What's different about the new Cafetalk?

For all of you who have moved or are considering moving from the old Cafetalk (at http://www.cafetalk.jp), here's a summary of changes and improvements that have been made.

• Fully bilingual (English/Japanese) website!
  Yes, now the site is completely bilingual with more languages in the pipeline. Now tutors can register as students to check out the student interface (we strongly encourage you to do so). And more importantly you'll be able to offer lessons to non-Japanese speakers as well!
• New scheduling system

  Check all your weekly and monthly lessons using a calendar-like interface. Check each tutor's available times at a glance, too! Everything should be much more visible in the new system.

• Full time zone conversion

  The new Cafetalk will seamlessly convert all times to your local time. And we now support daylight savings time! Hurray!

• New and improved reciprocal feedback system.

  Now, both students and tutors will be able to review each other after every lesson. As with before, reviews will enable students to find tutors with good reputation. With the new system this will work both ways. Tutors will be able to evaluate students too, which in turn should help other tutors to decide whether or not to take on a student. We're hoping the mutual reviews process will encourage both tutors and students to act responsibly and with good will to make Cafetalk a platform where everybody can feel safe and comfortable using.
  Oh, and one more thing: Tutors who have received a certain amount of positive reviews will get a "Top Rated Tutor" medal on their profile, so that's something new to look forward to.

• Students can mark a request "complete" as well as tutors.
  In the old system this was not so, but we've shifted the responsibility to the students. If the student forgets the lesson will be automatically marked complete 7 days after the scheduled lesson date.
• Cancel lessons from your dashboard
  Well, it's about time! Yes, this feature has long been requested and it's finally here. Both tutors and students will be able to cancel a request from their dashboard. But be careful as penalties may apply. (See below)
• "Penalties" for time changes and cancellations made within 24 hours of a lesson

  Well, this is a feature we would have preferred to do without, but thought it necessary for everyone's benefit. Hopefully these new rules will discourage "no-shows" and sudden cancellations on both sides of the camp. Details as follows:

  • Reschedule requests made by students within 24 hours of a lesson >> 200 points will be deducted from the student's account and added to the tutor fees.
  • Reschedule requests made by tutors within 24 hours of a lesson >> 200 points will be deducted from the tutor's fees and transferred to the student's account (unless it's for a free trial in which case no transfer of points will occur)
  • Cancellations made by students within 24 hours of a lesson >> The tutor will be given the option of charging 0%, 50% or full price.

• Changes made to payment cycle
  Unlike in the old version, you'll now have to make a "payment request" in order to initiate payment. Making a payment request is as easy as a few clicks from your dashboard, but there is a minimum payout of 1,000 JPY. All payment requests made by or on the 3rd of the month will be paid out by the 15th of the same month.
  Also, please be aware that Cafetalk is a new company and so you'll be receiving payment from a new account under the name of Small Bridge.
• Tutor generated coupons
  Now you can give out discount coupons to special students. Or offer a limited-time coupon to temporarily boost your student base. How you make use of the coupon system is completely up to you!
• Other things

  More features are still to come. Updates will be posted on our blog..