The Framers Forum

I'm after some recommendations for bookings systems you use please. I've dabbled with a couple but haven't found one that is quite right yet.

Ideally I want a QR code or similar on my door that takes people directly to a simple system, where they can pick from a pre-set range of times and a box for them to describe what they are bringing in. I would then get notification and follow-up/confirm with them.

I want to be able to block out times where appointments are unavailable, and also go in and create appointments manually if a customer calls me instead.

I've looked at Booksy but that wants the customer to make an account. I've got a booking facility with my Sum-up account but that needs the customer to select a service with a set price. I thought MS Bookings would work, but I'm not sure I will be renewing my 365 subscription.

I don't particularly want to link it a google/iphone diary. Just a stand alone system.

Customer ease-of-use is the priority, and ideally where they don't have to sign up for anything or create an account.

What do you all use, and what niggles do they have?

Also, what kind of overlap times do you allow? I am thinking of hour slots to cover most things.

Do you have any internet presence such as a website?
This would be a prefect add-on for such.

I do (of sorts, needs work!) and I am definitely happy to add it on there. I'm just trying to make it as obvious and easy for customers to find, especially if they turn up at the workshop when I am closed, so a QR code would be ideal.

A local beauty salon has one that is on their shop front and A-frames, and the customer scans it and selects what type of treatment they want with set prices, then picks a time. I have that facility with Sum-up, but I can't set it up without giving a list of services and prices as it commission based on what the customer selects. I would like something similar, but with only appointments, nothing else.

I (and a number of other framers I know) have used Calendly for a while now. The subscription is approx £100/year but in my opinion it is well worth it, especially if you're planning on moving over to an appointment only scenario.
It is easily integrated into a website. It allows you to setup appointment days times and lengths of appointment based on how many pieces a customer wants to bring in for instance. You can also send customers a link to the booking system or a specific set of available appointments for them to choose. It can but doesn't have to link to an online diary. It is designed with many more tools than a framer requires, but imo does what we would need it to do very well.
Not sure about a QR code but would be surprised if it doesn't have the option, otherwise it's very easy to create your own QR code with a free app.

Thats great thanks! I’m happy to pay, especially as I’ll probably stop my 365 subscription which is £80 something anyway.

I’ll take a look. I’m still keeping my walk-in days, but I’m getting more enquiries on when I can be available other days, so it is time for a proper system .

My local barber has just started using setmore.com and it seems to work well for him.
There's a free or pro option.

Thanks, I’ll have a look at that.

You can make a qr code as a permanent link to any web page - just drop "free qr code generator no expiration" into your favourite search engine!

We've been using accuity for scheduling, but might be overkill for a solo operator, without a sparesquace web site.

MS bookings can work OK, but if you ever want to add payment options, you need to be in Northern America.

This is an interesting topic and would anyone share their experiences of moving to an appointment system,pros and cons.
Thanks

Tim, if you're already working appointment only, it can free up a huge amount of time from telephone calls and emails.
The main con is that you can no longer filter out time wasters.

Just an update if it helps anyone else.

I've tested a few options, both free and trials for paid subscriptions. Setmore comes out top for me (thanks @Pramsay13) so I am going to start with that for now and see how it goes.

The free version allows simple branding, confirmation emails and custom calendars so I can manually just block out times when I need, without having to ensure all my diaries are synced. It doesn't embed seamlessly into a webpage like Calendly, but it does allow customers to book without creating an account. I can monitor it and see how much traffic it brings before I consider upgrading to paid options.

And thanks @Richard Photofusion for the QR tip - all sorted now.

I do just need to review my privacy statement as it does mean customers are giving details to a third party app - another thing to add to the list.

Nearly ready to re-brand!

I have built it into our pricing sofware, collection appointments are made when you send the order ready email, appointments for consultations are made throuhgh a url that can be a button on your website that takes you to the app, or we have made ours work in an Iframe on the website so it looks part of the original site.
I am considering a gfoogle cloud sync.

If a required by date is set in the software it alerts a few days before with a greed dot over the alam bell this then goes to orange and then red on the day it's required.