How to provide feedback to microsoft?

Ashley, let me put this very simple!  In older versions of Excel, if you click HELP on the menu, you would find in the drop down dialog, an item that was labeled, "FEEDBACK".  And, if you clicked that item, a form would pop up that you filled out that offered strictly FEEDBACK to Microsoft.  When you were finished filling in the information you wished to offer to Microsoft, you clicked upon a button labeled, "SUBMIT".  Flash - Bam - Click and you are done!

So, I was just doing some extensive work in Excel 2003.  I needed a shortcut to enter some data quickly and do a quick calculation.  I could not find the shortcut, so I went to HELP and entered "keyboard shortcuts for Excel 2003" and would you care to guess what I got?  It was an extensive paper on Excel Keyboard Shortcuts - for Excel 2010!  Notice, it switched my subject of 2003 to 2010.  And do you know how much that helped me?  ZERO!  Further, I was creating several workbooks in which data is entered and then it is all summarized into yet another workbook.  It used to be that if one wanted to copy data form workbook A to workbook B, you just went to the cell you wanted the data copied into and you entered an equal sign, then you went to the other workbook, to the cell you wanted copied, and you put the cursor into that cell and hit "ENTER".  Pretty simple, right?

Do you know what you have to do today in order to do the very same thing?  First, you have to create a macro and then . . . . .   in other words, you must jump thru a whole bunch of hoops to do what you used to be able to do in just three steps!  Now, every time I want to do that, and then recall that I can no longer do it, I find myself very upset that some yahoo at Microsoft took a three step process and turned into a multi-muliti-step process.  That is NOT intelligent!  I wanted to tell Microsoft that fact!  So, I clicked on HELP and then I found a menu item entitled "CONTACT US".  That would lead one to believe that they could click on the link and have a method to send a message to Microsoft, so I clicked up on that link.  Care to take a WILD guess what happened next?  Don't look, that would be cheating as I asked if you would care to GUESS?  Well, to sum it up, I was taken to a SUPPORT page and it was entitled "CONTACT US" and in the next line, it said, "BUT FIRST LOOK HERE:  and there was a LONG, LONG, LONG LISTING of various sites that might have support information relative to what we needed help with except for one minor fact:  we did not want help with anything but rather wanted to inform MICROSOFT but once again after following the "CONTACT US" link, we were lead on another long, wild, goose chase looking through a whole ton of "STUFF" that we could care less about and the one thing we could not find, was a link where we could send info to Microsoft.  At that point, that incident was infuriating!  It is very, extremely difficult to send into to Microsoft because as we all her have tried to tell you and Microsoft, everyone but everyone, including each and every team at Microsoft, assume people only want to send QUESTIONS to Microsoft and the truth is that assumption is simply completely 100% false as often we wish to send INFORMATION TO Microsoft!

Your job, as we see it here as users or as most recognized, 'CUSTOMERS" often wish to inform Microsoft and therefore not matter what is believed that is false at Microsoft, there should be on each and every single page at Microsoft support, a link that would allow us to click and immediately be able to send INFORMATION to Microsoft.  At one point, with the old system, I sent my comments to Microsoft.  And in those days you had to identify yourself via your email address although you were told it was not the place for support questions and support questions would NOT be answered.  My idea was so good that Microsoft took the time to contact me via my email address and told me they loved the idea and in future versions, my idea would be incorporated from that point forward.  I don't remember what it was, but the point is, we have ideas, information and criticism that we should be able to easily, as in EASILY submit to the company that just might be very helpful to the company.  

However, as it is now, we have to leave our work, go online, search and search and search unless we tattoo some where on our body the location of that one single place at Microsoft that through some miracle, we can go to and send a quick message to Microsoft and then go back to our work, or in other words, it was 1, 2, 3, or maybe 4 steps, and we were done.  Today, I am so far removed from what I was doing in order to now try to send something to Microsoft, I don't even remember what I was doing and so what we are trying to tell you is MICROSOFT NEEDS TO MAKIE IT EASY FOR US TO SEND INFORMATION TO THEM, PERIOD, end of discussion and we don'[t need some really nice young lady to tell us we are wrong that there is some far fetched easy to find easy way to do what we want to do, simply because that is absolutely not true, period.  Good-bye!

Hi GLRaehn        

Thanks for your reply.

I feel you're still misunderstanding my reply concerning "Feedback".

