Reminder Cards?

[elizo]

Just thought I would ask how many of you use reminder cards sent out to clients....I'm just starting out mobile and wondered if this would help people rebook and get on a schedule if they don't want to rebook right away when I bring the dog back to them after the grooming. Any of you had success/no success with them?

[Max'sMom]

I'm not mobile, but I definately believe in reminder cards. If you don't have the Madison book: From Problems to Profits, I recommend it and it has a great reminder system detailed. You can also get really cute reminder postcards for not a lot of money from a number of sources. I use MBS Communications, they really get customer's attention.

[petpalswi]

calls

I dont use cards. I do reminder calls a day or two before appointment, and I rotate the cards of people who dont reschedule. at 8 weeks if I have not heard from these clients I call them and simply say it been 8 weeks, would you like to make an appointment. this is really helpful since I'm usually booked 2 to 3 weeks out. most of my clients rebook because they dont want to wait.

[Dolly]

At the end of the day, I'm too tired to do Reminder cards, besides, 99.9% of my clients rebook when I take the dog back into the house. If they don't, it is up to them to contact me for another appt., which they do.

Good Luck and Happy Mobiling

Dolly's Barking Bubbles, LLC

https://www.dollysbarkingbubbles.com

[Downtowndogs]

I'm kinda bad. I don't do reminder cards at all. I just ask the clients to pre-book after the appointment or I can't guarantee them a spot when they call closer to the date.

[RoadRunner]

I don't use reminder cards, either. I mention it upon taking the dog(s) back up to the door and do it then. If they do not rebook they call me, but I can't always get them in as quickly as they want ordinarily, but then by this time they are ready to book it out on the second go around. Like someone else said, just too tired at the end of a day to do a lot of other details on top of the normal end-of-day things.

[wet noze]

I don't do reminder cards. I think the postage would really add up. It might be a good idea to send one to a customer you haven't seen for a while especially if you really like the owner and pet. I usually figure if the person wants an appointment at some point they'll call me.

[mylady]

I do send them periodically. Especially if I know a slow season is coming. But it's also a good time for me to go through my files and see how I'm doing, how often people book, etc. I know a few people that just forget, so I'll send them a card. I went to vista print and got 100 postcards free. Whenever I need more I just get the free ones. They have my logo on the front and at the top say "The best things in life are furry" and then on the back is a letter directed to the pet pretty much saying "have your people call our people". There is also a spot at the bottom where I write how often it's recommended their pet be groomed and in the letter area I do write the last date of their appointment. Since I do a lot of cats and many of them are twice a year or so, most of those don't book in advance because they simply don't know their schedules that far down the road. I've stopped taking any new clients for myself now, they all have to go to my daytime groomer. I am such a push over and was just trying to accomodate everyone and found I was having trouble finding time to get my regulars in. So now when I send reminders I will probably limit it to her clientele.

[BarkNBubbles]

Reminder Calls

I don't do reminder cards. I try to suggest to the customer upon bringing the dog back in to the house that if I can rebook them now, they won't have to wait 2 weeks for their next appointment. I also try to get email addresses if they did not contact me thru my website, and email reminders. I also will call a day or two in advance. Trying to book while still at their house is really the best idea in my opinion. It lets you know right away what you are looking at as far as scheduling. I don't necessarrily agree with it being the customers responsibility to call me if they want to rebook. I want to know in advance what I have scheduled plus I think it is just good customer service to ask to reschedule. If they are a good customer, I don't want to take a chance on them loosing my number, forgetting, etc. I would rather make the effort now to contact them, than wonder what happened to them later.
Good Luck!!

[amante]

When I was starting out I used reminder cards and they worked. So, I saw if your new then go ahead and do this...
Amante

[SwissNChow]

E-mail! You are starting out, so save the cash. A quick e-mail reminder will accomplish the same and will often generate feedback from your clients. A quick email a few days before the appointment and then a "see you tomorrow" the day before will do a lot for you.

[puppy love]

E-mail! You are starting out, so save the cash. A quick e-mail reminder will accomplish the same and will often generate feedback from your clients. A quick email a few days before the appointment and then a "see you tomorrow" the day before will do a lot for you.

Stamps & cards cost add up, e-mail is much more efficient. I dont do e-mail reminders, I call clients 48 hours in advance to remind them of their appts and if I have a slow day coming up or an opening in a particular area, I will start going thru my client list to see who has not scheduled in the last 6-8 weeks and drop them a call. I fill up LOTS of appts that way. You would not believe how many people tell me " I am so glad you called, I was just thinking that Buffy needed grooming again, when did you say you had an opening?"

[BarkNBubbles]

Me Too

Stamps & cards cost add up, e-mail is much more efficient. I dont do e-mail reminders, I call clients 48 hours in advance to remind them of their appts and if I have a slow day coming up or an opening in a particular area, I will start going thru my client list to see who has not scheduled in the last 6-8 weeks and drop them a call. I fill up LOTS of appts that way. You would not believe how many people tell me " I am so glad you called, I was just thinking that Buffy needed grooming again, when did you say you had an opening?"

I take advantage of my slow days to call customers that did not rebook while I was there...and you are right, it is a great way to fill in spots during the week. And they always say the same thing " I've been meaning to call you"..LOL...