❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Bowling Chatter is a service management platform designed specifically for bowling centers. It connects your front desk staff with service bay technicians through instant notifications, real-time messaging, and comprehensive tracking - eliminating the chaos of walkie-talkies and missed service calls.

Bowling Chatter is built for bowling centers of all sizes. It's used by:

• Front desk staff - to send service requests when bowlers report issues
• Mechanics/Technicians - to receive alerts and track their work
• Managers/Owners - to monitor response times and lane performance

Walkie-talkies have limitations that Bowling Chatter solves:

• No missed calls - Notifications persist until acknowledged, unlike radio calls that can be missed
• Complete tracking - Every request is logged with timestamps, who handled it, and completion notes
• No "what channel?" - Everything goes to the right place automatically
• Accountability - See exactly when calls were made, acknowledged, and completed
• Analytics - Track response times and identify problem lanes

No! Bowling Chatter works on devices you already have:

• Any computer with a web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge)
• Android phones and tablets (app available)
• iPhones and iPads (app available)
• Reveive notifications on your watch as well with the app installed on your phone.

Most centers use an existing computer or tablet at the front desk and a monitor in the service bay.

This includes unlimited users, unlimited service requests, all features, and both mobile apps.

No. Connect as many devices and staff members as you need at no extra cost. Your entire team can use Bowling Chatter - front desk, mechanics, managers - all included.

Contact us at support@bowlingchatter.com to request a demo or trial for your center.

Subscriptions can be purchased online at bowlingchatter.com/purchase.php. We accept all major credit cards.

Subscriptions renew annually on the anniversary of your original purchase date. You'll receive a reminder email before renewal.

Yes. You can cancel your subscription at any time. Your access will continue until the end of your current billing period.

Most centers are up and running in under 15 minutes. After purchase, you'll receive your login credentials and URLs immediately. Just open the web app on your devices and start using it!

No installation required for the web version. Simply open your web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge) and navigate to your center's URL. Bookmark it for easy daily access.

Each center gets two dedicated URLs:

• Front Desk: https://bowlingchatter.com/[your-center]/index.php
• Service Bay: https://bowlingchatter.com/[your-center]/service-bay.php

These are provided when you sign up. Contact support if you need them resent.

For the best experience:

• Use a dedicated monitor or TV in the service bay
• Connect a computer (even an inexpensive one works great)
• Open Chrome and navigate to your Service Bay URL
• Log in and click "Full Screen" for maximum visibility
• Make sure speakers are connected for audio alerts
• Download the app for your iOS or Android phone and receive realtime notifications for each call.

Yes! Your center is configured with the correct number of lanes when you sign up. If your lane count changes or was set incorrectly, contact support to update it.

Default service types include:

• Pin Jam
• Ball Return (Front/Back)
• Deadwood
• Sweep Issue
• Lane Issue
• Other

Need custom categories? You can add them from the Manage Service Categories area.

• Emergency (Red) - Machine completely down, bowlers waiting. Needs immediate attention.
• Urgent (Orange) - Affecting play, should be addressed soon.
• Routine (Blue) - Can be handled when convenient, not affecting current play.

Yes! The system tracks:

• When the call was created
• When it was acknowledged
• When it was completed
• Total response time
• Notes from the front desk, and the mechanics notes

This data is available in your service history and reports.

Frames Per Stop is a key metric measuring machine reliability. It shows how many frames of bowling occur between service stops. Higher FPS = better performing machines.

• 500+ FPS - Excellent
• 300-500 FPS - Average
• Below 300 FPS - Needs attention

Track FPS to identify lanes that need preventive maintenance.

Yes! Export your service call history to CSV format, which opens in Excel or Google Sheets. Great for analyzing trends, creating reports, or keeping records.

Yes! We have apps for both platforms:

• Android - Available now at bowlingchatter.com/download.php
• iOS (iPhone/iPad) - Available on the App Store as "Bowling Chatter - Service Bay"

The website works great and has full functionality. The mobile apps add:

• Push notifications - Get alerts even when the app is closed
• Better mobile experience - Optimized for phone screens
• On-the-go access - Perfect for mechanics moving around the building

Many centers use both - website at fixed stations, mobile app for technicians.

Check these common issues:

• Make sure notifications are enabled in your phone's Settings
• Check that the app has permission to send notifications
• Ensure you're logged in to the app
• Try logging out and back in to refresh your notification token
• Make sure Do Not Disturb mode is off

Absolutely! There's no limit to how many devices can be connected. All your staff can have the app installed and receive notifications simultaneously.

Bowling Chatter works with all modern browsers:

• Google Chrome (recommended)
• Mozilla Firefox
• Apple Safari
• Microsoft Edge

For the best experience, keep your browser updated to the latest version.

Bowling Chatter uses minimal bandwidth. Any standard internet connection (even basic DSL) is sufficient. The system is designed to work reliably even on slower connections.

An internet connection is required to send and receive notifications. If your connection drops temporarily, the system will sync when you're back online. Pending notifications will still be delivered.

Yes. We take security seriously:

• All data transmitted over HTTPS (encrypted)
• Passwords are securely hashed
• Sessions automatically expire after inactivity
• Each center's data is isolated

Sessions expire after a period of inactivity for security reasons. This prevents unauthorized access if a device is left unattended. Simply log back in to continue. The web version stays logged in longer than the mobile apps.

Contact support at support@bowlingchatter.com to request a password change. Include your center name for verification.

Currently, each center uses a shared password. This keeps things simple - staff don't need individual accounts, and there's no user management overhead. Your center's password should be shared only with authorized staff.

Email support@bowlingchatter.com with your center name. We'll verify your identity and provide password recovery assistance.

Yes! Each location needs its own subscription. Contact us for multi-location pricing if you operate multiple centers.

Email us at support@bowlingchatter.com. We typically respond within 24 hours on business days.

Yes! Visit our Documentation page for detailed instructions on every feature.

Absolutely! We love hearing from users. Email your suggestions to support@bowlingchatter.com. Many of our features came from user feedback.

Try these steps first:

• Refresh the page (F5 or pull-to-refresh on mobile)
• Log out and log back in
• Clear your browser cache
• Try a different browser

If the issue persists, email support with:

• Your center name
• What you were trying to do
• What happened instead
• Device/browser you're using
• Screenshots if possible