Calling this number seems to be ineffective outside of certain hours, and it might be entirely useless. It's meant to be used by small- and medium-sized businesses, but it's unclear what HP classifies as each one. It appears that if your business is deemed to be too small, HP transfers you over to a different phone number that uses alternative business hours.
When I dialed this number, I was asked for the purpose of my call by the automated system, which told me I could choose from a few different options in question format. I asked for information about buying a laptop, and the system asked me how many employees my business had. I said zero, as I'm the only employee working for my business.
The system then began transferring me over to HP Home and Business, which it said operated on different hours and would require me to call back at a different time. I tried calling back again, but had the same unsuccessful result, as the system wouldn't allow me to remain with the number I had originally called.
Based on my experience, it's unclear how effective this number really is. On one hand, if this number is meant solely for larger small businesses, this would seem to be an effective strategy. The phone system doesn't allow for any wasted time with customers who aren't in charge of larger small businesses, and it makes sure that small business owners who manage several employees can quickly get the assistance they need.
On the other hand, there's no way to tell what HP considers a small business, and when it would move people over to the other number. If they're only doing it for very small businesses that aren't likely to operate outside of standard business hours, that would likely be an effective decision. However, if they're doing it for business owners in charge of larger groups of employees, that seems like an ineffective model.
The interactive system is also hard to gauge in terms of effective service. It seems fairly easy to navigate, as you can ask it anything, but it doesn't seem to provide an answer as to whether or not it will give you the help you need. It seems like it's just there to provide a starting point for potential service without really offering much in the way of real assistance.
Based on this experience, I'd approach using this number with caution. It might be effective for your growing business, but if you're not large enough for HP's standards, you'd be better off calling a different number and avoiding the middle man.