What's up with businesses over here? (movers, contractors, area code)

[bruddah]

I've called all types of businesses getting estimates and I would say 70% don't bother calling you back. I've called companies from movers, painters, flooring contractors, fence contractors, plumbers and others... Some of them I get a hold of someone and they say somebody else will call you tomorrow. A week goes by and nothing. Is this a common thing?

[Jungjohann]

Guess what Dorothy

[whtviper1]

Originally Posted by bruddah

A week goes by and nothing. Is this a common thing?

Yeah, pretty much.

Just keep calling - eventually they will tire of all your calls and speak to you.

[hotzcatz]

If you are referred to the businesses by someone, you could mention their name when you leave a message. Folks that have some sort of introduction get better service than just folks appearing off the street. "My neighbor, Kimo DaKine, said you're the one to call about fencing, give me a call back at...." etc., will get a response much quicker than "I need a fence, call me back". Of course, this then means you need to find someone who knows the folks at the businesses you are calling.

If you are leaving a mainland number, they may not be calling back because it's long distance and their business phones would have to pay for the call. Or they don't recognize the area code so don't want to deal with it. There could be a lot of reasons.

How about going to the businesses in person? That's a good way to get to know them.

[OpenD]

Are you calling from an 808 area code number? If not, many Hawaiian businesses will not call back. It's been discussed here several times in the past.

Why not? I've heard many theories. My personal sense is that local businesses learn over time that many calls from mainland numbers are just time wasters, or are from people with aggressive mainland attitudes they don't want to deal with (in re: the title of this thread). I've literally seen tradesmen take their ringing cell phones out of their pocket, glance at the caller ID, then shake their head "no" and push the call through to voicemail. If asked, they'll say something like "California number. Too much hassle."

The reason I asked about your area code is that having 70% of your calls blown off is definitely excessive.

If you call from an 808 number you shouldn't get your calls ignored more than 1/3 of the time.

[tdr22]

Could also be, just like on the mainland, Size, size matters to contractors, etc, the little jobs are not worth the potential trouble. Good luck.

[bruddah]

I used both my cell and my 808 land line number. I actually think most people called me back on my cellphone. I left my name, the work that needed to be done and where I was located. Some of the contractors that I spoke too where honest and said they were busy and had a long wait and even gave me referrals. The referrals I was able to get a hold of.

I would say it was mostly the flooring, fence, and plumbers who didn't really get back to me. I guess like trd22 says size matters. Either way... business is business, no matter what area code your phone is. There's a lot of military here who I'm sure don't use an 808 number all the time.

[OpenD]

Originally Posted by bruddah

I would say it was mostly the flooring, fence, and plumbers who didn't really get back to me. I guess like trd22 says size matters. Either way... business is business, no matter what area code your phone is. There's a lot of military here who I'm sure don't use an 808 number all the time.

Absolutely. Matter of fact somebody a while back claimed here that something like 1/4 of the cell phones in use on Oahu have mainland area codes, but nevertheless, as the old saying goes, them's the conditions that prevails.

And the salient point, again, being:

Welcome to Hawai'i, "Land of 1,001 Differences From How You Think It Should Be." ℠

[Mikala43]

I'd say it's very common, even with an 808.

[John Kaluna]

Originally Posted by OpenD

Absolutely. Matter of fact somebody a while back claimed here that something like 1/4 of the cell phones in use on Oahu have mainland area codes, but nevertheless, as the old saying goes, them's the conditions that prevails.

And the salient point, again, being:

Welcome to Hawai'i, "Land of 1,001 Differences From How You Think It Should Be." ℠

Lol i love what you said.