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Downsizer Forum Index -> Small Business Questions, Ideas and Advice

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Hairyloon

Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 15425
Location: Today I are mostly being in Yorkshire.

Posted: Fri Aug 30, 13 12:11 pm Post subject:

Sally Too wrote:

He gives an address though - and for me that would counter the mobile issue.

I spotted that after I'd posted, so I deleted my post. (I was saying that some folk don't trust a firm with only a mobile number).

Sorry, didn't mean to leave you answering a blank.

Quote:

Having said that I like a first name - so that I can ask specifically for someone

I agree.

OtleyLad

Joined: 13 Jan 2007
Posts: 2737
Location: Otley, West Yorkshire

Posted: Fri Aug 30, 13 12:19 pm Post subject:

Hairyloon wrote:

Sally Too wrote:

He gives an address though - and for me that would counter the mobile issue.

I spotted that after I'd posted, so I deleted my post. (I was saying that some folk don't trust a firm with only a mobile number).

Sorry, didn't mean to leave you answering a blank.

I never saw the post - so don't worry about it.

I did think about giving the home phone number, but then I thought it might be better if there was just a single number that in theory could get hold of me wherever I was in the daytime.

I still haven't figured out how to retrieve voice mails on my mobile yet. I have this hate/hate relationship with the thing. Maybe I should see a councilor or something.

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Fri Aug 30, 13 12:57 pm Post subject:
What network are you on?

Nell Merionwen

Joined: 02 Jun 2008
Posts: 16300
Location: Beautiful Derbyshire

Posted: Fri Aug 30, 13 1:10 pm Post subject:

OtleyLad wrote:

Hairyloon wrote:

Sally Too wrote:

He gives an address though - and for me that would counter the mobile issue.

I spotted that after I'd posted, so I deleted my post. (I was saying that some folk don't trust a firm with only a mobile number).

Sorry, didn't mean to leave you answering a blank.

Is is not just press and hold 1?

cir3ngirl

Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 4846
Location: Cirencester

Posted: Fri Aug 30, 13 1:54 pm Post subject:

Nell Merionwen wrote:

OtleyLad wrote:

Hairyloon wrote:

Sally Too wrote:

He gives an address though - and for me that would counter the mobile issue.

I spotted that after I'd posted, so I deleted my post. (I was saying that some folk don't trust a firm with only a mobile number).

Sorry, didn't mean to leave you answering a blank.

Is is not just press and hold 1?

Normally yes and it has a tape symbol where rest of numbers have letters beside them

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Fri Aug 30, 13 1:57 pm Post subject:
Depends on phone and network. It's often the case, tho.

OtleyLad

Joined: 13 Jan 2007
Posts: 2737
Location: Otley, West Yorkshire

Posted: Sat Aug 31, 13 5:05 am Post subject:

cir3ngirl wrote:

Nell Merionwen wrote:

OtleyLad wrote:

Hairyloon wrote:

Sally Too wrote:

He gives an address though - and for me that would counter the mobile issue.

I spotted that after I'd posted, so I deleted my post. (I was saying that some folk don't trust a firm with only a mobile number).

Sorry, didn't mean to leave you answering a blank.

Is is not just press and hold 1?

Normally yes and it has a tape symbol where rest of numbers have letters beside them

Ah, I see it now. Thanks.
No idea that was what the symbol was for

There were no messages though

- or I haven't set it up yet (must get some friends).

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15984

Posted: Sat Aug 31, 13 6:06 am Post subject:

As Hairyloon said, although now deleted, having a land line number does give a certain confidence that the person is respectable, but having an address does mean that you can be found, and you are not a fly by night.

Being in another industry that is a bit likely to attract less stable people, we work on the respectable side. As you say, once you get a core of customers, you should get word of mouth recommendations if your work is good.

Not sure if it would work for you, but apart from emergency work, a landline number with answerphone works quite well for us. We always try to ring the person back that evening, if only to leave a message we have returned the call, so they can see that we do what we say (hopefully, weather etc. willing).

I would also try to get the web site up as soon as possible. We get a lot of our contacts that way now.

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Sat Aug 31, 13 6:43 am Post subject:
You can always have a landline that diverts to a mobile. The stability of a home number, the flexibility of a mobile.

alison
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 12918
Location: North Devon

Posted: Sat Aug 31, 13 6:59 am Post subject:
I realise that I quite like mobiles on workmen. I would prefer to rig someone, and get them straight away, rather than a teen, who has been woken up, and who doesn't pass the message on later, on the home line. I would always ring the mobile number first if 2 numbers are given.

Boarstall Girl

Joined: 28 Aug 2013
Posts: 75
Location: Ceredigion

Posted: Sat Aug 31, 13 9:31 am Post subject:

If I am looking for a tradesman, and see an ad like that, I tend to go and look them up on the net, for reassurance that they are not a mad axe murderer or something. I know from experience that many of my customers have had a browse of my site.
I have a friend who is an electrician and he is always too busy to have a look at my electrics (that or a glance at the bits of wire that are showing have given him a hint of what is hidden) and he is used to working on wires that have insulation....
Good luck and I am sure you will be turning away work soon!

12Bore

Joined: 15 Jun 2008
Posts: 9089
Location: Paddling in the Mersey

Posted: Sat Aug 31, 13 10:41 am Post subject:
Advert looks good, best of luck!

Hairyloon

Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 15425
Location: Today I are mostly being in Yorkshire.

Posted: Sat Aug 31, 13 11:18 am Post subject:
One other point about mobiles is that (I think) they are still expensive to call from a landline, or very expensive to call from the "wrong" mobile.

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Sat Aug 31, 13 11:23 am Post subject:
From a regular BT line mobiles are 12p a minute, rather than 9p for a landline. The expense is a lot less than it used to be.

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15984

Posted: Sun Sep 01, 13 7:51 am Post subject:
I know I am old fashioned, but I still prefer a landline number. Up to you which you put in of course. Next thing you need to do is make sure that whichever you have will take a message when someone calls you in the middle of the night after a busy day.

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