No shows: Was Convincing the Client

[Clyde Hollinger]

Carl,

Like you, I am not happy when no one is home without an explanation.  The method I
use is to mail out reminders on Thursday for all appointments scheduled for the
following week.  I may get one or two calls per month the next day, apologizing that
the appointment won't work and we need to reschedule.  I don't fuss, since that
gives me a little time to fill in the slot.

If I get to a location and cannot access the piano, I leave a form letter letting
the client know I was there as scheduled and that this is a serious loss for me,
since it will now take two appointments to tune the piano rather than one, and ask
them to call me to reschedule.  I will not call them.  I get a range of responses
from this, from those who call me immediately apologizing profusely, to those I
never hear from again.

Sometimes it amazes me how thoughtless some people can be, not to say that I'm never
unwittingly just as unthoughtful, but we should at least do what we can to be
considerate of others.

Interesting little story (to me, at least):  About a month ago I got to a house, no
one answered, everything locked up tight.  No response to cell phone call.  I
generally wait about fifteen minutes before leaving.  Just before deciding to go
bye-bye I tried the phone one more time, and there was an answer!  The lady had
forgot, was in the shower and hadn't heard the phone the first time.  I wasn't
pleased about the delay, but at least I didn't lose the appointment.

Regards, Clyde

Carl Teplitski wrote:

> Calling several days ahead very risky in my part of the woods. I called one
> evening before going in the AM. When I got there , right on time, client doesn't
> answer door. Tried back, front, side," no chimney," no answer.
> Neighbor finally sees me wandering around and asks  what I was doing.
> After explaining, he tells me client left about 1/2 hr. ago. Didn't know where.
> As the call was a single in that area, clear across town, I blew a whole
> morning. Really ticked off. Called her later that day; she laughingly tells me
> she forgot and met a girl friend for breakfast. Wondered when we could
> reschedule. I gave her a  date in near future. Do I need to tell anybody
> ...........  I forgot to go.???  Pure inconsideration by this person, and didn't
> even apologize. Wouldn't go back there at triple the price. I never go if I
> don't make contact before leaving my house. They
> say, you don't have to check, but I say, YES I DO.        ( ranting feels good )
> Thanks for the opportunity.