Hi all

Does anyone know of an alternative number for Whsmiths News Croydon branch?

The 0845 number that I use is 08451212760 - this is for the newspapers depot.

The other number that I am looking for is also for Whsmiths - but for the magazines department in Crawley.

The 0845 number for them that I use is 08451212330.

The reason for my wanting to find alternative numbers for both of these is that I contact both of these numbers on a daily basis for my newspapers and magazines work for our shop based in Bromley, Kent.

It soon adds up on the phone bills though on a daily basis, though!!!

Please help - thanks once again.

Regards

happy37

~ Edited by Dave: Thread title amended

Hmm, could we, please, have the full postal addresses and postcodes for the two sites about which you are enquiring, and perhaps the old 01X numbers or any others that you may know about.
Every little helps.

Hi Tanllan

Thanks for your reply, so here goes...

For Whsmiths News Croydon, the address is: -

Whsmiths News
4 Peterwood Way
Off Beddington Farm Road
Croydon
CR0 4UQ
Telephone number - 08451212760

and...

Whsmiths News Crawley, the address is: -

Whsmiths News
Kelvin Lane
Crawley
RH10 2PW
Telephone number - 08451212330

The only old number that I have/had for the Croydon site is 020 8680 8808 - I tried ringing that number today, yet this now belongs to another company to do with skips and haulage etc...?

The Crawley site number has always been given out as 08451212330...I am not aware of a non-geographical number for that site...unless you find out otherwise?

Is this of any help to you?

Regards

happy37

192.com seems to have nothing on either of these two sites. However, thephonebook.com returns the following number for WH Smith News in Croydon - 020 8680 9249. It doesn't return anything for the Crawley address unfortunately.

Can you try the Croydon number and see if that gets you through OK?

After a quick Google using the address you provided for Crawley, I've found this number - 01293 562502. Can you also check that and see if it works OK please?

jgxenite

Thanks for your reply - will try both numbers tomorrow, yet they might not pick up...being it a Bank

Holiday :(

Will try on Tuesday and will post back to let you know.

Thanks again - keep up the good work ;)

Regards

happy37

Well, you can atleast try them and see if you get any kind of response. Please make sure to report back if they are correct so that we can add them to the database :).

Hi jgxenite

I am reporting back to let you know of my results with both telephone numbers:-

For the Croydon number, 020 8680 9249 - this number does not belong to Whsmiths.

For the Crawley number, 01293 562502 - this number comes up as unrecognised when I try to dial it.

Thanks again for looking - please advise of any other alternative numbers that I can try.

Regards

happy37

for what it's worth, they have freephone fax numbers, can you perhaps fax them your orders?

Smiths News Croydon Newspapers
4 Peterwood Way
Croydon
CRO 4UQ

Tel: 0845 1212760
Fax: 0800 9152358

Smiths News Crawley
Kelvin Lane
Manor Royal
Crawley
West Sussex
RH10 9PW

Tel: 0845 1212330
Fax: 0800 9152357

lompos

Thanks for your reply - might have to consider that option in due course, yet is there anyone else out there who has managed to find any other numbers for these 2 sites?

Please let me know.

Thanks for your help.

Regards

happy37

happy37 wrote on Aug 30^th, 2007 at 1:28pm:

lompos Thanks for your reply - might have to consider that option in due course, yet is there anyone else out there who has managed to find any other numbers for these 2 sites? Please let me know. Thanks for your help. Regards happy37

I know it may not be the answer you want, have you tried emailing them? This is the email address

info@smithsnews.co.uk

A lookup of telco allocations reveals:

0845 121 and 0845 123 are allocated to Affiniti Integrated Solutions, a part of Kingston Communications. The change date is 11/1995 for both. 0800 915 is also Affiniti, date 10/1997

Within the London code (020) there are quite few Affiniti prefixes:

020 1173 02/2005
020 1174 03/2002
020 1222 02/2005
020 1227 05/2007
020 1228 05/2007
020 3130 06/2005
020 3131 06/2005
020 7160 07/2003
020 7788 05/1999
020 8181 06/2001
020 8185 02/2005
020 8712 02/2005

As you can see, there's loads. The first five are "national dialling only", meaning that you have to dial 020 code even when calling from a landline with an 020 number. It is also not possible to call some/many of these numbers from BT landlines. They are usually used where the number isn't publicised such as routing 08xx/09xx numbers to. That in no way means that the alternative to the 0845s we are seeking are contained within these prefixes. Indeed, I found the number for Pets at Home helpline to be 020 81819000. This is the same as the 0800 for them.

