[CARPET KNIGHTS]

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

[richy27]

Goron been using this company a few months now .

www.pressplay.co.uk

[CARPET KNIGHTS]

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

[Colin Day]

You could always divert them to my number

[Moderator David@stives]

I could take your calls for you

[Moderator David@stives]

www.fridaygirl.com

based in Penryn

[richy27]

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

[fitz2kleen]

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

[colin thomas]

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

[M.Acorn]

I think that`s a bit dodgy.letting people know your away ? And the house is empty etc

[JandS]

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

[Ken Wainwright]

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

[MAX Carpets]

Whats a holiday?

[colin thomas]

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

[Doctor Carpet (Ret'd)]

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

[Nigel_W]

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

[Neil Williams]

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.

[Doug Holloway]

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

[Jim_77]

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

[kinder clean]

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