Taking calls while detailing a client's car
- Thread starter Calendyr
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dcjredline
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- Mar 26, 2012
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Most retail stores would tell you to answer the phone even if you are standing FACE TO FACE with a customer. (I worked at AutoZone for 7 years and always hated doing that to people) but the reason is if someone is calling you and you dont answer then they will most likely call someone else.
LEDetailing
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- Jan 5, 2016
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I would personally silence my phone. Or set your phone to do not disturb, only allowing calls from selected contacts. If using your cell phone as a business line it would be hard. Yes, you may lose a customer once in awhile. However, don't lose your current customer by constantly checking/answering your phone.
Too distracting, taking your attention away from your current detail. Some customers will see it as rude, see it as you are on their time. Check your phone at selected times when you are away from the detail, at break time or when completed.
I would word my voice message to indicate that you may not answer your phone due to you currently being on a detail. Let the customer know that you will call them back.
Too distracting, taking your attention away from your current detail. Some customers will see it as rude, see it as you are on their time. Check your phone at selected times when you are away from the detail, at break time or when completed.
I would word my voice message to indicate that you may not answer your phone due to you currently being on a detail. Let the customer know that you will call them back.
PurpleTowel
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- Jul 12, 2015
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Is this even a thing?
How many of you guys work with the customer standing around waiting for you to finish?
Take 3 minutes and answer your phone. People want to talk to humans, not voice mail.
How many of you guys work with the customer standing around waiting for you to finish?
Take 3 minutes and answer your phone. People want to talk to humans, not voice mail.
I'll always answer my phone when I'm on a detail, as long as i'm not buffing its pretty easy to multi-task. If i'm standing face to face with a customer sometimes I'll excuse myself and answer the phone other times I'll just let it go to voicemail. A lot of clients are business owners as well and they understand that the phone never stops ringing chances are the next time I'll be talking to them their phone will ring and they'll be the one walking away from me.
Legacykid
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- Sep 4, 2013
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Fully agree. Even if your mobile, you are in fact at work. If you are with a client, answer to see what they want. If you feel its going to be longer then a few mins to make a sale. Say you are in the middle of a job and will call them back shortly. Unless you are turning away work because of how busy you are. A call is always potential!
custmsprty
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- Apr 11, 2012
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I would never stop and take a phone call if I were face to face with a customer. I have been a 100% commissioned sales rep since 1991. It's disrespectful. You are basically saying to the person in front of you that whoever is calling you on the phone is more important than they are. If someone does that to me, I say to them thank you but you seem to have more important things to do than speak with me, have a nice day and I leave.
For example, I was presenting a quote to someone for a $100,000 packaging system. He was the owner of the company and his production manager was in the meeting too. What would happen if I stopped my presentation, said excuse me and took a phone call in the middle of our meeting. Do you think that man would buy the system from me. Heck no, he'd get up and walk out.
The most important customer is the one in front of you.
If you're working on a car and not face to face with a customer I'd take the call.
As someone mentioned, have a customer friendly voicemail recorded so they know you will call back.
For example, I was presenting a quote to someone for a $100,000 packaging system. He was the owner of the company and his production manager was in the meeting too. What would happen if I stopped my presentation, said excuse me and took a phone call in the middle of our meeting. Do you think that man would buy the system from me. Heck no, he'd get up and walk out.
The most important customer is the one in front of you.
If you're working on a car and not face to face with a customer I'd take the call.
As someone mentioned, have a customer friendly voicemail recorded so they know you will call back.
mengelhardt
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- Apr 17, 2017
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Get a bluetooth earpiece and answer the call hands free and continue working.
I just went on a fishing charter the other day and that is exactly what the charter captain did the entire fishing trip.
He must have made/taken 50 calls during our half day trip. 45 of the 50 calls were too/from other local charter captains though.
they all talk and let each other know where the fish are biting and on what baits. They all help each other.
He talked on the phone for most of the time we were out there, but he never stopped working and he got us all our limit of fish, so it was all good with me.
I just went on a fishing charter the other day and that is exactly what the charter captain did the entire fishing trip.
He must have made/taken 50 calls during our half day trip. 45 of the 50 calls were too/from other local charter captains though.
they all talk and let each other know where the fish are biting and on what baits. They all help each other.
He talked on the phone for most of the time we were out there, but he never stopped working and he got us all our limit of fish, so it was all good with me.
