Benefit of Labelling customer machine

[Calx]

At the moment the most machines I have had simultaneously on my bench is 4. So I haven't had an issue remembering which is which. However I am starting to think perhaps there are other virtues to sticking labels on customers computers, for example free reminder to use me again.

I do use Repairshopr but not the asset tracking or the inventory really (just for tickets and customer database)

So my questions are anyone else think like this and if so what would you suggest I put on the label?

I am not planning to buy a special printer so would be using standard address labels and my AIO printer.

Thanks
Calx

 

[frase]

Best to ditch your AIO printer and get a label printer like a Dymo, will save you time just setup label and print.

 

[ChrisTech]

Labelling is a must - at least so you know which is which! I've not yet had the embarrassment of asking a customer which is theirs, and don't fancy having to either!

We have two labels - just a standard Avery label for Surname/Town that is put on the machine at time of collection. This has sorted similar issues in the workshop that you have experienced.

When the job is done, we then put a pre-printed sticker on the machine - underneath laptops and on the side of the towers - with our phone number and logo.

 

[allstarit]

I usually put the machine name on the label.

We also have a sticker with helpdesk phone number and email.

The machine label is mostly used at businesses with alot of pcs. When labelled correctly it easy to ask client to look at label on pc.
Seems to be easier then asking them to look on taskbar at the system tray icon for Max Focus.

For in our office/tech bench we put it in a bay with printout of ticket along with what accessories it came in with. Have about 4 bays to work on at any given time.

 

[Steve202]

I label every machine that goes on my bench. While I've got a good memory and can remember which is which, I know one day it's going to go pear shaped and I'll forget, hence the reason for labelling everything.

As for the printer, I got myself a second hand Dymo label printer from ebay years ago.

 

[TECCS]

I am a very small business with limited funds I use the job sheet and stick it to the machine with masking tape and then as contact or promotion I have had these stickers made by a company (both are better quality than the photos) I have had customers complain about the stickers from other companies before but that my little one looks more professional and more easily removed if not wanted.

 

[calldrdave]

Hat tip to Paco and YFNCG on this one. I got one of those Dymo label printers for $70 on Amazon. I don't integrate with RepairShopr, but everything in the office has a label. I get somewhat obsessed about it now. What I like is we'll put the client name, the ticket number and the number of devices. That way we make sure to give everything back to the client. So it might say "Jones 50276 1/4" then "2/4". We'll also try to use it for quick status updates like "In recovery process" or "pending updates." We could do that on a physical ticket but it's so easy to print these labels.

At the end of the call, we'll leave a ticket on the computer and power adapter. I see BestBuy does that and it's a good way for the client to remember who you are.

 

[fincoder]

I am a very small business with limited funds I use the job sheet and stick it to the machine with masking tape

Same here.

 

[MichaelEC]

Mine too. There's nothing wrong with taping the work order/invoice to the machine.

Each machine that comes in gets an invoice sheet with customer info, described problem, machine info, and date that it came in. That sheet stays with the machine until it leaves the shop, signed by the customer then gets filed.

 

[SAFCasper]

We put labels on pretty much everything. Saved my ass more than a few times with accessories like power adaptors, laptop bags, flash drives etc.

 

[JPoodle]

We label everything and make the intake process inventory everything left and notate any deep scratches or damage. Repairshopr will print bar codes on asset labels huge time saver. Picked up an inexpensive scanner that can reach our workbench and usually but the ticket bar code on the main machine in addition to asset tag but check in and out all o the assets attached to the customer.

 

[mikeroq]

We are in the dark ages, I wish our process was better, but that's wishful thinking.

At the very least the hand written work order is with the PC. Haven't really had any issues.

I need to finish working on my ticket/repair tracking system but haven't had the time, or much desire since it will never be used.

 

[Krynn72]

We are in the dark ages, I wish our process was better, but that's wishful thinking.

At the very least the hand written work order is with the PC. Haven't really had any issues.

I need to finish working on my ticket/repair tracking system but haven't had the time, or much desire since it will never be used.

If you work for someone else, then I feel your pain. At my day job we still use an MS Access database built in the 90s and DOS POS software that prints invoices on a dot matrix printer and only works on XP.

Yes. A computer shop. Running XP computers because the owner refuses to update his process.


But if you're the owner of your company, then no excuses for people not following your new procedure. Start cracking that whip.

 

[sapphirescales]

If you work for someone else, then I feel your pain. At my day job we still use an MS Access database built in the 90s and DOS POS software that prints invoices on a dot matrix printer and only works on XP.

Yes. A computer shop. Running XP computers because the owner refuses to update his process.


But if you're the owner of your company, then no excuses for people not following your new procedure. Start cracking that whip.

Hey if it works and doesn't need to be connected to the internet, why change everything just to be a little more modern? I personally use no cloud services for my business. I have an invoicing software and a custom piece of software that I wrote for reminding clients when to bring their machines in next. There's no way in heck that I would EVER pay monthly/yearly for something like that.

 

[gikstar]

Since we specialize in Managed Service, we don't have a lot of systems around our workbench but we like to use wide blue painters tape and write whatever we need to on that after we stick it on their computer, etc. It's easier to remove than Scotch tape.

 

[Big Jim]

dymo label printer here, by default our CRM prints out a label with the booking in reference and customer name, we can print additional labels if its one of those customer that insists on bringing every possible device relating to the machine that they have.

edit just to say, the dymo printer is one of the best bits of kit I own, it just works.

 

[jfm]

Dymo labels too.
Just plain customer name and phone.
AC Adaptor are just so likely to get borrowed for testing and lost in the process !

 

[ComputerPro]

We also have a Dymo 450 turbo. Also a zebra label printer but that doesn't get used much anymore. We use RepairShopr and generate a customer label for their equipment that tells us when it was in and also has their name etc. We always have 30+ systems on our benches so it's a must but it helps when they bring it in again also. We print out customer labels for extra things they bring in also. Laptop power adapters, printers, bag of software etc. Looks much better than writing their name on tape or something else.

 

[GTP]

Really embarrassing and inconvenient when you give a client back the wrong PSU for a laptop or arrive at someone's house with the wrong computer!
I've been labelling everything that a client brings in. Saves time and money!
I use a Brother QL-500 to print sticky labels that can be stuck on the bottom of laptops or on the bottom side of desktops.
They fit nicely on PSU's, modems, Ext HDD's etc as well. I can cut to fit if needed.

 

[mikeroq]

If you work for someone else, then I feel your pain. At my day job we still use an MS Access database built in the 90s and DOS POS software that prints invoices on a dot matrix printer and only works on XP.

Yes. A computer shop. Running XP computers because the owner refuses to update his process.


But if you're the owner of your company, then no excuses for people not following your new procedure. Start cracking that whip.

We use a DOS POS software that first came out in in the 80s. Our version is up to date to 1999. Runs on a Novell netware network. POS at the front is a 486 machine that is an open case all rigged up. Still got mostly XP computers so they can run it. All my stuff runs on 7.

He will spend only the bare minimum on anything. New computers? Yea right. Need a new switch in the back? Here's a 30 one from Amazon instead of getting a 48 port gigabit so we can update our network and replace the 4 switches back there (which is a rats nest terminated to 66 block, yuck). Front window gets broken in 2011? Cover up the hole with plastic, glass finally falls out late 2015, replaces the glass with a home made window rigged up with 2x4s and plexiglass. Then one of the doors got shattered and that was replaced the same day (a miracle, I thought it would get plywood or something).

I wish we had a system for tracking repairs. Then he could check the status on everything when he is not on facebook all day.