Etowah Valley Grace Time

[sparkey]

I have the etowah valley boxes in my selfserve bays with the credit card readers and bill acceptors. I don't like the way the grace time works on this system. You can set up a grace time, but the meter doesn't display a grace time nor does it announce a grace time on the speaker. What good is a grace time if the customer doesn't know it exists? Am I missing something here? I have the grace time set up and it works, it just a waste if no one knows its there.

 

[MEP001]

They tend to figure out when it's there. Otherwise, explain it in print near the timer.

 

[ibspuds]

I also have Etowah boxes, there is adequate notice to deposit more money prior to time expiring. If a customer dosent react to these notices why bother worrying about grace time. Its just money in the bank for you....

 

[PaulLovesJamie]

If a customer dosent react to these notices why bother worrying about grace time.

Because I am in business to serve my customers.

If the timer doesnt do it effectively, then I agree with MEP, get a sign or sticker made up.

 

[sparkey]

The bay is full of signs which no one reads. I am not a big fan of hanging junk all over the bay. The price you pay for these meter boxes you would think they would announce it like it does everything else or at least give the customer a display. The grace time is there to try to get another quarter from the customer as an impulse buy. I would hope this would come out in the next firmware upgrade.

I know MEP gets a little defensive when you say something thats not positive about a vendor thats on his payroll.

 

[MEP001]

The grace time is there to try to get another quarter from the customer as an impulse buy.

I don't agree - IMO the grace timer is there so if a customer runs out of time when they're almost done, they can add just one more coin to finish getting that last bit of soap off or hit that last window with spot-free. An impulse buy is something you may or may not need, intended to catch your eye and promote its own sale.

I know MEP gets a little defensive when you say something thats not positive about a vendor thats on his payroll.

The only time I can remember getting defensive in such a case is when someone says something like "Don't use this vendor! They're crap!" because they had one bad experience with a piece of equipment from them when it's a vendor that I dealt with for more than a decade and know them well and don't feel they deserve to be slandered.