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I see a lot of folks focusing on the negatives (because it's from Google) but my experience is small businesses are AWFUL at answering the phone. My barber for

I see a lot of folks focusing on the negatives (because it's from Google) but my experience is small businesses are AWFUL at answering the phone. My barber for example has no online booking, and rarely answers the phone. I stopped going to him even if he's by far the best in the area, having a service like this will definitely make small businesses more reachable.

telesilla 8y ago
The fact he's too busy to answer the phone means he probably has just enough work - I have a few friends who have businesses like this and when I talk to them about streamlining their systems they balk because they can't take on extra work. Perhaps if your barber is that busy (because I assume he's that good), you could stop by and make an appointment in person?
- notatoad 8y ago
  >you could stop by and make an appointment in person sure, you could. but that also means interrupting him while he's working - if he doesn't have time to answer the phone, he also doesn't have time to deal with you in person. it's just ruder to ignore you when you show up in person.
  - luckydata 8y ago
    Also means I have to get out of work just to make an appointment, then get out again to actually go to it. Don't know where you live but in Bay Area traffic that's not something I can do often.
  - telesilla 8y ago
    I think your lifestyle and your barber's lifestyle aren't necessarily a good match. Also, a good barber is a friendly barber (one who gets work) and in all my life experience you can walk into any hair salon/barber and make an appointment and the person working will take a moment to help you. It's not like a dental surgery where the doctor can't be interrupted in the middle of a root canal!
- croisillon 8y ago
  the reverse business idea of calljoy! the customer enters a tentative appointment in an app and a bike courier goes make the appointment in person :)
  - drivingmenuts 8y ago
    Or you get a homeless person to do it - who is then gainfully employed, if temporarily. It's a win-win! Anecdotally, I have heard that some people will get a homeless person to hold their spot in line at a locally popular BBQ spot.
saaaaaam 8y ago
My barber doesn’t have online booking or phone booking. You walk in and take a seat, or wait in the line if it’s busy. I asked him why not. He told me that he used to take bookings, and stopped for a few reasons: 1. A lot of people book appointments and don’t show up, or show up late, causing him down time and reduces his income. If a regular client shows up late for his 30 minute appointment does he make another customer - also booked - wait? 2. He can cut some people’s hair in 15 minutes while others it might take 40. By having booking it limits this flexibility. He can also charge more or less depending on how long it takes. 3. Walk ins are self regulating. People know when it’s likely to be busy and when it’s likely to be quieter. If they don’t mind waiting they come at a busy time. If they want to be in and out quickly they go off peak.
- frankcort 8y ago
  Yeah, no-shows and late-arrivals are a huge problem for small businesses. My barber told me the same thing back in 2010. I launched Apptoto.com as a side project back then, went full-time with it in 2014 and it's still my full-time gig.
- driverdan 8y ago
  As a counterpoint, this is only a problem for barbershops that aren't very busy. The barber I used to go to is insanely busy. No matter when you show up the wait is at least 30 min, usually 1-2 hours. I switched to a place that's more expensive but has appointments. Not wasting 1-2h is worth an extra $10.

telesilla 8y ago

The fact he's too busy to answer the phone means he probably has just enough work - I have a few friends who have businesses like this and when I talk to them about streamlining their systems they balk because they can't take on extra work. Perhaps if your barber is that busy (because I assume he's that good), you could stop by and make an appointment in person?

notatoad 8y ago
>you could stop by and make an appointment in person sure, you could. but that also means interrupting him while he's working - if he doesn't have time to answer the phone, he also doesn't have time to deal with you in person. it's just ruder to ignore you when you show up in person.
- luckydata 8y ago
  Also means I have to get out of work just to make an appointment, then get out again to actually go to it. Don't know where you live but in Bay Area traffic that's not something I can do often.
- telesilla 8y ago
  I think your lifestyle and your barber's lifestyle aren't necessarily a good match. Also, a good barber is a friendly barber (one who gets work) and in all my life experience you can walk into any hair salon/barber and make an appointment and the person working will take a moment to help you. It's not like a dental surgery where the doctor can't be interrupted in the middle of a root canal!
croisillon 8y ago
the reverse business idea of calljoy! the customer enters a tentative appointment in an app and a bike courier goes make the appointment in person :)
- drivingmenuts 8y ago
  Or you get a homeless person to do it - who is then gainfully employed, if temporarily. It's a win-win! Anecdotally, I have heard that some people will get a homeless person to hold their spot in line at a locally popular BBQ spot.

saaaaaam 8y ago

My barber doesn’t have online booking or phone booking. You walk in and take a seat, or wait in the line if it’s busy. I asked him why not. He told me that he used to take bookings, and stopped for a few reasons: 1. A lot of people book appointments and don’t show up, or show up late, causing him down time and reduces his income. If a regular client shows up late for his 30 minute appointment does he make another customer - also booked - wait? 2. He can cut some people’s hair in 15 minutes while others it might take 40. By having booking it limits this flexibility. He can also charge more or less depending on how long it takes. 3. Walk ins are self regulating. People know when it’s likely to be busy and when it’s likely to be quieter. If they don’t mind waiting they come at a busy time. If they want to be in and out quickly they go off peak.

frankcort 8y ago
Yeah, no-shows and late-arrivals are a huge problem for small businesses. My barber told me the same thing back in 2010. I launched Apptoto.com as a side project back then, went full-time with it in 2014 and it's still my full-time gig.
driverdan 8y ago
As a counterpoint, this is only a problem for barbershops that aren't very busy. The barber I used to go to is insanely busy. No matter when you show up the wait is at least 30 min, usually 1-2 hours. I switched to a place that's more expensive but has appointments. Not wasting 1-2h is worth an extra $10.