is the concept of respect and courtesy long-gone? Am I asking for too much?

[hightechrex]

Am I the only one who has the problem of people flaking on appointments? I've had individuals show up 2 hours late, don't show up at all, or are just plain uncooperative. Is it so hard to spend the 30 seconds required to call with a simple heads up, "hey I'm supposed to come at 2:30 but I changed my mind or went somewhere else." It wouldn't offend me; I can deal with that.. It's just a little frustrating when I have to free up time for someone and they just no-show. How do you counteract this? Solutions?

 

[NOOB_TECH]

Am I the only one who has the problem of people flaking on appointments? I've had individuals show up 2 hours late, don't show up at all, or are just plain uncooperative. Is it so hard to spend the 30 seconds required to call with a simple heads up, "hey I'm supposed to come at 2:30 but I changed my mind or went somewhere else." It wouldn't offend me; I can deal with that.. It's just a little frustrating when I have to free up time for someone and they just no-show. How do you counteract this? Solutions?

I setup the appointment, and then I always contact the client/customer 1 hour before the appointment. If they don’t answer, then I don’t show up. Most customers answer the phone and confirm. Then of course if they don’t answer I always leave a voicemail.
I’m a mobile tech, so maybe it’s a little different.

You could make appointment cards
http://www.vistaprint.com/appointment-cards.aspx?&GP=7/18/2013+9:08:28+PM&GPS=2900938845&GNF=1
via vista print

 

[Vicenarian]

I do that, too; call an hour before the appt. to make sure everything is still OK. You could also set up some sort of email reminder system I guess. And/or (more drastic) set up an appointment cancellation fee.

 

[hightechrex]

I do that, too; call an hour before the appt. to make sure everything is still OK. You could also set up some sort of email reminder system I guess. And/or (more drastic) set up an appointment cancellation fee.

I call, text, email.. depending on what the client's preference is. Nothing works.. I don't understand it

 

[lan101]

What's the average age of your clients? Most of mine are 40 or older so they are pretty reasonable for me most of the time. It's the younger crowd that is unreliable or not courteous. I am almost 28, but frankly I can't stand working for most people around my age or younger. They just mostly seem to be cheap and think the world owes them something lol. I just don't care for the attitude most younger people possess these days.

 

[Cambridge PC Support]

I guess I've been lucky, in ten years I've only had about 3 or 4 people not at their homes when I've arrived at the agreed time.

 

[Martyn]

I guess I've been lucky, in ten years I've only had about 3 or 4 people not at their homes when I've arrived at the agreed time.

It's never happened to me in 3 years. I have had one or maybe two that haven't turned up to drop off. I always make a point of saying 'if you need to change the appointment it's not a problem just give me a call"

 

[PBComputer]

Had a couple over the years. mainly on site and jobs I spoke to them with a few hours before hand and the office was empty. They all contacted me later and brought it into the workshop instead.

 

[ComputerRepairTech]

I call, text, email.. depending on what the client's preference is. Nothing works.. I don't understand it

Welcome to south carolina, enjoy your stay

Edit: for mobile devices and stuff maybe you can setup some kind of drop slide box or something? i dunno. people are jerks.

 

[hightechrex]

Welcome to south carolina, enjoy your stay

Edit: for mobile devices and stuff maybe you can setup some kind of drop slide box or something? i dunno. people are jerks.

So, its not just me I presume?

 

[Cambridge PC Support]

If you sound professional, courteous and genuinely concerned about their particular issue then I reckon people will feel more inclined not to let you down.

If you give it, "Yeah bruv just chuck it in around 4pm and I'll see if I can fix it with my special fixing stuff hammer", then maybe they'll have second thoughts after they put the phone down and not bother to ring back to cancel.

Not saying this is you, but something to consider

 

[hightechrex]

When I do finally get back to them.. The answer is always "I found somewhere cheaper and closer or I decided that I'd get a new laptop." I try to be very polite on the phone and genuine over the phone. Should I be lowering my prices, I feel like even for SC standards they are very fair.

