The power of 0800 (Freephone) numbers ...

... on the number of people who call your company

[le_gber]

Hi all,

Has anyone changed from a 'normal' phone number to a freephone one and saw a rise in the number of people calling?

Does anyone know of where I could find some stats on that?

What would oyu say are the benefts of the freephone numbers despite the fact that it's cheaper for your customer to call you and that it may look more 'professional', you may look more established, reliable by having a freephone number.

Thanks for your feedback guys/gals.

Leo

[sem4u]

This may help:

[webmasterworld.com...]

[le_gber]

Thanks sem4u.

Anybody else have interesting reading about this subject, some estimated figures would be greatly appreciated.

Leo

[andy_boyd]

Can't give specific figures, but I would estimate that at least 10% of our monthly sales come through our 800 number. I can assure you, this was not the case before I arrange the free-phone number.

Well worth it.

[vkaryl]

A post from the "other side of the coin" - as a "conspicuous consumer" (I spend a LOT of money shopping on a yearly basis!), I look for the following as key aspects of my shopping/buying experience:

1. Does the company from which I'm considering buying the latest widget have a website? If so, does that website have the ability to actually purchase those widgets online, or will I be referred to email or a phone number? If I may purchase online, is the store easy to use/navigate? If any of the above are "no", then before I look for a different "widget-shop" I will go on to:

2. Does the company have an 800 number? If the answer to that is "no", then I look elsewhere, beginning with my local shopping area (80 mile round trip, and on ice in the winter I JUST WON'T DO IT!)

The absolute LAST RESORT for me is a company with nothing but a non-free phone number and/or "contact us by email for ordering info". It would have to be the only company in the universe with that particular widget (HIGHLY UNLIKELY, needless to say) for me to make a call costing ME money; or spend the time to email, probably to be told to "give us a call".

As per normal, my 2 cents worth isn't even worth that much, no doubt!