Any of you guys using a phone answering service? I'm missing somewhere from 3-10 calls a day because I'm on the job. I just see dollars going out the window.
I get anywhere from 2-20 calls a day for tree work. I am on site all day with my guys climbing, in the bucket, dragging brush etc. I don't have my phone glued to me because I would get nothing done all day. If I am not busy an that moment and I hear the phone ring I will answer it but mostly I just let it go to voicemail. I have a friendly greeting saying to leave a message with your name and number and I will get back to them as soon as possible. I call them back after we are done for the day. If they have hot nuts and just can wait until I call em back then it is what it is.
I wouldn't pay someone by the hour. Most phone answering services are by the month and 1 small job would pay for it. I received 6 voicemails while working on Friday. I didn't get back to the shop till 8 and was exhausted. I called them back Saturday morning. 4 of them already got bids and had the work scheduled. Not only that, but I would say I miss roughly 3 calls or so a day that don't leave a message. So yes, the math tells me to pay $150 a month to have someone professionally answer the phone as if they are my office staff. It's about efficiency, and I'm losing customers before I talk to them.
Rarely works out. I fight for it though. So the missed calls you get that don't leave a message don't bother you guys?
90% of the people who call me leave a message. I call them back later when I get a chance and they are cool with it. Even if they have gotten another quote or 2 they usually want another one so they will wait. Some of them say "I understand you are busy and thats good because if you weren't we would be wondering why". People that normally call and call and don't leave a message are just "tire kickers" fishing for quote #4 or 5 before they go with the cheapest guy. If they want the work done and are serious I find they will leave a message. Had 4 missed calls in a row one day from the same number. I finally answer on the 5th call thinking maybe its an emergency and nope! Some idiot demanding a price over the phone! I said sorry I don't do that! "WHY NOT?!" "can't you give me a ball park?!" Ok it will be between $50 and $50,000! " Well thats stupid" and I said so is giving a price over the phone! I know darn well he had called every tree co around and was just wanting one more price! If you haven't already, you will soon learn who is going to be a waste of time or not within the first 2 min of the conversation! It sucks to lose jobs but you won't get them all anyway! People must not be as patient there as they are here. Maybe you could try the answering service for a month and see how it goes! Or get the sena bluetooth headset on your helmet, pair your phone to it and take the calls up in the tree! LOL
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