<font color='black' size='2' face='Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif'>
<div>As much as we want computers to do all of our work, at some point we have to get personally involved when it comes to scheduling appointments or reminding people to get their piano tuned. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>First of all, about one third of my customers are prescheduled. That comes to almost 10 appointments a week. (I wrote an article in eh Journal about that a couple of months ago). In regards to the rest of my customers, I send them a simple post card for 5 years in the month I last tuned their piano, basically saying it's time to get the piano tuned. Above their name on the mailing label it shows the month and year I tuned the piano. I send them out, but honestly, I get maybe 2 or 3 calls a month, if that many. But I send them anyway to keep my name out there. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>I don't make phone calls. I get phone calls, but because I have my calendar with me on my phone, I can make appointments almost anytime, anywhere. But now that I am getting a new website which gives customers the opportunity to schedule appointments, I might never have to get on the phone again. :)</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Wim</div>
<div></div>
<div></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: arial,helvetica; font-size: 10pt;">-----Original Message-----<br>
From: Paul McCloud <pmc033@earthlink.net><br>
To: pianotech <pianotech@ptg.org><br>
Sent: Thu, Oct 18, 2012 5:23 pm<br>
Subject: Re: [pianotech] soliciting testimonials or customer comments?<br>
<br>
<div style="margin: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, Sans-Serif; font-size: 12px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" id="AOLMsgPart_0_bd1e3549-ea43-4c13-879e-c055485566eb">
<pre style="font-size: 9pt;"><tt>Hi, Wim:
I use another web based scheduling service from AppointmentQuest. I have some
of the same issues as Genbooks, because I sometimes have clients sign up in
distant areas of town. I have to monitor my emails closely to see if anyone has
made an appointment, and then sync the information to get it into my iPhone.
I'm working on a Filemaker database so that I can have a secretary call people
to remind them, and not get things mixed up. If these programs would only have
a feature that they would automatically remind people to have their pianos
tuned, that would be great. Since I haven't found one, I have to pay to have a
program customized for me. I have many clients in the ApptQuest online
database, so at least I don't have to type them all in.
Years ago, I was told about ApptQuest by Brad Smith. He has different calendars
for different parts of his service area, so that customers in those areas can
only make appointments on certain days. I have not done that, because I don't
want to lose a potential customer because they don't have an opening on their
day off. It might be a possible solution for you.
Paul McCloud
San Diego
----- Original Message -----
From: <a href="mailto:tnrwim@aol.com">tnrwim@aol.com</a>
To: <a href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</a>
Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2012 7:14:54 PM
Subject: Re: [pianotech] soliciting testimonials or customer comments?
Jerry
After discussing this with my computer guy, we've decided not to use Genbooks
after all. One of the prime reason is the scheduling. I like to bundle my
appointments as much as possible, so as not to have to drive from one end of the
island to the other. I don't know how you get around that, but it does create a
problem for me, especially during certain parts of the day. The other thing I
didn't like was having to transfer all my appointments to Genbooks.
What we are going to do, however, is almost as good. My new website will allow a
customer to request three different times, after he/she has filled in the
address and phone number. That gives me more control over the scheduling. I've
been more or less doing that now, when they send an e-mail asking to get the
piano tuned. I then have to respond to get their address etc., and.It often
takes three or four e-mails to set something up. Now I will have all if their
information, and we can set something up right away. I still only have to use
Outlook, which is synced to me computer and iphone.
I am also going to see if there is a way to send reminders and ask for
testimonials, which was the original topic of this discussion.
Wim
.
-----Original Message-----
From: Jerry Groot <<a href="mailto:tunerboy3@comcast.net">tunerboy3@comcast.net</a>>
To: pianotech <<a href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</a>>
Sent: Tue, Oct 16, 2012 2:18 am
Subject: Re: [pianotech] soliciting testimonials or customer comments?
Hi Wim,
Great!! You’ll love it! It took me a couple/few months before people started
using it as much as I thought they should. When people call my business line, I
made a voice message saying that they can go to my website and book from there
if they wish. Genbook really comes in handy with my college where we book a ton
of concert tunings and other stuff in there. The phone tag and email tag is
virtually ended but for some sort of emergency, broken wire or something. Of
course, there is a bit of a learning curve too, like with anything else. But, if
I can learn it, anyone can! J
There is a place in Outlook that took me FOREVER to find where once we have
Genbook set up to sync without computer, we “MUST click Genbook” in our Outlook.
