Missed appointments by male clients

[HitLesooao]

Hi all,Havnt used forum in a while did read up on all threads related to my topic but could do with fresh ideas.
Im getting alot of in fact mostly all male potential clients phoning me/texting/emailing some genuine others terrible comments and im beginning to learn from comments may be wanting what they call extras.others have booked and confirmed appointments day before then dont show up.decided to allow men to make appointments as was getting few females enquiring.
I had 1 who said wanted prof massage and would i be ok massaging groin area as had old injuries there and his abdomen for detox programme for 90 min is this unsual?
he didnt pitch up tried phoning him after email no reply to email as yet or call answered?im thinking of starting up a pre payment system via paypal as know of other therapist who do this and client slike it as they dont have to carry cash around,and if dont pitch you get your money for cancellation fee?please give me your views on this please therapists who have ben around 5 years plus can you help on these issues of mine.
Im trained in holistic massage and used to say that on adverts but now state complementary therapist as thought that might help weed out un savoury clients.


Health boost

 

[Lizard]

Bit more info required...
Where are you advertising?
Are you working from home or in a salon?
Are you replying to the unsavoury emails and text messages?
Have you done a search online (use yahoo, not google) for your phone number? (number in various formats, with and without spaces) You may find an onlinelisting is appearing somewhere that you now realise it might not be the best place.
Start asking how they found your number - you may be able to figure out what is not working for you.
Do your materials make it sound like it is just you? Change things to "we"; if you want to mention your name, say you are the owner or primary therapist.

One idea isa pregnancy massage course, andinclude you do pregnancy massage in your materials - it makes it really obvious that you massage females, when they ask about styles of massage mention pregnancy massage near the top of the list.

If any unknown male rings up for an appointment, say you have nothing available for at least 3 or 4 days. Most people looking for extras aren't prepared to plan in advance that far. Get the "when were you thinking of making an appointment?" question in the phone call very early, followed by the "sorry, we've nothing available until ....",after they asay "today, or tomorrow". Control the time of the appointment with something like "we've got 3pm on Thursday or 11am on Friday available, or would you prefer a weekend appointment?" (even if you have Wed/Thurs/Fri every appointment available). If they think you are just sitting around waiting for them they seem to think it means you provide extras. If they then say they have to have an appointment at such and such a time because of work, you can decide if that time suits you (though still at least 3 or 4 days in advance), you can always say, "We could fit you in 30min earlier".
If they want to talk about draping, or groinwork, let them find someone else - there are a lot of massage therapists and you're not obliged to see them,they have a choice of therapist, you have a choice of clients.It is always a challenge when they say "my back is really bad today, I need to see you today" but if you're getting a high lot of unsavoury enquiries, it's probably best to just be firm with the nothing for 3 or 4 days. It also makes you look busy, so therefore you must be good.

 

[R2 Ranch]

Agree with what has been previously said. I also get around the "groin" issue by saying I have nothing availiable but can recommend a male therapist to them - usually sorts the "pervs" from the genuine clients. Is always a good idea to network with other therapists in you areas.

Brings me back to the name my partner suggested for my business.... "Don't ask for a W...."

 

[CRACKberry!<3]

Cola has made some sound suggestions. I went through a period of 'odd' callers, and was recommended by a retired doctor friend to keep a large book, like a phone directory, by the phone. If an 'unsavoury' called, and I didn't like the sound of them, I would say - well, yes, I would be able to give you an appointment, but (and then make a fuss with the directory) I am booked up until next Thursday, at 2.30. If they are after anything other than a decent massage, they soon get the message.
I have never done 'prepayments' and don't know any therapist friend who do this either. I didhowever, offer 5 treatments and the 6th free, ifthey booked in advance. That was years ago, and now I am established I don't offer that. It may be worth confining your business calls to one mobile number, that way 'unsavouries' won't bother you on your home number.
If you have people asking to treat groin injuries, advise them to see a sports therapist!

 

[Team Captain]

sweetpea21 PMed me rather than reply here, not sure why.sweetpea21 said home business taking same day appointments, and not prepared to put off same day appointments as need the business.
If you advertise on the internet, it's hard to avoid unsavoury phone calls. As someone mentioned on a previous thread, their experience was that fresh names on an online listing were targetted by unsavoury phone callers for a while, but it dropped off eventually without any changes. If you someone is prepared to accept same day appointments, it means that the quickest filter of not providing same day appointments can't be used, that then means they have to get more details from you as to what services they can expect which is where it gets into the unsavoury area, if they've already made an appointment, but a bit more of a conversation on the call makes it clear there are no extras, they're unlikely to say "sorry, I don't actually want an appointment", they just won't turn up, which seems to be the main problem. Even not taking appointments within a few days, I find that some callsI am dubious about will make an appointment a week or so in advance, but then they cancel about 2 or 3 days later with the comment "I'll call when I know my schedule", and they never do.
The other bonus from not accpeting clients within a few days, is you have to get a contact phonenumber and you can call them to confirm the day before - if you accept same day appointments, you can't call them and check you have correct contact details. If they won't give you a contact number, ti usually means they want extras.

I'm thinking the thread should probably be "Missed same day appointments by male clients". It is hard not taking same day/next dayappointment when you have no clients, but it is the easiest way of avoiding no-shows from clients looking for extras, and from clients looking for extras actually turning up.

As for prepaying with PayPal, I think that will be a great way of getting them to NOT turn up - they just won't bother doing the PayPal payment, and then they won't turn up. Prepaying using PayPalwill have the same effect as not taking appointments for 3 or 4 days - unsavoury clients won't make the appointment, so therefore they won't miss the appointment. If you asked for credit card details at the time of booking, that will make it look like one of those businesses where extras will be provided.

