MonsterSmallBusiness Forums > 1800 Number Recommendations

adoptshoppeVIP

Oct 25 2005, 06:26 PM

QUOTE(krazykickz @ Aug 25 2003, 07:57 AM)

Hi,

we are considering getting a 1800 number. I think this is a great trust builder, what about you guys? Please share your experiences if you have a 1800 number and share some of the costs and who you contacted to obtain yours. I think this would be good info for me as well as others.

Thanks
:P
[right][snapback]4341[/snapback][/right]

Just signed up with GotVMail. Good pricing, relatively easy set-up and no long-term contracts.

VitaminDepotOnline

Nov 1 2005, 08:07 PM

matt@cpbs, I was wondering how you integrated the Instant Message Online graphic to pop up when you are online? Thanks

brandone

Nov 18 2005, 05:20 PM

QUOTE(krazykickz @ Aug 25 2003, 07:57 AM)

Hi,

we are considering getting a 1800 number. I think this is a great trust builder, what about you guys? Please share your experiences if you have a 1800 number and share some of the costs and who you contacted to obtain yours. I think this would be good info for me as well as others.

Thanks
:P
[right][snapback]4341[/snapback][/right]

brandone

Nov 18 2005, 05:25 PM

QUOTE(krazykickz @ Aug 25 2003, 07:57 AM)

Hi,

we are considering getting a 1800 number. I think this is a great trust builder, what about you guys? Please share your experiences if you have a 1800 number and share some of the costs and who you contacted to obtain yours. I think this would be good info for me as well as others.

Thanks
:P
[right][snapback]4341[/snapback][/right]

Never posted before, but we did just setup an 800, well 866 number through a company called Kall8, located at: http://www.kall8.com There, you can setup an 800 number for $4.00 per month with all kinds of features. You might check them out.

brandone

jandr

Dec 6 2005, 12:45 PM

I have a Virtual Secretary! I like the program because I pay 20 buxs a month for 800 number, fax, and voicemail. I receive most of this over the net as to not charge myself trying to listen to my voicemail. Comes straight through my speakers via EMAIL as a MP3 so I can rewind the calls, save the calls, and delete the calls. I also like the fax VIA EMAIL where I can save, delete, and save as a pdf. Both features come to me VIA TEXT Message. So I can transfer to a lender if I want as an attachment. I mobile a lot so this feature works for me. Tell me what may or not work for you? Click This if you want to know more about the $9.95 plan
http://gotvmail.com/land.php?sp=25288&img=3&kbid=1100

ParFil28

Jan 29 2006, 08:59 AM

QUOTE(Religious-Items.com @ Sep 25 2003, 02:18 PM)

Has anyone had any experience with using an answering service for inbound sales calls? I was looking into a local service and was wanting some feedback on someone's experience.
[right][snapback]5479[/snapback][/right]

I know I am way late here, but I just wanted to share our experience with a fulfillment/call center. We got our 800 number thru them (two of them actually) and we had 24 call service so those who don't want to use computers, can call their order in and the agents then enter it into the website.
Well, as someone else stated, I found out when screening the calls (they have the feature where you can listen to the calls), that not only were most of those calls more customer service calls, then sales calls, but the agents did not give out the best information, yet wasted a lot of minutes. To top things off, one of the agents constantly told our customers that our system is down and to call back later. I did not find any info about the system being down that much. We paid on average $400 for about 16 phone orders. 80% of our orders are placed online. It was bad luck. I know that in general, it's def. best to have an 800 number, but before you get a call center or fulfillment center, make sure to talk to some references so you won't end up paying way more than you make.
Due to all the issues, we decided to leave the company. I will fulfill the orders myself and I did find a reasonable call center and we're just waiting to have our numbers released to start the trial period.

I like the idea of forwarding the 800 to my cell (my biz phone is a cell phone and right now a local numberl just for customer service). Do I call my cell phone provider to set that up?

Also, where can I find more info about the life chat that was mentioned? I like the idea of the icon showing when I am online...

