A simple question for pinky and the other uk locky's

[cred]

i sub for reactfast and seeing they are the biggest company, i have only had 2 jobs in the last 2 weeks!!!!!!!!!!!!

[BUNGYSTRAP]

Customers are getting wise to full page yellow pages ads. They know they cost and that will be in their bill somewhere. Nationwide chains have overheads and customers realise this. Most referals now are people looking for the local locksmith with ability to save them some money. I still find it initially awkward when pricing as you can see the expectance on the customers face. They really believe we all overcharge. When they here the price and nothing has been drilled it is a revelation. Still gives me a buzz to go against expectation though. Pinky and ken are really trying to clean things up but how long is it going to take to change the publics mind. Aren't we all responsible for doing our own little bit, and by doing particularly good work their will be no place for the others.

[acl]

You wont find any RF or any of their kind having full page ads they prefer to have 4 or 5 smaller ones so the customer beleives he or she is calling different companies.And our friends at the YP know this but still let them do so.(here he goes again)
Andy

[toomush2drink]

Yp rep rang me to sort out my new ad and said
"im here to get your ad in a good position"
"in that case can i go at the front then ?" i replied
" oh thats not really possible" he says
" so your lying then ?" i reply
" no im not lying its just i cant get you in the front"
" well reactfast have several adverts in the front so why cant i have one of their spaces ?" i ask
" errrm i dont deal with those national accounts"
" so you dont have any influence over where my ad goes then ?"
" well i cannot guarantee anything"
" so basicly you can only sell me an ad and your lying about getting me a good position ?"
" well no not really"
"nope sounds like a blatant lie to me"
" ok ok im trying to get your business again its only sales talk"
He then proceeded to babble on about how this offer ran out today and i needed to sign up by the next day and did i have a fax. When i told him i dont use one he offered to come out to where i was working so i could sign this form. I pointed out it wouldnt look too professional to my clients if i started seeing sales reps on site, he disagreed !! In the end i knocked him on the head as he was doing my head in with his pushey attitude but it goes to show how we dont stand a chance against the likes of reactfast in the yellow pages.

[BUNGYSTRAP]

Got my first job from Yell.com yesterday. More work from pounding the beat and word of mouth though. Still waiting to see if the Thomson's was worth the salt.

[EvoRed]

I'm in the big three directories and, after spending quite a bit, I can say that I am certainly not happy with my ads. I know someone's got to be at the back, but it's always bloody me! Stick RF at the back for a change, see how they like it...

The new books came out about 6 weeks ago and I've had about 3 jobs from YP, 1 from Thomson and nothing from BT. Meanwhile, RF always seem to be hassling me to do jobs for them. As Toomush says, we don't really stand a chance in that market...

And Yell.com is crap too, as is 118 247.

[pinky]

118247 etc are crap in some areas and good in others, but i know what you are saying with YP and RF.

nothing will ever change unless every uk lockey makes a stand together, and we know that this wont happen.

[Varjeal]

I'm not from the U.K. but here's a suggestion if you have lots of lockies having trouble with YP advertising (remember this is advice and is worth just what most advice is.... )

Why doesn't someone get a bunch of private "contractor"-type business' such as locksmiths, plumbers, welders, etc together and have a "Professional Trade Services" booklet made up with ads and small articles on various topics. Advertisers can pay to be interviewed on their specific specialities and give potential customers tips and advice on products and services they may be interested in.

Each year our town puts out two guides, a "Spring home renovation" booklet and a fall one as well. Heck, even the phone book people might be interested in doing one up.

Just an idea.

[BUNGYSTRAP]

The whole advertising thread is probably one of the most hotly argued and discussed in this trade. I still can not understand why this has to be so different to electricians / plumbers.