I suppose its the nature of this type of business, but No Shows are a real bind.....particularly at this time of year when often demand for appointments outstrip availability.
How do you deal with No Shows?
How do you deal with No Shows?
It's also the cancellations half hour before their appointments , with "Being called into work". I have downloaded Shedul app and am going to introduce an online booking system where they will pay a non refundable booking fee.
I take a £10 on all bookings and make it extremely clear that under no circumstances will they get this back if they cancel within 48 hours. This is taken on my website when they book. They get an email reminder and text reminder 3 days before the appointment. Since I set this up I haven't had a no show in 3 years. I still get the odd cancellation but you know its a genuine reason - so I decide case by case what I'm going to do regarding their deposit.
I did have someone recently annoyed about it, but once I explain that I pay for my daughter to be childcare so I can do their treatments, they then start to get it. I honestly can't afford for people not to turn up.
Thanks for all the replies.
Each client is reminded of their appointment 24 hours before hand. Often another message is sent a couple of hours beforehand. Even this is not enough. The last 4 weeks or so, due to No-Show, has a financial cost of £150-£200.....thats quite a bit for an established business let alone a business in its first 12 months.
The idea of requesting YES to a reminder is an interesting means and may be worth trying.
Thanks all.
Thanks for your reply.
Which software do you use to take the booking and deposit?
We have a really old booking system..good old paper diary, we find this easier so that we can re arrange appointments easily if we need to. It just means that we haven’t got a system to take deposits unless we take them over the phone after every appointment made which could be quite time consuming. We have had ALOT of no shows recently which is very frustrating and when we ring to ask where they are they don’t answer, we do leave an answer phone message informing they have forgotten...that said, would the best way be to send them a text reminding them of their appointment like you have said? Would you use a separate ‘work’ phone?
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