Consumers Expect Local Businesses to Pick up the Phone

Should be a no-brainer. You may recall the calling test we completed (press) this spring showing that 64 percent of businesses we called to determine if they were available to help a customer immediately -- weren't!

Combine this information with a new survey FastCall411 just released reporting that "8 out of 10 Americans have little patience for merchants who don’t answer the phone – especially after repeated attempts to make contact. And when it comes to the key demographic for buying most home and professional services -- adults 35-44 -- that figure rises to nearly 88 percent."

Here's some press on survey.

Pretty much, this is a major disconnect between the information available today in local directories and what the consumer really wants. Is this why we complain bitterly about disintegrating customer service?

FastCall411 is launching at DEMOfall2007 next week in San Diego. We are excited to show how the company is designed to connect consumers with local businesses that are ready and available to provide services.
DEMO -- a big press and VC event – will be the first time that we announce publicly how FastCall411 benefits the consumer, local merchant and publisher. I’ll send an update once we’re there.

PS. If you haven’t checked out FastCall411.com recently – we've added cool new features and polished the design.