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Mindpro Eternal Order 10615 Posts 
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To me the key reason to have a toll-free number has always been for convenience to the customer. With that in mind comes the point, do potential customers still call 800 numbers? In this day and age of unlimited calling packages on cell phones and less land lines than every before in history, to me that is the question.
Then you have to factor some of the negative perceptions that may come into play that are a turn off for some when they see a 800 number. I guess your performance area/markets and other business factors also come into play with this as well. |
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Robin4Kids Veteran user Lower Alabama 396 Posts
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One of the reasons to consider an 800 number is the ability to have a catchy vanity number (ie. 1-800-MAGIC4U). Otherwise as others have stated, not having to pay for a long distance call is no longer the advantage it once was. One negative aspect that comes with an 800 number is the perception that some people have that the call will be answered by a call center, which many toll free numbers are.
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21271 Posts
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Over think much guys?
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
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Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7568 Posts
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About 10-15 years ago, I had a 1-800 number for about a month. What the phone company didn't tell me, was that my number once belonged to a major U.S. pharmacy, and it was printed on their labels of pill bottles. I was getting calls from all over the U.S. asking for a refill of people's prescriptions. And because I'm on the west coast, sometimes these calls would start coming at 4:00 or 5:00 in the morning.
Oh, and the pharmacy customers didn't get that this number no longer belonged to the pharmacy, so they would call again when I told them that the number was no longer valid. It was super-annoying, and turned me off of 1-800 numbers. I can't remember if I had the 1-800 number printed on my promotional materials by the time I realized this, or not. I would only get another 1-800 number, if the company could promise me that it was a new number. And then I would be cautious about printing it on my promotional materials until a trial period was over. As it is, I still suspect that most people have long distance included in their calling plans. For my cell phone, I have 500 minutes of LD a month, valid for calling anywhere in Canada. - Donald
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
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Ken Northridge Inner circle Atlantic City, NJ 2394 Posts
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Well, thanks for your thoughts everyone. I'm pretty sure 800 numbers are, at some point, going to be about as valuable as an ad in the yellow pages. The only thing that keeps me from dropping it right now is my school mailing last fall has my 800 number on it. I will not use it in this year's mailing and hopefully drop it soon. It only amounts to about $150 per year, but I think that money could be more wisely spent.
Of course, I thought fax machines would be a thing of the past too! 
"Love is the real magic." -Doug Henning
www.KenNorthridge.com |
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Dynamike Eternal Order FullTimer 24148 Posts
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Quote:
On Jan 3, 2011, Astrocity wrote: Did Ring Central price change or am I missing something? I looked it up and the minimum reads $24.99 monthly: http://www.ringcentral.com/office/plansandpricing.html Freedom Voice minimum monthly fee is $9.95: https://www.freedomvoice.com/cloudnumber/plans-pricing You get 400 free minutes, but I was not planning on being on the phone long anyway. |
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21271 Posts
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Wow prices have changed in 5 plus years? Who would imagine?
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
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stempleton Inner circle 1443 Posts
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I recently signed up for a toll free voice mail service, because previously when I advertised my personal number I was blasted with spam. But I realized there was another reason a toll free number might be helpful.
When a customer sees your number, and that area code is different from his or hers, it might make them believe that you are too far away from them for a performance. They may be right, but I want to be the one to make that decision. I signed up with a service that emails me when a message is received, and attaches an audio file of their message. When I have established a relationship with the prospect, I can then give them my personal number. At $10 a month I find it more than affordable. |
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Mindpro Eternal Order 10615 Posts
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Quote:
On Mar 12, 2016, stempleton wrote: While this may be true, I have found the opposite to also be true. I know many who will look for a local or nearby area code that they recognize, but if they see a toll-free number they automatically assume you are not in/from their area and then move on to look for someone with a recognizable area code. I've seen toll-free numbers work against you in this manner. |
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Dynamike Eternal Order FullTimer 24148 Posts
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Quote:
On Mar 12, 2016, Mindpro wrote: A lot of people think toll free numbers are only 800, 888, 866, etc. Incorrect. Toll free numbers can also start with the area code of a certain district. That is why I selected a toll free number starting off with the area code I am planning to do business in within Canada. |
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21271 Posts
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Doing business in Canada while the Canadian dollar is at least 25% down against the American dollar seems an odd business move. Making Canadian dollars and spending American dollars to live is not easy.
