Would you be suspicious of a business that did not have a landline number?

Question

The business is tutoring. As an experiment I tried only putting my mobile number in my advertisements for two months. Two reasons for this: one was to reduce overheads and the second was because I find my smartphone so convenient with its list of contacts and a telephone log. During this period I only had one enquiry through my mobile, and that was a text message. I still had enquiries through my landline: the number is on my website. This time of year is usually a quiet time for me so the lack of enquiries may just be coincidence, although as soon as I put my landline number back in my advert I had an enquiry.

Thanks for your answers. I asked a similar question a few months ago with a totally different set of responses although it was in the business section:
http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AmSNObLwz5D8cvk07xQPY3EgBgx.?qid=1006050204447

Answer 1

Depends entirely on the business in question. I know lots of self employed plumbers and electricians who only use a mobile number for business, at least until they earn enough money to get an office, which often never happens. I don't think people are suspicious of this at all. I'd be suspicious of a bank with only a mobile number, but why on earth people would be suspicious of a tutor doing this I don't know. I would think that you must want to keep your home number private or something like that. We must live in a paranoid world if the absence of a landline is bothering people.

Answer 2

Hey Paul

Yes i would be suspicious if a business didn't have a landline number but only because both my daughter and a friend were conned by people who only gave a mobile number.

Both of them called the mobile numbers they had, someone came out, one was a plumber, the other one a mechanic. They did what they were supposed to do, got paid (A lot of money because it was emergency repair jobs) and when they tried to contact the persons, found out that they couldn't get in touch with the mobile numbers. These people had simply switched off or changed their SIM cards for all we know. Whatever they could not be traced. Turned out that neither had done the job right and it costs both, my daughter and my frieend, more money to get someone out to fix what those two men had done wrong.

So i guess other people may have been conned too, know of others who have and thus prefer to call a landline number. You see it means that a business with a landline number seems more professional.

Answer 3

Of course, it depends on the type of business! I would expect a company or office based business to have a landline, however in your case (tutoring) if the only landline is your home number it would be sensible not to use it in advertising! It would be more assuring to your clients to have a landline, but you need to protect yourself too - there are some funny people out there! Why not get an additional landline for home, purely for your business?

Answer 4

As a self employed appliance engineer,i rely on calls coming through on my mobile as im on the road so much.I did find that calls were slow coming in at first 2yrs ago,but it picked up once people got to know and understand that there was a reliable service waiting on the other end.Now i dont use a landline and receive about 30 calls a day.Stick with it for a while it will work out for you.Alternativly try call divert from landline to mobile and tell customers to then use the mobile next time they call.GOOD LUCK...

Answer 5

Yes, people do definitely prefer to call or at least see a landline. Rightly or wrongly this tells people that you are at least fairly reliable. A landline creates the idea of an office, whereas as a mobile is more for wheeling and dealing.

Personally, I do not like calling mobiles for that reason and also resent the fact that I will be paying a premium rate to contact someone for business, particuarly in your case where they are ringing you to offer work.

For my business I bought a Phillips faxjet 375 (others will do the same job) and this allows me to redirect calls to my mobile, as well as any messages. I can also call it from outside and ask it for messages. Basically, I can be in control of my communications and do not need to be concerned about missing any vital calls.

Hope that helps

Answer 6

I would not just be very suspicious (it would look as though you were hiding something and didn't want to be traceable) but almost as importantly I don't want to phone a business where the call's going to cost me as much as it does to call a mobile.
Having said that, I do know of several small businesses who don't have a landline to save money, and they're quite legit, but personally I think they're misguided and it's a false economy.

Answer 7

The nice thing about having a mobile number is that you are available. This increases your level of service by a signficant margin. Many people with whom I work are so busy that they have landlines, but rarely use them. I am with you; I use a TREO 650 which is a hybrid phone/computer, which is essential in my business. As a consideration, use your landline and mobile number in your ad, and see if your calls increase. People love choices--and I bet they choose the mobile! Good luck.

Answer 8

For those with 7 digits, change it to this: 1. Grab a calculator. 2. Key in the first three digits of your home phone number (NOT the area code) 3. Multiply by 80 4. Add 1 5. Multiply by 250 6. Add the 4 digit # at the end of your phone number 7. Add the 4 digit # at the end of your phone number again. 8. Subtract 250 9. Divide number by 2 If it doesn't work for you, you may be doing something wrong. Be sure to enter = after each step.

Answer 9

I would be very suspicious.

I never answer advertisements without landline numbers.

Answer 10

I have 4 cell phones in my house, I also use Yahoo Phone in and Phone out, No reason to have a landline. Just smart to save money where ya can