0800/0845 Etc. Numbers - Disadvantages

[AlphaTalk]

Hi all,

Just interested in people's opinions on 0800 numbers from those people who don't have one...

What puts you off using an 0800 or 0845 number for your company? What do you see as the major disadvantages of using this type of non-geographic number?

Very interested in people's feedback - getting some really good feedback from this forum so far.

Thanks everyone.

 

[cjd]

You don't need UKBF feedback - there's proper research available

Ofcom research tells us that:
1. Consumers know what 01 & 02 numbers (geographic numbers) are and believe them to be the cheapest number to call
2. 64% of consumers know that 0800 are free to call
3. Consumers think there is little difference in cost of calling 0844, 0845, 0870, 0871
4. Consumers always overestimate how much all types of calls cost.
5. Consumers are less likely to call numbers that they perceive to be more expensive to call and/or are unfamiliar to them.
6. 65%-78% of consumers either won’t call, are unlikely to call, telephone numbers used in adverts - even for products they are interested in - if they use these numbers: 0845 (65%), mobile (70%), 0870 (73%), 0844 (76%), 0871 (78%).

Source: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/cond...view/research/

 

[Consistency]

I would not use an 0800 or an 0845 for two different reasons.

An 0845 and an 0800 is outside of mobile phone packages and since many now use mobile it is an increase to their bill. An 0800 number while free from a landline is not free from a mobile and so as a customer I would not use an 0845 though I would ring an 0800 but only from a landline and so I think I am not on my own.

I was trying to book a gas inspection today and used a mobile number. I have no objection at all to this as it is simpler and there is a chance I will get hold of someone, it is more likely to be a small business that needs the support and I will not get ripped off on the call.

 

[salesman_northeast]

iv used 0800 and 0845 numbers as well as geographical numbers all at the same time, using them in different marketing activities. found best ones are 0800 numbers combined with your geographical number if you are targeting local places so they will deal with you locally but not pay for the call....you can also get geographical numbers to divert to you, so people may think their calling Manchester when your in newcastle. Excellent marketing tool to use and monitor it from your provider

 

[Call Tracker]

The best option is to use both an 0800 for landliners and a local presence number specifically for mobiles. If you use call tracking underneath these numbers you can monitor the inbound call volumes on both numbers as well as locations of callers and make a more informed decision once you have the stats.

 

[fisicx]

Even 0800 numbers don't have a real advantage anymore. Most providers have pacakges offering free or very cheap calls to UK landlines and mobiles so there is no need for a business to use an 0800 or any other 08XX number.

The mobile thing is a big issue now as more and more people don't even have a landline they can use (think about rented accomodation, students, people at work and so on).

 

[MrC in Scotland]

We used to use 0800 numbers in the 1990s when they worked well.
Now we use geographic numbers in the areas we advertise to so people think we are local, this works much better.