Question

Topic: Customer Behavior

What's Your Number?

Posted by mickey.griffith on 3/17/2009 at 11:34 AM ET 125 Points
I have a client that is an optometrist. He has been in his current location for about 2.5 years. The phone number for his business has been the same for every optometrist that has been in the location for the last 30 odd years. He's considering changing the phone number as it will save him some money (about $500/yr). I have my own opinion on whether or not he should change it, but I would appreciate some input.

Your thoughts?
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RESPONSES

  • Posted by Inbox_Interactive on 3/17/2009 at 11:42 AM Member
    You can usually take your number with you, even if you change services. No?
  • Posted by michael on 3/17/2009 at 11:53 AM Member
    This is one of those situations where you'd have to convince me that $40/month (based on what I pay my optometrist that's nothing) is worth dumping a number everyone know

    588 2300 EMPIRE!

    Michael
  • Posted by CarolBlaha on 3/17/2009 at 12:08 PM Accepted
    If I am reading this right, he's not moving, but is considering changing a number that has been attached to a location for 30 years, but several docs.

    $500 is a nominal investment for this. He probably gets calls, and has had patients from previous docs. He's getting the benefit of their good will without spending much at all$$. yes, he is spending $500/year, but if he got one patient from this number -- talk to him about the lifetime value of a patient.

    BTW, you cant always take your land phone number. When I moved, I wanted to take my biz line. No, even without changing service. But the phone co is on the short end of this. For $6 mon, they transfer the # to my new #. Its seamless, and a lot cheaper than running another line, or other alternatives
  • Posted by Jay Hamilton-Roth on 3/17/2009 at 12:16 PM Member
    Ask your client to imagine that one of his competitors buys this phone number, and gets the resulting occasional business. What's the cost to them now?
  • Posted by mickey.griffith on 3/17/2009 at 12:18 PM Author
    Thanks to everybody for confirming my thoughts. This is a very new client and I had discussed with them the value of a new patient, but hadn't gone into the lifetime value. And yes, I had thought that the 30 years, regardless of the docs, was just too good to throw out. Thanks!
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