[Smudger]

I just love the way you guys who don’t use landline insist they are out of date and nobody uses them, I agree one man band with nobody to answer could possibly be a waste but it’s easy enough to can calls diverted to your mobile.

Many customers, and certainly other business customers use landline

I don’t use mobile for customer access - there was nothing worse than trying to clean a hose or gutter vac than the phone keep ringing interrupting work.

Only the ‘office’ and staff have my mobile so if they ring I know it’s reasonably important
A landline does show your locally based and this is important to some people - usually the older generation

If in doubt have both

Darran

I text some customers the night before for access,text remind the odd one in the evening for payment,they very rarely reply by phoning me up so I don't get interrupted.......

If I get any phone calls in the day then I don't usually answer them there and then and get back to them at lunchtime or evening.....again so it doesn't interrupt my work...

You have to text ahead as the customers never when your coming

So you ignore the mobile - ? So no difference between that and a landline then

Darran

[Arnold Palmer]

However, keeping up with modern times. Wear a blue tooth headset and answer your calls whilst you work.
Potential customers can text/forward your address or else you can book Mark their number and arrange a call back for further details.

I would deliberately avoid this guy:

Absolutely agree, however most Bluetooth earphones have microphones allowing you to make and receive calls with a little bit more discretion

You still look like a tit though.

[The Jester of Wibbly]

I just love the way you guys who don’t use landline insist they are out of date and nobody uses them, I agree one man band with nobody to answer could possibly be a waste but it’s easy enough to can calls diverted to your mobile.

Many customers, and certainly other business customers use landline

I don’t use mobile for customer access - there was nothing worse than trying to clean a hose or gutter vac than the phone keep ringing interrupting work.

Only the ‘office’ and staff have my mobile so if they ring I know it’s reasonably important
A landline does show your locally based and this is important to some people - usually the older generation

If in doubt have both

Darran

Problem is my landline never gets used.  It's a family private house line.  If it rang any one could answer it including a child.  This would sound unprofessional for a busness call.

[John Mart]

I just love the way you guys who don’t use landline insist they are out of date and nobody uses them, I agree one man band with nobody to answer could possibly be a waste but it’s easy enough to can calls diverted to your mobile.

Many customers, and certainly other business customers use landline

I don’t use mobile for customer access - there was nothing worse than trying to clean a hose or gutter vac than the phone keep ringing interrupting work.

Only the ‘office’ and staff have my mobile so if they ring I know it’s reasonably important
A landline does show your locally based and this is important to some people - usually the older generation

If in doubt have both

Darran

Problem is my landline never gets used.  It's a family private house line.  If it rang any one could answer it including a child.  This would sound unprofessional for a busness call.

Rent a virtual one. It'd be daft to use your home number.

[dazmond]

I just love the way you guys who don’t use landline insist they are out of date and nobody uses them, I agree one man band with nobody to answer could possibly be a waste but it’s easy enough to can calls diverted to your mobile.

Many customers, and certainly other business customers use landline

I don’t use mobile for customer access - there was nothing worse than trying to clean a hose or gutter vac than the phone keep ringing interrupting work.

Only the ‘office’ and staff have my mobile so if they ring I know it’s reasonably important
A landline does show your locally based and this is important to some people - usually the older generation

If in doubt have both

Darran

I text some customers the night before for access,text remind the odd one in the evening for payment,they very rarely reply by phoning me up so I don't get interrupted.......

If I get any phone calls in the day then I don't usually answer them there and then and get back to them at lunchtime or evening.....again so it doesn't interrupt my work...

You have to text ahead as the customers never when your coming

So you ignore the mobile - ? So no difference between that and a landline then

Darran

maybe it works for you with staff but most one man outfits do  not need anything more than a mobile/decent smartphone for contacting customers(or being contacted by them).....

i dont ignore phone calls so to speak but i rarely get my phone out of my pocket in time before it goes on to voicemail when im poling away!

[Smudger]

Ignore - don’t answer very much the same thing Daz

If and when you read the posts I’m not against mobile only, I did indicate that for single operators this was fine,  I also pointed out that landlines are still very much used and even preferred to mobile - what I haven’t done is a general sweeping statement that landlines are not needed

The op asked a question and has several responses/experiences from that hopefully he can make a more informed decision on whether he uses mobile or landline or both

Darran

[The Jester of Wibbly]

Might be worth trialing a 0800 virtual number?

