Pianotech

  • 1.  Online Schedulers

    Posted 09-01-2018 23:46
    Does anyone have good insight on the online piano tuning schedulers?  I was thinking of using one, but would also like to know if anyone has tried all three or has information on all three (well, these are the three that I've found: Gazelle, Piano Scheduler, Piano Cal).

    Thanks.

    ------------------------------
    Cobrun Sells
    C.J. Piano Tuner
    www.cjtuner.com
    cobrun94@yahoo.com
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: Online Schedulers

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 09-02-2018 00:23

    I have an Office 365 program as part of my website, that has a calendar which is synced to my cell phone calendar. Works great.

     

    It's nothing fancy, unless you want to do that. I enter the customer's name and zip code on one line, and on the second line I put the address and phone number. I could click on the address if I want to use the Google map feature, (I don't use it), and I can click on the phone number to reach the customer.

     

    There are 2 reasons I don't use the map feature. For one, the voice is not from Hawaii, and she has no clue how to announce most of the names of the streets, which are mostly Hawaiian names. And second, while I could listen to the directions, I need to look at the map, and the wording is too small without my glasses. and it's against the law to hold your cell phone while driving. Ironically, it's OK to look at my street guide.



    ------------------------------
    Willem "Wim" Blees, RPT
    Mililani, HI 96789
    ------------------------------



  • 3.  RE: Online Schedulers

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 09-02-2018 00:23

    I have an Office 365 program as part of my website, that has a calendar which is synced to my cell phone calendar. Works great.

     

    It's nothing fancy, unless you want to do that. I enter the customer's name and zip code on one line, and on the second line I put the address and phone number. I could click on the address if I want to use the Google map feature, (I don't use it), and I can click on the phone number to reach the customer.

     

    There are 2 reasons I don't use the map feature. For one, the voice is not from Hawaii, and she has no clue how to announce most of the names of the streets, which are mostly Hawaiian names. And second, while I could listen to the directions, I need to look at the map, and the wording is too small without my glasses. and it's against the law to hold your cell phone while driving. Ironically, it's OK to look at my street guide.

     






  • 4.  RE: Online Schedulers

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 09-02-2018 05:14
    HI Cobrun,

    Gazelle is an amazing system.  I think it is the best software package of any type I have ever used.  I routinely get feedback from my clients saying how easy it is for them to self schedule.   

    It has a great reminder system.  It will remind your clients of upcoming appointments, and you can customize the message and the frequency of either emails, text messages, or phone calls.  It also has a very easy to use system of letting clients know when they are due for service, that is also easily customized. These features have dramatically reduced the amount of time I spend scheduling appointments and entering service records.  

    It also has an easy and thorough invoicing system, and a system to provide service proposals for pianos that can benefit from additional service.  This last feature can significantly help you grow your business. 

    The customer support they provide is fantastic.  If you have a question or a problem and you contact them, you hear back within minutes and they will give you as much time as necessary to solve your issue.


    I had previously tried one of the other systems you mentioned and it was not only inadequate, but the customer support was weak.  They also charged me a fee to import my client date base, which was provided for free with Gazelle.

    David Weiss

    ------------------------------
    David Weiss
    Charlottesville VA
    434-823-9733
    ------------------------------



  • 5.  RE: Online Schedulers

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 09-02-2018 01:08
    You can sign up for a free trial and see how they work.
    I use Gazelle, which is much more comprehensive in other areas than just scheduling. It keeps track of the pianos and has capabilities that the other services don't. More expensive, but does more. Both Gazelle and Pianocal have "smart" calendars which figure out how to keep your clients appointments in close proximity so you don't have to drive all over the place. Gazelle offers a reminder service that automatically contacts the client when it's time to schedule a tuning. Their customer service is excellent too.
    I think I used a free trial on the other services, but they were not compatible for how I'm set up. So, I can't comment, and it was several years ago. They may have added features since.
    Good luck.
    Paul McCloud
    San Diego




    Cobrun Sells:
    Does anyone have good insight on the online piano tuning schedulers? I was thinking of using one, but would also like to know if anyone has tried all three or has information on all three (well, these are the three that I've found: Gazelle, Piano Scheduler, Piano Cal).

    Thanks.

    ------------------------------
    Cobrun Sells
    C.J. Piano Tuner
    www.cjtuner.com
    cobrun94@yahoo.com