Replies

1. 
   Mike_Smith | Nov 09, 2001 03:22pm | #1

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   andy.. i use an answering machine...

   if people can't adapt to the technology neccessary to run my business.. the relationship will probably not work anyways...

   answering services don't do anything for me...

   all they will do is write down messages.... my answering machine will let them leave a detailed message...

   also they can contact me by fax or email...so

   i'm holding up my end...

   how about the customer who calls
   b and doesn't have an answering machine...

   cause they "don't believe in those things"..
   how are you going to do business with them ?

1. 
   Stephen_Hazlett | Nov 09, 2001 03:46pm | #2

   *Andy, a large percentage of blank spots left on answering machines are from telemarketers trying to sell you. From time to time I put my business line on call forwarding to my cel phone and the amount of junk calls recieved is astounding. Yet when the machine answers there are a lot of blank spots and very few messages from salesmen.I recently discontinued a relationship with a sub due in large part to his use of an answering service.I would never even dream of using an answering service. If you think it is irritating for customers to leave a message on a machine----try leaving a message with a minimum wage answering service flunky. It's a nightmare.

1. 
   Jason_DD_ | Nov 09, 2001 07:33pm | #3

   *Our office uses an answering service, because the owner likes the human touch. Works for us. Personally though, I think most everyone understands that small businesses can't all have full time receptionists answering the phones. So, I think answering machines/voice mail is pretty much accepted, as long as the recepient checks regularly. Time permitting, a quick call back just to say "got your message, don't have the answer yet, but am working on it" goes a long way. I like voice mail through the phone service. One less machine on the desk.

1. 
   Schelling_McKinley | Nov 10, 2001 05:10am | #4

   *A story a friend of mine tells.When answering machine first gained popularity, he was irritated when he called someone and got their machine. He felt that maybe they were just screening their calls or were just too inconsiderate to answer. A couple of years later he was irritated when he called someone and they were not home and had no answering machine. How could he leave a message? A couple of years after that he was irritated if someone answered his phone call. It would have been so much quicker just to leave a message. It's amazing how we adjust to the world.

1. 
   Scott_R | Nov 10, 2001 05:09pm | #5

   *Just had a run in with an answering service right in the middle of normal businesses hours. When she answered the phone using the company name I went right into explaining what I was looking for yada, yada, yada… After my long explanation she says, "I'm just the answering service. Can I take your name and number?" I was P.O.ed, wasting my time looking for an answer from a live person when she was no better than voice mail or answering machine.I think answering services are only useful for doctor offices after hours. Where the service can screen calls and page the Dr. on call when necessary. I don't want anybody I don't know screening calls for my business.Scott R

2. 
   piffin_ | Nov 14, 2001 05:10am | #6

   *I get a detailed message on my answering machine or voice mail, complete with tone of voice and inflection. Answering services for other contractors and subs have consistently screwed up my messages for them.

3. 
   Tim_Thompson | Nov 28, 2001 06:06am | #7

   *My wife has started answering the phone for me. If she has to be out of the office, the answering machine takes over. My customers seem to like the fact that 90% of the time they are able to talk to a real person. Of course my wife is very intent on getting the messages right and passed on to me in a timely fashion, something I don't think I would trust an answering service to do.Just my humble opinion.

4. 
   Vince_McCauley | Dec 19, 2001 10:14pm | #8

   *AndyLike everything else in life, we get what we pay for. Before I went into business for myself, I worked for a gentleman that had found the perfect answering company. If you called his company and the answering service picked up, you never knew you were not talking to someone at his business. They answered "ABC constructiuon, how may I direct your call?" It didn't matter that there was not anyone there to have the call directed to. They would just say "I'm sorry, he is in a meeting / with a client / out of the office / on the phone / etc. May I take a message and have him call you as soon as he gets a chance? They had set up a code so he could be paged depending on the severity of the message (this was back before cell phones). The price was reasonable until the service was offered big bucks. The new owners reduced the services, increased the price, lost business and then turned around and sold the business back to the original answering service owner for less that 1/2 of what they paid for it.If I could find a service like that, I'd use them in a heartbeat, but until then, I'll depend on my caller ID and the answering machine.Vince

2. 
   ANDY_C._CLIFFORD | Dec 19, 2001 10:14pm | #9

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   Does anyone use an answering "service" as apposed to answering machines and what are your results. I have caller ID and see I get a lot of hangups. I do call the numbers back on my caller ID but usually with negative results as the caller feels their privacy has been invaded as they hadn't left a message. Guesss I figure I havent anything to loose.