Barber Appointment or Barber walk-in- which is best?
Published on 5th February '19In days gone by clients would come in to a barber shop and queue for an hour or more waiting for their turn to be called. However, one of the biggest issues our clients face is now lack of free time.
In this article we weigh up the advantages and disadvantages of pre-arranged appointments and off the street walk ins, reflecting on it from a business and customer perspective.
Advantages of Pre-arranged Barber Appointments
#1 Clients can select the time that suits them with an appointment
Most appointment systems such as Nearcut now operate online, with bookings made by visiting the website or downloading an App. From the comfort of an armchair a specific time can be selected so that you plan it around the rest of your commitments.
Online appointment systems will allocate an exact amount of time to your service for instance 40 minutes for a skin fade or 20 minutes for a crew cut. The barber knows how much time is needed and by selecting the service you need, time will be booked for you accordingly.
Related content: What is Nearcut appointment maker? chop.me.uk/articles/nearcut-appointments
# 2 A trip to Barber Shop takes less time.
Sitting in queues never happens with online bookings. The barber is expecting your arrival, the service efficient but never rushed. You’ve booked the haircut you want and this will give the barber the right amount of time to make sure everything is perfect.
See how easy it is by simply downloading the Nearcut app from the Apple or Google play stores or go to www.chop.me.uk
# 3 More frequent re-bookings
After registering and making your first booking it is a quick process to make a follow up appointment. Some appointment providers boast that a user could make an appointment in as little as 15 seconds. Many times you may want a fresh chop for a special occasion or the weekend. With an online booking system, re-booking is simple and it’s often possible to make an appointment with just half an hours notice.
Disadvantages of Pre-arranged Barber Appointments
#1 Older clients may find the system difficult
It is hard to fault a system which seems to make life so simple. The most obvious downside would be for older generations, who may not be adept at using smartphone apps or websites. While it’s possible to make a booking manually at the shop, most of the systems benefits are lost at that stage.
#2 Walk-ins wait
While appointment based barber shops can be convenient, there may be a time when making an appointment hasn’t been possible, in this situation walking in and waiting can be a bit hit or miss. The appointment based barber shop will always prioritise appointments first but will normally offer the next available slot to save you having to sit and wait. It is unlikely they will get you straight into the chair. If they do it’s your lucky day.
#3 Some operating systems won’t support the App
Most appointment Apps are available on Apple and Google play stores, but other operating systems like windows or blackberry may not support them. Clients may have to make appointments through the website only if they don’t have a phone that supports the App.
Summary
Time is a precious commodity to everyone these days. Some patrons might like the experience of sitting in the barber shop for an hour enjoying their surroundings and making polite chit chat; whereas other customers have other priorities and are looking for an efficient turnaround service. With the majority of people using modern software of some description whether it be online or mobile, making appointments can take seconds, while the not knowing of chancing a walk in can take over an hour and in some shops even longer.
Clients now have the ability to choose the time they want, the barber they want and the cut they want at their fingertips.
For information on booking a haircut online or by App check out: chop.me.uk
Walk ins will always be there, but the appointment based barber shop will make you their priority from the moment you arrive.