-
Views & Opinions on "waiting area" at work?
Do you offer a waiting area to customers?
Normally we request the customer to drop of their vans and we`ll give them a call when its ready to collect, we normally say between 1-2 hrs.
The other day the design of the van was quite complex so we quoted 3 hrs approx, when the customer dropped it off he asked for a chair…..
As the only area is the shop front, I found this quite nervy, theirs invoices/cash/cheques on my desk.
Does anyone offer a waiting area? what do you tell the clients.
Do you let your customers watch you fit the graphics?denise
-
23 Replies
-
No – get ’em off the premises as soon as possible!
We’ve had to block access to certain areas in the shop / workshop due to ‘rummagers’ wandering about picking up other customers proofs, invoices or materials / jobs that they find interesting.
"There’s a coffee shop just up the road….relax, read a paper & I’ll see you in a few hours".
-
I do not offer a waiting area and I have a sign which says customers may not wait on premises due to insurance purposes.
Love….Jill -
No way. I’ve found them in my office in the past looking through cheque books.
That incident got nasty. Just tell them you will ring them when it’s ready. You’re not mcdonalds or kfc operating a drive through service. 😉 -
Used to work in a sign shop with a waiting area and it was a right royal pain 🙄
What you are doing is always more interesting than staying put and whilst I’m quite happy to work whilst being watched, it is unnecessary and can lead to fielding questions which slows the job up . . . .
Nowadays I always try to get the van/job dropped off and give a time when it will be ready.
Paul
-
thanks guys, we normally do point them in the direction of the local kfc its only a 3 minute walk.
It just took me by supprise when this chap asked for a chair… I did say we don`t have chairs in this place, the only time I get to sit down is when I go to the loo….
but he then scacastically pointed out i was sitting down at my desk….. fooker! LOL
-
I’d rather be at kfc than watch you do a van Denise! Yum Yum! 😛
-
We’ve had a few customers wait on some jobs but they’ve usually been quite quick turnarounds. Otherwise we get them to drop off and if they can’t get back offer a lift if it’s fairly local.
Luckily we’re right by a major shopping centre with all the fast food joints and coffee shops, even a cinema and bowling alley so i suggest they go off for a few hours and call them when we’re done. -
Mine are more than welcome to wait whilst I work on their vehicles, but they do have to come out of the shop with me.
There’s a pub just a few metres from my premises, so most of them end up going there. -
We don’t chase anyone, it doesn’t look right being chucked off the premises.
But we do ask them to leave the vehicle with us and come back in an hour or two. Exaggerating the wait often leaves them wanting to go a walk round the shops.
Regardless, we do have a waiting area because we still do get those that want to wait. I have always hated folk standing over me working and this was the reason for it. Nothing glamorous about it and even those that do wait, I often see them after 20 minutes getting up and going a walk.
What you need to remember is customers can’t always get the vehicles dropped off. It could be cold or raining outside so reluctant to go anywhere.
A couple of chairs, table and magazine “well out of the way” with a small notice saying if they must wait, wait in this area due to H&S reasons blah blah blah. At the end of the day, I hate the buggers standing around or looking over my shoulder but as a business it’s good to be seen as hospitable. -
Oh dear, something else to consider, new premises doesn’t have anything around, going to have to offer a chair and coffee in the reception, and lock the internal door…
I hate being watched whilst fitting.
Lorraine
-
Can’t keep them away when you’re visiting customer’s garages, workshops, barns, sheds etc. etc… some can’t stop themselves from getting involved …
"Aren’t there two Ls in dollar", reply "aye and two Gs in BU@@ER OFF!". Paraphrased from the film Local Hero. Classic line – couldn’t help using it myself a few times after that! :lol1: :lol1:
-
This is slightly off topic, but I’ve noticed at the auto body shop where my son works that some customers just "hang out" for hours. I don’t know how the boss puts up with it. His place is like a social hub. While he does have a small waiting area with chairs and magazines, most of his customers just mill about inside his garage despite signs that say "employees only" etc.
This one guy uses the bathroom in the shop, eats the donuts, natters on with employees and other customers. Any time I ever go there (which is maybe twice or three times a year) he’s there.
I personally would not tolerate this.
(hot)
I can see the idea of a customer waiting area (like at the local JiffyLube, with coffee/pop dispenser, TV, magazines etc) can make your shop look more professional and customer friendly, but my shop is not a retail location nor do I get the customer flow that other shops get. It just wouldn’t be worth it for me to go to that trouble.Also, I feel that allowing a customer into your design or production area takes all the mystery and wonder out of what we do. Besides that, they are just plain in the way.
🙂
And if they have small children with them, that makes it even worse, as most people don’t even watch their kids.
Rant over. -
quote Jill Marie Welsh:Also, I feel that allowing a customer into your design or production area takes all the mystery and wonder out of what we do.
Yep – fools and children should never see a job half done! 😕 :lol1:
-
quote Jill Marie Welsh:like at the local JiffyLube😮 is that like Ann Summers 😳 :lol1:
-
quote Karl Williams:I’d rather be at kfc than watch you do a van Denise! Yum Yum! 😛
not even if I put on my hotpants and spray my t shirt with app fluid!……. 😳
-
quote Jill Marie Welsh:And if they have small children with them, that makes it even worse, as most people don’t even watch their kids.
Rant over.Oh thats SO true.
Today the local DS mothers, bring in at least 5 kids all running around and not one word was said. I had to ask them to leave as if they fell into the display area its all galss…
They looked at me funny as well…
They only wanted a t shirt say" I`m not fat I`m pregnant" for a school girl!!
-
quote Denise Goodfellow:app fluid!……. 😳I’m calling it JiffyLube from now on! 😀
-
quote Harry Cleary:quote Denise Goodfellow:app fluid!……. 😳I’m calling it JiffyLube from now on! 😀
:lol1: :lol1: Not just me then 😳 😉
-
Just to remind you that customers pay your bills and wages, if they want to wait they should be made welcome. We have leather couch in waiting area with magazines (including one of our services and other samples of printed work we have done)
-
I can see every ones point of view here and as i say, i hate folk standing around me working, ide rather they weren’t, but have to agree with Adrian that we should at least try to be seen accommodating them in the off chance they have to wait.
A local garage to me simply has a sheet of MDF, waste height partitioning off a 4ft square area with two stools and a table with magazines. after being served, I automatically walk in and sit down rather than hover… its bare bones waiting area, but its a seat if nothing else. granted, the magazines are old, but there isnt any JiffyLube Jill or Hotpants Denise… :lol1: 😉
-
LOL, I’ve had a customer and his helper (tow truck drivers…) in the workshop for the past 3 hours. Maybe another 2 or so, and the jobs done.
At least these are nice guys to chat with – like having some friends over 😀
And they do a lot of work with us, not to mention they drive a 400km round trip because they dont want anybody else working on their cars.
This is the exeption. The rest are told to sod-off.
-
quote :Karl Williams wrote:
I’d rather be at kfc than watch you do a van Denise! Yum Yum!not even if I put on my hotpants and spray my t shirt with app fluid!…….
right well im coming round to yours to watch Denise – I hate KFC 😀
Off topic but Adrian – nice to see you posting as I havent seen you here for ages
John
-
It would be nice to have a waiting area. if you have the room. Not everyone does.
I can think of better things to put in a room other than a few chairs and table.
Log in to reply.
