Answering the phone
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Morticia
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The last line says it all -
If you won't talk to me, I'll find someone who will. (Of course if you're the only game in town you can ignore this message. They'll call back or leave their info.)
I'm old and I hate voice prompts. I hate callbacks. I'm calling now because now is when I can talk to you.
Of course I don't answer the phone 24x7. I need to sleep. Plus, it's a bit of an old saw that nothing good comes of late night calls.
But if I can answer the phone I do.
We both fell asleep in our respective chairs today. Doorbell rang, phone rang. In 5 minutes we were full with the caller waiting to see which rooms the walk-ins took.
I know it's kind of the way things are done to ignore what a certain segment of the market wants, I do it all the time, but the phone thing might not be the place to cut corners. Unless it's midnight.
If you won't talk to me, I'll find someone who will. (Of course if you're the only game in town you can ignore this message. They'll call back or leave their info.)
I'm old and I hate voice prompts. I hate callbacks. I'm calling now because now is when I can talk to you.
Of course I don't answer the phone 24x7. I need to sleep. Plus, it's a bit of an old saw that nothing good comes of late night calls.
But if I can answer the phone I do.
We both fell asleep in our respective chairs today. Doorbell rang, phone rang. In 5 minutes we were full with the caller waiting to see which rooms the walk-ins took.
I know it's kind of the way things are done to ignore what a certain segment of the market wants, I do it all the time, but the phone thing might not be the place to cut corners. Unless it's midnight.
Copperhead
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Agreed! Or unless you are as busy as you want to be. (to coin K) And in that case let'em call someone else.Morticia said:
For me, I answer the phone from the time my eyes open until 9pm, and hang up on the 80+% that are sales calls!
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I just a few minutes ago took a phone reservation for tomorrow - he had questions before he was ready to book. How far am I from the city he wants to go to was the main question - people in Tennessee have no clue how far it is to any place in WV. 2 days ago I sent someone to another inn (a 3-nighter) because it was closer to what they wanted.
Back in Feb, answering the phone at 6 AM got me an elopement package - the groom-to-be was calling from Okinawa and had forgotten the time difference. You bet we answer the phone!
Back in Feb, answering the phone at 6 AM got me an elopement package - the groom-to-be was calling from Okinawa and had forgotten the time difference. You bet we answer the phone!
Momma Smurf
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Agreed! Or unless you are as busy as you want to be. (to coin K) And in that case let'em call someone else.Morticia said:
For me, I answer the phone from the time my eyes open until 9pm, and hang up on the 80+% that are sales calls!
.
JimBoone
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We don't book online so I'm dependent on answering the telephone, advertise times of 9 to 9, I'm often up much earlier and able to answer, but with just the two of us sleep has to fit in there as well and most guests would rather have a clean room so we can't always be right by the phone, but calls are returned promptly and if we are far away calls go to a cell that travels along.
For many years the phone was on the night table and got answered all night, after many years it became obvious that the calls that came during the middle of the night never produced actual bookings or the booking would get quickly cancelled in the light of the following day.
For many years the phone was on the night table and got answered all night, after many years it became obvious that the calls that came during the middle of the night never produced actual bookings or the booking would get quickly cancelled in the light of the following day.
GoodScout
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My competitors nextdoor keep trying to figure out why I have so many more guests than they do.
I carry my phone around all day, and when I head to the big city for supplies each week, I forward my calls to my cell. I try always to answer reservation calls, no matter when they are. And I always assume they want to book, making sure to always ask for the booking.
When you call my competitors, 90% of the time you get voicemail.
Think they'll ever figure it out?
I carry my phone around all day, and when I head to the big city for supplies each week, I forward my calls to my cell. I try always to answer reservation calls, no matter when they are. And I always assume they want to book, making sure to always ask for the booking.
When you call my competitors, 90% of the time you get voicemail.
Think they'll ever figure it out?
Sarah (Tipsy Butler) used to have her phone in a case that she wore on her back hip. Lucky duck had great phone reception throughout the place ... she'd be doing any number of things and pull out the phone. I was in a dead cell zone and my cordless phones would also fade in and out .... but if you can answer from wherever you are and with all the apps out there now hopefully tap into your reservation system ... I think it would be great to be able to grab a call and handle it.
Worst of all to me is phone tag and then the potential guest saying 'You were so hard to connect with I booked someplace else' I take wedding bookings for a hall and church and people will give me three contact numbers yet don't answer my call back at any ... and then give me that.
Worst of all to me is phone tag and then the potential guest saying 'You were so hard to connect with I booked someplace else' I take wedding bookings for a hall and church and people will give me three contact numbers yet don't answer my call back at any ... and then give me that.
Momma Smurf
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Yes! One of our 5 handsets (strategically placed around different floors) is always in Poppa's pocket.
Our phone line is also set to always roll over to my cell after just two rings. That way if we are out on errands, etc, we never miss a chance to net a reservation.
Morticia
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Morticia
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After 10 years I am still running for the phone while we're cleaning rooms. I just don't remember to pick it up before going to clean.
GoodScout
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Anon Inn
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I take phone and ipad with me almost everywhere. The house phone is forwarded to my iphone. I can punch up the reservation system on the ipad easily. I know that if I don't get an answer right away sometimes I move on too. Depends on time crunches.
Morticia
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Funny thing is it was one of the things the PO's beat into our heads: always carry the phone! When we go out with other innkeepers we're the only ones enjoying ourselves not answering the phone.
I guess this really is a lifestyle for us rather than a business venture.
Morticia
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I only have a cell phone. Works great no matter where I'm at for the most part. Even in port on cruise ship in Hawaii I can still do business. Cutting the phone cord is like cutting the umbilical cord! FREEDOM!.
I see it the other way - constantly being available because the phone is always with me would make me nuts. I like walking away from it. I'm a hermit at heart.Ice said:I only have a cell phone. Works great no matter where I'm at for the most part. Even in port on cruise ship in Hawaii I can still do business. Cutting the phone cord is like cutting the umbilical cord! FREEDOM!
Back in the day I used to have my phone ring on purpose so that I could escape from a clinging guest. We are talking about a guest who talked non stop as I cooked, served, cleaned up, etc. I'd stop and talk with other guests, and she'd stand there waiting and jump right in as soon as I moved away from a table. But would not engage the other guests in conversation or maybe she tried and they rebuffed her. Very lonely woman.
I only have a cell phone. Works great no matter where I'm at for the most part. Even in port on cruise ship in Hawaii I can still do business. Cutting the phone cord is like cutting the umbilical cord! FREEDOM!.I see it the other way - constantly being available because the phone is always with me would make me nuts. I like walking away from it. I'm a hermit at heart.Ice said:I only have a cell phone. Works great no matter where I'm at for the most part. Even in port on cruise ship in Hawaii I can still do business. Cutting the phone cord is like cutting the umbilical cord! FREEDOM!
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I understand that too. But I'm not as busy as you.Morticia said:I see it the other way - constantly being available because the phone is always with me would make me nuts. I like walking away from it. I'm a hermit at heart.Ice said:I only have a cell phone. Works great no matter where I'm at for the most part. Even in port on cruise ship in Hawaii I can still do business. Cutting the phone cord is like cutting the umbilical cord! FREEDOM!
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I have started forwarding to my cell and wearing a bluetooth when cleaning. Too many times Himself has bee too far away from a handset (or forgot to take it/charge it). Sometimes I leave it that way when at my desk if my arm is hurting - so I will not have to reach across and pick up the handset.
