General Questions
What is this Passbox thing all about?
Passbox.com is an online network built for the East Bay of San Francisco. It helps residents connect with their community, small businesses, and professionals.
Who should use Passbox.com?
If you're an East Bay resident who wants to get great deals from your favorite business members and connect to your local community, you might want to give it a try. Or if you're a businessperson who wants your customers and the community to know what's new with you, give it a whirl.
Do I have to live in the East Bay to join?
We'd prefer you were an East Bay resident. But if you work here and live somewhere else, that's OK. Or if you travel here often, grew up here, etc. That's OK, too.
Who started Passbox?
Ken and
Peter. We're friends who live in Alameda and Danville, respectively.
Passbox Questions
What is A Passbox?
A Passbox is a utility for residents of the East Bay. It's sort of like Tivo. Once you collect a pass to a business member, your Passbox will automatically receive their updates (like discounts, events, offers, new products, etc).
Do business members get a Passbox?
No. They get a Customer Network (see below).
What is a Pass?
A pass is a subscription residents collect to business members. Again, once you've collected a pass to a business, you will receive updates from that business in your Passbox.
This sounds like spam. Do business members get to email me?
Nope. Passbox was built to give you the freedom to choose the business members you want updates from. Updates from business members are placed in your Passbox. Your email is kept private, businesses never see it.
Can I turn my passes OFF, then ON again?
Yep, with the push of a button.
How come many of my favorite businesses aren't even on here?
This is a membership site and we're just getting started. Feel free to use your invite tool to invite businesspeople you like (you'll need their email address). Or email/call me (petereco at gmail dot com/925-837-6100) and I'll contact them for you.
Can I make friends like I do with Facebook?
Sure. And when you do, you will receive updates from them in your Passbox.
How much does a resident Passbox cost?
Exactly Zero dollars. Zip. Zilch. $0.
Customer Network Questions
What is a Customer Network?
On Passbox.com, businesspeople can sign-up for a "Customer Network". A Customer Network makes it easy for you to post special offers, events, new products, and whatever else is new with your business.
I am a businessperson in the East Bay, why should I join Passbox?
By creating a Customer Network on Passbox, you put your business in front of people who live in our community. Residents can collect a pass to your business, share your posts with their friends (that whole 6 degrees of separation thing). Plus, you can support other business members by using our Referral utility.
Can residents write reviews of my business?
By default, no. You can enable public comments on your posts if you want though. We put you in control of this.
What is the Referral Utility?
Business members can select other businesses they like and push a button to "Refer" them. When you do this, their profile shows up in the "We Recommend" area of your public profile. It was built for you guys to support each other.
Can I invite my customers and people I know to join my Customer Network?
Yep, your Customer Network includes an invitations tool you can use for that.
Can I invite other businesspeople who aren't already members?
Absolutely.
How come when I'm logged-in to my business account, I can't collect a pass to another business?
Pass collection is for residents members only. Business members can only Refer other businesses. You're more than welcome to create a Passbox too (for your resident life of course).
How much does a Customer Network cost?
You can choose one of our 3 wonderfully affordable plans. You get 30 day free trial with each.
How do I ... in the Customer Network Manager?
