Calendar time vs Buffer time

[joeadkins33]

This also should be another quick fix the engineers/developers at MS can fix and push out in 10 minutes. Maybe a toggle in "edit service" under "duration" and "before" options to "LIST CALL TIME AT BEGINNING OF CALENDAR EVENT TITLE". Or even option to list at end, just the call TIME, not the date.

This way we can see the time at least in the beginning of the Title/Subject of the appointment.

Because otherwise the appt. could be at 11:30 - 11:45 (for 15 min appts) but block on my calendar is showing 11am to 12:15pm (with 30 minutes buffer before and after) AND IN ORDER TO SEE THE ACTUAL TIME (unless i remember my buffer settings) I NEED TO CLICK AND EXPAND THE APPT (like on outlook web version which we all use over desktop).

Then when we open the calendar details the ACTUAL TIME OF CALL is buried in the details:

EXAMPLE OF TIME BURIED IN DETAILS on the Calendar Event (bolded by me to point it out, but blends in by default):

Booking Info
--------------------
Service name: Phone call with <company rep> regarding Question
Location: Our business address
Price: Free

Custom Fields
----------------------
Question 1- What is your current market sentiment/attitude?
Answer- Optimistic

Buffer time:
--------------------
Before: 30min (11:00 AM).
Time with customer: 11:30 AM–11:45 AM
After: 30min (12:15 PM)
Time zone:(UTC-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada)

Additional Information
--------------------------

Internal Notes

[jrobinson]

Has there been any improvement here? The buffer time is necessary for being a functional solution but the giant calendar block is such a pain. Would like to see the buffer times be separate 'event's with no notification - the actual time be the 'real event' and have the notification tied to it. 
I'm sure there are other ways to skin it, but a giant block of time and having to dig for detail is burdensome.

[Max-Sp]

Is there anything happening?

The big calender blocks are confusing and sometimes I'm ready at the wrong time because my outlook calender is notifying me at the wrong time!

As example buffertime 1h before and after for a 9 o'clock appointment = calender blocks from 8 to 10. So the calender is notifying me 30 min before (standard notifying time) at 0730 o'clock 🥲

Please Microsoft read the forum and do something!

How about blocked buffertime events without notification! Easiest solution!

[nephyrias]

This is the only thing that's keeping several of our customers, including us, from switching from Calendly to Bookings. Seems like an easy enough fix to create some serious opportunities.

[jeribirkes]

I have immediately had to stop using Bookings and it is very annoying to have spent all the time setting this up. My calendar view is now totally false because the display includes a 30 minute buffer before and after. Doesnt Microsoft use project managers that could have pointed this out????

[Darren_White]

This has been an annoyance for me since I started using bookings.  Exact same problem as indicated by the previous posters.  I travel for my bookings, and so build in travel times, but I want my calendar to reflect my meeting time, not the buffer time.

[akn93]

This really needs to be fixed as soon as possible, no idea how this could become the default at all...

[Max-Sp]

Hello someone @ Microsoft,

can you please give us an update? Is this such a hard task to fix?
My phone, surface etc. everything is alerting me at the wrong time!
Can you please make the buffer times as standalone eventes? And maybe set an option to also get notified for the buffertime (just a check box)
But having the reminder at the start of the buffertime and not for the event itself is just annoying! :(

[akn93]

Why create an event for the buffer at all? Might make sense for a 2h demo (preparation), but if you offer many e.g. 15 min slots for questions/support, all the buffer events just make your calendar look messy. 

[Max-Sp]

@akn93Well, there are a lot of different work types.
Some people (like me) have no appointment less than 30 min, mostly 1 hour or longer.
I need this to prepare the 3D Renderings, Material Collection etc. for the customer.

But this could be easily changed by a "Checkbox" - Do I need a Buffertime event or not? Only before the event or also after the event.

I seriously can't wrap my mind around it why the implemantation is so hard, but what do I know.

[akn93]

Agree, a checkbox would be the most flexible solution. Actually, any solution would be better than the current implementation :)

[Scott Elkins]

Ideally, IMO, bookings would work like this:

Configured for 15 minutes buffer time before AND after meetings. This give me time to prepare for the next meeting or get to my next appointment.

A customer opens my bookings page and wants to book a 1 hour appointment. Bookings only shows time slots where there is 1 hour 30 minutes available. This provides for 15 minutes before, 1 hour meeting, then 15 minutes after. The meeting time selected is what shows up on my calendar, not 15 minutes before (ie the 15 minute buffer before meetings). The meeting time is 1 hour only so the calendar event does not include the buffer time before or after the meeting.

Everyone has different needs and schedules. This simple change in the logic would fit most people. Another suggestion would be to have user-configurable fixed time slots. For example, 8-9am, 9:30-10:30am, 11am-noon, etc.

[nbolmer]

I am so glad that I found this - I'm a contractor for a business that uses Bookings, and it's a great system, but the buffer situation is making my calendar unusable. This absolutely MUST be fixed. I need a significant buffer between appointments, but I don't always have to use it. I just need my appointments spaced out - how in the world does that translate to wanting buffer time in my calendar? This is absolutely unacceptable. 

[taililing]

I'm shocked Microsoft haven't done some of the most basic functionalities with Bookings. I feel like they released it half baked to get into the market but missed some really obvious aspects and then over engineered others.

[Max-Sp]

@taililing Yeah, and I find it even more sad, that this basic feature still is not implemented...
I still have to check each event in my outlook by hand because the buffertime is integrated in the events.
It is bad @Microsoft - or to say it in a bit more positive way - It is badly needed!

[Lydia3043]

I just joined Bookings and this is a HUGE problem!! I can't believe this has not been figured out. I have 3 back to back meetings today because I would rather not have a buffer time than incorrectly tell my clients when I'm meeting with them. This seems like it should be a priority for the developers to fix considering how long this thread has been active.

[heyjudeuk]

Here's a workaround for the 'buffer time issue'

Hi folks, this is indeed annoying behaviour by MS Bookings and the first time I used it, resulted in me ringing my client 30 minutes early. I've created a workaround using Microsoft Power Automate that automatically creates a buffer appointment (with reminders OFF) around the actual booking. I've got a detailed step-by-step how to on my blog here:

Fixing the buffer time problem in Microsoft Bookings