helios wait status

[rgm824]

if we have a client that is buying a single visit we just ring it up as a single visit -

if they are doing an upgrade we will ring it up under prepaid cash - that way when i go to send them to their room - i have already taken the money -

[eileen]

we normally list what the customer paid and how much right on the wait sheet. or we take the money when they come back to the counter.

ctm do you have two work stations?

[unity]

Ok, this is what we do. Helios "owns" the t-max, so we never touch it.

All beds are full and client comes in.

We mention the wait and use the status screen in Helios to look over as to when the next bed will open. Helios also tracks "dirty" time, how long the bed has been off but not cleaned yet. Average "escape" time for a client is three minutes. Anyway, we find a bed with maybe 4 minutes left. We tell the client it will be ten minutes.

Now we have their account up. We write their name on the list and put in if its session, cash, upgrade, etc. Either way we collect cash if needed for the session and lotion and give change - we then mark PAID on the line with their info and they take a seat.

As soon as a bed is ready we bring up their account via account number, we say: "Hey Sandy! Bed 68 is all yours! Thanks!". We then enter the walk-in or session as we normally would and process the til as if they were not waiting.

Problems: Payment method. If its cash or check, there is no problem as they can pay right away. You just calculate the sale with the tan if they are buying lotion and "short" Helios the amount for the tan. Once you get them going you have already collected the but you tell helios you are taking 5 in cash or re-enter the same check number. The PROBLEM for us is credit cards since they are done through Helios. We have to tell them to wait and then we call them up.

Anyone know a better way? Its how we have done it for so long, but it works.

[MATT A]

Helios has a wait status F4 right arrow add client etc...

[unity]

Originally Posted by MATT A

Helios has a wait status F4 right arrow add client etc...

Right. But thats the "problem". It really does nothing. It just an electronic scratch pad. We used it for a while, but you cant track more than the clients name.

How it should work:

Client comes in, all beds are running or dirty. You pull up the account and they pay for a walk-in or use a session. Helios knows nothing is open because you selected a level with nothing available. It say "No beds are open, do you want to add this tan to the wait cue?". You click yes, it subtracts a session or processed cash/check/credit card as it normally would. But instead of telling the t-max to start a session, it put them into the wait screen cue.

As beds open you pull people from the cue by selecting them. It brings up the bed selection screen again and you enter the room number and it starts the t-max knowing the session time that you selected before.

[WendyJo]

Originally Posted by caribbean tan man

your correct, but we can get the computer stuff finished. then we manually set the tmax when the rooms ready. my customers and employees are trained to do the transaction when the client walks in and comes to the desk.

just seems to be a pain. like if someone comes in and wants a lotion and a upgrade. im going to have to sell the lotion have them wait for the bed then pay for the upgrade visit. what if thats credit thats BS.

AM I OVER THINKING THIS~

I think people are generally okay when you explain that you've "upgraded our system so we have to do this a different way" blah, blah... I don't think you'll get much heat for it.

Here's what we do:

All rooms are full, Client A comes in... We chat them up, then check their lotion situation, eye protection, ask what level they would like to do.... We tell them that level is full right now, I'll add you to the wait list. We can talk about lotions, and I just hold it at the counter (if they're wanting to purchase new lotion) until I call them up to get their fingerprint and they can pay for their lotion and their upgrade then. All together in one sale.

For real, we've never had a problem with this.

[WendyJo]

Originally Posted by unity

How it should work:

Client comes in, all beds are running or dirty. You pull up the account and they pay for a walk-in or use a session. Helios knows nothing is open because you selected a level with nothing available. It say "No beds are open, do you want to add this tan to the wait cue?". You click yes, it subtracts a session or processed cash/check/credit card as it normally would. But instead of telling the t-max to start a session, it put them into the wait screen cue.

As beds open you pull people from the cue by selecting them. It brings up the bed selection screen again and you enter the room number and it starts the t-max knowing the session time that you selected before.

Yes, that would be ideal... hope that happens one day!

[caribbean tan man]

Originally Posted by unity

Right. But thats the "problem". It really does nothing. It just an electronic scratch pad. We used it for a while, but you cant track more than the clients name.

How it should work:

Client comes in, all beds are running or dirty. You pull up the account and they pay for a walk-in or use a session. Helios knows nothing is open because you selected a level with nothing available. It say "No beds are open, do you want to add this tan to the wait cue?". You click yes, it subtracts a session or processed cash/check/credit card as it normally would. But instead of telling the t-max to start a session, it put them into the wait screen cue.

As beds open you pull people from the cue by selecting them. It brings up the bed selection screen again and you enter the room number and it starts the t-max knowing the session time that you selected before.

that is EXACTLY how i ASSumed it would work. And is how it SHOULD work. is just a helios problem. do other softwares do it the correct way.

im waiting for someone to tell me thats how centrix works! LOL

EILEEN i do not have 2 stations but have thought about it. please send me a pm or post in here what you know about it. and if it would make things easier.

[unity]

I have two stations! Easy to setup Helios up for it, not so easy on the networking if you dont know what you are doing though. If you have more than one salon and each has multiple work stations, it can get crAzY!

[caribbean tan man]

just 1 salon here and im pretty good at the stuff. i can atleast easily be guided thru it