Anyone tried this?

 

[John Mart]

Might be worth trialing a 0800 virtual number?

Anyone tried this?

I think a local number is better. Implies you’re local.

[Walter Mitty]

I'm considering giving up my land line.  The time has passed from when mobile only was regarded as possibly a bit dodgy.  So long as you give out mobile, address and email, people can make contact and identify a building to go with it.  This would mean me being stuck with Virginmedia though, I think, as that comes in on a fibre optic cable; if broadband comes in on the phone line, it may be difficult to separate them.   I will be looking into the possibilities soon.

[nathankaye]

Let's not forget we are just window cleaners and on that note I don't believe that our customers don't care if you live round the corner or ten miles away or further. As long as you look trustworthy, have a fair price and do a good job, they couldn't care less.

[Smudger]

Let's not forget we arejust window cleaners and on that note I don't believe that our customers don't care if you live round the corner or ten miles away or further. As long as you look trustworthy, have a fair price and do a good job, they couldn't care less.

Speak for yourself mate - I don’t believe anyone is a “just” that’s a derogatory way of looking at yourself - window cleaner you/we maybe but whether working on your own or have staff at the very least you have multiple rolls to fulfill unlike the general paye worker

Darran

[nathankaye]

But at the end of the day, regardless of which business title we give our self's and regardless of how many staff or vans you have out. We are all window cleaners and not some business which is dependant on people relying on us being local to their house for them to be concerned if we hold a local land line number.
Also many large companies, now use/pay for a local number when in fact they are not local but national.
So the debate on people looking at local land line numbers for window cleaners is an old argument.
It's more based on the cost of a call to a land-line compared to the cost of a land line to mobile call which is the factor in question and that mostly is due to the older potential client who don't use mobile phones for such daily calls

[Arnold Palmer]

I'm with NK.

I'm just a window cleaner.

Nothing to see here. Move along.

[Smudger]

But at the end of the day, regardless of which business title we give our self's and regardless of how many staff or vans you have out. We are all window cleaners and not some business which is dependant on people relying on us being local to their house for them to be concerned if we hold a local land line number.
Also many large companies, now use/pay for a local number when in fact they are not local but national.
So the debate on people looking at local land line numbers for window cleaners is an old argument.
It's more based on the cost of a call to a land-line compared to the cost of a land line to mobile call which is the factor in question and that mostly is due to the older potential client who don't use mobile phones for such daily calls

I think you just shot yourself in the foot, with that line - national companies wanting to look local - why? Because people still like to use local services/people

In Norfolk that is most definitely the case ( I’m not saying all, or even majority as I don’t have any data on it - but I will say approx 1 in 4 new customers say we called you as your local )

Darran

[Splash & dash]

Totally agree with Darren’s comments a lot of our customers chose us beacause we are local and live In the area and personally think a landline no and mobile number looks more professional it also gives people the choise of the number they want to call some people still think it’s expensive to phone a mobile and won’t call especialy  older customers, round our way a lot of Pickies go round with nice flash looking vehicles with mobile no on them and the majority of peopke  won’t entertain using them beacause they don’t have a land line no . Given a choise myself if I didn’t know the company I was looking at doing a job for me I would lean towards the one with both numbers

[dazmond]

ive got that many customers in the posh areas(over 300 now) i work they think i live local!

i dont of course....!

[The Jester of Wibbly]

ive got that many customers in the posh areas(over 300 now) i work they think i live local!

i dont of course....!

A posh area of customers would be horrified if they thought their window cleaner lived on their patch 

[Johnny B]

When all is said and done, all that matters is what works for us personally.

I have a landline but never give it to customers because there's no-one in during the day. No-one ever asks for it anyway but I am always asked for a card (which I also don't carry) or my mobile number.

My van isn't signwritten, and I don't advertise.

With all this you would think I wouldn't get any work or that I may appear unprofessional,  but the reality is is that I have become well known in my locality and I am bursting with work based on the way I treat my customers and by doing the best quality job I can, not by being all whistles and bells.

John

[Stoots]

As a one man band or small business mobile only as that's the best to txt customers and be texted or called whilst we are out.

If I had a larger business where I was sat in an office 9-5 I would have landline only and be able to take calls during work house. That would also mean I'm not pestered on an evening.

So there that's the difinitive answer.

[The Jester of Wibbly]

If I needed a plumber or roofer I would just call their mobile as I know they would not be home. Simple