Restricted Toll Free numbers and Too much time on DealerRefresh???

[ryan.leslie]

I was just attempting to contact a dealer that does not share my area code and discovered that they haven't woken up to the fact that transplants like me tend to hold on to our cell numbers when we move. Number portability and the advent of "cell only" households means that not everybody trying to do business with you is going to share your area code, even if they live a block from your store. Is it worth the risk of filtering "out of area" callers that are in your area to save x dollars on your incoming toll free number? The only local number on the entire site is for the service department.

I'm proud to admit that my first thought was, "This dealer isn't ready for a Ninja, they need the Phone-up Caveman."

 

[Jerry Thibeau]

I was just attempting to contact a dealer that does not share my area code and discovered that they haven't woken up to the fact that transplants like me tend to hold on to our cell numbers when we move.

I preach this everyday! I am amazed how many people ask me when I do mystery shops why I am calling from a different area code. I always tell them I moved 6 months ago and I did not want to change my cell number.

 

[Alex Snyder]

I preach this everyday! I am amazed how many people ask me when I do mystery shops why I am calling from a different area code. I always tell them I moved 6 months ago and I did not want to change my cell number.

Selling cars in Virginia Beach/Norfolk (biggest Naval base on the planet) I learned real fast that there is no way to to differentiate customers by area code. On top of that many of the sailors at sea communicate with dealers to set up a purchase when their deployment is finished. Does that mean there are international calls (not from Nigeria ) that are legit? Yep!

I'm a transplant in Vermont now. I'm not changing my phone number. That definitely messes some people in Vermont up though, but I have yet to be blocked because of it.

 

[mattwatson81]

I was just attempting to contact a dealer that does not share my area code and discovered that they haven't woken up to the fact that transplants like me tend to hold on to our cell numbers when we move. Number portability and the advent of "cell only" households means that not everybody trying to do business with you is going to share your area code, even if they live a block from your store. Is it worth the risk of filtering "out of area" callers that are in your area to save x dollars on your incoming toll free number? The only local number on the entire site is for the service department.

I'm proud to admit that my first thought was, "This dealer isn't ready for a Ninja, they need the Phone-up Caveman."

Why even use 800#s anymore? Why not use local call tracking numbers? Calling an 800# to me makes feel like I'm not calling a local company. Which I think is a negative when trying to call a local company for service,

Long distance costs practically nothing anymore and we all have cell phones that don't charge for long distance.

 

[Jerry Thibeau]

Why even use 800#s anymore? Why not use local call tracking numbers? Calling an 800# to me makes feel like I'm not calling a local company. Which I think is a negative when trying to call a local company for service.

Matt,

While that is a good statement, there is another side to this. If you're trying to bring people in from outside your market and the call is in fact a toll call, then the customer won't know it's a toll free number. So for those customers outside your market, the toll free number makes a lot of sense. You should always consider the type of advertising when choosing to use a local recordable number versus and 800 one.
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[Jeff Kershner]

I would think that most people are used to Toll Free numbers.

Be interesting test to place a Local Tracking number in your PPC copy vs a Toll Free number and see if there is a difference in not only calls but clicks, since you would be emphasizing that you are the actual local establishment.

??

 

[Jerry Thibeau]

I would think that most people are used to Toll Free numbers.

Be interesting test to place a Local Tracking number in your PPC copy vs a Toll Free number and see if there is a difference in not only calls but clicks, since you would be emphasizing that you are the actual local establishment.

??

Jeff,

If you want to be the test case subject, I'll hook you with two numbers.