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ASD Clients Have Received Over
$28,000 in Rewards Credits!
Start sharing in the savings and
reduce your answering service cost by 50% or more!
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ASD is celebrating our 40th Anniversary this month! To commemorate this milestone, we updated the ASD logo to reflect our company's growth and evolution over the years. The new logo, which will most commonly be presented with photos of ASD employees, marks the official retirement of the ASD waiter who served the company well since the 1970s when he was designed by the first generation of the Czachor family.
When Martin Czachor and Barbara Czachor began helping funeral homes with their phones in 1972, they never dreamed their company would grow to become the leading funeral-exclusive answering service in the country. At the time, ASD - Answering Service for Directors was just a small business with a handful of employees and local clients. During these crucial early stages, ASD's owners recognized a void in the market for an answering service that catered to the specific needs of funeral professionals.
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Founded in 1980, Heritage Coach Company is now in its fourth decade of service and commitment to the funeral industry. Providing the finest selection of hearses and limousines throughout the United States, Heritage Coach Company has built a solid reputation for their patience, attention to detail and proven record of customer satisfaction.
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A 2012 Superior Lincoln MKT Hearse
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A leader in hearse and limousine sales for S&S and Superior products from Accubuilt, Heritage Coach has been named the Accubuilt Dealer of the Year multiple times. The company's certified pre-owned inventory is put through a rigorous 116-point Quality Assurance Check by highly-trained technicians.
Funeral Directors appreciate the company's first class customer service and dedication to the funeral profession. Like ASD, Heritage is committed to meeting the specific, individual needs of their customers, exceeding their every expectation. As part of the ASD Rewards Program, ASD clients receive significant savings on Heritage Coach Company's large stock of New and Pre-Owned vehicles. Click here for more information on Heritage Coach Company.
"We purchased our vehicles from Heritage Coach over a year ago and have been extremely pleased with their professionalism and high quality of service. Anytime we have had issues they have immediately provided us with a loaner vehicle so that service to our customers would not be disrupted."-Bob D'Anjolell, Founder and President of D'Anjolell Memorial Homes in PA (ASD Client since 2009)
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From the left: Anthony Romano, Robert L. D'Anjolell, Sr. and Joseph Colantuono from D'Anjolell Memorial Homes with Heritage Coach Company President, Jay Lankford
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 ASD is proud to support the ADOPT-A-HERO program. On May 8th, we shipped care packages to four marines who are currently serving overseas. The boxes were filled to the brim with snacks, books, hygiene items and letters from our staff. ASD chose to participate in this program because we wanted to give back to those who sacrifice so much to protect our freedoms. We have already started collecting items for our next shipment. If you are in the Philadelphia area, feel free to stop by and leave an item to be sent to one of our heroes.
To learn more about getting involved with the ADOPT-A-HERO program, click here. |
ASD would like to thank Funeral Director, Roman Coale, for taking the time to interview with our Staff Writer. Our Q&A with Roman
was published in the March issue of Mortuary Management and can also be found on our blog.
Roman Coale is a Certified Funeral Service
Practitioner and works as a Funeral Director at Framptom Funeral Home in Federalsburg, MD. But, before he ever set foot in an embalming room, Roman worked for a local answering service--an experience he says still hasn't left him today.
How did working at an answering service influence how you handle calls at the funeral home?
It's all about relationships. If you treat your customers right and take care of them, they will treat you the same. It can be hard and emotional sometimes, but the reward is that you are helping your fellow man. You have to be a good listener because there are often hints in the caller's voice or in their statements that will make you stop if you're listening well.
What are some differences between a Funeral Home using a service like ASD and using a service like the one you were once employed by?
I've been on both sides of the fence and I can certainly see the value in how ASD runs their business compared to other answering services. Taking a death call is a very intricate process. People think there is nothing to it, but it's really difficult. You have to show empathy and put yourself in the person's place and try to help out with a kind word to say. A lot of calls are emotional and ASD just has a knack for talking to grieving family members because it is all they do.
Click Here to read the rest of our interview with Roman.
