Package Deals vs other options

[prettyj]

Right now I currently have package deals that aren't getting taken by clients. They are prepaid so I think that might be part of it. On the ABMP website I found a "Healthy Rewards" idea and would like some feedback on the idea. They have where you can buy5 get the 6th at half price or buy 10 get the 11th free. does anyone do both or what is your opinion on the two I guess?

Also, if I did the Health Rewards - prepaid package or just as you go to make it more of a deal for people to take?

 

[Chopsmom]

I do a pre-paid package of buy 5 get one. It works out to be about a 17% savings. While I have the deal listed on my website, I haven't spent a lot of time promoting it. Yet this month I've sold two, one to an establish client (his second package purchase) and one to a client who came to see me months and months ago!

I don't set an expiration on when they can be used, and I don't let clients "share" them with family or friends.

I think the buy 5 and get the 6th at half price doesn't offer enough of a discount to motivate a savvy client.

 

[i-luv-vampires]

I have seen one promo I like but have not implimented yet.
when pre-paying buy 5 get 6th free, but for the regulars who do not like to pre-pay it's buy 5 get the 6th half price.

 

[Erick]

I advertise 2 packages and have a third I do for clients who are multi weekers. I let couples share the package. I find that if you let people share a package they will come in more often and purchase again. I don't get much for the two I advertise, but have four couples using my unadvertised.

Buy 3 - 10% off - 4 months to use
Buy 6 - 15% off - 6 months to use

Unadvertised 14 pack for just over 25% off. My couples go thru these in a month to everyother month.

 

[starshine dreamer]

Within the past year most of my clients are pre-paid. The special is buy 6 and get the 7th free. I let all my clients know about the special. Especially when a client has come in for the second time within a couple weeks, I remind them while they are booking the next appointment about the special and also let them know how much they are saving. At that rate, they save about $7 per half hour, $12 per hour and $15 per ninety minute.

It seems a lot to them and may to you as well, but the clients who purchase series seem to actually come in more often which really adds up to more $$ and business for me then if they didn't have pre-paid sessions.

Also, most of the type of work I do, the client needs to come in regularly for a bit and I remind them how easy it is to come in regularly when they purchase a series. I also have them schedule all the appointments in the series at once so they get the time they want. That could be a nightmare but I rarely have no-shows.

Besides just having a special, you really have to market it well if you want clients to purchase. Talk with them about the benefits of regular massage and such.

 

[funkififer]

I finally have my prices set to where I am comfortatable enough to encourage my clients to take advaneforum.xxxe of a package.

My pre paid package is buy 10 get one free. People like to hear free. Currently only 2 of my clients use a package. But, I would like to encourage more to do so and then encourage them to book freely while they have the package. I know quite a few of my regulars who are clients would do it. BUT, they would not come in more frequently, they would stay the course at one per month.

 

[FaithM]

We offer several package options, providing by far the best deal on the largest package. Our package sales have been increasing despite limited "push" from us. (We're very low-key on sales.)

Right now we give people purchasing a package a choice between a small cash discount OR a freebie of some kind (retail product, massage(s), or both). Though the freebies are worth more, almost everyone chooses the immediate cash discount.

With the holidays coming, we are looking forward to a massive increase in package sales, provided we structure the holiday offer well. Post-holiday, we will see enormous redemptions, so are considering incentives for people to pay with something other than gift cards in the first few months of 2009.

 

[Angeltress]

With the holidays coming, we are looking forward to a massive increase in package sales, provided we structure the holiday offer well. Post-holiday, we will see enormous redemptions, so are considering incentives for people to pay with something other than gift cards in the first few months of 2009.

Jason, who do you want to get massage in the first few months of 2009? Clients who didn't purchase packages or are you trying to get package clients to pay cash in the early part of the year and hold off redeeming their package massages?

My package clients don't sit on their package sessions. They book them ahead and use em' up without any encouragement.

What are your stipulations for your packages? Must they be used within a specified amount of time?

 

[bobcat11eob]

Our packages don't have expiration dates. We don't put any special stipulations on them.

In the first few months of 2009, we'd like as many people as possible to get massages.

If some of those people pay with cash, credit card, or check, it will help our bottom line, so I am inclined to provide an incentive to do so.

 

[madiesmum]

Gotcha, I understand.

Personally, I would never ever sell a prepaid package without a expiration date. We treat our prepaids differently than gift certificates. We want clients to use packages. If I didn't put an expiration date on them, I can see the potential for clients to drag them out, not worry about them and even forget about them. Maybe that's what you want?

How is your redemption rate on prepaids?

 

[Y Y]

I don't put expiration dates on my packages. It's not that I want my clients to forget, it's that some of them have unusual schedules (one is a pilot who makes trips to Iraq & afghanistan. I might not see him for three months, and then he'll come three weeks in a row.) I think it comes down to the fact that they paid for the sessions and may use them at their discretion, not my convenience.

And based on comments on this thread I have told people they may share them with family members. I now have 3 new clients.

 

[Judy M]

I don't put expiration dates on my packages. It's not that I want my clients to forget, it's that some of them have unusual schedules (one is a pilot who makes trips to Iraq & afghanistan. I might not see him for three months, and then he'll come three weeks in a row.) I think it comes down to the fact that they paid for the sessions and may use them at their discretion, not my convenience.

And based on comments on this thread I have told people they may share them with family members. I now have 3 new clients.

My packages are for those who can use them and abide by my requirements. I would not expect to get a discount if I have an irratic schedule. On a punch card system this works out okay, but not on a prepaid.

I allow family members who live in the same household to share packages.