First Tan Free ??? - Page 4

trusno1 · 07-23-2003, 02:43 PM

We are running buy one get one any level. I've run free tans before and tire of people looking for freebies. I once had someone bring in a card and tell me that they'd never tanned and didn't plan on continuing tanning, the only reason they came in was because it was free.
I'm hoping my current ad will weed freebie hunters out. At least they have to give me some money.
I don't get it, if I had a coupon for a free pack of cigarettes, I wouldn't take up smoking. I might give the coupon to a friend who did.

sunkissedtan · 07-23-2003, 04:01 PM

I don't do the first tan free thing, but what I have done is have a "Free Tan Day". I did this once on my birthday, it happened to be on Friday the 13th, We called it Your Lucky Day! everyone who came in got to tan free, we got lots of new customers that day. I also have done a Buy one pkg. get one for half price. This one is a great sale to run. Tons of packages sold.

TanningEmporium · 07-23-2003, 09:16 PM

I did the buy one get one free. The only problem with that was I didnt make them use the package back to back,,,wont do that again.

tamica · 07-23-2003, 09:44 PM

The place that I work at we give out a 'guest pass' that allows people to come in and try out our beds within a week of thier first visit.I find that alot of people abuse this and complain if we do not put them in for the max time.If youre getting something for free,dont complain,also we are a chain of stores and alot of people will go to each salon and get their 'free pass' so we have been working together to try and stop this by faxing the guest register/waiver sheet each night

DarkAngel · 08-01-2003, 06:52 PM

We are one of the few salons in our area that do not give away a first tan for free. There are too many uneducated people out there who will jump from salon to salon, sometimes more than one a day, all for free, just so they can try to get a tan for their prom/date/whatever in 2-3 days time. I explain to anyone who asks that we charge $5/single visit and like many of you, I will deduct that if they like their experience at my salon and purchase a package. I have had great success with this. I believe that once they come through our doors we can win them over with our friendly, knowledgable, caring service. So far the only people not happy with this are the "hoppers"

LazyTANS · 08-01-2003, 10:23 PM

I can't see ever giving it away to every Jane and Jon Doe that comes in. No way. Too many salon hoppers that do that for their free month !

_________________
on the SUNNY SIDE ! [ This Message was edited by: LazyTANS on 2003-08-01 21:24 ]

sungodstexas · 11-21-2003, 01:39 PM

You have to change your perception. We NEVER would pitch a membership to a guest without letting them try the equipment. Our philosophy is "You Wouldn't buy a car without test driving it and I wouldn't expect you to buy a membership without trying the equipment." This only holds true if you have good beds. We make all new guests tan and use a sticker to see results. Once they have tanned there is a perceived value and it is easier for them to cut loose with the dollars. We all hype the fact that a tan is relaxing. Would you rather sale to a relaxed or uptight person. It is just the theory of the sale. Are you trying to make a living off of single sessions or happy customers?

total eclipse · 11-21-2003, 03:58 PM

Sungod, I am with you on this one. We have a saying" where your 1st tan is free" We put them in the base bed for 10 mins. If they want more or an upgrade, they pay for this. The 10 mins is enough of a trial run. As far as the cost to us, I don't think there is a cost. There is actually a profit. I cannot begin to tell you how many packets we sell to these people. I think that we sell packets to 8 of every 10 people who come in for the first time. Some already have lotions, because they were tanning somewhere else and wanted to try us. We sell some sort of package to almost everyone. Very rarely does someone come in and not buy sessions or unlimited. In every ad I place, I state free tan for new clients only. Every person who tans with me, will get their first tan on the house.

Cin@co_sun · 11-21-2003, 04:29 PM

Okay, here's my take on this and I've discussed it with alot of my customers(salon owners)over the past few years. Whether it be "free tan" or "$1 tan" it's all bout the marketing. That's the key: Marketing, Marketing, Marketing. It's to get the customer in the door and then your job starts to keep them coming in the door. If you can't get past the word FREE then offer "a free tan w/the purchase of blah, blah, blah and you can use your free tan today if you'd like". Don't make it any harder than it really is. Work "smart" not "hard"!

frequent-reader · 11-21-2003, 05:36 PM

I totally agree w/Cin, I only need my marketing to get the customer in my store and trust me they don't laeve with just a free tan. They either get(need)a lotion cuz I recommend it or they have gott'n a tanning package. Cuz that "my job"! Tank you Cin for pointing that out.