Let me take the first point in part of your statement first i.e. the copy and paste issue. This would not be a suggested option for using the "Feedback" paths as there is an ongoing program/systems/conflict issue. In this/your case the correct direction to take would be a "Support" direction as something is not working as you wish or as it's supposed to do, hence why I included the official path to take in this/your case which is Office Community which is actively monitored by Microsoft. Or for this/your actual issue (copy and paste) regarding Word you can/should use the official support page to get the support needed to prevent this issue occurring now or in the future. If you choose to use the community for support regarding this issue, while your waiting for a reply from the community, you might wish to use the options listed for Word in the support page. To assist you in gaining a resolve. 

*NB I personally have no issue's with Copy and paste in Word. (Purchased/using Office 365 Home) When using the copy and paste feature, no matter the source. There are three option within the right click selection to keep exsisting formatting when copy and paste is used. I would also suggest to check your actual settings with the program options itself and then also get support.

As regards to your comment of an actual page, this is already in the pipe line for Windows 9, no doubt other products will follow, as reported by the external third party news site Softpedia News (I do not endorse any third party sites, this information only provided as an extra source of assistance to you, as it's in relation to how Microsoft is taking extra steps to help users provide feedback)

Finally, in respect to your post for direct "Feedback" At the bottom of my last posting I provided the Official Office Feedback Page This is also meaning any users suggestions/feedback to all of the Office products, as it clearly states, Office suggestions. (not just Word) So you can use it for the other Office products as well.

In regards to your comment about the number of characters being just 500. You have to remember that it takes more time to read lots of suggestions/comments/feedback. I strongly believe that 500 characters is more that enough for you to explain your feedback if discussed in an issue by issue, topic by topic manner instead of the complete program. Considering the size of the user base, products. There are lots of users providing helpful suggestions/comments/feedback, it does take time to read. By making it clear, concise it will aid the developers team in understanding how the user is wishing to use the product and what they need a lot easier.

Like I said though I am not a walking contacts book. I merly provided the 500 character "Feedback" option as requested, as it was an Office related request that was discussed. With no other product being discussed there was no point to include other products. I was also pointing out the fact that that feedback page was located in under 45 seconds. As some were incorrectly stating that it was hard to find. As well as providing a lot of other options for voicing your "Feedback/suggestion/comments" via alternative options, such as Phone Numbers, Live Chats, TechNet, Community Forums and Facebook Sites. All of which Microsoft actively use's to listen to it's users. As an extra bonus I also included the full listed product directory of all Products which all have suggestions/comments/feedback option available. When the user visits that products in question products page. I also pointed out that the one page, one site concept for all products feedback is not workable as of the amount of products and it's users base. This is why to have an actual site for each product is the best option as this gets the information direct to those that deal specifically with that product. As the guy's that help make Word what it is may not be as confident in dealing with any issues with a Browser issue parse. But has I have also provided information above stating that Microsoft is changing, extending the way in which users can contact them to provide feedback to it's products/services launching soon. As this is the direction that Microsoft is moving more into, to become more open and focused on it's vast network of users. You were very lucky to gain a phone call in return to your last feedback, it must have been excellent. (Seeing as you have so many great idea's, maybe start working for the product that interests you?) I myself have not been this lucky, but gain some satisfaction of seeing the same feedback actually appearing and being applied within a product keeps me happy. Similar to the ethos and promotion regarding the "I'm PC" concept, it takes all of use to make "One" great product and because of all of us, it just keeps getting better.

Hope this helps

Have a great day!

Thanks!