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If you've ever been curious about what it is like to work for ASD, the article, Serving Funeral Directors and Families (originally published in the March issue of The Director), provides an in-depth analysis of how our Call Specialists handle life's most difficult calls: 
"I don't mean to burden you with my problems," says the stranger over the wires that connect us. But by the time we both hang up, she isn't a stranger any longer. I know her name, I know her age and the town in which she was born. And I know that she needs to have her son's ashes buried because the sight of his urn in her empty home is a painful daily reminder of how alone she feels without him. When I tell the woman that everyone needs someone to talk to sometimes, I don't require a script to find the words. The difference between saying something and meaning it is, by the time I hang up, I am blinking back tears.
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 ASD Staff Is Professional and Compassionate in All Situations!Each week, ASD awards four employees with an "Outstanding Service Award". This special recognition is given to ASD Staff who exhibit the sensitivity and attention to detail that set ASD apart from other answering services. Recent examples of "Outstanding Service Awards": - Training Specialist, Courtney, saved a First Call for a client by convincing a distraught family member who had called from a private number to leave her information so the funeral director could call her right back.
- Supervisor, Anne, calmly defused an upset caller who was afraid that animal cremains would get commingled with human cremains.
- Call Specialist, Kim, determined that a caller who was upset over an issue at a cemetery was actually calling to set up arrangements with the funeral home.
- Assistant Supervisor, Stephanie, patiently handled a call from an irate caller who was furious about a cosmetology charge on her funeral bill.
Click here to see more "Outstanding Service Award" winners. 
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Find Out Why ASD is America's #1 Funeral-Exclusive Answering Service
 No Extra Cost for nights, weekends or holidays
Family Owned and Operated since 1972
We tell you on what ring we answer your line
90% of calls are answered on the first ring
All calls are recorded for 100% accuracy
One Location in the USA - ASD NEVER outsources calls
FREE advanced web features
Customizable Email and Text Messaging
Supervisor assistance available 24/7
Call 1-800-868-9950 or email [email protected] for more information.
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Contact ASD
Providing our clients with extraordinary service is ASD's top priority. We want to hear your questions, comments and suggestions. We are here to support you 24/7.
1-800-868-9950
[email protected]
   
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ASD in the News
ASD Launches ASD Mobile 2.0
ASD's 10 All-Time Favorite Blogs
ASD Promotes Trainer Juan Silva as New Graphic Designer
Weekly News at ASD
ASD Clients in the News
We Want to Hear Your Stories!
ASD would love to profile your funeral home for our blog or industry publications. If you have an exciting story to tell, event you are planning or information you'd like to share, we'd love to hear from you! Contact ASD's Staff Writer, Jessica Fowler, at [email protected]
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ASD Mobile 2.0 is a Hit! 
ASD Mobile 2.0, the enhanced version of our sophisticated iPhone app, has been downloaded by thousands of funeral professionals and now has over 30 Five-Star Ratings! Here is one of our favorites: 
"This is by far the best app on my iPhone. It's so much more convenient than listening and writing down a First Call or a message. Thank you ASD!"
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MEET US IN JUNE!
Arizona Funeral Directors Association's Annual Convention
June 6-8 in Scottsdale, AZ
Texas Funeral Directors Association's 2012 Convention
June 10-15 in Corpus Christi, TX
Pennsylvania Funeral Director's Association's 2012 Annual Convention
June 11-14 in Harrisburg, PA
ASD on the Road
Last month, ASD had the honor of exhibiting at the OGR Annual Convention & Supplier Showcase and the Ohio Funeral Directors Association 132nd Annual Convention. Thank you to all of the funeral professionals who stopped by our booth. We appreciate your support!
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Past Issues of Funeral Communications Today
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ASD's Pledge to Clients
Our top-quality service maintains the highest degree of professionalism with extensive training, careful monitoring and cutting-edge technology that tracks and records every incoming call. We understand that our voice may be the first impression a family member has of your funeral home and continually review your calls so that every time your phone rings, an experienced and compassionate operator will be there to answer.
Sincerely,
The Czachor Family
ASD Founders & Family Member Owners
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