In short, consider the length of time that these numbers have been in service and the fact the old ones have now been reused. In which case, I think 020 8181 is worth a try. Remember, it's all ifs and buts though.

A check of Crawley (01293) reveals only one Affiniti prefix: 01293 83, change date 03/2004

I believe that it's a needle in a haystack you're looking for.  :-/

Their head office number (currently 0845 123 0000) has the alternative 01793 563 597. You could ring them and ask if they can provide you with the geographic alternative.

jgxenite wrote on Aug 30^th, 2007 at 4:29pm:

Their head office number (currently 0845 123 0000) has the alternative 01793 563 597. You could ring them and ask if they can provide you with the geographic alternative.

But do, please, prefix your call with 141 to withhold your number.

Hi all

Have tried the Head Office number for WHSmiths - I also used 141 to withold my number...though worse luck, I was told that the only numbers available are the 0845 ones???!!!

Can anyone suggest anything else that I can try?

Thanks once again...

Regards

happy37

The following only relates to the CRAWLEY site:

I found the following entry in a Crawley business directory;

W H Smith Ltd
Unit 7/15
Kelvin Lane
Crawley
West Sussex
RH10 9PW

(NB: the postcode in the original posting was incorrectly given)

Telephone:
01293 562502 (does not work)

Fax:
01293 613023 (works OK)
0800 915 2357 (works OK)

If anyone with a "free" phone package would like to try further the starting points should probably be the 01293 613023 fax number

Hi all

Has anyone has any other luck with finding any other numbers that I can try to contact W H Smiths, please?

I have tried 01293 562502 - doesn't work as stated by lompos on 02/09/2007...

Otherwise: -

For the Croydon number, 020 8680 9249 - this number does not belong to Whsmiths.

Thanks again for looking - please advise of any other alternative numbers that I can try.

Regards

happy37

PS - Can someone please try 020 8680 8808 for me, please?

Is this number still for WH Smiths Croydon?

I do not recall the number but I have been in contact with W.H.Smith and I retrieved the number from the database.

The person I contacted did question how I got the number and I told him that the switch board connected me, ;D he then answered my question with no bother.

Sorry but I do not have the number I called

Baz

Hi baz

No problem!!! - thanks for your reply anyway...however, can you tell me how you managed to find this number in the database?

If you can let me know, maybe I can find it for myself?

Let me know.

Regards

happy37

In the past I have started at the top of the list on this site to the stores and asked for the head office number, I eventually found somebody to give me a geographical number and I made contact. When I got through they did ask me where I got the number from as it was not generally given out and I said it was from one of his colleagues.

I have scanned my database but I am now unable to find the number

Hi all

Just quickly popping back to let you know that through a fluke stroke of luck, I have managed to get hold of the local 0208 number for Smiths News in Croydon!!! :) ;) :D ;D

Here's what happened:-

I initially phoned them on Sunday last week with an urgent query...had a moan to the guy that I spoke to...he promised to call me back...and lo and behold, he did!!!

(Didn't withold his number though!!!)

Here is the number that came up when he called me back:-

020 XXXX XXXX (Admin - Removed.  No longer belongs to WH Smiths)

Can someone please find out what network this number belongs to - I thought that I'd add this number to my post just in case anyone else needs it in future.

All responses gratefully received.

Regards

happy37

If by network, you mean who is the provider for that number range, then it is BT (allocated 08/2002) - but the number can have been ported to another provider so that might not be accurate.

Hi jgxenite

Thanks for your reply...doesn't matter about the provider...I was just asking out of curiosity!!!

Please add this number to the database just in case anyone else asks for it in future.

Thanks again for your help.

Regards

happy37

Just a quick question - have you rung it back to confirm it is the right place?

Glad you managed to find it, and thanks for posting back.

Hi again jgxenite

Have just seen your reply - just tried the number this very minute...a lady picked up saying "Smiths"...so it is indeed the right one!!!

Thanks again!!!

