Nope but there is a cool service from Bell called call privacy. If someone calls you from a blocked number, they need to type in their number before the call will go through. I'm getting that on my phone. It takes the anonimity out of pranks.hunter001 said:
when calling an SP
- Thread starter Miss Maya Blue
- Start date
Sorry, it is only for landlines, but on my cell I don't answer Private Name, Private Number anymore. I find that they never come to fruition.kacy said:Is this service available for cell phones? I thought it was only for landlines. I subscribe to a monthly plan with bell and they told me call privacy was only for landlines
I'm sympathetic to the sp side of the story but agree with Fiji and Shack on this is ultimately a service industry and better customer service wins in the long run. Independent sps choose to go this route, with the understanding that there will be hassles to screen calls/manage contacts on their own. Maybe should strictly use email/PM to get the basic information out (use templates will facilitate things), and turn your phone line into VM only?
explorer69 said:
Nothing wrong with that!
Just try to remember that there might be other guys calling her the same day doing the same thing - this can become extremely time-consuming. This is why I do all my bookings thru e-mail and even that can occasionally be time-consuming...I'm actually thinking of putting one of those booking forms on my site like some ladies have but I know a lot of guys probably don't like those...ladyLuck1337 said:
A fairly cheap solution might be to have a basic land line with call privacy and call forwarding on it. You could have the calls forwarded to your mobile phone. I am not sure what it would cost but if it cut out the headaches it might be worth it. You could ask Bell if it is doable.
elmo said:
I don't believe I was whining - just simply telling it like it is and reminding guys to try to be as succinct as possible when calling SPs. My argument, if you reread it, was not that I mind answering questions on the phone. My main problem is when some of these guys want to chat for a long time. Sometimes even half an hour or more! Of course, it would be different if I were in a 'normal' 9 to 5 service job - then I would expect to have to answer a lot of questions on the phone but this 'job' is different...I'm sure in a normal service job, you normally don't have to deal with the customer masturbating on the other end while he's talking to you! Or maybe some do - who knows!? LOL
I can't imagine how you could even compare other business to this. This can be harder than standing on the floor of the stock market wearing a clown outfit selling shares for Tampax! We put up with a hell of a lot. I've worked a bit myself. I had a job as a telephone operator with Nordia, (the company that contracts for Bell.) I got a hell of a lot of abuse and flak from kids and adults alike, but I never had to hear a guy put his dick to the phone so I could hear him fapping away. I never had to discribe the color of my butthole and I sure as hell never had to say, "no I don't have an electric device for the stimulation of the testicls," to some guy who starts giggling away with his buddies after I say it. And I have been polite to every single one of them, and I will continue to be, but forgive us for venting.elmo said:
ladyLuck1337 said:
Elmo right about it being and business all be it different in many ways from the corporate world that you previously worked in. I am sure you had to describe the services and option available. This is different but same idea. (The wack jobs excluded.)
Since Maya said it was a rant thread I don't see anything wrong with you expressing the kind of crap you have to put up with. I think it is helpful to know both sides of the equation.
Maybe consider installing a IVR system for SPs that are so busy making money:
What is Interactive Voice Response?
IVR provides automated access to information and services over the phone. It integrates a company's telephone and computer system to become a voice computer that transforms the caller's telephone into a terminal capable of directly accessing information and services. IVR answers inquiries by prompting callers to input data onto the touchtone keypad, looking up the record in a database and speaking back information. It can also ask the caller for information, accept the answers as they are entered on the keypad and store the information in a database. Being a voice computer, an IVR system is capable of many-advanced transaction processing tasks.
What Can You Do With Interactive Voice Response?
Most people are familiar with bank-by-phone systems, but IVR technology can be used in almost any company that must service a large number of callers. It is the specific application programming that guides how the customer and company interact. With it, banks can provide detailed account information after the caller enters their account number, insurance companies can speak back the status of a specific claim number and a catalog company can register a customer's purchase after the caller enters his account number and item codes.
-----
Perhaps a menu setup for an SP might be:
Enter # from touch tone phone:
1. For Services offered
2. For Availability
3. Make appointment
4. Live connect
5. Leave message
What is Interactive Voice Response?
IVR provides automated access to information and services over the phone. It integrates a company's telephone and computer system to become a voice computer that transforms the caller's telephone into a terminal capable of directly accessing information and services. IVR answers inquiries by prompting callers to input data onto the touchtone keypad, looking up the record in a database and speaking back information. It can also ask the caller for information, accept the answers as they are entered on the keypad and store the information in a database. Being a voice computer, an IVR system is capable of many-advanced transaction processing tasks.
What Can You Do With Interactive Voice Response?
Most people are familiar with bank-by-phone systems, but IVR technology can be used in almost any company that must service a large number of callers. It is the specific application programming that guides how the customer and company interact. With it, banks can provide detailed account information after the caller enters their account number, insurance companies can speak back the status of a specific claim number and a catalog company can register a customer's purchase after the caller enters his account number and item codes.
-----
Perhaps a menu setup for an SP might be:
Enter # from touch tone phone:
1. For Services offered
2. For Availability
3. Make appointment
4. Live connect
5. Leave message
The thread reminds me how similar this industry is to consulting:
- When you first started, you charge less and try to get as many clients as you can, sometimes taking a lot more crap than necessary to get deals done.
- You spend a lot of on marketing, presentations, RFPs, whatever, which may or may not pan out. 1 in 5 ain't too bad if the RFPs are 'blind'
- As you build up your reputation, you start to rely on repeat customers and taking in less and less new ones and because of your revenue base, you can be choosy on the new clients
- You can afford to get assistants, or at least a better phone system...
- The way to justify time wasted on marketing is to charge higher rates. The longer you've been in the business and the better your reputation, the easier to jack up the rate. Know your place in the market at all times
- Charge your favorite/repeat customers less. The way to get rid of your 'bad' clients is to slowly price yourself out of their range...
- You can't be all things to all clients
- Eventually you either retire happily-ever-after, or fed up and decide you are not cut out for it...
It'll be nice to get to 'happily-ever-after'!
- When you first started, you charge less and try to get as many clients as you can, sometimes taking a lot more crap than necessary to get deals done.
- You spend a lot of on marketing, presentations, RFPs, whatever, which may or may not pan out. 1 in 5 ain't too bad if the RFPs are 'blind'
- As you build up your reputation, you start to rely on repeat customers and taking in less and less new ones and because of your revenue base, you can be choosy on the new clients
- You can afford to get assistants, or at least a better phone system...
- The way to justify time wasted on marketing is to charge higher rates. The longer you've been in the business and the better your reputation, the easier to jack up the rate. Know your place in the market at all times
- Charge your favorite/repeat customers less. The way to get rid of your 'bad' clients is to slowly price yourself out of their range...
- You can't be all things to all clients
- Eventually you either retire happily-ever-after, or fed up and decide you are not cut out for it...
It'll be nice to get to 'happily-ever-after'!
hunter001 said:
Could be quite inexpensive, certainly within the reach of almost all indy ladies here. Not sure if they are available for Canada, but check out:
http://www.gotvmail.com/
or something slightly different, but at the moment, free:
http://grandcentral.com/
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