[efields]

OK, so Everlane is a (mostly, originally) online-only clothing retailer that started Facebook messaging me about my order status, including shipping updates. Obviously, this is when you've auth'd with them via Facebook. Messages can include html, including images and map data, so they used that to show tracking progress with some nice branding. I always wondered how they did that.

Nice use of the platform. If your user auths with Facebook, of course it makes sense to do your customer communication via Facebook, too.

[toomuchtodo]

Under what circumstances would one want to receive these sorts of messages over a Facebook message instead of via email?

> If your user auths with Facebook, of course it makes sense to do your customer communication via Facebook, too.

If I've authed with you, it does not mean I want you to message me through Facebook.

[nlawalker]

>> Under what circumstances would one want to receive these sorts of messages over a Facebook message instead of via email?

If you're the kind of person who instead asks "Under what circumstances would one want to receive these sorts of messages via email instead of over a Facebook message?"

[toomuchtodo]

Forgive me, I'm over 30. I barely want personal messages in Facebook as it is.

[stephenitis]

I'm 28 and I have a 50/50 mix of people using Facebook messenger just like a SMS. It's definitely a shift that is happening in people's comfort level with social media as a primary comm channel.

[Semaphor]

29, my parents and their friends 60, 70+ all use whatsapp instead of SMS. Whatsapp, Messenger, Google Talk, even Jabber… With modern smartphones it's all the same, the only difference is who's on what which is why I hated when everyone moved away from XMPP.

[PeCaN]

19, it's like 30/70 SMS/Facebook in my experience. (Then there's Snapchat, but that is more of an overlap than a replacement.) I think part of it is that Messenger handles groups well and everyone is on it without needing a number.

Frankly I hardly use Facebook-the-social-network much, but I use Messenger all the time.

[CaptSpify]

For me: email provides a clear, searchable database that I can look over order histories. Chat, not so much.

I'm not saying "get off my lawn", I guess I just don't see the advantage of chat over email.

[chinathrow]

> If I've authed with you, it does not mean I want you to message me through Facebook.

That's the reason I never ever do any auth with FB. Platform can be turned off.

[drivingmenuts]

> If your user auths with Facebook, of course it makes sense to do your customer communication via Facebook, too.

Which is why I rarely auth with FB - I don't like the idea that someone is assuming I want a relationship with them beyond "sell me something - now go away",

[duaneb]

> If your user auths with Facebook, of course it makes sense to do your customer communication via Facebook, too.

Authentication is not a declaration of preferences. Who wants to do any business communication over facebook? It's straight up terrible compared to, say, email.

[icebraining]

In my anecdotal experience, a large share of the 16-20 year old crowd can barely remember their email address, let alone the password to it. They use it as much as I use my postal box.

You're still right that authentication doesn't imply authorization to send PMs, by the way.

[TeMPOraL]

It's a strange spectrum we now have in terms of business communication. The older population prefers to simply call you. The youngest population seems to prefer IMs or social media based communication (like company Facebook pages). The middle prefers e-mails.