Give Phone Number?

[Pete Cormie]

I don't give my phone number and can't remember being asked for a number.

Same here. I would never suggest to them that canceling is an option. They usually have it in their caller ID anyway-that's why I set appts using my fax number sometimes! If I see they're calling me on the day of the appt I will ignore the call and keep the appt. If they aren't home, I will DK them later on that day.

 

[HoosierLife]

Yeah I call from my home phone. It has a vm, I think, but I can't access it.

 

[SirAlexFerguson]

Anytime Ive given my number they have canceled. I dont give my number anymore, unless it was a reschedule from a no show.

Just curious since I'm new... do you really think if you hadn't given them your # you would've shown up, they would've been there and let you in, and you would've sold them a policy or two? I know ultimately the answer probably is, "We'll never know...". Has anybody said, "We were gonna cancel but didn't have your #... so since you're here c'mon in."

There seem to be valid reasons for giving and not giving your #. Maybe it's mostly a vibe you get about a suspect.

Good thread.

 

[HoosierLife]

Just curious since I'm new... do you really think if you hadn't given them your # you would've shown up, they would've been there and let you in, and you would've sold them a policy or two? I know ultimately the answer probably is, "We'll never know...". Has anybody said, "We were gonna cancel but didn't have your #... so since you're here c'mon in."

There seem to be valid reasons for giving and not giving your #. Maybe it's mostly a vibe you get about a suspect.

Good thread.

It's a whole lot easier to cancel over the phone than it is face to face.

 

[WinoBlues]

It's a whole lot easier to cancel over the phone than it is face to face.

I am more in the camp of giving my contact information. If I feel that I need to hide that from them I did not have that solid of an appointment and would rather they cancel up front than try to convince them at the door. But I also pre qualify people on the phone which is also contrary to how most people do it.

 

[axeman462]

My thinking is, if they call to cancel, they weren't going to be there anyway if you showed up. Them calling to let me know saves me time, gas and wear/tear on my car.
If they call to cancel it was a crappy set appt to begin with...

 

[bboman23]

My thinking is, if they call to cancel, they weren't going to be there anyway if you showed up. Them calling to let me know saves me time, gas and wear/tear on my car.
If they call to cancel it was a crappy set appt to begin with...

I have found though that some will call and cancel and will still be there. Might not have any money and think they will have to pay you something, so they cancel. I don't leave my number. If I get no showed, I knock the neighbors houses. No one method is right or wrong though.

 

[jdeasy]

I am more in the camp of giving my contact information. If I feel that I need to hide that from them I did not have that solid of an appointment and would rather they cancel up front than try to convince them at the door. But I also pre qualify people on the phone which is also contrary to how most people do it.

It has nothing to do with hiding. And the reason agents don't prequalify FE on the phone is because that's not a successful business model for selling FE.

Now back to the "hiding" comment, that comes from someone that doesn't work the FE amrket nor understand the FE market.

I recently had an appointment where I showed up 30 minutes early. The lady was startled by my being there and said she was just about to call me and cancel. I asked her why and she said she was afraid of who might be coming to her home with just her and her daughter there. She gave me the once over and then said, "you don't look anything like what I had pictured, come on in". Apparently I don't look like the ax murderer she had in mind. I wrote her and her daughter.

Today at my first stop the guy had told me on the phone yesterday that he had AARP's term and was happy with it because of the premium. He agreed to let me stop in today anyway.

After getting there and explaining what he had vs what he could could get I wrote him up with 5 Star. He was thrilled with it and said, "I thought I had done my homework before I bought that AARP. Obviously I didnt". Then he added, "Thank you so much for coming by, I was just about to call and tell you not to bother stopping by and wasting your and my time".

These folks do not what they are doing and the ones that do something are usually doing the wrong thing or an ill advised thing. They are also procrastinators that will look for any reason to not do something.

It's not "hiding" from them to not give them a number, it's doing them a favor to avoid giving them an out.

 

[moonlightandmargaritas]

Might not have any money and think they will have to pay you something, so they cancel.

They have money, it's what they choose to spend it on.

 

[Indy007]

It has nothing to do with hiding. And the reason agents don't prequalify FE on the phone is because that's not a successful business model for selling FE.

Now back to the "hiding" comment, that comes from someone that doesn't work the FE amrket nor understand the FE market.

I recently had an appointment where I showed up 30 minutes early. The lady was startled by my being there and said she was just about to call me and cancel. I asked her why and she said she was afraid of who might be coming to her home with just her and her daughter there. She gave me the once over and then said, "you don't look anything like what I had pictured, come on in". Apparently I don't look like the ax murderer she had in mind. I wrote her and her daughter.

Today at my first stop the guy had told me on the phone yesterday that he had AARP's term and was happy with it because of the premium. He agreed to let me stop in today anyway.

After getting there and explaining what he had vs what he could could get I wrote him up with 5 Star. He was thrilled with it and said, "I thought I had done my homework before I bought that AARP. Obviously I didnt". Then he added, "Thank you so much for coming by, I was just about to call and tell you not to bother stopping by and wasting your and my time".

These folks do not what they are doing and the ones that do something are usually doing the wrong thing or an ill advised thing. They are also procrastinators that will look for any reason to not do something.

It's not "hiding" from them to not give them a number, it's doing them a favor to avoid giving them an out.

I agree with ^^^ 100%. Anytime someone specifically asks for my phone # after I set an appointment with them, I assume they are going to call and cancel. I still write the appointment in my schedule, but I'll double book that slot as most of the time they do call and cancel.