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Old 02-19-2004, 10:45 PM   #1 (permalink)
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Are there any salons that have switched from selling minutes to tans or units?

Can I get some feedback on this...why did you switch? Why not? Making more $$$ or losing customers???

Thank you
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Old 02-22-2004, 05:36 PM   #2 (permalink)
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Hi Susanlatte,
We offer both, minutes and sessions. The minute packages are very popular when the tanners are starting their tanning for the season. I offer 240 minutes in my base beds for $50.75. Most tanners get up to the maximum time very fast and the minutes go down very fast. I think once we get into the busy season and more customers have their base tans going, this package won't be as popular. We are the only salon in our area that offers minutes and I think I get a lot of new customers because of that. I don't think I would strictly offer minutes though as we have a lot of customers who still like the session packages and the month unlimited. I just like offering alot of variety.
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Old 02-22-2004, 05:45 PM   #3 (permalink)
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tak, I have never offered minutes but have heard others say that people with minute packages will drag them out longer by going less time at each session so they can get more sessions for the money, so to speak. Is that a real issue or not? I can see how minutes could be helpful to really pale clients who have to start out really slow to build. Good topic. I am interested in how it works for you.

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Old 02-22-2004, 08:27 PM   #4 (permalink)
 
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Yes, in our salon people tend to draaaagggg out their minutes. I am thinking of switching to points very soon. But I do have alot of fairer skinned customers who never get up to full session times, so I feel I am ripping them off if they are charged a full session. Also only other salon in town goes by minutes also. I know I could make more money by switching to sessions/points but then again will I lose customers & lose that extra $$$ I would have made?

tak:
What type of price difference do you have between your minute & session pkgs?
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Old 02-22-2004, 09:22 PM   #5 (permalink)
 
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Why do you feel that you would be ripping people off? A session is a session! Whether someone goes in for 5 mins or 20 mins, it is still one session. You are in the business to make money, aren't you? Do you feel ripped off when someone buys a month unlimited and tans 20-25 times that month? Just my opinion.
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Old 02-22-2004, 09:27 PM   #6 (permalink)
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My salon is the only one in the area still offering minutes. We also offer unlimited monthly, 3 months, 6months and year. I think that the minutes are actually more benefical to the client & not as good of money maker for me...but my salon has been in the same place for over 20 years...with a very solid client base. However I see the advantage of switching to just tans to purchase and not minutes. Has anyone else switch from minutes to tans in their salon? What happened???

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Old 02-22-2004, 09:42 PM   #7 (permalink)
 
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Total Eclipse,
I know what you mean and I know it costs the same to run the bed 5 min or 20 mins. I guess I don't feel like I am ripping them off more like they will feel I am ripping them off. Guess I didn't say that right before. I don't do monthly unlimiteds for a coupole of reasons -for one- on 2 of my beds you can only let them go 1x every 48 hours and other bed is once every 24 hours and we are a very regulated state. Next reason, some people take advantage & want to go EVERY DAY & then you lose $$ right? I did unlimited when I started but quit doing them. How often do you let your customers go on unlimiteds?
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Old 02-23-2004, 08:36 AM   #8 (permalink)
 
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Cutting Edge, if they want to go everyday, they can. On my base beds, I get $50 a month unlimited. Actual cost is less then a $1 a session. That includes electric, bulb useage, cleaner, rent, advertising, labor, etc. I like when they go 20 plus times a month. That is because they end up buying 2 or more bottles of lotion each month. I do have clients that tan 25 times a month and maybe buy 1 or 2 packets a month. I also have clients that only tan once a week, but they buy the month unlimited because it is only $10 more then the 5 session package. They feel that if they decide to come that extra time or 2 in the month it benefits them. It all balances out.
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Old 02-23-2004, 08:58 AM   #9 (permalink)
 
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I charge by session, and also have the month unlimited. When I get new clients that start under 10 min I charge them half price for the session. That works well for me and they are happy. I know we are here to make money, but I'm sorry $5-6 for 5 minutes is a little steep IMHO.
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Old 02-23-2004, 12:31 PM   #10 (permalink)
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Pamtannails, I don't feel that the customers are dragging their package out. Most of the time, I'm the one who suggests a lower time. I just started the minute packages about 6 months ago and I'm glad I did, they work really well for us.
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