Hi Stephen!
On 11-12-96 at 07:58:00PM, Stephen Coker of 1:252/301 wrote to August 
olins:
 SC>  I agree with you to a point. However when I was doing my electronics 
 SC> service from my home many calls(I missed while outside repairing a
 SC> car  stereo or 2way radio) didn't like leaving a message on my
 SC> anwering machine.   I just checked my Call Display and they were
 SC> thrilled I went that extra  step to  call to offer to serve them. 
That's great!   But I still believe that people will leave a message if they 
really want one's business.   And.. if the call is important they will either 
try to cal again or leave a message.
I have had the unfortunate experience of many delinquent customers (not 
paying their bills), that I am not too enthusiastic about getting extra fancy 
phone services.  I invite a potential customer to come to my office, I 
provide about 1 hour free consultation and evaluation (I coordinate an 
accounting services business), I specify the retainer required.  From the 
interview I can generally detect if the customer will be forth coming.
 SC> P.S. I live in a rural setting so I'm lucky these features are
 SC> available. The biggest help for my electronics business wasn't in
 SC> newspaper,TV/Radio or similar things...but the Yellow Pages! I had
 SC> customers driving up to 250 km for service based on my ad in a local
 SC> area phone book. Lots of customers came from word-of-mouth but I many
 SC> new customers came by way of the Yellow Pages. 
The Yellow Pages success is quite surprising to me.  Maybe it's just the 
business that *I* am in that people generally don't use the Yellow Pages.  
Most of my customers for accounting services have come from word-of-mouth.
BUT..  I will be testing the effectiveness of the YP once again. I am paying 
a little extra for my secondary "free" listing and including one extra line 
that introduces a *FREE OFFER*.  If that doesn't catch anyone's attention 
next year, then I will simply revert back to the plain el-cheapo YP listing.
 SC> You wouldn't believe
 SC> how many people actually READ the phone book when it comes out each
 SC> year! Just like the home office operator, customers are going the
 SC> stay at home and shop by phone these days.
Well.. the YP will be put to a test next year ('97-'98].  I hope I even get 
just "inquiry" calls.
 SC>  ! Origin: PrimeTime * Muskoka (705)689-1757 (1:252/301)
Ah..  so you are located in the Muskokas.  That's not too far from me.
..August
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