 

[Pat A]

I would agree with Cola's warnings about advertising on the internet. Personally I have deliberately chosen not to have a website, and the only place where I am listed on the internet is onthe SMA / LSSM websites, which are unlikely to attract 'sex pests'.

I've actually been quite surprised to see how many of the female therapists who post on this forum do have their own website. If a therapist really does want a website (which I wuld have thought would almost inevitably lead to some unsavoury callers), I would suggest posting an explicit statement that sexual services are not provided. For example, quoting from
[link=http://www.elixir-of-life.com/massage.htm]http://www.elixir-of-life.com/massage.htm[/link]



Alan

 

[Heather T]

There are two problems with any explicit statement about what is not provided -
1/ you include sexual etc on a page, the search engines will list the page in results for sexual massageand manypeople just don't readsearch results too carefully,which leads to the second problem....
2/ if someone really is looking for extras, they seem to expect coded messages on a website indicating you are discrete, if you come up in search results for sexual massage even if you say theraputic massage only NOT any form of sexual services they just assume there is a coded message on there, the same with the phone calls, they just keep fishing for an indication that you do provide extras, assuming you're being discrete, pretending that you don't provide extras! They basically put any spin they want to on the website/conversation.

I really don't think you can avoid unsavoury phone calls if you advertise, unless you are EXTREMELY selective about where you advertise -ads in newspapers or on the internet will be seen by a lot of people and some of those people will be interested in extras. This applies for female and male therapists. I've found the easiest way to avoid wasting time about what exactly goes on during a massage is not take same or next day appointments from unknown males, and get that sorted out really early in the phone call, people looking for extras don't seem to be able to plan ahead.

The original poster isn't prepared tonot offer same day appointments, so it means that the conversations are longer while the callerfishes for a stronger indication that they can expect extras, and it means if they decide they won't get extras after settling on a time, the callers just won't turn up. References by the therapist to "we" and maybe even dropping a "if the groin/abs injury is that bad, we have a male therapist that specialises in that type of work" might help (even though there is no male therapist).A business appearing to be a lonetherapist working from home is making it look like it could be a nice discrete little place to get extras.

I've had a website for almost 10 years now, and it is wonderful, couldn't imagine working without it. I sell lots of giftcertificates to people from overseas for their friends/family near me, I offer some lesser known treatments like shirodhara and eyelash extensions, which very few people are looking for and without the website they would never find me. I have some clients travel over 2 hrs to see me, I would never have bothered advertised in their area, but with the website I can, all for about $50US per year, 24hr per day, 365 days per year, cheapest form of paid advertisingI can get (word of mouthreally is the best).

I don't consider people looking for extras as pests/perverts/scary, they're just looking for a service I don't provide, and I try to waste as little of their and my time as possible when they make an enquiry. I don't try and educate them as to the benefits of legit massage, that would be like trying to convince someone that they should drink freshly squeezed organic apple juice when they've looking for Coca Cola.

 

[ReRAxogmaapep]

Hi Cola,Thanks alot for reply sorry sent private email forgot can reply on here.
Thanks so much for your answers i already tried the in 3 to 4 days time yesterday with male who phoned worked well.reason i tried was i dont know him and found it good to ask more questions during call.I will not be giving same day appointment to males unless they are old client whom i feel ok with.
ladies no issue although if get problems will do same nothing for 3 to 4 days fully booked until then.I dont actually have a website i use gum tree/viva street/massage therapy uk along with my name on fht website-gcmt-mitgb websites(prof bodies)
Ive had a few comments from ladies why dont i have a website would be easier for them to find out about what treatments id o without calling then just call for appointment keeps theres and mine calls shorter.
What i have been doing is letting gum tree know about unsavoury adverts on there so doesnt tarninsh a very good source for therapists for genuine buisness.I know alot of therapists use gum tree etc and unitl buisness picks up thats where they get clients from unitil it becomes word of mouth which of course is much better.

sure things will improve will kep to 3 to 4 day rule and see how it helps thankyou so much
health and fitness

 

[Buncnuame]

Thanks alan,Needed this input along time ago glad i posted-I have implemented the 3 to 4 day rule with new male clients as of yesterday and working well,also asking more questions during clients call and will try and make it appear as not working alone aswell good tip.
website i dont have my own but am designing one due to high demand from lady clients who want to read more about what i offer and then they make short call to book.
I do use gum tree-massage therapy uk-viva street for adverts and have 1 in a local gp surgery aswell.done some maildrops in local area once more funds will do more but change wording a bit.in adverts i now say complementary therapy not just holistic massage therapist which i did use,also added more therapies on adverts such as facial-head -feet massage and more about each treatment.
also i did put at beginning of adverts a non sexual service-no extras all clients covered with towels during treatments.prof therapy .at end i also put no withheld numbers-no texts genunine clientelle only .thanks for all your help.

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[basement cat]

sweetpea21, so glad you've tried the 3-4 day rule and already finding itishelping already with theunsavoury callers After you get more confident with screening phone calls, you may like to drop it down to 48hrs, but don't go less than 48hrs! No same day/next day appointments from unknown males is the fastest and easiest way to get unsavoury callers off the phone as quickly as possible. Once I've seen someone 3 or 4 times, I will accept same day appointments for them, if I have anything available, but anything available is rare, so they know to book in advance.

Good luck with building the client numbers

 

[Sapphire R]

Thanks Cola,sounds good idea keep no less than 48 hour before give appointmnent to new mle clients.i agree and shall implement soon cheers
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