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Based on your other replies in this thread, you obviously know that there are more toll free NPAs than just “800”. As many of them have been around a long time,

Based on your other replies in this thread, you obviously know that there are more toll free NPAs than just “800”. As many of them have been around a long time, I would argue they are just as recognizable.

walrus01 9y ago
Yes, i'm well aware of that... I actually control the DIDs for some 800 numbers that are very valuable, we've been offered a great deal of money to transfer them. 800 remains the most valuable by far, particularly for direct sales to consumers in the US market, because it's existed for the longest amount of time. NPAs 888 and 877 are not nearly as valuable. If you're setting up the inbound call center call routing for something like selling slapchops or asbestos-related personal injury lawyers (just as an example of television direct marketing), a vastly higher percentage of the age 55+ target market recognizes 800 immediately but is less certain about 888, 877 and others.
- kelnos 9y ago
  I was about to ask why toll-free even matters, since cell phones make dialing "long distance" free. But I guess the 55+ target market is probably the least-saturated market when it comes to cell phones too, yeah?
  - jsjohnst 9y ago
    In this day and age, most folks have free long distance whether they have a cell phone or not. One misconception is that calling a 800 prefix is completely cost free, on a cellular phone, you still get charged for roaming / air time in most cases.
    - walrus01 9y ago
      an 800 number is also partially about having a large corporate identity, for example if go to the website for $HUGE_AIRLINE and its main customer service/reservations phone number is 1-416-something-something vs 1-800-something-something, it looks less serious.
      - jsjohnst 9y ago
        I used to work for MCI back in the day and our small business teams used that very tactic to sell TF numbers.
  - ksenzee 9y ago
    Toll free matters in the way that having a .com matters. If you're advertising steakknives.biz at 616-555-1234, you have next to no credibility.
- jsjohnst 9y ago
  > a vastly higher percentage of the age 55+ target market recognizes 800 immediately but is less certain about 888, 877 and others. That used to be the case, but not so much anymore. 888 and 877 have been used enough by major companies over the past twenty years that most consumers know they are TF. The companies who claim 800 is the only way to go and not 888/877/866 have a vested financial interest in convincing you of that. (Note: 855/844/833 have much less awareness, so my omission of them above was intentional)
- jsjohnst 9y ago
  > I actually control the DIDs for some 800 numbers that are very valuable, we've been offered a great deal of money to transfer them. 800 remains the most valuable by far Also, not disputing they are really valuable, I know that’s true from personal experience as well. I’m more arguing that 800 numbers are valuable for a similar reason to diamonds being valuable. It’s not because diamonds are super rare or truly needed, it’s because the marketing has been so effective on them. The unbiased studies I’ve read show 888/877 are just as readily known and give a similar positive brand image as 800 numbers are. The industry doesn’t want to admit it though because they’ll lose out on the hype money.

walrus01 9y ago

Yes, i'm well aware of that... I actually control the DIDs for some 800 numbers that are very valuable, we've been offered a great deal of money to transfer them. 800 remains the most valuable by far, particularly for direct sales to consumers in the US market, because it's existed for the longest amount of time. NPAs 888 and 877 are not nearly as valuable. If you're setting up the inbound call center call routing for something like selling slapchops or asbestos-related personal injury lawyers (just as an example of television direct marketing), a vastly higher percentage of the age 55+ target market recognizes 800 immediately but is less certain about 888, 877 and others.

kelnos 9y ago
I was about to ask why toll-free even matters, since cell phones make dialing "long distance" free. But I guess the 55+ target market is probably the least-saturated market when it comes to cell phones too, yeah?
- jsjohnst 9y ago
  In this day and age, most folks have free long distance whether they have a cell phone or not. One misconception is that calling a 800 prefix is completely cost free, on a cellular phone, you still get charged for roaming / air time in most cases.
  - walrus01 9y ago
    an 800 number is also partially about having a large corporate identity, for example if go to the website for $HUGE_AIRLINE and its main customer service/reservations phone number is 1-416-something-something vs 1-800-something-something, it looks less serious.
    - jsjohnst 9y ago
      I used to work for MCI back in the day and our small business teams used that very tactic to sell TF numbers.
- ksenzee 9y ago
  Toll free matters in the way that having a .com matters. If you're advertising steakknives.biz at 616-555-1234, you have next to no credibility.
jsjohnst 9y ago
> a vastly higher percentage of the age 55+ target market recognizes 800 immediately but is less certain about 888, 877 and others. That used to be the case, but not so much anymore. 888 and 877 have been used enough by major companies over the past twenty years that most consumers know they are TF. The companies who claim 800 is the only way to go and not 888/877/866 have a vested financial interest in convincing you of that. (Note: 855/844/833 have much less awareness, so my omission of them above was intentional)
jsjohnst 9y ago
> I actually control the DIDs for some 800 numbers that are very valuable, we've been offered a great deal of money to transfer them. 800 remains the most valuable by far Also, not disputing they are really valuable, I know that’s true from personal experience as well. I’m more arguing that 800 numbers are valuable for a similar reason to diamonds being valuable. It’s not because diamonds are super rare or truly needed, it’s because the marketing has been so effective on them. The unbiased studies I’ve read show 888/877 are just as readily known and give a similar positive brand image as 800 numbers are. The industry doesn’t want to admit it though because they’ll lose out on the hype money.