Referral or Client with Gift Certificate?

[sensesfail2490]

I have a referral reward to my clients who refer new clients.

Sometimes they will purchase a gift certificate for someone, who then comes in to redeem it. Should the regular client be entitled to the "referral reward" as a result of the gift certificate being redeemed? They seem like separate issues.

 

[Billy Ray Joe Bob]

I used to give a referral reward for every referral (free 1/2 hour per referral). However, I stopped doing this and send them a hand-written thank you note instead. I feel like the client who was referred might feel like their friend/loved one only referred them to get the freebie rather than because of my mad skillz!

 

[Jen [Ghoast Kitteh]]

Referral or Client with Gift Certificate?

I have a referral reward to my clients who refer new clients.

Sometimes they will purchase a gift certificate for someone, who then comes in to redeem it. Should the regular client be entitled to the "referral reward" as a result of the gift certificate being redeemed? They seem like separate issues.

yep, i think they're separate issues. to me, a g/c purchase is not a referral. it's a gift.

i'm not big on doing the referral special anymore. i love that my clients refer me but i feel like i thank them in so many other ways that i don't want to give them X amount of dollars off massages anymore. i do like to thank them in different ways. sometimes a post card thank you note. sometimes a gift cert to a coffee place or sandwich store etc...

 

[Tali]

Okay, so the subject of this post came in today.

My regular client was at work and talking about her massage therapist (me) when another person overheard her, asking who she goes to because she is looking for a therapist in the same city.

My client gave her my name and phone number. The referral told her boyfriend who then came in and purchased a 90-minute gift certificate for her for Christmas.

The referral redeemed today. Now she never would have come in had it not been for my client. I am thinking that I should extend the referral reward to my regular client. It is, in fact, a referral, but in gift certificate form. And the referral loved the massage and said she would be back (although she did not rebook today).

Sometimes the "policy" is not so clear ... !

 

[juikeTede]

I do give referal credit for new clients who come in on a gift certificate, but then I dont give a free half hour for each referal! I currently give $10 credit. I think giving away a full half hour is excessive for refering only one person.

What does it matter if the referal paid with their own money or with someone elses money (the gift certificate?.) Paid is paid, and you were paid for that session in advance.

 

[enfriendemy]

Okay, so the subject of this post came in today.

My regular client was at work and talking about her massage therapist (me) when another person overheard her, asking who she goes to because she is looking for a therapist in the same city.

My client gave her my name and phone number. The referral told her boyfriend who then came in and purchased a 90-minute gift certificate for her for Christmas.

The referral redeemed today. Now she never would have come in had it not been for my client. I am thinking that I should extend the referral reward to my regular client. It is, in fact, a referral, but in gift certificate form. And the referral loved the massage and said she would be back (although she did not rebook today).

Sometimes the "policy" is not so clear ... !

that's a referral as far as i see it. i think the difference is it was a referral for a g/c purchase. when it's the client that purchases a g/c, it's a gift. to me, a gift is not a referral. at least i don't see it that way but then, who wants to start making up little ridiculous rules for every possible scenario. go by what you think/feel i guess. i'd at least send a thank you to this client anyway.

 

[originalbadguy2000]

terab -

I'm inclined to view this as a referral only since my client did not purchase the gift certificate.

And you are right, if a client purchases a gift certificate, it is a "gift" - not a referral.

Thanks for clearing this up in my mind!