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Yellow pages discount!

Already an established locksmith? Trying to get your new locksmith business off the ground? Need training or licensing? Have to get bonded and insured? Visit here to talk about running a locksmith business day to day, including buying a van, renting a store front, getting business cards and invoices made up, questions on taxes, pricing out jobs, what to spend on tools and what works and doesn't in advertizing.

Yellow pages discount!

Postby prim » 17 Aug 2005 5:47

Hi all

I will be putting my first locksmith YP advert in soon but the salesman said they don't do 50 % discount now for first timers in fact they don’t give any discounts. Is this true? Cos I know from experience with 118247 that they can be dishonest to gain a sale, so any info would be a help as the deadline for my area is very close. :roll:

Thanks in advance.
prim
 
Posts: 89
Joined: 12 Apr 2005 3:52
Location: Uk

Postby oldlock » 18 Aug 2005 3:19

They allways used to but I am fairly sure that the agents commission will be in direct proportion to his sales, so if you are willing to call his bluff - say no thanks unless you get a better price - just be prepared to wait until just before the book closes for him to come back to you & be sure you have your proof ready !

Paul
oldlock
 
Posts: 325
Joined: 23 Oct 2004 16:48
Location: Adelaide, Australia

Postby Shrub » 29 Aug 2005 4:54

Make sure an advert is the right thing to do for your area, if there are already loads of lockies in there i wouldnt bother unless your business name is AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAlocksmiths,

I get more business from the local pares and wouldnt think about a yellow pages ad especially at their prices :roll:
Shrub
Moderator Emeritus
 
Posts: 11576
Joined: 23 May 2005 4:03
Location: uk

Postby Rob Gray » 28 Sep 2005 14:27

well as for the yellow pages they messed up my add for the current years books and had to pick up the bill. beeing as they forgot to send me a proof i got a years free add even if it wasn't quite right !! The ad in the thompson has given far more business and for less might be worth looking at for next year

Oh and the cost for the mess up was £4500.00 yippy :lol:
Rob
Rob Gray
 
Posts: 26
Joined: 27 Sep 2005 11:57

Postby hzatorsk » 28 Sep 2005 19:19

Shrub wrote:Make sure an advert is the right thing to do for your area, if there are already loads of lockies in there i wouldnt bother unless your business name is AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAlocksmiths,

I get more business from the local pares and wouldnt think about a yellow pages ad especially at their prices :roll:


Whew... glad I saw this in time. I'll have to be:

A-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAlocksmiths

to stay ahead of shrub. :)


Seriously, though... YP contracts can sometimes be quite sketchy. I remember a story where the guy signed the contract with YP and found out the prices he was quoted turned out to be $MONTHLY$ instead of annually even though the book comes out only once a year!

What if they misprint your number? What is your remedy? I've heard they won't refund but a fraction of the monies involved. Even if the mistake is all theirs.

I really don't trust YP companies.
hzatorsk
 
Posts: 696
Joined: 20 Jul 2004 11:15

Postby Shrub » 29 Sep 2005 5:36

Perhaps its just me but the little advertising i have done has burnt my fingers each time,

My latest was having my business card on the back of all the video/dvd/games rentals at the 2 main vid stores in my area, i was told it was such a price but when the invoice comes it turns out theyve added vat twice and say its non refundable, the company is onsite services in blackpool,

Ive given up advertiseing, my work ethics and attitude is bringing in more business than ever, the local councils are even coming to me for key cutting as mine work first time every time unlike the locla hardware stores,

That said a lot of my business comes from the local hardware stores, ive left a pile of leaflets in the local stores and get 90% of my work through them, ive only had 1 person ring me up after seeing my number on my van and that was to give me abuse anyway (prank callers, dont you just love them) i will put a one line entry in my local bt book next year for those that cant remember my number but other than that its all good.

Im also halfway through hand delivering leaflets to every property in my area, i do around 100 each day, it gives me exorcise and ive done 20-25 jobs whilst walking round, ive given the leaflet and the customer has said 'oh could you look at this' i carry a set of picks with me as ive had 10-12 fileing cabinets to open, a few doors, a few money boxes and quite a few padlocks, ive not charged callout but rather the odd £5-£10 here and there explaining that i wouldnt think of charging full callout as i was there anyway and every one has said they will tell all their family and freinds, indeed its probably the other 10% of work thats come from these recommendations :D
Shrub
Moderator Emeritus
 
Posts: 11576
Joined: 23 May 2005 4:03
Location: uk

YELLOW PAGES

Postby LOCK--MAN » 11 Oct 2005 19:00

WELL DONE SHRUB stating the truth i had simular experiance with a company on yearly planners it was i think £250 for the year 10% on order then when i got the bill it was it was £250 plus 10% plus vat so i paid it ,then got another bill 6 months later the same ,when i quered it they pointed out the small print on err page 7 that unless i cancelled my subscription within so and so weeks it was payable so i had to pay it ,did i get any work did i hell --------- but i didn't forget the following year i was ready4 em took out the biggest add paid the 10 % and at the last minit cancelled and got a cheep add ------- now iv got em turning up for notice boards ect cold calling cos they seen the add i wish i had done the leaflets all that fresh air and excercise well there is a pub at every corner here
IF IT AINT BROKE DONT FIX IT NEVER OVERLOOK THE OBVIOUS?
LOCK--MAN
 
Posts: 37
Joined: 8 Oct 2005 7:56
Location: MIDLANDS UNITED KINGDOM

Postby wraith » 26 Nov 2005 23:25

, I guess I got lucky on a YP ad. I'm paying $160/month for a 2" ad. I'm positive i'll make 3-4 calls a month to pay for it...

And yes, I looked at the conract carefully.

Trey
All I want is for my wife and my girlfriend to get along...
wraith
 
Posts: 219
Joined: 23 Jul 2005 2:22
Location: Kansas City, MO


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