Genbook had to help me find it but, once it was clicked, it synced together
perfectly and the total cost is only $20 a month. That place is located on the
left side of Outlook. Click your calendar. Then look for “all calendar items.
Click that. Down below that, you will see, Genbook. Click that box. It will only
show up there once you have Genbook set up ON Genbook’s web page to sync with
your Outlook, Gmail etc.
Not only that but, there is little chance of losing this information for
example, if your computer were to crash, you’d be screwed. Genbook can be
accessed from any computer, anywhere so long as you remember the password. So
now you can book from the clients home as well. I have my main computer backed
up, now it is online at Genbook as well so, I’m saved in two places. AND, once
the information is entered that you require the client to enter, next time it is
filled in, you start filling in the customers name, say Wim -----as soon as Wim
is typed in, anyone with the first name of Wim comes up. Hit the tab button to
bring you to the 2 nd name Blees… Click on what it brings up and it auto fills
out the remaining fields for you with the name, address, email, phone number
etc…
Feel free anyone to look around, click on a tuning for example to see what you
see from there…. <a href="http://www.grootpiano.com" target="_blank">www.grootpiano.com</a> in case you forgot what it was.
There are so many great features with it, I can’t list them all so I touch on
the ones I like the most. Another being, that when they do get their
confirmation email, should something pop up, I allow them to be able (notice I
said I allow them, there is a feature in Genbook that allows you to let them
cancel within a certain amount of time too) to cancel or change the appointment
from that email which people have done from time to time. Screwed up or, had a
death in the family.
Jer
From: <a href="mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org">pianotech-bounces@ptg.org</a> [ <a href="mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org?">mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org</a> ] On Behalf
Of <a href="mailto:tnrwim@aol.com">tnrwim@aol.com</a>
Sent: Tuesday, October 16, 2012 12:17 AM
To: <a href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</a>
Subject: Re: [pianotech] soliciting testimonials or customer comments?
Gerry
I just signed up for this service and sent it my computer guy. I like that it
automatically sets up the appointment to my outlook, which is also synced to my
IPhone, so I can see right away when a new app is made. The only draw back, as
you said, Is when some one schedules an appointment on the north side when I
have another appointment on the south side, with no travel time in between. But,
as you said, it's a small problem to deal with. The important thing is that
customers can now schedule an appointment on line, which seems to be how things
are going to done in the future
Thanks for recommending this program
Wim
Sent from my iPhone
On Oct 15, 2012, at 3:15 PM, "Jerry Groot" < <a href="mailto:tunerboy3@comcast.net">tunerboy3@comcast.net</a> > wrote:
Hi Rick,
No, they can’t. Only I can see my whole calendar and what’s booked. What they
see is only what times I have made available to them to choose from and that’s
it. They have the choice of picking what suits them best.
I can block a day, a part of a day, an appointment time, block out my vacation
dates etc., so nobody can book a thing. Or, I can open something up with one
click if I blocked it out holding it for a church or for someone else.
When people book an appointment they have exactly 5 minutes to complete it. That
way, they can’t hold open a time slot while they answer a phone call or while
they fool around texting or whatever. After that 5 minute time frame is up and
if they haven’t hit the confirm button, it auto exits them out. Then, they have
to start over again.. I like that feature. If they book the appointment, it will
take them less than 2 minutes to fill it all out.
You can also require a credit card for confirmation if you choose. I don’t use
that feature as I think it would be a turn off. At least it would for me. The
reason for it, is for no shows but, when they book the appointment, it sends
them an email immediately confirming the chosen date. 24 hours prior to our
appointment, it sends them a reminder email with information that I personally
placed in there for them to read such as: “In most cases, I will not have to
move the piano away from the wall. Please remove all items off from the piano
prior to my arrival. Please do not run the dishwasher, load it, or unload it or
the vacuum cleaner. I will need it relatively quiet to do my job correctly.”
Etc…. Whatever you’d like for it to say.
When they set up an appointment, it also auto blocks out that time slot on both
Genbook and on my computers Outlook calendar which it is set up to auto
coordinate with Genbook without me having to do a thing at all with it.. I come
home see that someone booked an appointment and that’s pretty much it.
As for distances, that’s the only drawback. You could say something like my
travel area is generally let’s say “15 miles from wherever you live. If you are
outside of this area, please call me.”
