Customers near you complain about waiting? Tell them your wait time

Long waits come up again and again in reviews. Is your wait short? Then say so on your listing. Give an honest time. A customer who knows what to expect is calmer when they arrive.

Salim runs a two chair barber shop in a market lane. Reviews of shops nearby said "waited one hour" and "no idea when my turn comes".

Salim takes bookings on the phone. His walk in wait is often short. But his listing said nothing about it.

He added a line to his listing about his usual wait and his phone booking. He also started telling callers how long the wait was.

This is an example, with a made up name and business.

1. Check your own reviews first. If your customers also complain about waiting, fix that before you post.
2. Time your real wait. For one week, note how long people wait at busy and quiet times.
3. Write one honest line. For example, "Usual wait 10 to 15 minutes. Call ahead on weekends." Use your own real times.
4. Add it to your listing. Open your Business Profile and tap Edit profile. Add the line to your description.
5. Tell people the quiet times. If mornings are quiet, say so. Many customers will choose that time.
6. Add a booking option if you have one. Our guide on Book and Order buttons shows how.
7. Keep your phone answered. A customer who calls to ask about the wait should get an answer. See our phone number guide.

Rules to keep

• Give a time you can really keep.
• Never say another place is slow.
• Change the line if your wait gets longer.

My wait is long on weekends. Should I still post?

Yes, be honest. Say "longer on weekends, call first". Honesty helps more than a promise you break.

Can I promise "no waiting"?

Only if it is always true. It is safer to give a usual time.

Will this bring more customers?

Nobody can promise that. It helps a customer plan, and that removes one worry.