehicle repair discussion area as well.

Speaking for the forum, only you can know the relative value or perceived lack thereof for yourself. I make it a point to save the messages where users claim they were helped or influenced by something they saw on the forum. It is an exchange of ideas. Development is addressed below.

I have been asking for enhancements for years and they are being met ever so slowly.

Agree somewhat; we sometimes have to make some painful choices. When you know that a new better architecture is the way to go, the answer is simple. Build it into the new version. When the developement of said architecture takes longer than anticipated it ceases to be simple anymore.

I'd like to see a quick books interface (that works)

Some are happy with the version available today; your ideas are welcome in the Request area which can be forwarded to development.

tech time management system

New Schedule, Time Clock and By-The-Job need to implimented together in the new version after we transition thousands of users first.

major overhaul of the inventory

It's been a long time since we discussed anything in detail; if not already in Request we should log it there.

a better report interface than Crystal.

Sorry, there was an extensive review of reporting packages and after all the dust settled, we came back around to Crystal Reports as the successor to current CR 6.0.

I want to unlock my database for my use.

Now, this can be done anytime you wish by contacting support for details.

[steven kiser]

wow 83 replies. i'm impressed. i do believe this is the most votes on any poll. i hope we're expanding the "usual suspects" of the group.
83 and still counting.....................................

[fortknoxx]

When email notified of Andy's post, I would have liked to seen his post in my notification to decide if I wanted to jump in and if so when clicked on the link.. was taken to his post rather than the top of the page.

Just little things like that are nice in other forums I frequent.

i agree. i like the way facebook sends out a notification. it has part of the message, be it an email or a wall posting. giving a bit of info (imho) would make me and others to click the link of interest
it is plain text with a link. here is a sample


Kimberly also commented on her status:

"virginia beach and Im going solo. Im sorry to hear about the summer school BJ (a real person) I think mine have to go to."

[gatorgirl]

I'm suddenly lost for words!

[fortknoxx]

that was a real copy and paste from a fb email notification. guess i shoulda read it with out my rose colored glasses on.