MartiniGuy

Jan 31 2006, 09:04 AM

QUOTE(ParFil28 @ Jan 29 2006, 09:00 AM)

QUOTE(Religious-Items.com @ Sep 25 2003, 02:18 PM)

Has anyone had any experience with using an answering service for inbound sales calls? I was looking into a local service and was wanting some feedback on someone's experience.
[right][snapback]5479[/snapback][/right]

I know I am way late here, but I just wanted to share our experience with a fulfillment/call center. We got our 800 number thru them (two of them actually) and we had 24 call service so those who don't want to use computers, can call their order in and the agents then enter it into the website.
Well, as someone else stated, I found out when screening the calls (they have the feature where you can listen to the calls), that not only were most of those calls more customer service calls, then sales calls, but the agents did not give out the best information, yet wasted a lot of minutes. To top things off, one of the agents constantly told our customers that our system is down and to call back later. I did not find any info about the system being down that much. We paid on average $400 for about 16 phone orders. 80% of our orders are placed online. It was bad luck. I know that in general, it's def. best to have an 800 number, but before you get a call center or fulfillment center, make sure to talk to some references so you won't end up paying way more than you make.
Due to all the issues, we decided to leave the company. I will fulfill the orders myself and I did find a reasonable call center and we're just waiting to have our numbers released to start the trial period.

I like the idea of forwarding the 800 to my cell (my biz phone is a cell phone and right now a local numberl just for customer service). Do I call my cell phone provider to set that up?

Also, where can I find more info about the life chat that was mentioned? I like the idea of the icon showing when I am online...
[right][snapback]102104[/snapback][/right]

Hey ParFil28
Forwarding the calls to your cell is going to be a function of your toll free provider. We use "GotVMail" and call forwarding and notification are easily set features in our control panel.
Good luck with it...

dichmak

Apr 28 2006, 03:27 PM

QUOTE(ParFil28 @ Jan 29 2006, 10:00 AM) [snapback]102104[/snapback]

QUOTE(Religious-Items.com @ Sep 25 2003, 02:18 PM)

Has anyone had any experience with using an answering service for inbound sales calls? I was looking into a local service and was wanting some feedback on someone's experience.

[snapback]5479[/snapback]

I know I am way late here, but I just wanted to share our experience with a fulfillment/call center. We got our 800 number thru them (two of them actually) and we had 24 call service so those who don't want to use computers, can call their order in and the agents then enter it into the website.
Well, as someone else stated, I found out when screening the calls (they have the feature where you can listen to the calls), that not only were most of those calls more customer service calls, then sales calls, but the agents did not give out the best information, yet wasted a lot of minutes. To top things off, one of the agents constantly told our customers that our system is down and to call back later. I did not find any info about the system being down that much. We paid on average $400 for about 16 phone orders. 80% of our orders are placed online. It was bad luck. I know that in general, it's def. best to have an 800 number, but before you get a call center or fulfillment center, make sure to talk to some references so you won't end up paying way more than you make.
Due to all the issues, we decided to leave the company. I will fulfill the orders myself and I did find a reasonable call center and we're just waiting to have our numbers released to start the trial period.

I like the idea of forwarding the 800 to my cell (my biz phone is a cell phone and right now a local numberl just for customer service). Do I call my cell phone provider to set that up?

Also, where can I find more info about the life chat that was mentioned? I like the idea of the icon showing when I am online...

Hi ParFil28,

We also agree with the others who are using GotVMail. I think it is probably the BEST PBX (or call center) out there. Since we have not started selling our apparel online yet (ISEEYOULOOKN.COM), I can't tell you whether or not we are getting more orders. But, what I can tell you is that we setup the entire system (all of the voice prompts) ourselves, following all of the help and examples on the GotVMail website. And we can change the system at any time we need to.

The number of options on the system is very nice. If you want to see how we've setup our system, call 1-(866) YES-ISYL (1-866-9374795). To test the full system, call during our business hours (7am - 2pm EST). If we answer your call while you are checking out our system, just say that you are a

Commerce company testing our phone system.

Oh, and one of the best features of GotVMail over any other system, is that you can make calls from your 800 number! So, if you need to return a call to a customer, you can dial your 800 number, and go through the prompts to make a call from your 800 number. While most of the systems discussed here give you more of a professional look when customers call you, I think returning calls from an 800 number makes doubles your professional look. We also use Vonage, and that was something that we could not do with our Vonage 800 number.

Dichma from ISYL