Is it ever possible to email your guide, or must it always be by phone? is seems like having to contact them by phone always would take them away from new sales.
Some guides do use email but most do not. Ours told us Disney prefers that the guides not use email. Call your guide and ask what his/her preference. I prefer email as i have a paper record but i assume this is also the reason Disney does not want them to use email...
Mine does communicate via email, but only for simple questions, not related to price or promotions.
However, if I have a general DVC question, he will answer me. If it is something that he doesn't want to put in writing, he will simply respond via a phone call.
What I like about it is that I can send my questions when I have time, knowing full well he will follow up with a phone call when he is free. It makes it easy on my schedule, especially if I think of something on his days off, or during the day when I am working and can't place the call.