How to Run a Coat Check Without Paper Tickets
A paperless coat check gives every item a number and a photo, puts the ticket on the guest’s phone, hands things back with one scan, and has a clear routine for lost tickets and for what is left at closing.
The essentials
- Give every item the next free number and a photo as it comes in.
- Put the ticket on the guest’s phone, so it cannot be dropped or washed.
- Find lost tickets by photo, and ask whoever collects to sign.
- End each night with a list of what was left, and move it to lost and found.
Why paper tickets fail
Paper tickets are cheap until the queue is long. They get dropped on the dance floor, go through the wash in a jacket pocket and end up in a heap of near-identical coats. At closing nobody knows which unclaimed coat belonged to whom.
Check in with a number and a photo
Give every coat, bag or suitcase the next free hanger or shelf number, and take a photo of it. The photo settles most disputes later and finds the item when a ticket is lost.
In vFound Checkroom the camera opens as soon as staff tap Check in, the next free number is given automatically, and the desk sees how many numbers are in use out of its capacity.
Put the ticket on the guest’s phone
A ticket on the guest’s phone is hard to lose. With vFound Checkroom the guest scans a QR code on the staff screen, or gets the ticket by email, and keeps a private page showing their number. Staff can also print a ticket for anyone without a phone.
Hand back in one scan
To hand something back, scan the guest’s ticket or type its number and tap Hand back. A long queue at closing moves as fast as staff can walk to the rail.
When a ticket is lost, find the item by its photo or the guest’s name, and ask whoever collects to sign on the screen.
Queues, luggage and fees
For busy entrances, switch on self check-in: guests scan a sign while they queue and fill in their ticket, and staff give it a number when they take the item. Bell desks can store luggage with a collect-by time. If the venue charges, staff record cash or card and each night shows its total.
End the night properly
At closing, end the night: anything still there is marked as left, while stored luggage due later stays. With vFound Lost & Found as well, the items you choose move straight into it with their photo, and guests who left an email are told their things are safe.
Frequently asked questions
Do guests need an app for a digital coat check ticket?
No. With vFound Checkroom the guest scans a QR code on the staff screen with their phone camera, or gets the ticket by email. It opens as a private page.
What happens if a guest loses their ticket?
Staff find the item by its photo, the guest’s name or room, and the person collecting signs on the screen. The handover is recorded.
Can we charge for the coat check?
Yes. Set a fee in Settings and staff record whether each guest paid by cash or card. Each night shows its total.