Freephone number

RoadKillTs

Hi,

Does anyone have any experience in setting up a 1800 number?
And if so do you think that it is worth the extra expense?

Thanks


Edit: Or number

darc

Very easy to set up (contact Eircom even if your phone is with another provider)
http://business.eircom.net/SME/products/voice/9244703?view=Standard&BV_SessionID=@@@@1281754438.1244027576@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccccadehgkgilmecefeceiedffndffj.0&chanId=-536884733&site=Bus&logged_in=true
Expensive to run especially if calls come from mobiles.

http://business.eircom.net/SME/products/voice/9244703?view=Eircomnet&p=http://business.eircom.net/html/Freefone%20Pricing%20v%2016.pdf

Tony255

how about a locall 1890 number these are not as expensive, I had to set one of these up years ago and it was pretty easy I could probably dig out the company name if you are interested let me know and I will have a look

darc

Tony255 wrote: »

how about a locall 1890 number these are not as expensive, I had to set one of these up years ago and it was pretty easy I could probably dig out the company name if you are interested let me know and I will have a look

problem with lo call is that it is 30c a minute to call from a mobile even if you have a bundle of minutes, also with most mobiles and lanlines you get calls included, so a easy to remember land line number is as good as a lo call or offer both.

RoadKillTs

Thanks for the advice lads.
I'm thinking about setting one up for a business but I'm not sure would it be worth it.

Does it make that much difference to potential customers that the contact number is freephone?

dclare

My experience is that an 1890 or 1850 number is the better way to go. It offers many of the benefits of the freephone number, without the same ongoing cost.

louth87

RoadKillTs wrote: »

Does it make that much difference to potential customers that the contact number is freephone?

Depends who your target market is really I suppose, i.e. if your aiming for students for example it may be more of an appeal to get in touch

RoadKillTs

Depends who your target market is really I suppose, i.e. if your aiming for students for example it may be more of an appeal to get in touch

Target audience is quite wide. 18 - 60 bracket.
Also the majority of calls would be quite long in duration which wouldn't help

RoadKillTs

Ok lets say for example I setup an 1800 number. Then if a potential customer calls I could take down their details and call them back through Skype
Would that work?

blue4ever

RoadKillTs wrote: »

Ok lets say for example I setup an 1800 number. Then if a potential customer calls I could take down their details and call them back through Skype
Would that work?

Great thing about freephone is that you can used them for advertising only (as opposed to your land line) so you can begin to track the response rates.

dclare

blue4ever wrote: »

Great thing about freephone is that you can used them for advertising only (as opposed to your land line) so you can begin to track the response rates.

The same thing goes for 1850 & 1890 numbers. Keep in mind your profit margins too - if your sales margins are pretty small, a lo-call number will work out better than a free phone one.

RoadKillTs

The same thing goes for 1850 & 1890 numbers. Keep in mind your profit margins too - if your sales margins are pretty small, a lo-call number will work out better than a free phone one.

Starting to think they might be a better option. Just had a look at that price list on Eircoms site. Some of the rates are extortionate.

VO

RoadKillTs wrote: »

Hi,

Does anyone have any experience in setting up a 1800 number?
And if so do you think that it is worth the extra expense?

Thanks


Edit: Or number

Lo-call 1890, 1850 or 0818 are certainly much more economical than 1800 and can be just as effective. Really it depends on the type of business you are in. PM me if you wish to find out where you can pay line rental of €20 per month + call charges.

ellrules

darc wrote: »

problem with lo call is that it is 30c a minute to call from a mobile even if you have a bundle of minutes, also with most mobiles and lanlines you get calls included, so a easy to remember land line number is as good as a lo call or offer both.

Agree with ya there - it infuriates me that the busines is trying to be accessible by giving an 1 80 number and the opposite is the case once the mobule phone operators get their hands on it - the cost is a multiple of what an otdinary call on mobile is =Wher is the Comm reg now when you need them - are you listening comm reg..:mad::mad::mad::mad:

probe

A geographic number is the cheapest option for both parties - eg 01 234 5678. Very often the caller has a bundle of minutes paid for every month, so it doesn't really cost them anything to call a geographic number. And it is free to the called party.

1-800 numbers are a pain for the recipient - especially from mobiles - high cost. Can't be called from outside the state.

1-8other numbers cost both the caller and called party for every call. They are just a telecommunications industry rip-off and can't be reached from outside the country either.

You can't use direct dialling inwards with these non-geographic phone numbers - so staff waste time passing calls from one to the next until the correct person gets to deal with the call.

The most functional set-up is to use geographic numbers, publishing a direct dial number for the appropriate individual/department who deals with the matter.

Anything else is generally dysfunctional, a waste of time, staff costs, customer time and phone expenses.

AMPSound

Yeah, have you investigated SkypeIn numbers? Get a nice geographical number, even if you are not based in that area.

MOH

AMPSound wrote: »

Yeah, have you investigated SkypeIn numbers? Get a nice geographical number, even if you are not based in that area.

Or Blueface offer a similar option. I'm looking at both at the moment, although I've heard call quality is better on blueface