would you work for reactfast?

by **MrB** » 10 Apr 2005 13:05

I don't know if it applies to others, but an ad being on the first page of YP has never meant anything to me. I always turn through all the pages and pick the ad that I find most appealing. That mostly means the ad should mention doing exactly the thing I need, so I don't have to phone up and ask "do you do X?".

I'm pretty sure if your ad said "I will charge half the price of Reactfast" I would call you instead of Reactfast, whether your ad was on page 1 or page 5.

by **acl** » 10 Apr 2005 14:17

I take your point but if youre locked out and desperate to get in youre not going as far as page 5. I think Phoenix have got on page 1 as they have a large ad,they are at least honest enough to say the more you spend the nearer the front you are.

by **MrB** » 10 Apr 2005 17:36

I have been locked out of my home twice, and on both occasions I didn't even know there was anyone I could call to get me in again. I didn't look in the YP because it didn't occur to me. But if someone had pointed out that I should look in the YP under locksmith, I would have looked at all the adverts before choosing, just like I always do, and most likely ignored all the full-page display adverts. (Anyone who can afford full page display adverts is not going to offer value for money.)

There is a question of public education here. The first time I lost my key and found myself locked out, I went to the local police station and said "I am locked out of my house, do you know how I can get help?" The duty clerk basically said there's nothing to do, you will have to break a window.

So if you guys want more business, find a way of reaching people like me who never had a clue that help was available, and who never even tried to call a locksmith. For example, put wallet-sized cards through every door in the neighbourhood saying "Locked out? Call me!" Make sure every police station knows you exist and has a stack of your cards available.

by **acl** » 11 Apr 2005 2:27

MrB sure there are people who think like you but they are in the minority ,most just have a quick look through the first few ads and pick someone .if this wasnt the case then these companies wouldnt bother advertising so heavily. We do get the odd call from someone saying they looked for a local/small business but thet are few and far between.
I dont think the police round here are actually supposed to reccomend Locksmiths and just point you toward the directories( perhaps our resident Rozzer could clarify this?!)
Andy

by **MrB** » 11 Apr 2005 2:56

You're probably right that the police can't point people towards an individual locksmith. There's all sorts of ways that would be a problem. But I'm probably not the only person who thought about going to a police station for advice when I found myself locked out.

by **EvoRed** » 11 Apr 2005 3:12

I had a job a while ago where the customer had contacted the Police and the Police had called them a Locksmith from a directory. You're probably right in that the Police shouldn't get involved as they called out ReactFast!

I've had jobs in local villages where the customer had called one of the 118 services and been told by the operator that only one company was showing as operating in their area, to which the customer obviously believed it was a local business. No prizes for guessing which one...

by **pinky** » 11 Apr 2005 3:43

the police in notts keep a database of emergency locksmiths who are 24 hours, these are vetted and given out only by phone through the control room, if asking at a police station you will be given the directory. though ask a bobby on the beat in notts and he/she will radio for a number which will come from their approved list.

although the police cannot reccomend an individual, it does happen, also notts police are trying to be responsible about who they call for an emergency job, as they are not to know if the job is for a woman on her own, a vulnerable person an elderly person, they now try where possible to only send tradesmen who have been fully vetted by them for working with vulnerable groups.

they dont want to be seen as the organiseation who sent a crook , rapist , or con man to your door when you ask them for help.

by **dean1** » 12 Apr 2005 8:47

regarding warrant work did you know that british gas now own dyno lock

by **pinky** » 12 Apr 2005 15:43

centrica bought dyno approx 6 months ago, and there is a thread on this, but although dyno will be used on warrants it wont be until they can maintain the 3% NDE rate that BG demand, and i cant see it hitting the established warrant locksmith for a while yet

by **acl** » 14 Apr 2005 6:07

I know i bang on about this ALL the time but i need to let of steam again re Yellow Pages. My apprentice lives in Corby so i thought id put a small ad in Northants yp this year. Just got the new book through and the first 4 pages contain: A Plus Building?! 2 ads,Absolute Emergencies 3 , Reactfast 4, aa+a 3.Its not untill the bottom of page 4 that you actually get a proper locksmith co in Eydens from there you do get Locksmiths. How is it that rf and the like dont have an ad stuck at the back because im told its just pot luck where you are positioned. Our ad is not badly positioned on page 5 with the proper locksmiths but theyve put my Dunstable address in instead of Steves Corby one so theyll get nothing out of me for that one.When i rang to complain about this i also mention the multiple ads and guess what? Theyre looking into this and its going to be stopped!!!!!
Andy

by **EvoRed** » 14 Apr 2005 6:27

I know Andy, they claim it's pot luck but we all know that's absolute crap. I'm basically right at the back of the YP myself with these firms at the front and think "what's the point?"...

Just checked the Yell.com listing and, low and behold, searched for a Locksmith in my area and, when they were listed, there was a big Keytek banner showing, which is AE.

by **EvoRed** » 15 Apr 2005 10:24

Just got my Thomson Local, and the first page is a full page Keytek (AE) ad. Next ad is a half page Reactfast but split into two. It is one ad but two separate ads in the one ad, with a gap in the middle, looking like two ads, with different numbers for each half. One half of it says Reactfast and the other half doesn't! So there's an idea. Get one ad and design into it two or three with different numbers making yourself look like two or three separate businesses.

Just thought Andy would be interested in their latest directory advertising tactics!

by **acl** » 15 Apr 2005 15:07

Shaun, what are trying to say,that i maybe have an obsession over this?!!
Andy

by **tri-city** » 15 Apr 2005 19:57

i took a leaf out of your book pinky .. ive just put 2 ads in 2 thompson locals saying that if the engineer damages your locks he will replace them free of charge.... but im still going to work for react fast. the way i look at it i need 4 or 5 decoders in the next 3 months before everyone gets there new directory. thats about Â£1400-00 a lot a dough for a few picks. the way i see it though is that the rough traders programs do people like us a favour. one day they may even advertise our companies by way of a plugging.... who nows ... but i think that if you love picking you cant go wrong... and that 1k per week SHOULD come eventually. :shock:

by **Wallaby** » 16 Apr 2005 1:34

But Tricity, are you the same Tricity advertising training on e-bay claiming that Â£1000 per week is easy and some locksmiths earn 2 or three times that .? I am sure that any pointers you have on this would be useful to all ...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 90349&rd=1

ps: what makes you qualified ? just curious ...

would you work for reactfast?

do you or would you work for reactfast

warrants

Who is online