 

[brandonkick]

I find people in general are not all that worried about being on time any more.

It seems being up to ten min late is considered casual anymore, and it should be "no big deal" if they are up to an hour or more late. Luckily I haven't really had to deal with it too much, and I know I'm running a few min late here and there but if I find I'm going to be really late I'll call ahead and let whoever know that I won't make it on time.

 

[codegreen]

I guess I've been lucky, in ten years I've only had about 3 or 4 people not at their homes when I've arrived at the agreed time.

It's never happened to me in 3 years. I have had one or maybe two that haven't turned up to drop off. I always make a point of saying 'if you need to change the appointment it's not a problem just give me a call"

Ah, I think I found the difference:

A British bank is run with precision.
A British home requires nothing less!
Tradition, discipline, and rules must be the tools
Without them - disorder! Chaos! Moral disintegration!
In short, we have a ghastly mess!

 

[rsarceno]

So, its not just me I presume?

Never have this problem. I had cancellation but that's normal.
Just my observation. You logo make me feel that the service technicians is young. Is it possible that client respect older people than younger people.
If you have time try a different logo for 2 - 3 months and see what happen. Maybe as simple as HTR.

 

[mr m]

I guess I'm lucky. I'm mobile and I've just had only one loser bag me. This is after he mentioned on the phone about me being on time because of his busy schedule. He mentioned it twice. He even asked me to call ahead of time if I was going to be even 15 minutes late. I said I understand how important punctuality is and please extend me the same courtesy.

I get there, one minute early and no one is home. WTF! I was so ****** at his arrogance I left my biz card in his door and wrote "I was here, you weren't. Please, don't ever call back."

 

[Martyn]

When I do finally get back to them.. The answer is always "I found somewhere cheaper and closer or I decided that I'd get a new laptop." I try to be very polite on the phone and genuine over the phone. Should I be lowering my prices, I feel like even for SC standards they are very fair.

It's really important you get back to them quickly then sell yourself. Especially when it comes down to virus removal. I tell them how I'm going to thoroughly check for vulnerabilities etc. do a great job and get the referrals off that. This week I had a virus removal, picked up the laptop(it was xp) and it still had only sp2! I did sp3 and over 140 updates, java flash blah blah etc. She said it had recently gone away for a virus removal and had come back like that. A nice little PCRT report, labels on the psu block and laptop. Email a Thank You letter from PCRT with a link to my testimonial form, job done. Word will get around.

 

[Rosco]

I am mobile. So a job isnt booked without name address and phone number. There is a lot more incentive to call and cancel then for me to show up at there house or business. Only had a no show once and it was on a drop off. They dintd get in touch with me for 5 month. When they did it took 2 more months but they paid me. The has had some family issues out of state. Nice family i just not going to work with them again. I do not chase. Had a few calling with in a half hour to cancel but as long as they call that is what is important. I base it on the effort. Sometimes stuff really does come up/.

 

[hightechrex]

It's really important you get back to them quickly then sell yourself. Especially when it comes down to virus removal. I tell them how I'm going to thoroughly check for vulnerabilities etc. do a great job and get the referrals off that. This week I had a virus removal, picked up the laptop(it was xp) and it still had only sp2! I did sp3 and over 140 updates, java flash blah blah etc. She said it had recently gone away for a virus removal and had come back like that. A nice little PCRT report, labels on the psu block and laptop. Email a Thank You letter from PCRT with a link to my testimonial form, job done. Word will get around.

I do all of the above lol. I think the fact that I work out of my home may be driving some clientele away, is that a possibility? I do get a decent amount of business, but I'm just thinking of how I can get more and do better.

 

[Martyn]

I do all of the above lol. I think the fact that I work out of my home may be driving some clientele away, is that a possibility? I do get a decent amount of business, but I'm just thinking of how I can get more and do better.

Ok. Word of mouth/referrals take time to get around. I'm now just finishing my 3rd year and I work from home. Maybe your expectations are too high?