Many Canadian performers prefer to work in America for this very reason. But I am sure you knew this already. I am certain it is part of your business plan.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
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charliecheckers Inner circle 1969 Posts
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Danny- you bring up a great point. I have recently accepted a few jobs in Canada (I never marketed/promoted) and was considering pursuing a few additional ones as well. For me, the client pays in US Dollars, so the exchange does not hurt me. Your post made me realize how much more expensive I am to those clients though. Spending effort to gain additional clients would be an up hill battle. The allure for me though is exploring the Canadian market close to the boarder is less travel and drive time than other US areas. Once I factor time and travel costs in, the exchange rate challenge for Canadian is really no different than my travel costs. For those whose performances cost a lot more than mine, the exchange rate in actual dollars becomes more difficult to overcome.
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21271 Posts
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Once it gets down to 40% it really makes it rough.
But just out of curiosity your travel expense is at least 25% of your free?
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
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charliecheckers Inner circle 1969 Posts
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Quote:
On Mar 13, 2016, Dannydoyle wrote: It would depend on distance, but that is why most birthday party performers stay closer to home, because travel expenses drive the relative cost up quickly. Neither travel or 25% dollar exchange rates are desirable in this (library/birthday)market, unless it is for multiple shows and/or multiple days. I do not promote 2 hours away unless I can make arrangements for multiple shows and do not have hard and fast travel fees. Those that do travel and publish their travel prices seem to charge 25% or so of there lower priced shows. |
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21271 Posts
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So if a birthday party costs $300 out costs $75 to travel more than 2 hours?
I am trying to understand cost structure here.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
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Dynamike Eternal Order FullTimer 24148 Posts
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I made my first mistake this year dealing with a Canadian prospect. He saw me at a previous show in Canada. He called me asking my fees. I told him my fee, but it had to be American exchange. He never called me back. I am just going to raise my fees when the prospect is from Canada. I will not bring up any type of exchange. I will also add more because of the bridge toll. My fee will be nearly doubled. I am not going to bring up anything dealing with countries. I want them to think I am in Canada. The deposit will be by credit card. I will put PayPal or sending a check as the last way of accepting a deposit.
I have nothing to lose because only one show throughout the year pays my liabilities, plus make me a profit. The domain name for a year is less than $15. The monthly toll free number is only $10 a month. My business would have doubled if I was not on the border of Canada. I had to to travel a further radius to make more of a fee near my location. Now I do not have to tell Canada's Border Patrol I am going to the casino as I cross onto their border so I will not have to pay for a work permit. |
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21271 Posts
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Yes it is always a good policy to put on a public forum that can be googled with your name that you intend to break the law. Good move.
So your plan as I see it is to have 2 different Web pages, one American and one Canadian, with 2 different prices. One of which will be double what the other is.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
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Dynamike Eternal Order FullTimer 24148 Posts
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"Almost" doubled. I have several ways to set up my caller ID on my phone as the toll free calls come in. I have it set up where the Canadian phone number I am paying for shows up on my phone. That is how I know I am receiving a Canadian call.
I did get busted going across the border last time as they searched my car. She asked me some tough questions about the casino. I surrendered and told her where I was really going. That Canadian Custom Border lady was so nice. She told me she will not flag me or put anything on the computer of me lying. She told me she is giving me a break because I was nice. I regret I did not ask for her phone number or email. |
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21271 Posts
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Sounds like an amazing plan.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
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Dynamike Eternal Order FullTimer 24148 Posts
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Quote:
On Mar 13, 2016, Dannydoyle wrote: But who knows, the news media might see it and ask me questions. Any publicity is good, as long as they spell your name right. |
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Posted: May 21, 2014 03:42 am 