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07-23-2003, 02:43 PM	#31 (permalink)
trusno1 Join Date: Apr 4 2003 Location: Marysville, OH Posts: 231 Rep Power: 6	We are running buy one get one any level. I've run free tans before and tire of people looking for freebies. I once had someone bring in a card and tell me that they'd never tanned and didn't plan on continuing tanning, the only reason they came in was because it was free. I'm hoping my current ad will weed freebie hunters out. At least they have to give me some money. I don't get it, if I had a coupon for a free pack of cigarettes, I wouldn't take up smoking. I might give the coupon to a friend who did.

07-23-2003, 04:01 PM	#32 (permalink)
sunkissedtan Join Date: Jul 9 2003 Location: Funky Town Posts: 643 Rep Power: 7	I don't do the first tan free thing, but what I have done is have a "Free Tan Day". I did this once on my birthday, it happened to be on Friday the 13th, We called it Your Lucky Day! everyone who came in got to tan free, we got lots of new customers that day. I also have done a Buy one pkg. get one for half price. This one is a great sale to run. Tons of packages sold.

07-23-2003, 09:16 PM	#33 (permalink)
TanningEmporium Join Date: Jul 15 2003 Location: 213 Skyland Shp Ctr Posts: 4,192 Rep Power: 8	I did the buy one get one free. The only problem with that was I didnt make them use the package back to back,,,wont do that again.

07-23-2003, 09:44 PM	#34 (permalink)
tamica Join Date: Jul 23 2003 Posts: 6 Rep Power: 0	The place that I work at we give out a 'guest pass' that allows people to come in and try out our beds within a week of thier first visit.I find that alot of people abuse this and complain if we do not put them in for the max time.If youre getting something for free,dont complain,also we are a chain of stores and alot of people will go to each salon and get their 'free pass' so we have been working together to try and stop this by faxing the guest register/waiver sheet each night

08-01-2003, 06:52 PM	#35 (permalink)
DarkAngel Join Date: Jul 28 2003 Posts: 27 Rep Power: 0	We are one of the few salons in our area that do not give away a first tan for free. There are too many uneducated people out there who will jump from salon to salon, sometimes more than one a day, all for free, just so they can try to get a tan for their prom/date/whatever in 2-3 days time. I explain to anyone who asks that we charge $5/single visit and like many of you, I will deduct that if they like their experience at my salon and purchase a package. I have had great success with this. I believe that once they come through our doors we can win them over with our friendly, knowledgable, caring service. So far the only people not happy with this are the "hoppers"

08-01-2003, 10:23 PM	#36 (permalink)
LazyTANS Join Date: Dec 15 2002 Posts: 137 Rep Power: 6	I can't see ever giving it away to every Jane and Jon Doe that comes in. No way. Too many salon hoppers that do that for their free month ! _________________ on the SUNNY SIDE ! [ This Message was edited by: LazyTANS on 2003-08-01 21:24 ]

11-21-2003, 03:58 PM	#38 (permalink)
total eclipse Join Date: Nov 2 2003 Posts: 61 Rep Power: 0	Sungod, I am with you on this one. We have a saying" where your 1st tan is free" We put them in the base bed for 10 mins. If they want more or an upgrade, they pay for this. The 10 mins is enough of a trial run. As far as the cost to us, I don't think there is a cost. There is actually a profit. I cannot begin to tell you how many packets we sell to these people. I think that we sell packets to 8 of every 10 people who come in for the first time. Some already have lotions, because they were tanning somewhere else and wanted to try us. We sell some sort of package to almost everyone. Very rarely does someone come in and not buy sessions or unlimited. In every ad I place, I state free tan for new clients only. Every person who tans with me, will get their first tan on the house.

11-21-2003, 04:29 PM	#39 (permalink)
Cin@co_sun Join Date: Oct 16 2003 Posts: 3 Rep Power: 0	Okay, here's my take on this and I've discussed it with alot of my customers(salon owners)over the past few years. Whether it be "free tan" or "$1 tan" it's all bout the marketing. That's the key: Marketing, Marketing, Marketing. It's to get the customer in the door and then your job starts to keep them coming in the door. If you can't get past the word FREE then offer "a free tan w/the purchase of blah, blah, blah and you can use your free tan today if you'd like". Don't make it any harder than it really is. Work "smart" not "hard"!

11-21-2003, 05:36 PM	#40 (permalink)
frequent-reader Join Date: Nov 21 2003 Posts: 3 Rep Power: 0	I totally agree w/Cin, I only need my marketing to get the customer in my store and trust me they don't laeve with just a free tan. They either get(need)a lotion cuz I recommend it or they have gott'n a tanning package. Cuz that "my job"! Tank you Cin for pointing that out.

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