{"id":71,"date":"2014-08-12T14:50:24","date_gmt":"2014-08-12T14:50:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/directnumbers.co.uk\/blog\/?p=71"},"modified":"2014-08-12T14:50:24","modified_gmt":"2014-08-12T14:50:24","slug":"retail-number-say-customers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/directnumbers.co.uk\/blog\/retail-number-say-customers\/","title":{"rendered":"Retail: What Does Your Phone Number Say To Your Customers?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Retail\"<\/a>
\n<\/a>Let’s be honest; we’ve all done it. \u00a0We have all sat on the phone for an inordinate amount of time, bemoaning the cost of the call to whichever particular retail outfit just so happened to have supplied the appliance which is now spewing water all over your new kitchen floor. \u00a0Hearing how important your call is at that moment in time…well, l’ll let you choose your own metaphor to depict the furious anger you feel as a customer. \u00a0But what about your thoughts\u00a0as a retailer? \u00a0How can you make the whole experience better for the end user? \u00a0Well, it all begins with the phone number…<\/p>\n

Most retailers are now aware of the change in regulation regarding 084\/087 numbers. \u00a0No longer is it permitted to have these prefixes for customer service lines, meaning consumers are only ever upset about the actual<\/em> problem they are calling you about and not the additional cost to them. \u00a0Already a better starting point. \u00a0As a result of this regulation change, a lot of businesses have begun the migration to the 03 prefix, notably most of the big high street banks. \u00a003 numbers are the same price to call as 01\/02 numbers, so therefore are covered in most free minutes packages from the mobile networks. \u00a0So why the big fuss about 03?<\/p>\n

As well as saving your customers money on the cost of their calls, 03 numbers are not just the starting point for contacting your organisation. \u00a0These virtual numbers route your calls to any UK number you want, and they come with cloud based telecoms services! \u00a0It seems the days of having the big phone system bolt on that sits in your server room until it needs an expensive service, or replacing for twice the cost of the first one, has been finally been eradicated. \u00a0Now you can pick your own phone number, and using just your computer, are able to log in to an online portal where you can manage everything from how long the phone rings to setting up advanced Interactive Voice Response systems. \u00a0The best bit? \u00a0Most of this cost is covered in your monthly rental!<\/p>\n

To give you an idea, these services come with the purchase of an 03 number:<\/p>\n