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11-17-2008, 08:25 PM
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#1 |
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Licensed Drain Master
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Answering service?
I am thinking of using one. I answer every call personally, but lately the sheer volume, or trying to drive, and all the telemarketers and price-shoppers are driving me mad!!!
It sure would be nice to have an answering service, but I am afraid that I will not get an answer when I call the customer back. This question is for any small service companies that use an answering service. Pros? Cons?
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Reliance Sewer & Drain LLC Licensed Plumbing Contractor Website: Asheville Plumber |
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11-17-2008, 08:32 PM
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turd whisperer
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Carl,
I will tell you what I think of answering services. I have called other contractors, mainly for emergency jetting or pumping jobs. By emergency, I mean during the day, but it needs to be done ASAP. I hate getting answering services. I end up calling listings until I get a live employee that can tell me, "we will have someone there in two hours." So, unless they keep your schedule, you will lose business because they will keep calling until they get a hold of someone who can schedule an appointment. Maybe you can find another one man shop, in a different trade who can split the cost of a scheduler with you. When I was in business, I ended up hiring a girl to run my office. She worked 3 days a week and I raised my rates appropriately. Jeff
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Industrial and commercial service plumbing MPH, Inc. RPZ Testing Industrial/commercial plumbers in Joliet Backflow testing/prevention/installing in Joliet Plumbing repairs in Joliet area Last edited by jjbex; 11-17-2008 at 08:37 PM. |
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11-17-2008, 09:26 PM
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Web Site Baby Sitter
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I myself had never used one. BUT I had got some calls because people want a live plumber when they have an emergency, not an answering service. Now as far as an answering service for contracted work, then maybe.
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Who pissed off the monkey? Virginia Plumbing Codes Virginia Department of Licensing |
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11-17-2008, 10:09 PM
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#4 |
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Senior Member
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Carl, done right with an answering service that is geared to the service work type business, it can work very well. I spent part of my apprenticeship working for an owner that never wanted a call made to his business number answered by a machine, he had a service that would take the information from the customer while they were paging his cell phone, and they ended the call with someone will be back to you within 15 minutes. If you can find a service that can deliver service, and you are willing to be a slave to your cell phone, you can make it appear that you always have a person manning the phone.
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11-17-2008, 10:11 PM
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#5 | |
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Licensed Drain Master
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Quote:
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Reliance Sewer & Drain LLC Licensed Plumbing Contractor Website: Asheville Plumber |
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11-18-2008, 05:01 AM
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Retired Plumber
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Quote:
I think personal service is always better , but a answering service can be good as well. |
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11-18-2008, 09:17 AM
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#7 | |
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Licensed Drain Master
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Quote:
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Reliance Sewer & Drain LLC Licensed Plumbing Contractor Website: Asheville Plumber |
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11-18-2008, 04:43 PM
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#9 |
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Senior Member
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Carl, live voices are awesome for customer service confidence. I had one in the beginning that used the phone script I developed. It was done in a fashion that led the customer to believe it was my people not an answering service. We were very happy with what the service did for us.
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Bill "I'd rather die while I'm living then live while I'm dead"..Jimmy Buffett |
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11-19-2008, 09:55 AM
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#10 | |
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Certifiable Lunatic
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Quote:
I'm registered on the "Do not Call" list and consider any that do call to be fair game! At home I had one call me one night... I'm registered there too... He wanted to sell me siding for my house. We had a very long conversation as I told him the size of the building... Rather large with 2 stories... On and on we went... I could hear the drool offa his chin hitting the floor. Finally after about 1/2 an hour or so I finally couldn't hold him any longer with our chat and he was wanting to send a sales rep... I then told him he'd be better off sending the rep to meet with the condo association!  For some reason he was pissed at me. I told him I was only being a nice guy for not reporting his  and hung up the phone....I'm pretty sure I got taken off their list!  If I was a real I would have had him send the rep! |
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| answering, phone, service |
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