if i was able to rebook a client for the same amount of money or more, I would refund everything to the cancelled
client, and make sure they know how lucky they are and how gracious they should be
its important to remember that keeping a retainer after a cancellation isn't about punishing the client. it's about
minimizing loss. but if you can regain what you would have lost by rebooking the same dollar amount, I see no reason
for keeping the retainer. you're just being bitter then.
I'm totally with you Jason. It is in bad taste to keep somebody's money if you make the same amount by booking another in its place. I'm really shocked that people did say that they would keep the money and book another wedding. I'm even shocked that people would even say they would sue somebody. But those votes might be a joke.
jprezant wrote:
its important to remember that keeping a retainer after a cancellation isn't about punishing the client. it's about
minimizing loss. but if you can regain what you would have lost by rebooking the same dollar amount, I see no reason
for keeping the retainer. you're just being bitter then.
Let me throw a curve ball at you.
Let's say you have a client booked for Saturday May 5th 2013 (don't check the calendar, I didn't) and you're currently open on the 12th and the 19th
Client calls you and says they want to cancel.
Three weeks later a client calls you and says "I love your work, I want to work around your schedule. do you have the 5th or the 12th available? The 5th would be a lot easier for me as the venue will give me a $500 discount."
She books the 5th for a package higher than your previous client had booked.
Do you refund the original May 5th client their retainer?
Let's say you have a client booked for Saturday May 5th 2013 (don't check the calendar, I didn't) and you're currently open on the 12th and the 19th
Client calls you and says they want to cancel.
Three weeks later a client calls you and says "I love your work, I want to work around your schedule. do you have the 5th or the 12th available? The 5th would be a lot easier for me as the venue will give me a $500 discount."
She books the 5th for a package higher than your previous client had booked.
Do you refund the original May 5th client their retainer?
I probably would. But I see your point. I guess it would depend on how I felt at that moment. I
might tell them they can use the retainer as a credit if they decide to rebook with me at some point.
All Payments are NON-refundable. That's what it says on my contract. My retainer is 40% - one bride just cancelled an August wedding. She didn't even argue - it's on the contract. I'm keeping the money and either booking another or taking a day off.
I suppose since I've never had a wedding cancel, I don't have a lot of experience here. But to safeguard myself:
I take a 50% retainer the day of booking. They have a 3 day grace period to change their mind. If they don't, the retainer is non-refundable.
Final payment is due 30 days (1 month) in advance. With that said, most weddings tend to cancel very shortly before the date - maybe a few days or a week? In this case, I'm fully paid. And if they cancel in the final 30 days, I'm happy to tell them if I book another wedding, I'll refund their money, but we all know that booking a wedding 30 days in advance is a very, very rare thing.
azkaps wrote:
All Payments are NON-refundable. That's what it says on my contract. My retainer is 40% - one bride just cancelled an August wedding. She didn't even argue - it's on the contract. I'm keeping the money and either booking another or taking a day off.
Is it wrong that sometimes I almost wish someone would cancel? I'd like to get paid for having a day off, even though I've already purchased the gear, booked a second shooter (which I'd probably have to pay, at least partially, to clear my conscience), and spent time meeting them over coffee and drafting a contract?
Sure, I've already put work into their wedding and deserve to be paid, but it would almost be a blessing in the dead of wedding season to have one cancel.
Certainly, I'd feel for the clients and their sorrow, and this is kind of a morbid thought, but I'd probably grab my bike and head to the beach and ride around getting a tan and smiling at the sun.
In some ways, I am not sure what I would do if I could re-book the date. We put in a lot of effort and time with our clients before the wedding, as well as footing the bill for some non-service related things (paying for coffee...a meal...other things we give to them). This is, of course, assuming the cancellation occurs before the engagement session. I think it would depend on the situation, honestly. Also, most last minute bookings (as I have experienced) tend to be lower $$$ on the spectrum, so I am less likely to book a comparable or higher priced gig late on
Psychic1 wrote:
Stop looking for an excuse and return the deposit.
HAHA. Very funny. I have in the past because I was able to book the date again. I was just curious if others do the same. It's interesting that some would book the date but not give the money back.
Mark,
I find the key words to be "enough notice."
If you said "a month before" my answer would be "refer to your contract" but it does not sound like you have a contract.
Only in very rare instances do I refund the retainer. 98% of the time, the answer is "no". Generally the cancellation is late enough that you won't rebook the date, but there is no harm in trying anyway.
Psychic1 wrote:
Mark,
I find the key words to be "enough notice."
If you said "a month before" my answer would be "refer to your contract" but it does not sound like you have a contract.
Dude. This is a hypothetical question. Of course I have a contract. Only an idiot wouldn't. My contract personally states that all monies paid are non-refundable however if another client can be booked for that date then they will be refunded what they paid providing the the new client's package is of equal or greater value.
I explain to each couple at the contract signing that if they cancel and I am unable to fill the date, they are on the hook for the full balance. They specifically initial this clause and understand it completely. They pay me the full balance without me having to sue them. None of your answers were the right one IMO
It's what is fair in my opinion. I took the date off the books and skipped potential bookings. If, however, I can rebook the date with another couple then I haven't really lost anything and should rightfully pay the clients back their retainer. Just makes sense to me. Treat people right and fair. I've had one cancellation before I ever did any work for them prior to even the engagement session. I rebooked and refunded. The couple was really disappointed it didn't work out but they've since referred me business and I never even did any work for them, just because I treated them well.
Here's something to think about: I had a client cancel and decide to have a small destination wedding. They talked about booking me for a local reception but never did.
I gave this client a family portrait session plus a print credit as consideration for the retainer (non-refundable). It turned into a large, extended family session for the bride's mom. The session netted over $700 more than the print credit. Granted, I lost the rest of the initial wedding package, but they feel like they got something for their money and I made more than just the retainer.