RaskyR1
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- Apr 14, 2008
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PurpleTowel
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- Jul 12, 2015
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To clarify, the OP never once mentioned that he was with a client, talking to a client or face to face with a client when the phone was ringing. He said he was working (on a job). There is a big difference that some of you seem to have missed.
If the "business" phone rings while you are working, stop what you are doing and answer it. If you are getting so many calls for appointments that you can't get anything done, hire an answering service or have someone else tend to your phone.
If the "business" phone rings while you are working, stop what you are doing and answer it. If you are getting so many calls for appointments that you can't get anything done, hire an answering service or have someone else tend to your phone.
DavidM235ily
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- Jun 1, 2017
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Not a detailer, but as a customer I think a combination of several of the suggestions on here is the best answer.
If in front of me while we are talking: Have your voicemail message say that you may be busy detailing customer cars and will call them back. - If I called and got this message, I would be more likely to use your service as I'd know you would take the time to focus on my vehicle/service.
If in front of me, detailing, but not talking with me: Using a bluetooth ear piece and taking a brief call that if needs to take longer you specify you are working on a clients car and will call them back would not bother me.
If not in front of me, detailing: I won't know, so you can do this, but if your work/time suffers as a result you will lose my business. Use your discretion. If infrequent enough and non distracting enough to use a bluetooth headset and still do good work on the car, take the calls. If you find you have a lot of calls that either make you lose focus or stop the work to write, calculate, schedule, etc, hire an answering service or receptionist as you are likely doing well enough to warrant the labor expense. You might even increase business. If you hire a girl with a cute voice, I'm more likely to want to bring my car to you
If she also looks cute, I'm very likely to bring my car to you regularly and accept subpar service Swirls? Ya... I love swirls. It'll take 10 hours for a standard wash? Sure... I'll wait. Let me schedule my next appointment.
If in front of me while we are talking: Have your voicemail message say that you may be busy detailing customer cars and will call them back. - If I called and got this message, I would be more likely to use your service as I'd know you would take the time to focus on my vehicle/service.
If in front of me, detailing, but not talking with me: Using a bluetooth ear piece and taking a brief call that if needs to take longer you specify you are working on a clients car and will call them back would not bother me.
If not in front of me, detailing: I won't know, so you can do this, but if your work/time suffers as a result you will lose my business. Use your discretion. If infrequent enough and non distracting enough to use a bluetooth headset and still do good work on the car, take the calls. If you find you have a lot of calls that either make you lose focus or stop the work to write, calculate, schedule, etc, hire an answering service or receptionist as you are likely doing well enough to warrant the labor expense. You might even increase business. If you hire a girl with a cute voice, I'm more likely to want to bring my car to you
If she also looks cute, I'm very likely to bring my car to you regularly and accept subpar service Swirls? Ya... I love swirls. It'll take 10 hours for a standard wash? Sure... I'll wait. Let me schedule my next appointment.
Calendyr
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- Jun 9, 2013
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- #14
I was just curious how everyone went about it. The other day my phone would not stop ringing and it was driving me crazy. I don't have a bluetooth headset anymore. So it's a bit annoying fishing the phone out of my pocket while wearing nitrile gloves.
While with a client i would never take a call. It was really to see if you guys had systems in place to take call or if you answered or sent to voice mail.
My biggest issue is that 80% of the calls i get are from idiots. Most pdople call me to know where i am located. They go to my website, can't find an adress then call me. This regardless of fact every page on my website says i offer a mobile service. What can you do?
While with a client i would never take a call. It was really to see if you guys had systems in place to take call or if you answered or sent to voice mail.
My biggest issue is that 80% of the calls i get are from idiots. Most pdople call me to know where i am located. They go to my website, can't find an adress then call me. This regardless of fact every page on my website says i offer a mobile service. What can you do?
Perhaps on your "Contact Us" page, right above or below your phone number you could say something like "Location / Address: We are a mobile service located in and servicing [city, state]. We also service [list of neighboring cities, if applicable]."
Calendyr
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- Jun 9, 2013
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- #16
Here is what my appointment (basicly the contact page) says :
An appointment must be scheduled in advance to perform our services. Because we are mobile,
the service can be done at the place of your choosing, usually at your home or office. We do not have a fixed location, so you cannot bring your vehicle to us.
An appointment must be scheduled in advance to perform our services. Because we are mobile,
the service can be done at the place of your choosing, usually at your home or office. We do not have a fixed location, so you cannot bring your vehicle to us.