Phone number on the door?

[TechGuy]

I recently bought a car wash that has an express tunnel, IBA, and 5 self serve bays. I frequently observe confused customers knocking on the door to the boiler room instead of walking around to the entrance of the tunnel, where employees are actually located. I'm thinking of putting a nice sign there indicating that and perhaps also a phone number for after hours. Does anyone have any recommended phrases for the sign... "if you experience any equipment problems, please let us know so that we can correct it and give you lots of money"?

Any other advice? I'm thinking I'd put the number for the car wash on the sign so they'd have to leave a message after hours. I want the sign to make people think that I care, but I don't actually care enough to take calls in the middle of the night.

 

[jprb]

I have a phone number on every piece of equipment. I put a small sticker(Brother label maker) that says: Problem? Call xxx-xxx-xxxx. I also have a sign on the building that says: If you experience a problem with our car wash, please call xxx-xxx-xxxx. We began using www.grasshopper.com so we could have one toll free number on several washes in different towns. It works great. I forward the calls to my phone during the day, and they go straight to voicemail after hours. I get an email when someone leaves a message (email includes the voicemail as an attachment). It works great.

 

[MEP001]

We have a number posted on the door - I don't recall ever getting calls in the middle of the night.

 

[robert roman]

“I recently bought a car wash that has an express tunnel, IBA, and 5 self serve bays. I frequently observe confused customers knocking on the door to the boiler room instead of walking around to the entrance of the tunnel, where employees are actually located.”

Confusion probably comes from customers who normally expect a customer-oriented business to have a customer care area – waiting area, water fountain, bathroom, maybe something to eat or drink and customer rep.

“I want the sign to make people think that I care, but I don't actually care enough to take calls in the middle of the night.”

Then, I wouldn’t bother with a sign at all.

As a customer, I can think of nothing worse than a business that is not serious about its promise.

I believe one solution that might work for you would be to simply install a big sign at near entrance that says;

“See attendant in the back”

 

[mjwalsh]

TechGuy,

We have a 4 line non wireless phone that one of its lines incoming works with a couple of ring for two way intercoms by 2 of our employee only doors. The sign says ring bell first & then call so & so number(s). That way if we are working in the back room we will get a heads up of a problem sooner.

mike walsh www.kingkoin.com

 

[TechGuy]

Sorry that my humor didn't come through, Robert! Obviously I care -- I just want to avoid 2am phone calls.

Thanks, jprb and mjwalsh for the great suggestions. I'm going to check into Grasshopper today... although wiring up a direct intercom is not a bad idea at all!

 

[JustClean]

Sorry that my humor didn't come through, Robert! Obviously I care -- I just want to avoid 2am phone calls.

Thanks, jprb and mjwalsh for the great suggestions. I'm going to check into Grasshopper today... although wiring up a direct intercom is not a bad idea at all!

Just call them back the next day at 2am saying the machine is fixed now

 

[Jeff_L]

I have a number on the door at both my washes. I wouldn't spend the time creating a phrase to call you, if people want to contact you they'll look for the number. I also have my email address there as well.

 

[Greg Pack]

I would agree a sign that directs them to the front would be beneficial.

My sign simply says "customer service" and has my cell phone number. I do get occasional bone headed calls in the middle of the night. I used to have an "emergency number that was my home phone. Apparently it is an emergency to some people when you loose $2 in a machine at 11pm.

Might also want to look at getting a google voice number- it would allow you some flexibility

 

[borumrm]

We have a sign on the door and each autocashier, change machine and self serve bay that says if you have a problem please call xxx-xxxx between 7AM and 7PM. You may also simply complete a card in the red mail box on the front door and we will call you at whatever time you specify. Thank you for your support. We appreciate your business.

It works very well...MOST customer call between those hours but many fill out a preprinted card that has space for their name/address/phone number etc and a description of what their problem was. Been doing it that way for over 10 years.