> Answer phones are easy to use I find most people
> here in North Wales get back within a day of messages being left. It's
> unrealistic to expect 24 hour coverage of a telephone. I know, I'm trying
> to start a small historic research business.
And that's the point. For a "one-man-band" business it's just not on to be
available to answer the phone all the time. If you were to emply someone
to answer the phone, you'd be out of business in a week - there just isn't
that much money in the sort of books we deal in.
An answer machine has to be a better alternative than a caller just getting
no reply, and there is an advantage in that we regularly take calls in the
evening, which is when most larger businesses would switch their answer
machines on!
There's no doubt that some businesses do not do what they claim, and phone
back. They give more professional businesses a bad name, but frankly, a
small business can't afford not to phone back. If faced with an answer
phone - why not leave your number? You've nothing to lose, and you can
still try alternative sources.
My last word, I think - it's way off topic, but it has helped me understand
people's resistance a little. I truly can't think of a viable alternative,
and thankfully, on balance, having an answer machine results in more sales
and satisfied customers than not having one.
Thanks,
Howard.
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