Zero finish time

[TOnyaL]

I need to be able to have a color with process time then zero finish. The 5 minutes throws off our entire scheduling when someone else is cutting/finishing. I cant find a way around this while still having the process time needed to follow with the finish appointment but keeping the colorist schedule open after the initial application. 

[_Violet]

Hi @TOnyaL and thanks for reaching out with your question. I apologize, but I'm having a little trouble understanding exactly what the ask is here.

Before creating a service with processing time, here are some useful definitions:

• Initial duration is the time needed to set up before a service (e.g. applying color).

• Processing duration is the time needed to allow the initial step to set (e.g. waiting for color to process).

• Final duration is the time needed to complete service (e.g. rinse hair, apply treatment).

• Total duration of the service is a sum of all the above.
  
  For each service, or variation of a service, you can choose to add additional time to the total amount of time for the service for processing, and/or block extra time after the appointment. Based on what you've said, it sounds like you'd want to keep the processing time, but not block off any additional time after the appointment, so you could toggle that option off.
  
  
  
  I hope I've understood that correctly, but I'll also tag in some Square Champions, who also use Square Appointments, to offer their input: @cadresalon @tomven @JessPoynter @MALqueerhair 

[TOnyaL]

Im looking to have process time attached to the coloring service without the finish time so a colorist can color, the client processes and another stylist finishes with the blowout or cut. Having to have the finish time attached to the colorist does not work with our scheduling and I cant figure out a way around this.

[adamkinhair]

I agree with @TOnyaL I need to have a zero finishing time as an option for multiple staff booking. The scheduling system does not allow me to properly structure color appointments. The issue with Final Duration time is that the area can't be available to book over

Lets say a color initial time is 45 minutes, and the processing time is also 45 minutes. In a real salon environment, our process time includes the time needed to allow the initial step to set (e.g. waiting for color to process) AND the time needed to complete service (e.g. rinse hair, apply treatment). What this means in a departmentalized salon is that someone else can book in that 45 minute processing time slot. 

The square system forces us to separate the processing time into two stages where we have to separate that 45 minute. So now we have 40 minute processing time and 5 minute "final duration". This means that we can not book another color in that time slot through online booking. 

And NO, adding another 5 minutes into the process time will throw off most salons bookings as most, if not all, run on 15 minute intervals. 

So the Square team has to either make the Final Duration with a ZERO option, or an option to remove it.  

I've been using the square booking system for 9 months, and this is nearly becoming a deal breaker. Please fix this!

@cadresalon @tomven @JessPoynter @MALqueerhair 

[adamkinhair]

Notice the spots circled in red cannot be be booked at all causing huge conflicts in online booking. Now when a client goes book online for a color service that requires a 45 minute initial duration, they cannot book a 12pm slot, 2pm slot, or a 415pm slot. This is costing us time and future earnings/bookings. 

If we were to add another 5 minutes to "Processing Duration", then clients cannot book a 45 minute service at 1245pm and also cannot book a 30 minute service at 245pm, and so forth. As mention in my previous post, efficiently ran salons schedules in 15 minute intervals. 

Hopefully this clear things up a bit. I saw other post mentioning this, and yet none tried to solve the issue, or completely ignores it, like this post create by @TOnyaL. The OP's post has been nearly a month ago!

I love the square system, but no other salon booking system does this "final duration" thing, and if they do, its an OPTION. If your software is charging users to allow multiple staff, then this needs to be resolved as soon as possible. 

@cadresalon @tomven @JessPoynter @MALqueerhair 

[TOnyaL]

Exactly. Baaically Would love to be able to schedule a color with process time attached (for accurate finish time/double booking) then chose my secondary service either with that same stylist or another. Having to schedule combined color & cuts or color & blow drys does not work for us as not all of us do the finish service. This system does not allow for us to use assistants appropriately. Please help. Im 3 weeks in and feel like i made a huge mistake as its costing us ALOT of wasted time.

[adamkinhair]

@_Violet @ Any updates yet on this?

[adamkinhair]

@cadresalon @tomven @JessPoynter @MALqueerhair 

[JessPoynter]

Apologies for my delay in response, @adamkinhair 

Unfortunately I agree that the workaround you've come up with is the best living "solution" for this problem. 
I will do what I can to continue this escalation for exposure. 

[adamkinhair]

I actually did not propose a workaround. The work around is to tell clients to call us if they can't find an appointment, which defeats the purpose of online booking. 

Its difficult to continue with Square even though I prefer your check out system, if this doesn't get fix.