Clean It Up
UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: CARPET KNIGHTS on January 29, 2010, 10:30:38 pm
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In the past we have always diverted our calls to mobile when on our hols but don't want to do it this year as it is such a hassle when you are trying to relax.
What do you lot do to get your calls answered and work arranged so you don't miss anything?
Cheers Goron
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Goron been using this company a few months now .
www.pressplay.co.uk
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but how do they know how quickly you can do a job and how long it takes to get from one to the other and what about quoting etc?
Cheers Goron
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You could always divert them to my number ;D
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I could take your calls for you
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www.fridaygirl.com
based in Penryn
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but how do they know how quickly you can do a job and how long it takes to get from one to the other and what about quoting etc?
Cheers Goron
Basically the service i use when walk out in the morning i set my landline to divert to call centre they take all my calls bin the sales calls and take the name number of the enquiry and send me an email and sms straight away so i can call back as soon as poss. I have never used them to manage my diary. but i do find them very prof the few times i have crank called to check up on the service.
I guess if your on hols you could have the sms come through and call back when you have a min.
Ps di
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when we go away on holiday, we divert the calls to a competent member of the family, leave them the diary, and come home to fully booked 16 hour days. SORTED :)
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i change my answer phone message to tell people i'm away and come back to a pile of messages left on there. most of my work are repeats etc so most don't just hang up,
colin
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I think that`s a bit dodgy.letting people know your away ? And the house is empty etc
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Divert to mobile, leave mobile in room and call back in evening or when I feel like it.
That's what I did last year.
They had a deal where from May to August you could use your free minutes and texts
from abroad.
Was away for 3 weeks last year on hols and took loads of bookings.
John
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I do similar to Colin, but say that the office is closed, and don't give a timescale for a little bit of security. Again like Colin, most of my work is repeat and recommends, so they will wait. I leave an emergency phone number of a trusted colleague.
I also clear my caller ID so when I return I can pick up those who haven't left a message.
I wont take my business mobile on holiday with me (if overseas), I'm on holiday, I don't want to be working.
Because you can't book the weeks you're away (it's like having a full diary for those weeks), you should already have work lined up for the week you return. If I have travelled long haul, I allow a few days off on return 'cos I suffer something terrible with jet lag.
And finally, I don't broadcast on the forums that I am going away. I know some do. You never know what low life is looking in.
Safe and happy cleaning :)
The Ken
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Whats a holiday?
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paul, when i leave a message i always say i'm going on a course, for some reason or other i don't like customers to know i can afford a holiday!!!! also in saying that, there could be someone still at home, the wife for instance,
colin
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And who doesn't think about all the phone calls coming in whilst they are away on holiday? What big jobs am I possibly missing out on?
Like John I switch into "business mode" for about 30 minutes each night at around 6.00 BST. Pick up my messages and return any calls/text where possible. I think it is important that if people have been kind enough to leave a message then it should be acknowledged at least that day even if it's as simple a message as "I am away on holiday" and apologise for the delay in replying, or the like. Fortunately like "The Ken" this approach can be reasonably safely adopted as most messages are left by existing clients. Then I can switch my phone off again and get on with holidaying for the next 23.5 hours.
Saturdays and Sundays I won't turn my phone on.
Works for me. :)
Roger
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I think that work free holidays are really important. I leave my mobile phone at home and change the answer message to say the office is closed till.......... I have no interest in phone calls when I am on holiday. When I tried to stay in touch in the past I just couldn't relax. Like Colin my clients are regulars and they just leave a message to call them when I return.
The other thing I do is to contact key clients and people I am currently working for, to let them know I am going away so they are informed. I take about 5/6 weeks per year and I have had no problems with this approach.
Nigel
www.designcare.co.uk
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We run with 'Currently unavailable blah blah blah but please leave a message and we will get back to you.'
Then once a day I call our own number and retrieve the messages (most answer machines give you a facility to do this with a code). Then those I feel are worthy of calling I call, and then explain we are away until......but can still book you in as I take the diary with me.
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Hi Guys
Until my last hols I diverted to an answering facility who I have known for years but they are not as good as they once were.
Last holiday I let my messaging system take the calls but it soon filled up and people were unable to leave messages.
Not sure what I am doing next holiday but I definitely won't be taking any calls on holiday.
Cheers
Doug
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In the past I've left my diary with other local businesses that I know, and diverted calls to them. I found this to be a waste of time, I'd come home to almost zero new bookings, as they had no interest in selling to potential customers. Nobody else can run your business like you do!
I've also gone down the route of taking my mobile and checking the messages every day, but have to really stress the point that Ken and Nigel make when going on holiday, it simply ruins the holiday still being in work mode. You just can't relax because there's always going to be something hanging over your head.
I don't see the value in paying for answering services, they can't tell customers any more than your own "I'm on holiday" voice-mail message.
So is there an alternative?
Good topic Goron, got me thinking now, and scared ever to go on holiday again :(
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This topic must concern a lot of us, I don't like the thought of missing potential business, probably more so with being a new business.
I for one would prefer a fellow carpet cleaner to take my calls rather than some answer machine or somebody with no knowledge of the industry.
Like minded CCs could enter into a scheme, those willing to take calls for another CC who's away on holiday ( someone not in your area would probably work best ::) ) who would then return the favour for you when your away ( unless your both away at the same time ;) ) but if there was a fair few of us taking part that shouldn't be an issue.
Paul
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it simply ruins the holiday still being in work mode. You just can't relax because there's always going to be something hanging over your head.
I only allocate an hour per day to it. Collect messages, clear the machine and make a few calls.
Unless you have a business with a deputy manager then you'll always have some thoughts in your head everyday about your business. Even when we employed (window cleaners) we'd leave them with a weeks worth of work yet still be wondering what they were up to. Subsequent years we just told them they were having the week off too. That solved that issue, but when you own and run a business it's a 24/7/365 thing you have on your hands.
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Neil,
I can assure you that when I go through baggage check in at the airport or drive on to the Eurotunnel I don't think about work at all until I get home. 8) That is why it is called a holiday. I always make sure all loose ends are tied up and that the diary is booked for the week of my return and then forget about it. Its only carpet cleaning. No-one will die from your services being withdrawn for a week or two.
Nigel
www.designcare.co.uk
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Fortunately I have some very competent and able staff, the calls get diverted to their company mobiles and they deal with the diary, sorted!
Happy Holidays!!! First one booked for 21st March for a week.
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Good post nigel.
Think as well when i go on holiday i have never taken my phone with me.
Its just when am on holiday i dont really want to be checking the phone and the diary..
Also think i would be tempted to keep having a look at who has called or who i have missed ::)
Its a tough call this subject and good to know am not the only one that worries..