we are toying with the idea of offering an 800# for sales and server down only.

while this model appears nice in that potential customers like the idea of an 800#, existing clients may get offended by the lack of 800 support, which do NOT intend on offering.

does anybody else use this model or did you find it created more problems than benefits.?


thankyou

We use it and it has posed no problems at all.

We have an 800# for everyone. We have 3 hosting companies and a CRM company. We wouldn't do business without the 800#.

We have a toll free # for emergencies only... nobody had to use it yet, but it's there :)

Might want to consider a solution by angel.com ... you can get an 800 number starting at only $9.95 (50 minutes) or $120/m for 1000 minutes. And it has a lot of features.. like forwarding calls to the right department, etc. and even automatically taking orders via phone. We had a 800 number set up instant from their website. Only problem with an 800 number is that some clients will start using it excessively.. even for minor things.. and that will raise you phone bill ;) .

Use it just for server outages. If you use it for sales too...not only will existing customers get offended...but they will call the line for non-emergencies only. Do you really want to tell a customer "I'm sorry, this line is for sales and emergencies only."



--Tina

The primary cost of providing telephone support is labor, not telecommunications charges.

At $0.069 per minute (to take an example -- that's what Kall8.com charges for USA domestic calls, including both the inbound and outbound legs), you'll pay about $4 per hour to receive calls to your 800 number. Surely your own time (or your labor costs if you outsource this) is worth far more than that. Of course, having an 800 number may encourage people to call more than they would if it were a toll call, but many 800 service providers make it easy to block calls from a selected number or divert them to voicemail, so it's easy to cut someone off if they abuse the privilege.

Originally posted by AffordableHost
Use it just for server outages. If you use it for sales too...not only will existing customers get offended...but they will call the line for non-emergencies only. Do you really want to tell a customer "I'm sorry, this line is for sales and emergencies only."



--Tina

I completely agree with what Tina has said here. Personally, as long as I know that a toll free number exists, I am at peace with the world. It's just for the comfort of my mind.. :D