stevo

Yes and it feels a bit unprofessional to be chatting to your clients. I like to keep an element of distance there.
Otherwise they expect you to be there whenever you want them - the more you give the more they expect from you.

sopaman

I have to admit that this would really annoy me in a website, and would probably put me off making a purchase unless I had no choice.

It is bad enough to be approached for no reason in a bricks and mortar shop, when I just want to browse. But when browsing a website I would really be put off by such a thing, not least because I wouldn't like the idea of being monitored so individually.

Maybe I am just a miserable so and so, though...

Amy

I also would feel liekit was intrusive to have someone see tha I am online and "greet me". I guess it depends on the service/product you are supplying. I believe you do need to have 24/7 if you are going to have a chat line and live support, but Iwant to be the one to initiate it. To have someone greet me makes me feel like "big brother is watching". One of the reasons I usethe internet is for the ability to browse and look without someone trying to "help" me.

Melos

I'm sorry - but I kinda am with the others in saying it would be intrusive and annoying. ALSO... what will it do to the poor dial-up users (like me and 40% of internet users - 28% of Americans)?? If a live chat window popped up, I would NEVER get the website loaded.

Slashmire

Yes, I tend to agree, online chat does not give a feeling of professionalism. Of course this may be only a feeling, but I would prefer phone or email conversations unless the bond is "friendlier"