Get an 800# - those who would call the 707# won't hesitate to call a 800# and those who won't call the 707# all agreed they'd call a 800# so you get them all with the 800# and only a part of them with the 707#. But I would think that putting a card on the board in the RV park and a sign on your car then taking the card down when you move on would be the most effective way to work. If people are calling you from the east coast when you're on the west coast the cards will all just end up in the trash anyway imho
John Ewing
2007 Allegro Bus 42QRP ("TisIt")
2005 Sportster/HydraLift ("Dinky")
2002 Miata toad ("Mellow Yellow") www.jandse.com
FMCA 104106
What goes around comes around - always treat others the way you'd like them to treat you.
Most people on the road who need your service will call using their cell phone. I haven't heard of many travelers that use plans that pay extra for long distance. When someone needs help, they're willing to pay a few cents more to pay for a phone call.
First, I would invest my money in the signage on your truck and flyers left with the RVPark manager or posted in the laundryroom. That's what will get you calls or the knocks on your door!
But see what they suggest at the RV Repair school. They are there to help you get started.
2009 DRV Mobile Suite 38TKSB3....our custom home
2008 Ford F450 Lariat CC 4x4......his office
Working Fulltimers since 3/2005
"Shoot for the Moon! Even if you miss it, you will land among the Stars."
I wouldn't have any problem calling a 707 number. In fact, I have had trouble calling 800 numbers from time to time on my cell. Your business will be almost exclusively cell phone contact from RVers.
I call local numbers all the time before I'll call 800 numbers because 800s are often busy. The cost to me is the same. But, this is just my experience.. others may be more comfortable with the 800.
Thank you all for your input. We figured the opinions would be split with a slant toward the 800 number. We are going with the 800 number for some of the reasons mentioned.
Here is the plan: We will tow an enclosed trailer with our vehicle inside, a workbench, tools and a supply of parts. The trailer will be emblazoned with the company name and contact info in bold type. We will, of course, ask permission from the park to advertise via flyers and business cards. Maybe even offer something like a 5 dollar referral bonus?! We plan to stay in one area for two weeks at a time so the first day or two is spent visiting every park in a 10+ mile radius to hopefully drop off cards and flyers. We will also wear some tastefully embroidered apparel courtesy of DW. The 800 number will forward to the cell phone for 5 cents a minute. We figure getting one extra service call a month will pay for the 800 number. Just one call that we might not have gotten seems like a good return for the cost/benefit of the 800 number. We will also have some windshield shades made up and maybe have the rear of the rig painted too since the trailer will often end up in the overflow lot.
Anybody see any holes in the plan or ideas on more promotions?
2001 Monaco Executive
500 Hp w/tag axle
2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited
Me,DW and Panther, the coolest cat in the world
One thing I haven't seen you mention is commercial insurance on the trailer or vehicles advertising your business. Regular insurance isn't going to cover those if they are used for business. (Been there, had to take the magnetic signs off the vehicles.)
Rich,and Tobi (the rescued dog)
Prowler 5ver, 84 Ford F250 KCOCOLOR78 Weather
Colo. Spgs. CO
Quote: We plan to stay in one area for two weeks at a time
That won't give you much time if you have to order repair parts and then they get on back order.
What about later on getting all those calls for repairs that are 1,000 or more miles from where you left those card all over the country.
Or maybe you could have the cards printed with a expire date on them for each area you stop in.
Most campgrounds usually have a mobile person that works the area year around. If they fix something they would be around if something goes wrong later.
I wouldn't be comfortable having someone working on my MH if I knew a week or two later I would never see them again.
Good luck
With a commercial trailer you probably will need to stop at all DOT weight scales.
We run a small business on the road and use Power Net Global for 800 service. It is on all of our business cards and costs, on average, less than $5.00 per month.
We have found it to be very useful and inexpensive...plus a business write-off!
The longest we stayed in one place was in Texas for two months, and I couldn't even guess as to the area code I was in. Been in Pismo Beach now for a few days and couldn't even venture a guess. If I need something, I call the number listed. (although I do try to always learn/remember what county we are in for weather bulletins)
Even a lot of the "townies" we have met in our travels have area codes from a previous town of residence. I don't care, I just enter the number into my phone and dial it. When I give my area code and phone number to someone, I don't think I ever hear "where is that from?". I think it just goes with the territory now.
We have an 84 RV, several times over the years we have had service by Mobile business. Each one we used, was one we saw drive past our RV, with a big sign on the truck or trailer, and called. Many parks have maps with business number on them, and we have called them from time to time. In my opinion, signage is your best advertising. Many of these people service several campgrounds and lived in one of them. Most have been in Thousand Trails parks, but a few in C2C. They all had 800 numbers.
A couple of months ago, we saw a big truck with a sign. Needed a new power steering unit, as mine was giving indications of coming problems. Called him, he came over and diagnosed the problem, said he would have the parts in 4 days. While he was working on our rig, three other people came over, and asked him to look at theirs. They keep him pretty busy, he said sometimes he puts in 12-14 hour days. He even gave us a senior discount. He also services commercial accounts, said he would go anywhere south of route 40 to work on trucks.
Bob & Nadine 1984 Allegro 23 feet, always at home!
Living Life With a "Golden Age Passport"
and Thousand Trails VIP Membership, Priceless!.
If I needed service, I would call any number. It would not matter which, as a call is a call with my cell. It doesn't care if I call a toll free number or not, it still counts towards my minutes.
Best of luck with your business. I know of a repair tech who is also a fulltimer. Always has more work than he can handle at whatever park he is staying in.
I do think that if you post a business card or advertisement on a bulletin board, you should list the dates that you will be available to that area. NOTHING worse than calling someone and finding that they are now half way across the country. Then I'd be upset, 800# or not. LOL
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