coming soon- a comment about this posting! be sure to check back here every couple minutes so you can be the first to read it!

Posted by: gmangw at November 9, 2006 12:22 AM

The only legitimate reason for a message like this is if their current web site really sucks and they've been getting lots of complaints! If that's not the case, then these types of messages are pointless.

Posted by: Sashazur at November 9, 2006 12:06 PM

There is one reason for this that you guys are not taking into account. If you are launching a redesign that changes the site radically, isn't it reasonable that you would want to alert your customers BEFORE they arrive so that they are not confused or surprised by a totally new look? Users get used to using "their site" and arriving to a totally new site at the URL where there old one used to reside can be confusing, disconcerting and, probably worst of all from TIAA-CREFs standpoint, it can be a catalyst for a rash of calls to customer support.

To me, the problem with this email is not the "coming soon" message, it's the fact that it doesn't link to anywhere (tour? screenshots? something?) that can orient the users to what they will find once the changes are made.

Posted by: Steve Hoffman at November 9, 2006 03:50 PM

"If you are launching a redesign that changes the site radically, isn't it reasonable that you would want to alert your customers BEFORE they arrive so that they are not confused or surprised by a totally new look?"

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That's why you send an email as soon as the new site goes live ;)

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"To me, the problem with this email is not the "coming soon" message, it's the fact that it doesn't link to anywhere (tour? screenshots? something?) that can orient the users to what they will find once the changes are made."

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I agree there. They should have a link to a tour or screenshots of what the new system will look like (like Yahoo! is doing with its new Yahoo! Mail)

Posted by: Daniel15 at November 10, 2006 06:57 AM