Arla, you know I love you and respect you so don't take this as a negative. Here is my side: If a person books an event, then cancels and you have turned away other jobs, why should that person who booked his event with you feel responsible for your decisions and be punished by not getting his deposit back? It is not his fault that you didn't get someone else to cover the other jobs. Since I don't take deposits, deposits is not an issue with me. I get full payment before their event.
Last week a client cancelled. Her child woke up sick on her birthday. She had sent in her check. I sent it back immediately. Why? Because it was not the child's fault that she worke up sick. It was not the Mother's fault that her child woke up sick. And, when her child is well again, she will call me again. And perhaps again. Just because I NEED the money, doesn't justify my keeping their money. This is all in the frame of doing business. To build up a business, which is already difficult, you must rely on repeats and referrals. Your clients must "learn" to trust you. If you want to keep their deposits in case they cancel, for whatever reasons, there is no law that says you can't. But, clients have memories. I want to leave them with a good one. They also talk among each other, to their friends, and their families, and their neighbors, and people in their office. Word of mouth is the best advertisement no money can buy. If it wasn't for my repeats and referrals I would be hurting right now. Whatever you do today, will affect your business in the future. But you know what, whatever works for you, go for it. And by the way, this is my livelihood. Am I still your friend? Robbie On Apr 20, 11:30 am, "Arla Albers" <[email protected]> wrote: > This issue of deposits is kind of "sketchy" on this list. Seems some take > them, then give them back.....others take them and don't refund it. > > My question to you is this..... > > If a person books an event and you turn away other jobs, why SHOULDN'T you > keep the deposit? If they cancel, you have NOTHING for that time and date. > To a person who isn't busy, maybe this isn't as big of a deal as those that > do turn away work. But, if I'm putting food on my table with this money and > someone cancels, then I don't get as much food. "tongue in cheek". > > I think a retainer is a good idea for someone who is a professional face > painter. I don't do this as a hobby. This is a livelihood. > > Why should we be any different than the people taking my THOUSANDS of > dollars in deposits for my daughter's wedding that I should lose should she > cancel? > > Arla --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Face Painting and Body Art Association." This is a PG-13 forum dedicated to the discussion of Face Painting and Body Art. This group is provided for the benefit of all and as such is not moderated. Our goal is to promote open and unrestricted communication between people interested in face painting and body art. We hope that you will be courteous to others and try to stay on topic. You are free to offer products or services related to face painting as well. Please address concerns with the original poster before contacting the management. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/fpba-assn -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
