Telecom Smackdown: Direct Carrier Vs. Telecom Agency

The Carrier

In the Red corner, weighing in at approximately 975 pounds and subsisting largely on a diet of Corn Nuts and red tape, we have the carrier. Let’s be frank: A direct carrier sales representative’s sole job is to sell their company’s services. That’s it. They’re commission-driven, and once they make the sale, their customer support resources are only accessible through infuriating service helplines. Plus, direct carriers are notorious for accounting errors, which can cost you a lot of money.

The Agency

In the Blue corner, with a winning smile and a knack for personalized customer service, we have the telecom agency (that’s us). We specialize in freedom of choice at no additional cost to you. We don’t just have access to one service provider; we have access to hundreds. Plus, we have the industry expertise to help you stop throwing your money into the void. At the end of the day, we’re a small business with no sales quotas – so you get all of the product options of a large carrier alongside the one-on-one service of a small business. We offer great service, no pushy sales calls, and a passion for bettering your business. Boom.

The Carrier

Technical difficulties happen. When you’re dealing with sluggish internet or failing phone service, you need reliable, speedy customer support. Unfortunately, working directly with a carrier means you’re likely stuck on hold for hours at a time waiting for a remote service rep to handle your issue. That means lost time, lost productivity, and lost money for your business. Carriers are also prone to turnover, with the average rep sticking with a company for as little as 14 months. That means you’re just another face in the crowd, stuck in a revolving door of inexperienced customer service reps who lack knowledge of your needs and the industry itself.

The Agency

Telecom agencies are focused on service, not commission. We provide direct carriers with a lot of business, which means we’re able to deal with executive-level leadership in a way that gets your technical difficulties handled quickly and affordably. That also means that you won’t have to make telecom service calls ever again (score). We’ll help you select your service carriers, then manage those relationships so you can spend less time banging your head against your keyboard and more time growing your business. Finally, you won’t have to worry about an ever-changing flow of sales reps. We’re a small team committed to getting to know you while maintaining industry expertise. That means continuity as your business grows and your telecom needs change.

The Carrier

Behind every carrier is a harried customer service agent with limited technical experience. That means that you might end up paying more due to mishandled paperwork or incorrect quotes. You’ll also be the target of constant upselling to earn the sales representative more – you guessed it – commission.

The Agency

This is an easy one. Telecom agencies like TierOne have sophisticated auditing tools to make sure you’re getting the best deal possible on telecom services. We can catch accounting errors, then handle them directly with the carrier. In fact, we’re so confident that we can help you, we’ll audit your telecom spend free of charge.

The Carrier

Not sure if your current service provider checks every box? Maybe you’re experiencing slower than usual internet service, or you’re having trouble getting employees up to speed on new Cloud services. The carriers aren’t concerned about whether their service is the best fit for your operation; they’re just trying to keep your business. Sounds like a recipe for mediocre service.

The Agency

Telecom agencies like TierOne don’t represent the interests of the carriers. Instead, we manage relationships with hundreds of different providers so we can match our clients with the best service for their individual needs. We’re fully impartial, which allows us to connect you with service that will help save you money and take your business to the next level. We’re also experienced, with an unparalleled level of insight that allows us to guide our clients who may not be as familiar with all of the options available to you. At the end of the day, it’s all about freedom of choice – at no extra cost to you. Let’s think of it in terms of a buffet: If you could choose between eating unseasoned chicken every day for the rest of your life or enjoying a diverse array of tasty options – for less than the cost of the chicken – which would you choose? Seems like a no-brainer.

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Still not convinced that you should stop buying your telecom services directly from the carrier? Whether you’re sizing up or simply looking for better service, TierOne offers unparalleled expertise and knowledge. If you would like to learn more about TierOne’s competitive edge, contact us today.

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