Fireplace Depot

Two years ago Riz Visram purchased Fireplace Depot, an Etobicoke manufacturer, seller and installer of gas fireplaces that has operated since 1983.

One of the changes he made as the new owner of the company was switching his phone service to Allstream Small Business.

"Previously I worked as a public relations officer at a company that used Allstream Small Business and I found that their rates and service were a lot better than the competition," explains Riz. "In the past I have also used the other telecommunications provider and found that we didn't get the service we required and they did not always meet scheduled appointment times."

Understanding that every company is unique, Allstream Small Business offers four phone and phone + Internet bundles to choose from. Plus, you can customize the package by selecting from a long list of phone, fax, Internet and web hosting add-ons that fit with your company's communications requirements. This flexibility means you don't pay for services you don't need. It also keeps your phone and Internet bill affordable.

The Fireplace Depot receives numerous calls throughout the day from customers looking for information on their product lines, so Riz chose the basic Phone 500 bundle that comes with two phone lines (phone, fax, point of sale), two calling features, plus 500 minutes of Canadian and U.S. long distance and business listing in local white and yellow pages. Then he tailored the package by adding a third phone line to help handle the high volume of calls.

"The rate I am paying is about 25% lower than with our previous provider," says Riz. "That is a considerable savings. We make a lot of long distance calls and I find that Allstream Small Business' toll free and long distance rates are a lot lower, as well, which really helps our bottom line."

He notes that the switch of the phone lines from the previous provider to Allstream Small Business was hassle-free. And Fireplace Depot was able to keep the same phone number.

"Even though we are a small company, we had a representative at Allstream Small Business who helped us all the way through the installation process," Riz adds.

And the customer service department at Allstream Small Business continues to be attentive to his company's needs and quick to respond if an issue arises. The extended local sales hours from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. are also helpful, he notes.

"When you call, an agent get backs to you right away and a representative deals with the problem," explains Riz. " I found with the previous provider different people are calling back and forth which just complicates matters."

But most importantly, Riz says that Allstream Small Business offers a reliable telecommunications service.

"The telephone is the lifeline of our business," he explains. "With our previous provider the lines occasionally went down and we can't afford for a potential customer not to get through to us. I have been very happy with the switch to Allstream Small Business."