Ashley, with all due respect, think:  FEEDBACK, then look at your response here, then once again think:  FEEDBACK.  First of all, if you go through this entire discussion and look at all of your answers, they all center upon one thing:  SUPPORT, while the users here are not concerned about support, that is not what this thread is about.  Instead, it is about FEEDBACK.  As many users are using these products on a daily basis, ideas come to us, as well as complaints.  For an example, one thing that drives me into a mad frenzy is with respect to WORD.  I copy a lot of information from the net.  Try to copy any written subject and paste it into WORD and it explodes.  It's appearance in WORD after pasting is nothing similar to what we copied and then I have to spend a TON of time reformatting the entire piece so it is even understandable.  Yet, if I copy something from the net and paste it into Excel, it is nearly 100% identical to what I copied and the only reformatting that must be done is to limit the length of each line to facilitate printing.  One line in Excel, might really be a paragraph and so it must be limited.  AT one point, according to the messages I got in email, you did fantastic in that  you provided a link to a place where one can provide feedback relative to OFFICE.  That link is to:  http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/suggestions.aspx presuming that we can, at that site, include feedback on all office software.  That is exactly what all of us, in this thread, I believe, are looking for.  Now, why don't you list all of the products feedback sites such as the one for OFFICE.  Except there is one huge problem:  Microsoft set a limit of 500 characters.  Tell me how I provide feedback to Microsoft through this page on the situation I outlined above with WORD and how much easier iti s to do in Excel (copy and paste from the net) in 500 characters and remember, ALL punctuation is counted as a character, every space, every period, every single piece.  That needs to be expanded to 1500 characters or at the very least, Microsoft needs to conduct a study to determine what percentage of all writing is taken up with punctuation including spaces and add that amount to the 500 character limit. I understand the reason for the limit but 500 is way too small. We like to be expressive and we like to be certain people fully understand what we are saying and do not want people to "interpret" as that leads to gross errors.  IF you would make the list I suggest,  you will, I believe, end this discussion as that is all any of us want:  where can we easily go to in order to provide feedback to Microsoft. Or, better yet, Microsoft could make one single web site for feedback and list all of the products with a space or link for each product to provide feedback or simpler yet, one link, one place where we provide feedback and one employee decides what product it applies to and forwards it to that team as I believe there is a team for each product, correct?  That is all any of us want and as I said in my first input here, the absolute easiest way is in each product, under the HELP tab, a link that says, FEEDBACK. We hit the link and input the feedback even including our names and email address so that if a question needs to be asked by Microsoft, one from the company can then ask the question of the person who supplied the feedback. I once provided feedback to Microsoft through a link under HELP in Outlook or Outlook Express and a few days later received a reply from Microsoft that the idea I had supplied was extremely good and would be incorporated in the next version of the software.  That small bit of recognition was very well received by myself providing a feeling of having accomplished something. That is all anyone wants and I believe that if Microsoft makes it totally easy to provide feedback, they will get a LOT more and it will be very rewarding as most of the feedback will be improvement ideas as if two heads are better than one, then 1,000,000 are far greater than the team of what, ten or 20?

Again, it is all about feedback and NOT support.

osm, it I obvious that Microsoft has no interest in getting feedback.  Especially not on Windows 8 which they are very aware is a serious POS

Hi Osm101,

I think you are misunderstanding the purpose of Microsoft and how feedback is used and obtained. As Microsoft is constantly evolving the users feedback is constant from within the use of the product the user is using, interacting with. Let's just carry on with the option of feedback for the Excel product (for Windows) From within the main website there is clearly listed the "Contact Us" option where you can select Live Chat for general enquiries, Phone or write to the address provided on the page. Or use the technical support options. Which will connect you to Microsoft Answers Tech which again is a live service. Some are feeling that the technical support option is not for them and more for IT pro's, this is not the case. If you are using the product and are completing a task and find that something is not working the way you need it or like, Technical Support option then would be your first port of call from the site where following the options laid out, will led you to the correct options. As the Technical Support team will then compile your ticket (if you choose this option) and provide you with a solution. When I say a solution, I am meaning this in the manner of the Support assistant will hear what it is you are trying to do and what's happening or not that you feel should, where they will guide you with relevant information (as maybe someone has already informed them of the same/similar issue and will have direct links for informational purposes. Or they will mark your request and forward this on) If you are using the Excel Product on a Windows device then all you have to do is use the main program and select the Account option and at the bottom you will see the About option after selecting this you will see Tech Support where you will see another windows open displaying the following.

Microsoft Product Support services

Microsoft Customer Service and Support

To contact Microsoft Customer Service and Support (CSS), visit http://support.microsoft.com/contactus. This page is available in all major languages and contains links to local phone numbers, self-help information, TTY services, and other online resources.

Online Community Resources

For help with all types of questions regarding Microsoft Office, you can also visit http://answers.microsoft.com/office. This is a free Microsoft-managed community support site where other Microsoft Office users from around the world contribute by asking questions and by answering other users' questions. Language support for these communities varies.

Conditions

Microsoft's support service prices, terms, and conditions are subject to change without notice.

Has you will now see clearly, that Microsoft recommends users to use the Online Community Resources, despite what you have heard for others and it is a Microsoft managed community support option where all your questions/feedback will be heard and answered. This is also not excluding all the other options for contacting that I've already listed. Sometimes for quick suggestions the main Facebook sites for the products should not be under estimated, just like the power of your feedback/input has within this community. Microsoft are listening to you.

The full list of the Online Assisted Support is now provided for you and offers a clear step by step action for you to follow if you are a Home, Business or IT Pro user. Using just this link for Excel will provide more information and also the live option for the Answer Desk at the bottom on the right.. For the home user the general port of call is the main Contact Us page.

If all of this is still to confusing and you just wish the 500 character box option, without any reply. Then please just select this official office Feedback page.

Hope this helps

Have a great day!

Thanks!