Thinking about salon scheduling software which allows clients to book online. Schedul is what is being considered. Its a Manicure and Pedicure business.
Not quite sure how this works but its assumed the client makes the booking online and Schedul blocks off that time for that client. The software is setup by service and each service has a time value eg Manicure – 30 minutes.
Assuming thats how it works; Client A books a manicure 2 weeks in advance. The time chosen is 1 PM. Its a 30 minute service so 1 – 1.30 is booked. Client B books a Service which is set for a 1 hour appointment, 1.30 PM till 2.30 PM.
When Client A arrives for her appointment she decides she actually wants a service which will take longer than her 30 minute appointment. The question is do I say “Sorry thats not possible as I have another client at 1.30 PM” and risk losing future appointments with this client OR do I say “Ok, I will extend your appointment” where I run the risk of losing Client B?
This scenario is just as complex if a 1 hour slot is booked 2 weeks in advance and due to changed commitments the client only has time for a 30 minute appointment. I would then find myself with a 30 minute gap between clients. There is insufficient walk-in opportunities to have a chance of filling that gap.
Maybe I am seeing problems which are not there.
How would you manage these scenarios?
Edit: Thinking further about my scenarios, maybe the situations exist regardless of the means of booking be it telephone or online?
Not quite sure how this works but its assumed the client makes the booking online and Schedul blocks off that time for that client. The software is setup by service and each service has a time value eg Manicure – 30 minutes.
Assuming thats how it works; Client A books a manicure 2 weeks in advance. The time chosen is 1 PM. Its a 30 minute service so 1 – 1.30 is booked. Client B books a Service which is set for a 1 hour appointment, 1.30 PM till 2.30 PM.
When Client A arrives for her appointment she decides she actually wants a service which will take longer than her 30 minute appointment. The question is do I say “Sorry thats not possible as I have another client at 1.30 PM” and risk losing future appointments with this client OR do I say “Ok, I will extend your appointment” where I run the risk of losing Client B?
This scenario is just as complex if a 1 hour slot is booked 2 weeks in advance and due to changed commitments the client only has time for a 30 minute appointment. I would then find myself with a 30 minute gap between clients. There is insufficient walk-in opportunities to have a chance of filling that gap.
Maybe I am seeing problems which are not there.
How would you manage these scenarios?
Edit: Thinking further about my scenarios, maybe the situations exist regardless of the means of booking be it telephone or online?
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