The folks over at San Luis Obispo based Advantage Answering plus are continuing a very important holiday tradition, once again keeping a line open for Kris Kringle to hear from all the good girls and boys.
It’s been eight Christmases, explains Debbie Imes, Advantage’s Director of Business Success, since Santa got in touch with the company, looking for a way to help sort out all the messages he receives this time of year. Although he relies on a lot of magic to keep his old fashioned transportation methods going, St. Nick wasn’t opposed to keeping up with the times for communication.
“We suggested one of our voicemail hotlines,” said Imes, noting that if kids call between now and December 26, Santa will get their personal message. Everyone is invited to call (805) 546-1121 where they’ll hear a recorded update from Santa’s North Pole abode and be given the chance to leave him a message after the beep.
In announcing the hotline’s return this year, Advantage Answering included a note from Santa , “With so many good boys and girls on the nice list this year, I’ve been especially busy reading thousands of letters and emails.” To keep up with an increase in presents and production in the workshop, they note, Santa and the elves have been working around the clock and poor Santa’s hardly found time to sit back and enjoy some of Mrs. Claus’s famous cookies.
“Everyone has been working overtime to prepare for Christmas Eve,” added Mrs. Claus.
Being a family run and family friendly company, Advantage Answering has been helping Santa out free of charge and deputizing some of their staff as temporary elves during December. Of course that means that sometimes they need to hear the messages too. That’s so they can help parents to receive a free copy of their child’s holiday message by emailing [email protected].
Of course all the good boys and girls will ask Mom and Dad before using the phone, so if parents
email and include their name and telephone number, and date of the call to Santa , the Advantage Elves will call on some of their own Christmas Magic to email back an audio file of the call.
“Sometimes both Santa and the parents need us to ….render some assistance,” said Imes. “Most of the messages are just incredibly sweet. Small children don’t always ask for anything, they just want to say ‘Hi’ to Santa and wish him a Merry Christmas too.”
“We have the date and time of the calls so we can save them just in case,” she added. “Children don’t always leave their full name for Santa.”
On occasion parents and siblings have called Santa as well to report on the activities of some of their less well behaved children or tattle on a little brother.
“In that case the Mom called back to let Santa know it was O.K. to put them back on the Nice-list after they cleaned their rooms,” explained Imes, although as for the brothers and sisters looking to get even, well Santa is pretty good at keeping track on his own.
There’s no reason that children from all over the world can’t use the hotline to get a hold of Santa, but it’s probably best that parent’s check if they’ll be charged for dialing (805) 546-1121 from their long distance carriers.
“I am looking forward to the best Christmas Season EVER and am excited to hear from all the children on the Central Coast,” said Santa in the announcement. “Be sure to get permission before calling, and have a Merry Christmas, Ho, Ho, Ho!”
