Location...Location...Location!

[MydogMissy]

I had a funny thing happen this morning. A call came in asking about my prices, so I go through my spiel about my mobile service and she wants to book. I'm thinking GREAT I could use the business (just lost a client yesterday, that's another story...a Series of Unfortunate Events). So I ask where she is located, she says Queens.... I'm wracking my brain trying to remember where Queens is in my area....lol. Then the light went on..... "you mean NEW YORK???!!" ....Yeah!... "I'm in O-H-I-O!" ....LOL, she mumbled something as I heard her hang up. I got a good laugh out of that one and so did everyone within earshot.

Obviously my website needs to be revamped.

[RudyRoo]

Thats funny, can't imagine why you woldn't drive from Ohio to Queens to groom her dog,,,lol

[Meesh]

First question -- Where do you live?

That's pretty funny. But to save everyone's time, mine and the callers, my FIRST question before I go into my spiel is to ask where they are located. I serve a VERY limited area and if they are out of my area I'll give them the number of one of the mobiles I know who does go to where they live. Everyone wins that way.

You can't tell where people are from by incoming area code anymore anyway. I know here, in the Washington DC area, people come in and out from all over the place and many of them just use their cell phones and keep the number from wherever they were originally from.

Meesh

[PAWS]

I do the same as Meesh. But I have to ask, did she not think when she dialed YOUR number? I wish I could see your website now I'm curious, LOL! Well, next time, just tack a travel fee of $1500 to your base price and schedule away!

[puppy love]

That's pretty funny. But to save everyone's time, mine and the callers, my FIRST question before I go into my spiel is to ask where they are located. ...and out from all over the place and many of them just use their cell phones and keep the number from wherever they were originally from.

Meesh

I do the same thing, before the conversation starts going I have 2 questions: What breed of dog do you have (since I only do small dogs no need for me to spend lots of time selling it up with an 85 lb Lab mix owner) and where do you live (since I work a 12 mile radius of my home). If their dog is too large for me or they live too far, I also have a number of another moblier to provide to them. Saves everyones time.

[I Care]

LMAO!! I've heard that's a nice ride LOL =)

[MydogMissy]

There's a couple reasons I don't do that first thing. I'm still building my business and if the $$$ is good I will "bend" the rules on my area. Also there are no other mobiles to refer them to and my area is quite large. Secondly, I feel it could be perceived as self-serving if I'm primarily interested in what benefits me, not them. So it's not the first question...maybe the second or third. I guess I feel I'm building good will in the community which helps me in the long run, heck sometimes those conversations end up me helping them with an issue that has nothing to do with me grooming their dog, but if I leave a good impression they may refer someone to me. Of course, if I had a tight region and too many clients I would do the same as you.

[Mamabearwith2]

Lets see your website.

[kats_melody]

We have a toll free number that we COULD restrict to Florida only. But there are so many people who have cell phones with numbers in neighboring states, not to mention our seasonal crowd, that we would be hurting ourselves if we did restrict the number.

But we have gotten calls as far away as Arizona and Massachusetts. We get a number of calls from the Boston area, as they have a mobile grooming service with a similar name to ours.

[Jenneversage64]

My outgoing message

asks them for the town and major cross streets, that way I have an idea of what I need to charge before I return the call. If I just answer the phone I ask what the dog is, and location. I then ask if it is used to being groomed, does it bite and when was it last groomed. If they can't remember I ask something like: Was she groomed before or after Halloween or Thanksgiving. It is January now, but you know some dogs haven't been groomed since Halloween! They usually can remember then, if they are willing to admit it.

[MydogMissy]

Lets see your website.

Okee Dokee. It's not perfect in spite of the name, LOL.... but if anyone has constructive criticism, I'm open for input. It's just a basic template site....nothing too fancy. I guess the one thing I'm wondering is if it is too complicated already, I've had a lot of time to work on it over the holiday...lol. Thanks.

http://www.perfectpuppygrooming.com/

[mylady]

Let me see, I've had someone call from Florida telling me I groomed their neighbors dogs and wanted to book with me and then someone from New Zealand emailed me for an appointment telling me what a great job I did last time. LOL, of course when I told them I was in NY we all got a laugh.

[Mamabearwith2]

Very Nice Website!

I like it! Lots of information and straight forward. It's also easy to navigate and very user friendly!

[MydogMissy]

I like it! Lots of information and straight forward. It's also easy to navigate and very user friendly!

Well thank you! It's been fun to work on during the slow time.