Potential New Service - Please Provide Feedback!

[Dissension]

We're considering implementing a customer service phone line. You would be able to contact a site support staff member (probably me) for assistance with the following types of issues:

• Password Resets
• Account Creation/Validation Issues
• Step-by-step assistance with posting or using other forum and site features

This service would not be intended to serve as a way to report posts. There would be an icon on the main Housepets! page which would display the agent's online status. If nobody was available, voice messages would be possible, or you could proceed with the current option, e-mailing [email protected] (for general questions) or [email protected] (for account creation or validation failures and similar problems). If sufficient interest is shown, we'll proceed with a three-month-long pilot. Please provide any feedback or suggestions below.

[Duster]

I'd probably just shoot y'all an email, but if Rick and his support team have some big things planned later this year I could see how this might be quite useful.

[valerio]

I hope skype is supported too. This is quite the nifty service!

[Dissension]

It would be a Skype-based phone service. You could click to call from your PC, but there would also be a phone number for landlines and mobiles.

[valerio]

Great!

[Kyuunado]

Sounds like a good idea, partially redundant as more people tend to email now but it's still useful.

[D-Rock]

Nifty, I'll admit.

[copper]

It sounds like a good idea, but I honestly see no reason for it. I personally have three points of contact listed on the forum, and most members of the moderator staff have many points of contact listed in case we need to be contacted, not to mention that it is rather easy to find Rick, you, and other members through DeviantArt or FurAffinity. I would guess that there are a few dozen points of contact already listed outside of the moderator email address for people if they are having trouble. This seems a bit unnecessary, my friend...

[Dissension]

The rationale is that some people prefer a human touch and it's probably easier to walk someone through a forum process by actually speaking to them and doing it simultaneously than to require people to use tutorials. You know I value your opinion and I really do appreciate the feedback.

[Silly Zealot]

It is quite an enticing concept, indeed, but I can already see how this will culminate:
*Riiiiing*
- Dissension: Welcome to the Housepets! forum sevice, how may I help you on this finest of days?
- Me: Dissension? Is that you?
- Dissension: Um, who am I speaking to?
- Me: Pfffffft!
*Hangs up phone*
- Dissension: You are hereby phorbidden from reading Housepets! again.
- Me: Yeah, ri- Wait, how did I hear that without the telephone?!

It would be a Skype-based phone service. You could click to call from your PC, but there would also be a phone number for landlines and mobiles.

Does this mean it will be made through videocameras, too?

[Foxstar]

It is quite an enticing concept, indeed, but I can already see how this will culminate:
*Riiiiing*
- Dissension: Welcome to the Housepets! forum sevice, how may I help you on this finest of days?
- Me: Dissension? Is that you?
- Dissension: Um, who am I speaking to?
- Me: Pfffffft!
*Hangs up phone*
- Dissension: You are hereby phorbidden from reading Housepets! again.
- Me: Yeah, ri- Wait, how did I hear that without the telephone?!

We can block annoying calls and if we like, we can block you completely from the site, comic included.

[Dissension]

We'd probably just answer "Thank you for calling Housepets!."

Also, I would phrase the question "With whom am I speaking?"

Also, that thing FoxStar mentioned would pretty much be a last resort in the event of a harassing caller. However, if we implement the service, please only make legit calls for help. The thing won't exist just so you can talk to a staff member - most of us have our personal Skype contact details listed on the site anyway.

Does this mean it will be made through videocameras, too?

I don't know about anyone else, but I'd probably be answering via a Skype-certified VOIP (voice over Internet protocol) phone, so... no, no cameras. Even if you had a camera on, I wouldn't be able to see you.

[Spens]

I honestly think this is a great idea. Best of luck to you guys in implementing it.

[Blue Braixen]

It would definitely not be a good idea to ruin things like this for the people that could, or would, use it. Don't do that.

[RockstarRaccoon]

...I don't understand why. Then again, I'm assuming this is pretty much just giving them a number and when they call it it gets forwarded to another mod. By giving them the number though, realize that you'll be called by every spambot which searches the forums for that very thing...

[Kyderra]

It would be very professional to have.

[Argent]

I wouldn't use it, I don't think, but I gotta say that this is so far beyond the call of duty I'm just blown away by the idea.

[Dissension]

Thanks for your feedback, everyone! I'll give an update if or when we move ahead on this option.