Thoughts on Diamond 9' Smart Tables

[Bbutler]

Wondering what the opinion is from room owners. Diamond offers the 'smart table' in a 9-foot version that can be set where $5 or whatever gets you a certain amount of playing time, say 30 mins. Do you think this is a better model or worse than the traditional arrangement where a person gets a rack of balls from reception and then pays for their time at the end of their session?

It seems like the upside is you don't have to really pay a receptionist or have a computer tracking the hours played on each table. You also would eliminate theft where your counter staff might be letting friends play for free, or even taking money from table renters without turning the computer on. It sounds like a great solution, but is there a downside I can't see?

 

[Banks]

Wondering what the opinion is from room owners. Diamond offers the 'smart table' in a 9-foot version that can be set where $5 or whatever gets you a certain amount of playing time, say 30 mins. Do you think this is a better model or worse than the traditional arrangement where a person gets a rack of balls from reception and then pays for their time at the end of their session?

It seems like the upside is you don't have to really pay a receptionist or have a computer tracking the hours played on each table. You also would eliminate theft where your counter staff might be letting friends play for free, or even taking money from table renters without turning the computer on. It sounds like a great solution, but is there a downside I can't see?

The downside could be a way to fool the mechanism or possible repairs to the unit. Automating non-essential processes like that is pretty good. Currently, as you mention, special programs are needed.

I suppose another downside could be that it may be more difficult to have people able to get onto a waiting list, since there's no real way of keeping track of open tables.

Oh, it would be easier for people to steal balls from the tables, unless, of course, you have them checked out and merely use the mechanism to collect money. It would also give you a good idea on which tables people prefer to play on, etc.

 

[Donny Wessels]

Wondering what the opinion is from room owners. Diamond offers the 'smart table' in a 9-foot version that can be set where $5 or whatever gets you a certain amount of playing time, say 30 mins. Do you think this is a better model or worse than the traditional arrangement where a person gets a rack of balls from reception and then pays for their time at the end of their session?

It seems like the upside is you don't have to really pay a receptionist or have a computer tracking the hours played on each table. You also would eliminate theft where your counter staff might be letting friends play for free, or even taking money from table renters without turning the computer on. It sounds like a great solution, but is there a downside I can't see?

you brought up some good points about removing the labor and trust from the equation. Couple things to consider, the time mechanism will use dollar coins. It can be confusing to your new customers buying time from a coin operated pool table, they will think it $5 per game. also if your selling increments of 30 minutes, customer might wait 20-30 minutes before buying more time.

 

[cardiac kid]

Wondering what the opinion is from room owners. Diamond offers the 'smart table' in a 9-foot version that can be set where $5 or whatever gets you a certain amount of playing time, say 30 mins. Do you think this is a better model or worse than the traditional arrangement where a person gets a rack of balls from reception and then pays for their time at the end of their session?

It seems like the upside is you don't have to really pay a receptionist or have a computer tracking the hours played on each table. You also would eliminate theft where your counter staff might be letting friends play for free, or even taking money from table renters without turning the computer on. It sounds like a great solution, but is there a downside I can't see?

Perhaps a call to Paul Smith, Rick Jones or Ed Hagan might give you some additional input. They would know what the repair rate is on Smart table coin / bill operations. Don't they use the 9' Smart tables at Derby City?

Lyn