[LeChatNinjah]

I work in a mostly sales related job.

I work 9 - 5 Monday to Friday and every other Saturday morning just to take sales appointments for those who can't make it during the week.

On Saturday mornings that I"m there the only reason I'm there is to meet with these people who have appointments.

On average, 40% don't show up and don't call.

Yesterday I had 6 appointments and 2 showed up on time and another showed up 40 minutes late.

Am I wrong in thinking that's rude as?

Also, when the person who was 40 minutes late arrived I was on my way out of the door with my handbag on and I politely but clearly told her that I was on my way out because I thought she wasn't showing up. I still did "the appointment".

If you showed up 40 minutes late would you consider it rude if the person you were supposed to meet let their displeasure show?

Would you simply not show up to an appointment and not call?

Am I being too tough?

[nlman]

That would seriously annoy me too OP!

Do you confirm their appointment the day before? I love when people do that!

[futureself]

Very rude on their part OP and no, you were fine to let them know you weren't impressed.
Good idea on the confirming the day before though, it may just prompt people to cancel especially if they can just text.

[Pooks*potters]

I do think it's rude.

If it is happening routinely, I would do a reminder call or SMS, a call is better.

[Mercurial]

I think it's incredibly rude. Though I've waited upwards of 40 mins for appointments when I've been on time!

[neddyteddy]

I feel your pain! I'm a Beauty Therapist. MOST of my clients are awesome and understand that making an appointment means you turn up at a particular time...others however are a nightmare. I now charge a deposit for long appointments to cover myself. I'm not very good at hiding the fact it is annoying when people are late. The least they can do is call. If it's my last appointment I only wait 10minutes if I don't hear from them I shut my doors.
Maybe when you set your appointments up get a phone number and let them know you need to run to time so that others are not put out.

[libbylu]

Of course it's rude, but it happens everywhere.
At least as many people don't show up to medical appointments, inconveniencing medical professionals, increasing waiting list times and costing the healthcare system heaps - I know your frustration!
Do you have a reminder system in place such as text message sent out the day before, or that morning with a requirement to respond 'yes' to confirm the appointment?
These kind of tactics can make a difference.

This post has been edited by libbylu: 03/02/2013, 08:16 PM

[Alacritous~Andy]

Pet peeve of mine, too, OP. i used to hate when I would make special arrangements so that I could accommodate an after hours appointment (eg get DH to finish up early and pick up DS, and then he would have to bring work home), only to have the person not show.

[roses99]

I think it's extremely rude.

I admit, I like getting the text reminder from my hairdresser. Usually I've remembered, but occasionally i've forgotten to write it in my diary and I'm very grateful for the reminder.

Being sales, I don't suppose there's anything you can do to give people an incentive to turn up? Or a disincentive to not show?

My father is a psychologist and - because his appointments are usually an hour in duration - he can only see six people in a day. He also puts in night-before prep for those patients/clients. And usually there's one person a day who doesn't show. I'm always at my mum (his practice manager) to charge the people who don't show up, but they're a bit too soft.

I would get contact numbers for people and call them the day before, just to be sure they've remembered. And could you refuse to rebook with people who don't show up?

[Malaya]

"I'm so sorry I'm 40 mins late, yet again and didn't call. It's just you know traffic n my battery is dead right? You don't have anything better to do or anywhere else to go so... Would you please still...."

"No. I'm on my way out, shop's closed. You could try this place, they're super busy, you may have to wait 2 hrs for your appointment, because, you know, people are always late showing up."



F'ing hate serial late people. No one is more special than them ya know.