Several months ago I was thrilled to transfer my three websites to a green webhosting company. I selected one of my fellow members of a national green networking group. Their fees are lower than my previous host company’s, their customer service is some of the friendliest in the technology sector and, come on, they’re GREEN. By ‘green’ I mean their office, including servers, is powered by renewable resources, such as solar and wind energy. They operate on the green business philosophy known as the triple bottom line: people, planet and profit.
I made the switch. On my websites I listed the webhosting company’s name and contact information. I gushed to the networking group, “They are great!”
And then the phone calls began. First it was Mrs. F, who had been trying unsuccessfully for weeks to request by email a new client questionnaire. She received no response from me because I never received her message. Her message didn’t bounce, either, so she had no idea I had not received it. Because I did not reply, she gave a quick call to follow-up. Scratching my head, I wondered if perhaps the new company set their email filters more strictly. I checked my spam and bulk folders – nothing from Mrs. F. The messages literally had disappeared into thin cyberspace.
I went to the company’s website seeking instructions for checking settings. Amazing! There are specific comments about disappearing messages! Other clients were experiencing similar inconveniences. After rummaging around their online support manual, I tweaked a few things in Outlook on my computer. Then I crossed my fingers.
Then a business contact in Florida called. She had responded to a message I sent her but her reply bounced. In fact, several people called to inform me their messages were bouncing, too, and was everything OK at NativeDave, Inc.? I reassured them that indeed we were fine, the business was fine, most of our little green slice of the world was fine. All would be remedied with email as soon as possible, I told them.
I contacted the green company about the ongoing email issues. For several days we exchanged ideas and information. Finally they determined the problem was with a specific component on one of their servers. Just my luck, it’s the server where all my websites and email capabilities are processed. I posted updates daily, sometimes hourly, to my blog. The green company insisted they were working on it. Gee, I thought, I really love this company. They are working hard for ME.
Then hundreds of notifications began clogging my inbox. Messages that read things like, “permanent fatal error” and “message undeliverable.” Recipient unknown? No kidding, I thought. I’ve never heard of that person or that business. Then I noticed these error messages were being sent to some unknown person at my domain. Hundreds of emails addressed to hundreds of non-existent people @nativedave.com; we had become victims of ‘ghosting.’
Next, none of my messages to my accountant were delivered. And countless pending new clients were unable to schedule appointments or return their completed questionnaire or request additional services. Contractors looking for plant brokering services couldn’t get their plant orders to us. We missed out on countless sales opportunities. I was faced with a choice: do I continue doing business with a company that shares my values, but is unable to deliver goods and services reliably? Or do I switch to yet again, to another company, who may or may not share my values, but keeps my business alive another day to fight for my values?
My choice was easy: stay in business. I made the switch, again.
The lesson is, just because a company is green doesn’t mean it is always the best choice. Like the organic cotton t-shirts I found on ebay that are too thin to wear alone, my beloved green webhosting company fell short of my expectations. There have been other green letdowns, too. Like the organic spinach that gave me food poisoning. Or the $85 vegan shoes with the darling kitten heel that keep falling apart. Or the kitchen compost bin that breeds mold instead of breaking down food. And my all-time favorite disappointment, the fuel-efficient car whose purchase price surpasses any savings on fuel expenses.
No, green is not the answer to every consumer question. In most cases, green companies, and the products and services they offer, are better for people and planet. But as with mainstream consumerism, it is imperative we shop around, compare quality as well as prices, and purchase the right product for the right situation.
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Christy Ilfrey |
| About the author: |
| Christy Tinsley-Ilfrey is an entrepreneur, gardener, eco-goddess; a wife, mother-to-be, daughter, sister; but mostly she sees herself as a writer. Someday, she hopes to become a really good one. Read more about her and by her at http://greenqueendom.blogspot.com or contact her at
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