Does it bother you when you struggle to get back to people?

[WaterTight]

Over the last few months I've had my first taste of consistently getting more calls that I can deal with in my usual timely fashion. 10-15 enquiries a day is not unusual and I work on my own.

So I've not been used to repeated voicemails from increasingly grumpy sounding people that I just haven't got the energy to get back to as I'm knackered when I get home and don't really fancy having 10 phone calls.

I'm happy with getting lots of calls as I can be a bit pickier and a bit pricier. But I can't shake the feeling of a bunch of monkies on my back and gives me low level anxiety.

If you have a similar situation does it bother you? I guess it's just the price of being in demand. You're going to have a constant queue of people trying to get your attention, some of whom who will be quite put out you haven't got back to them within a couple of days of their calling.

I know I could change voicemail to say no availability for *** amount of time but that seems like caving in to monkies. And I could miss out on the odd quick easy ones that I'll find space to squeeze in.

If everyone sent texts it'd be easier but so many people phone from landlines and want to have a long chat about whatever it is.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

I would phone them back and say I’m not taking on any more work until after Christmas or in x months if it’s urgent I’m sorry you will have to find someone else

 

[townfanjon]

I would phone them back and say I’m not taking on any more work until after Christmas or in x months if it’s urgent I’m sorry you will have to find someone else

This ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

[EvilDrPorkChop]

Easiest thing is don't have a voicemail. We don't have any on landlines or mobiles.

When customers ring you, get them to text them your details rather than you having to write them down and take them. (fair enough if it's a 90 year old dear). But most people can text. That way saves you time, plus it's a text in your phone so you can scroll through and remember people/text them back.

Anyone that want's a job looking at I always tell them it'll be a couple of weeks before I can take a look. If you look before then it doesn't amtter, but it gives you that extra lead time.

And as Shaun says, just put people off. Tell them it's a big wait time, if they're prepared to wait then fair enough. But always look after your repeat customers before any new ones. We've got customers that have used us for 35 years+ and they will always come first.

 

[SimonG]

At the minute if the phone rings and it's a current customer I'll speak to them and explain they'll need to wait.

If it's a new number and no message then it's gone, if they leave a message then I'll get back to them.

People appreciate you getting back to them even if you cant help.

It used to bother me about getting back to people, but ask yourself how many people actually come back to you when you've visited, give them an estimate but gone with somebody else.

 

[BN9Pete]

I have got 2 recorded voicemails, i can choose one that says I will ring back ASAP, or change to the other when I’m really busy, it says I’m booked up this week and do not leave a message if your job is urgent.
I always reply to texts, sometimes not immediately though. Emails I reply to in the morning before work or early evening.
I turn the home phone answering machine off when I’m busy, as I find people that leave messages are usually useless at leaving their phone number or give me their life story then ’leave’ their mobile number while speaking 100mph 😡 this means I have to play the message back to try and write it down.

 

[WC1]

Doesn't bother me if i dont always get back to people but my word it bothers them sometimes.
It's those that sound like time wasters that fall to the back of the queue.

 

[WaterTight]

I have got 2 recorded voicemails, i can choose one that says I will ring back ASAP, or change to the other when I’m really busy, it says I’m booked up this week and do not leave a message if your job is urgent.
I always reply to texts, sometimes not immediately though. Emails I reply to in the morning before work or early evening.
I turn the home phone answering machine off when I’m busy, as I find people that leave messages are usually useless at leaving their phone number or give me their life story then ’leave’ their mobile number while speaking 100mph 😡 this means I have to play the message back to try and write it down.

Like the two voicemail messages idea.
Most of the guys on here I guess focus mainly on bigger jobs and so being booked up for months is the norm. Changes the dynamic a bit with calls.
If you advertise mainly small maintenance and give the impression on your advertising material you can often get to people a bit quicker than most as a result it works well and you can make great money (albeit with a lot of rushing about, not to everyone's tastes) but naturally people expect a quicker response and it can all get a bit intense.
"I called you two days ago and have no heard back!!!" Yes you and 35 other people did.