You can set it up too, if you don’t want to service for a particular customer
for any reason, that they cannot book an appointment online at all!
I have only had one time so far, where I had to reschedule someone that was way
out of where I was going to go on that day. They were very understanding about
it. Everything has its drawbacks…. But, there are far too many positives for me
that I can overlook this one.
Jerry Groot RPT
From: <a href="mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org">pianotech-bounces@ptg.org</a> [ <a href="mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org?">mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org</a> ] On Behalf
Of <a href="mailto:richarducci@comcast.net">richarducci@comcast.net</a>
Sent: Monday, October 15, 2012 7:57 PM
To: <a href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</a>
Subject: [pianotech] soliciting testimonials or customer comments?
Hey Jerry, can the people booking appointments see you whole calendar?
Does it block out times that are already booked?
What about distances between appointments?
Rick Ucci
Uccipiano.com
609-677-0444
On Oct 15, 2012, at 2:51 PM, "Jerry Groot" < <a href="mailto:tunerboy3@comcast.net">tunerboy3@comcast.net</a> > wrote:
If you go to my website, <a href="http://www.grootpiano.com" target="_blank">www.grootpiano.com</a> you will see that people can
schedule their own tunings at specific times that I have specified. And, you can
see any reviews that people have sent to me. FYI, I was booked through November
but, I had a “few” changes take place recently so I have a few openings left for
this month now.
Be that as it may, they can very easily book with me directly online now and
many of them do so. Everyone loves it! Especially those that I have to schedule
often like my college concert tunings and other venues. It virtually eliminates
playing phone tag!!!!!!
I’ve been using this service, “Genbook” for scheduling now for about 8 months
upon the recommendation of a friend, Loren DiGiorgi who has used it for several
years. I love it. An email goes out the day after the appointment has occurred,
asking the client to click on a link and provide some feedback on his/her
experience. They can say whatever they wish, good, or bad, it is totally their
choice…
Jerry Groot RPT
From: <a href="mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org">pianotech-bounces@ptg.org</a> [ <a href="mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org?">mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org</a> ] On Behalf
Of Richard W. Bushey
Sent: Monday, October 15, 2012 1:47 PM
To: <a href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</a>
Subject: Re: [pianotech] soliciting testimonials or customer comments?
Also, is it better to have them write to you or about your services? Or does it
matter?
Richard W. Bushey
Richard's Piano Service
<a href="http://www.RichardsPianoService.com" target="_blank">www.RichardsPianoService.com</a>
<a href="mailto:Rbushey@RichardsPianoService.com">Rbushey@RichardsPianoService.com</a>
573-765-9903
----- Original Message -----
From: Richard W. Bushey
To: <a href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</a>
Sent: Monday, October 15, 2012 12:44 PM
Subject: [pianotech] soliciting testimonials or customer comments?
I have seen several technician's websites that include testimonials or customer
comments about one's services (including all aspects of tuning/repair, etc. as
well as specifically about Dampp-Chaser installations), and was considering
adding a page such as this for my services. I was wondering what you all feel is
the proper way to acquire, ask permission to use, etc? OR do you feel that they
are even helpful, necessary, or not? It is always awkward asking people to
"dote" on you, however, I think it is still an honest way for potential
customers to see that you are legit, punctual, careful, polite, etc. without you
having to "blow your own horn" so to speak. They will have a tendency to believe
what others say collectively about you.
Anyway, if one (me or anyone else) wants to include them on their website, I
guess I'm curious if one should wait for unsolicited comments (cards, emails,
etc. that just show up without you asking), or is it alright to ask present
and/or former clients (by email, request at the time of tuning, etc.) if they
would be willing and able to write an honest note (by email, cards, comment
boxes on blogs, facebook entries, etc.) about one's services with the
understanding that anything written could be used on one's website or other
publications such as brochures, etc?
So, what do you all do?
Richard W. Bushey
Richard's Piano Service
<a href="http://www.RichardsPianoService.com" target="_blank">www.RichardsPianoService.com</a>
<a href="mailto:Rbushey@RichardsPianoService.com">Rbushey@RichardsPianoService.com</a>
573-765-9903
I am using the Free version of SPAMfighter .
SPAMfighter has removed 1000 of my spam emails to date.
Do you have a slow PC? Try free scan!
</tt></pre>
</div>
<!-- end of AOLMsgPart_0_bd1e3549-ea43-4c13-879e-c055485566eb -->
</div>
</font>