Home › Forums › General Trade Forum › NO CALL OUT CHARGE… (So how exactly does that work???)
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whiskeyjack6058.
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June 1, 2008 at 7:25 pm #37087
whiskeyjack6058
ParticipantI see it on many adverts, No Call Out Charge…
Ok, so we all know that nobody works for free so how do you guys that advertise this method get round it?
When a customer asks you about costs involved do you mention a set labour fee?
What happens if you go out say 15 miles away to a machine that is totaly pooped?
Very curious about this one.
Cheers,
Robert.June 1, 2008 at 8:19 pm #253457helo_75
Participanttell em, its £25 call out, and if they have the work done, it’ll get knocked off the bill
hence, free call out, ultimatley, remember, you can drive round all day tellin em whats wrong with it free
when i was an apprentice (seems a long time ago) we went to a house and told the man his motor had gone, quoted him – free, and he said hed think about it
of course 2 hours later we were going in the local wholesalers, and there he was, leaving the building with a motor under his arm
so after a scuffle, we decided a £25 , deductable call out fee was the best way forward
June 1, 2008 at 9:34 pm #253458gegsy
ParticipantRe: NO CALL OUT CHARGE… (So how exactly does that work???)
Worth a read 😉
http://www.ukwhitegoods.co.uk/modules.p … ght=chargeGreg
June 2, 2008 at 7:35 am #253459Phidom
ParticipantRe: NO CALL OUT CHARGE… (So how exactly does that work???)
The only time I would not charge is if I don’t trust my own diagnosis enough to risk ordering non returnable parts. For example I once went to an LG washing machine and was 90{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} sure it needed a new module but when I saw the price of the part I advised the customer to get another repairer. My callout charge depends on distance but starts at £20. I still get a few folk who ring and ask if I have a callout charge and decline my services when I tell them. I take the attitude that I am probably better off without customers like that. I used to advise customers on the phone to make sure the oven timer was on manual, these days I go in, press a couple of buttons and charge £20 😆
June 2, 2008 at 8:26 am #253460cornwell40
ParticipantRe: NO CALL OUT CHARGE… (So how exactly does that work???)
Explain to callers that there is no call out charge for local area (if you’ve got to travel miles to them a charge based on distance is reccomended).
BUT there is a diagnosis fee if they deem the repair to be too expensive or its unrepairable, if they go with the repair its just part of the total charge. I usually charge £20 for that. It gets rid of the diyers and ‘I want to know if its worth repairing……£40 thats more than I wanted to pay’ mob.TC
June 2, 2008 at 12:39 pm #253461Washman
ParticipantRe: NO CALL OUT CHARGE… (So how exactly does that work???)
Hi
I just tell everyone that the minimum charge is £35.00 plus parts, for any job .
See this previous topic
http://www.ukwhitegoods.co.uk/modules.p … ic&t=28344Mike
June 2, 2008 at 7:55 pm #253462hotpnt
ParticipantRe: NO CALL OUT CHARGE… (So how exactly does that work???)
think you have to say there will be a charge when you take the call, just had phone go 5 mins ago, ‘do you charge call-out?’ i get asked, well i tell him no but the job will be £30-35 labour, sounds like heater for £15 so about £50 to fix, they then ask if i can call & check it first, told them there would still be a charge, they say thanks but no thanks, i have not lost a job as they wanted my time for nothing!,
June 3, 2008 at 9:54 am #253463Gazman1000
ParticipantRe: NO CALL OUT CHARGE… (So how exactly does that work???)
Used to do a free call out, not anymore.
We only repair fridges now, we gave up doing washing machines over two years ago, to many diy repairers and time wasters wanting free estimates and bugger all else in London.Now our advert no longer says no callout charge we still get them asking if call out is free. You know the time wasters by the start of the call.
The call always starts with “Do you have a call out charge?” I tell them, we only charge for calling if you don’t have a repair done, they then say.
“What if it’s too expensive”
Then you pay us for our time we only charge £20.00, that is not a lot when you think how much petrol costs, nobody can work for free. they say something, well if you don’t fix it you are not working are you! 😕
I’ll think about it and then they hang up.Don’t you just love the British public…come to think of it :innocent: most of the calls wanting a freebee are from non British sounding callers.
Having some kind of charge for a non repair, filters out the rubbish calls and saves us loads of time.
June 3, 2008 at 6:42 pm #253464Madmac
ParticipantRe: NO CALL OUT CHARGE… (So how exactly does that work???)
Your last sentence is exactly how i look at it gazman. When i first started i had a no callout wheeze in order to build up a customer base, but looking back, i wish i hadnt done that, the timewasters were epic.
I have a set fee which i stick to,( though its higher for integrated) and reasonable people have no questions about it .
No callout = no chance of surviving in business in these expensive times IMHO.
June 4, 2008 at 7:19 am #253465nigegt
ParticipantRe: NO CALL OUT CHARGE… (So how exactly does that work???)
We just say to people we have a fixed labour charge which you pay if you have the repair done or not, We’re now of making a small charge (£5) to cover fuel cost when people “just popped out for a second” “i was in the shower” “I was hoovering upstairs” “i know your calls go from 12 til 1 but i didn’t think he’d be there at ten past twelve” and missed the call, They’re mostly quite willing to pay this.
Nige
June 9, 2008 at 9:11 am #253466Goatboy
ParticipantRe: NO CALL OUT CHARGE… (So how exactly does that work???)
I ask people if they have used us before. If they have, no problem, I’ll just go out and except not to be d****d around.
If they haven’t then I’ll ask them the make of the appliance and problem before I tell them there’s a £10/£15/£20/£25 minimum charge for BER appliances, depending on how much of a waste of time the job sounds.
Or it’s a flat £25 call-out charge for any dishwashers.
Some people are mongs, and you have to spell it out for them, but that what you get for answering the phone yourself. If you have admin staff you can just tell them to listen out for ‘red-flagged’ words. Like “Indesit, stoves, diplomat, etc” 😉
June 9, 2008 at 3:14 pm #253467hotpnt
ParticipantRe: NO CALL OUT CHARGE… (So how exactly does that work???)
there is still a guy here that advertises every week in the paper without fail “No Call Out Charge & Most Jobs Just £15 + Parts”
June 9, 2008 at 3:17 pm #253468helo_75
Participantgreat
theres always one, isnt there
surely people question the quality of workmanship at that price?
still he does say ‘most’ jobs
June 9, 2008 at 3:20 pm #253469pup
ParticipantRe: NO CALL OUT CHARGE… (So how exactly does that work???)
hotpnt wrote:there is still a guy here that advertises every week in the paper without fail “No Call Out Charge & Most Jobs Just £15 + Parts”
we use to have one here but he use to charge £ 45.oo any repairs on washing machine inc parts and labour
June 9, 2008 at 4:22 pm #253470Madmac
ParticipantRe: NO CALL OUT CHARGE… (So how exactly does that work???)
hotpnt wrote:there is still a guy here that advertises every week in the paper without fail “No Call Out Charge & Most Jobs Just £15 + Parts”
Well, if you want your customer base to consist of the worst poverty stricken pond life society has to offer… :rolls:
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