Vlookup returns results in 1 column, but not another - help please

[voltarei]

Hi all,
I have a basic spreadsheet with 2 sheets.
1 is for data entry, and 1 is an alphabetical list of customers.
Both have columns A (Name - general format), B (Phone - text format), C (Address - general format)

I have the following VLOOKUP in column C of the data entry sheet, which returns the correct address in column C from the data sheet:
=IF($A2="","",VLOOKUP($A2,Customers!$A$1:$D$520,3))

However, I also have the same VLOOKUP in column B of the data entry sheet, which instead of returning the results from column B of the data sheet, just displays the formula:
=IF($A2="","",VLOOKUP($A2,Customers!$A$1:$D$520,2))

I can't work out why the column C formula works, but the column B one doesn't.
Any suggestions as to what I'm doing wrong?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Joe4]

It means that your columns is formatted to Text, so everything you enter in there is treated as literal text.
Change the format to "General" and re-enter your formula, and it should work.

 

[voltarei]

It means that your columns is formatted to Text, so everything you enter in there is treated as literal text.
Change the format to "General" and re-enter your formula, and it should work.

Wow, it was that simple!!
Thanks Joe - all sorted

 

[Joe4]

You are welcome.