Comments on: Typo or Scam - 23 Hour Service??

Question: Typo or Scam - 23 Hour Service??

jspierre — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 16:55:08 -0800

What does the term "23 Hour Service" when used by the service & repair industry?

I was looking for plumbing information online and came across several companies that offer "23 Hour Service" or "23 Hour Emergency Service" or something to that effect. I thought the first couple of sites were a typo, but it appears on many plumbing companies' sites. I also see it on HVAC companies, as well. Is this some sort of scam that these service industries are visiting upon consumers in the form of a "gotcha"? What I'm thinking is that they offer 23 Hour Service, you believe you're getting 24 Hour service, so when you call in the middle of the night with an emergency and they don't answer, they can say you called during the 24th hour, when they're not available. Seems silly to me, but something screwy is going on here.

Who benefits if that is the case? Seems like you'd only anger your customers when they really need you the most...not really good for business is it?

Check out:
This page of search results
and
This page of other search results.

So...what exactly is 23 Hour Service? Any clue?

By: inturnaround

inturnaround — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 17:11:38 -0800

It's shorthand to say they're faster than those who offer 24-hour service. It's like when companies purposely misspell words in their ads just to grab your eye. The Yellow Pages can often be a crowded place for those service companies, so plumbers will do what they can to get your attention.

By: Lame_username

Lame_username — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 17:20:13 -0800

Far more common is 25 hour service with 1,460 hits vice 16 for 23 hour service. I presume they are just trying to stand out. Many of the 25 hour service guys are also 8 days a week.

By: smackfu

smackfu — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 17:24:17 -0800

23 comes before 24 alphabetically.

By: Witty

Witty — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 19:43:49 -0800

I guess it's kind of like offering an item for sale at a price of $X.99. I mean, there's something about $99.99 that's clearly better and more attractive than just going with the obvious $100.00 and "calling it even".

By: shazzam

shazzam — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 20:01:22 -0800

23 comes before 24 alphabetically.

No it doesn't. /nitpick

By: BitterOldPunk

BitterOldPunk — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 21:56:50 -0800

I used to live upstairs from Bruce. Bruce drove a tow truck: a sweet black flatbed with recessed flashers and a massive winch on the front. On the doors was written "Bruce's Wrecker Service: Out To Get You 23 1/2 Hours A Day".

When I asked about that, Bruce said, "Well, I gotta stop and take a shit sometime."

By: Carillon

Carillon — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 22:05:14 -0800

Actually the whole point of the $X.99 was to get the cashier to open the cash register and give change, making it harder for them to just pocket the money.

By: Witty

Witty — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 18:22:44 -0800

Interesting. I did not know that.

By: LonnieK

LonnieK — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 18:25:09 -0800

I did not know that either. I still don't. But it has a ring to it. Carillon, can you offer sourcing?