Regards

happy37

"The following only relates to the CRAWLEY site:

I found the following entry in a Crawley business directory;

W H Smith Ltd
Unit 7/15
Kelvin Lane
Crawley
West Sussex
RH10 9PW

(NB: the postcode in the original posting was incorrectly given)

Telephone:
01293 562502 (does not work)"

Hi all

Please can someone please assist with anything else that I can try to locate the local/geographical number for the Crawley site as I definitely need to get hold of this number!

Please can someone point me in the right direction - look forward to a response.

Regards

happy37

"The following only relates to the CRAWLEY site:  
 
I found the following entry in a Crawley business directory;  
 
W H Smith Ltd  
Unit 7/15  
Kelvin Lane  
Crawley  
West Sussex  
RH10 9PW  
 
(NB: the postcode in the original posting was incorrectly given)  
 
Telephone:  
01293 562502 (does not work)"

Hi all

Please can someone assist with anything else that I can try to locate the local/geographical number for the Crawley site as I definitely need to get hold of this number!

Please can someone point me in the right direction - look forward to a response.

Regards

"The following only relates to the CRAWLEY site:  
 
I found the following entry in a Crawley business directory;  
 
W H Smith Ltd  
Unit 7/15  
Kelvin Lane  
Crawley  
West Sussex  
RH10 9PW  
 
(NB: the postcode in the original posting was incorrectly given)  
 
Telephone:  
01293 562502 (does not work)"  
 
Hi all  
 
Please can someone assist with anything else that I can try to locate the local/geographical number for the Crawley site as I definitely need to get hold of this number!  
 
Please can someone point me in the right direction - look forward to a response.  
 
Regards

"The following only relates to the CRAWLEY site:  
 
I found the following entry in a Crawley business directory;  
 
W H Smith Ltd  
Unit 7/15  
Kelvin Lane  
Crawley  
West Sussex  
RH10 9PW  
 
(NB: the postcode in the original posting was incorrectly given)  
 
Telephone:  
01293 562502 (does not work)"  
 
Hi all  
 
Please can someone assist with anything else that I can try to locate the local/geographical number for the Crawley site as I definitely need to get hold of this number!  
 
Please can someone point me in the right direction - look forward to a response.  
 
Regards

Give these a try

W H SMITH 23-24 COUNTY MALL CRAWLEY WEST SUSSEX RH101FF
01293 525 422


01293 569 896

Cheers

Baz

Hi Baz

Thanks for your further info, yet I have already tried the first address and number that you have given, and no go, I'm afraid: -


Quote:

[/quote]W H SMITH 23-24 COUNTY MALL CRAWLEY WEST SUSSEX RH101FF   01293 525 422[quote]

I think that the second number
Quote:

[/quote]01293 569 896[quote]

is also a bookshop number similar to the first one that you gave.

However, it is still the wholesale division telephone number that I still need: -

W H Smith Ltd    
Unit 7/15    
Kelvin Lane    
Crawley    
West Sussex    
RH10 9PW

Thanks once again for trying and I look forward to any further advice that you or any of your other colleagues might be able to give.

Regards

Hi Baz

Thanks for your further info, yet I have already tried the first address and number that you have given, and no go, I'm afraid: -


Quote:

[/quote]W H SMITH 23-24 COUNTY MALL CRAWLEY WEST SUSSEX RH101FF   01293 525 422[quote]

I think that the second number
Quote:

[/quote]01293 569 896[quote]

is also a bookshop number similar to the first one that you gave.

However, it is still the wholesale division telephone number that I still need: -

W H Smith Ltd    
Unit 7/15    
Kelvin Lane    
Crawley    
West Sussex    
RH10 9PW

Thanks once again for trying and I look forward to any further advice that you or any of your other colleagues might be able to give.

Regards

I have looked and the only reference is to the old 01293 562502 number. It has been mentioned on here that it "does not work" - in what way I ask?? It is "the number you have dialled has not been recognised".

I have found this case study on WH Smith's call centres:

http://nut.eu.com/sension/products/casestudies/whsmith.htm

You could ask Andy Hobkirk - he can only tell you no.

Hi Dave

Thanks for your response - have spoken to Head Office again today and they are saying that there is no other number available, yet I think that like the Croydon number where 0845 121 2760 "sits on top" of the geographical number which I have now got, I still think that there is a number out there for the Crawley depot.....

I will keep trying, though, and if I do happen to get it, I will definitely come back on here to you all know...

Thanks again - please feel free to suggest anything else though.

Regards