i'm helping a friend set up a small valeting type company and before i odesign and order all the stainary i was wondering whether to get an 0800 number for him. its only £10 a month and you get 100 mins a month included.
will this increase enquiries do you think? does it look more proffesional than using a mobile or house number
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Mobile phone companies tend to charge you more for calling an 0800 number than anything else...
I think if you're getting a small valeting company you know it is run from the kitchen table.
That said, I knew somebody with a pest control business, and he reckoned his 0800 number was worth every penny. That was a decade ago, mind.
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A very large number of people these days have combined broadband and phone packages in which landline calls are included in the cost of the package, whether "anytime" or "evening and weekends" form (other than, in most cases, 0845 and premium rate calls).
So making phone calls doesn't bring in hefty bills these days..:-)
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I'd say go for the 0800, especially if there's no lengthy commitment. It gives the impression of an established business rather than a fly-by-night startup. An 01... number looks OK because you at least know where it is. On no account use a mobile number.
Will you be doing the spelling on the stationery yourself?
}:---)
Last edited by: WillDeBeest on Tue 24 May 11 at 12:34
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the stationery and tshirts, caps etc will all match and be spelt properly.}:---)
its a youngish lad that im helping out. the insurance on the van i gave him is pretty big and to give him credit he's managed to get lots of work by doing door to door with 2000 flyers i had printed for him.
i started out doing the same things a long time ago and he has determination to suceed.
he's bought new equiptment with the money hes made so far so i'll sort out the staionary and stuff and get some more flyers and register with all the business websites etc
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Whatever you decide between you, make sure there is a landline number, and if poss a mobile too with the network provider beside it.
That gives every potential customer the chance of making a cheap or free call at the very moment they see the ad.
I use my mobile for 99% of calls, same as most people, my landline calls are free unlimited, my mobile to mobile limits are ridiculous in generosity, but i get stung for 0800's...i should think most contracts are similar.
Remember, some people don't have land lines.
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People like to see a proper landline number, 0800 numbers are often used as a gimmick and people no longer fall for it.
When calling a company I get very frustrated when I cannot find a land line number to call.
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>> but i get stung for 0800s ...
GB - did you know that there are a couple of 'dial-through' 02 numbers that you can use in order to call 0800 numbers from your mobile?
They are 0200 222 0700 and 0200 222 0900. Dial one of these first, and then follow the prompt to enter the 0800 number. This way the call (to the 02 number) will come out of your monthly allowance.
It may depend on your network as to which of the above numbers works.
HTH
Paul
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>>did you know that there are a couple of 'dial-through' 02 numbers that
>> you can use in order to call 0800 numbers from your mobile?
No i didn't, many thanks for that i'll try them next time i need to dial an 0800.
I'm with Orange and have been for many years, they look after me very well and i have no problems with the service or coverage, whenever i upgrade they always throw in a shedload of extra minutes or similar to sweeten the pot, can't fault them.
I don't suppose any of these number prefixes would work for 0870 numbers would they?
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>> I don't suppose any of these number prefixes would work for 0870 numbers would they?
That would be useful but there's always a non 08xx number for most companies if you look for it. e.g. I needed to talk to Thomson before our Italian holiday so I looked up the TUI number on www.saynoto0870.com. Saved me a few quid.
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I think an 0800 number could be a disadvantage for a small valeting business.
It gives the impression of a national agency-type send whoever's around service, rather like 0800 numbers for plumbers, which I would never call.
An 01 number gives the impression of a personal speak to who's going to do the job service.
The latter is also more accurate, which is never a bad thing.
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That is the other point, people want to use local firms and an 0800 gives all the wrong impressions. When I see an 0800 I instantly think of scam buy one get free double glazing firms which charge 3x more for a window than any local firm would do.
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Good point, some of those rogue trader types that fleece old folks out of thousands for bodges use these numbers, transit with towbar the usual transport.
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For such a service or indeed most services which would require a visit from from the service provider, I'd rather call what I recognised as a local number.
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I use sipgate which is completely free for use with incoming calls. You get a free landline number of your choice too, so you can choose your area dialling code. Mine is 0161 660 xxxx and it is completely free.
You can use free computer software to use it but I have a VIOP ethernet phone which plugs into my router, so it works just like a real phone. I then use a contract mobile to dial out.
Although all customers have my old 0845, my 0161 and my mobile the vast majority of people call me on their mobile.
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I've changed my mind. 01 good, 0800 bad.
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looks like we'll use an 01 number then.
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anytime I phone an 0800 from my mobile, I get a message telling me to redial and miss the first 0 ?
By doing this it either makes it free or makes it included in free call allowance.
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do 0800 numbers increase enquiries - Mapmaker
