I have been spoiled I tell ya'!

Personalization is a wonderful thing and, as someone said, the idea is to make what is ordinarily a rather impersonal transaction much more personal. Unfortunately, you eventually get to a point where writing all those notes can make your hands hurt/cramp, so some vendors (B&M included) have started typing the notes instead. I'm curious: do you think the fact that the note is typed makes it less personal?

I'm curious: do you think the fact that the note is typed makes it less personal?

In a word, yes.

Personalization is a wonderful thing and, as someone said, the idea is to make what is ordinarily a rather impersonal transaction much more personal. Unfortunately, you eventually get to a point where writing all those notes can make your hands hurt/cramp, so some vendors (B&M included) have started typing the notes instead. I'm curious: do you think the fact that the note is typed makes it less personal?

I'm curious: do you think the fact that the note is typed makes it less personal?

In a word, yes.

Barrister_N_Mann, generally, I would have to agree with Jeff.  A handwritten note, even a simple "Thanks for your order, Freddy", will always show a higher level of caring.  However, realizing what you have stated here, a typed note with a handwritten signature would be almost as good.  For me, what that handwritten note or signature does is make a personal connection, even though we may never meet and have nothing but a merchant/customer relationship.  It's something special.

There are a few people here who would argue the point but, based on this thread, the majority really seem to enjoy that special touch.  I might add that the fact that some artisan merchants, such as yourself, feel the need to type, rather than hand write a thank you means you must be doing a lot of things right in product, service, and the care you take with your customers.

I'm curious: do you think the fact that the note is typed makes it less personal?

In a word, yes.

Personalization is a wonderful thing and, as someone said, the idea is to make what is ordinarily a rather impersonal transaction much more personal. Unfortunately, you eventually get to a point where writing all those notes can make your hands hurt/cramp, so some vendors (B&M included) have started typing the notes instead. I'm curious: do you think the fact that the note is typed makes it less personal?

I'm curious: do you think the fact that the note is typed makes it less personal?

In a word, yes.

Barrister_N_Mann, generally, I would have to agree with Jeff.  A handwritten note, even a simple "Thanks for your order, Freddy", will always show a higher level of caring.  However, realizing what you have stated here, a typed note with a handwritten signature would be almost as good.  For me, what that handwritten note or signature does is make a personal connection, even though we may never meet and have nothing but a merchant/customer relationship.  It's something special.

There are a few people here who would argue the point but, based on this thread, the majority really seem to enjoy that special touch.  I might add that the fact that some artisan merchants, such as yourself, feel the need to type, rather than hand write a thank you means you must be doing a lot of things right in product, service, and the care you take with your customers.

Fair enough. Regardless, for the sake of our hands, I'm afraid you're going to have to live with it, gents.

That's the thing isn't it, for a small artisan or vendor that works the hours they do, the more time writing notes over and over again, the less time there is for product development, procurement, and customer service...

Barrister_N_Mann , that's it mr. We are done!

Hahahaha!

Is anyone sending a handwritten personalized message back to the Artisan when they get their order or a Thank You email?

I think it is very humorous that some people actually think this topic was started in an effort to shame vendors into giving away samples and notes with every order. I think it is even more humorous that people think the only reason we agree with the OP is because he is a moderator.

What kind of childishness is that? Seriously, those types of accusations just turn a simple, fun thread into a quagmire of unnecessary justification. Is there really anybody here that would choose poor service, exorbitant prices and crap gear for a handwritten thank you note? I think that's absurd to even introduce as a reasonable concept in this topic.

And to think that the only reason people agree with OP on this is because he is a moderator is just more absurdities. Seriously? We only agree that a thank you note is a nice touch because the OP is a mod? No. Not at all. We agree that a thank you note is a nice additional touch because it IS a nice additional touch. It has nothing to do with the OP's status as a mod. That's just ridiculous.

Clearly, the most important factors in making a purchase are price, product, and service. Providing a better level of any of those three individual coponents will likely earn you more customers. Obviously, we each way those three individual components of success to different degrees. Some will pay a little more for better quality. Some will wait a little longer for better prices. Still others will wait an extra day and pay a dollar more for better customer service. It's all relative, but all three components must be acceptable or the business does not do well.

The handwritten note is just a bonus. The thank you and a $.50 sample is an unexpected surprise, on top of the 3 mandatory components. It is a personal touch that puts a vendor "over the top" of the competitors.

Some people will argue just to have something to type, it seems...

Is anyone sending a handwritten personalized message back to the Artisan when they get their order or a Thank You email?

Really?

We, as consumers, are not trying to earn the support and business of the vendor. They get my money. That's what they want.

They get:

Money
Reviews
Word-of-mouth advertising
Support
Repeat business
Recommendations
Requests
And the occasional inter-personal relationship that goes beyond the customer-vendor status.

Does any vendor, seriously, want to receive a personal, hand-written thank you note in their mailbox in return for every order they send? That is if they even have a mailing address available...

A pretty silly idea, no?

I'm curious: do you think the fact that the note is typed makes it less personal?

In a word, yes.

Is anyone sending a handwritten personalized message back to the Artisan when they get their order or a Thank You email?

Nah, I send them money, lol.......