Phones After Hours?

[alwrightins]

Hello all,
I am trying to discover some best practices for handling calls after hours for a independent office. Currently we use a live phone answering service and they suck and i dnt know why we really use them to take a message essentially when i could jusy use an answering machine.

Please tell me what works for you guys or what you would suggest?

Thanks

 

[sman]

I use voice mail. It's $7 per month. Works for me. Been doing it that way for a long time. The only reason to use a phone service is if you have to be contacted after hours. Like a doctor.