1-800 number advice

[jpo]

Hey all,
Quick questions. I looked but couldn't find advice on this. We're getting our online retail site finalized. At this point, we're ok doing the majority of the work on our own to learn the process before outsourcing, but the one thing we're stuck on is what to do about the 1-800 # ... We figure we'll have to have one for general customer service, order questions, but really don't think there's going to be too many calls, so...

1) Which service? I believe Tim suggested Toll Free Max. We probably don't even need 100 minutes per mo for the $9.99 amount. We saw Kall8 for $2/mo and pay for the minutes. Any suggestions here?

2) Any suggestions on who should answer the phone? We could at times but have other jobs and have to sleep. Without outsourcing the rest, it seemed like a small job for an outsoucing firm unless there are groups set-up just to do this.

Thanks.

[shannon]

Hi jpo, what about OneBox or a service such as that? they are called virtual PBX's.
they offer toll-free numbers & reception services for when you can't take calls. or you can have calls forwarded to any number you want.
check out www.onebox.com - they have a demo explaining how it works.

not sure on the cost of one box is, but the company I work for actually uses a Canadian outfit called Unite & we are charged roughly $50/month for everything (toll free #, long distance, and a number of extensions that get transparently forwarded to our remote offices across Canada & US)

[Seth Hosko]

I'm using www.GotVmail.com for $10/month. Easy to set up, multiple mail boxes, and a toll free number.

[kamakiri]

Think about the Pareto Principal here. If you aren't going to have many calls, then just drop the service entirely. Most muses aren't "Mission Critical", so you should have no need for 24/7 service. Especially if you yourself aren't always manning the phone. No one needs to call a number and have their time wasted. No reason at all to have a phone bank operator answer that call and tell the customer that you will call them back at your earliest convenience.

Add something on your site that states you shut down your 800 number due to lack of use and are now only offering support by email, and you only check email once ever other harvest moon. Well...don't add the second part, but you get my message.

[David]

Originally Posted by Seth Hosko

I'm using www.GotVmail.com for $10/month. Easy to set up, multiple mail boxes, and a toll free number.

ditto.

(this is me lengthening my message so it will post dot dot dot)

[jpo]

Thanks so much for the replies... great sites I've checked out ... and great points too - you've got me thinking - this e-mail route may just work.
Thanks.

[hamim16]

I'm using "freedomvoice.com" toll free numbers, Their plan and pricing is good, and alsoo you may use it for 15days trial. If you are satisfied with this service, you can use it and let me know.

[coltleader]

Originally Posted by jpo

Hey all,
Quick questions. I looked but couldn't find advice on this. We're getting our online retail site finalized. At this point, we're ok doing the majority of the work on our own to learn the process before outsourcing, but the one thing we're stuck on is what to do about the 1-800 # ... We figure we'll have to have one for general customer service, order questions, but really don't think there's going to be too many calls, so...

1) Which service? I believe Tim suggested Toll Free Max. We probably don't even need 100 minutes per mo for the $9.99 amount. We saw Kall8 for $2/mo and pay for the minutes. Any suggestions here?

2) Any suggestions on who should answer the phone? We could at times but have other jobs and have to sleep. Without outsourcing the rest, it seemed like a small job for an outsoucing firm unless there are groups set-up just to do this.

Thanks.

I am also in the same boat as you and I am trying to do some research so I can make my decision. I know that there is an option to get 800 numbers from FreedomVoice to give customers across the U.S. and Canada a way to reach your business without dialing long distance. Has anyone used this service? As far as who should answer the phone, I would suggest you just get a few phone operators, so that you can continue with your other work and not be tied up on the phone all day.

[Alecjohnson22]

I used them and was very displeased. The UI of the website is confusing and time consuming.

[FrozenCanuck]

Is $1.50 per month cheap enough for you?

Here's a service that I use and LOVE.

http://VoiP.ms

It's more geeky, but ultra cheap. Here is what you need to do if you want to use this for voice mail.

1) Sign up for a free account.

2) Add a few bucks via PayPal (it works on a deposit system. You add money to the account and then use it).

3) Purchase a toll-free DID (phone number). This will cost about $1.50 per month

4) Configure voice mail on the number. There is no charge to use the VM functionality and they will email you an attachment with every voice mail.

TO ALSO USE VOICE SERVICE:

If you want to (at some point) actually take and make calls, then you will need to connect an IP phone device to the system. You can use various free/cheap "softphone" software, which are configured much the same way as a router. Or you can buy a phone adapter (I use the Cisco / Linksys PAP2T) and plug in a regular phone as you would with Vonage or any other VoIP system.

Is that cheap enough for you?