Hiya, just a quicky really and I hope I've posted it int he right place, I wasn't sure if it was more of a Biz section thing, so sorry if it's not int he right place.

My sister wants a tan, I said as she's my sister and my model and a good advert for me as there are a lot of potential customers where she works, that although I won't tan her for free, she can have it at my 'top up' rate. She asked me if I could do it tomorrow, she'll come to me, I said yes. Then she texts and says can she pay me on Friday when she gets paid!

I txt back and said 'er, not really. Otherwise I'd have to go into Asda and ask the checkout girl if I could take my shopping and pay her Friday when I get paid'

She didn't like it and said not to bother, she wouldn't want to be known as a thieving shoplifter.

I haven't replied

What would you do? Stick to your guns and set your boundary's, or just do it this once but tell her you wouldn't do it again?

xx

I think you did the right thing.

You have to start the way you mean to go on. Your sister should be more helpful and understand that you are trying to run a business. Otherwise, she'd probably end up taking you for granted and expecting you to do it and pay later all the time.
Explain to her that, even though she's your sister, you could be having a client in, who will pay you there and then iykwim.
Yes, it's difficult as she's family, but as she's family, she should also understand more.

There's nowhere else she could go and ask for a spray tan and pay for it next week now is there!

Maybe text her back and say you weren't calling her a shoplifter! But, you need paying & you've offered her it at a better price than she'd be able to get elsewhere I'm sure. She's probably huffy as she wants to go out sporting a great tan this weekend, and now she can't.

Hello there

you know I had a simular problem when i first qualified 5 years ago.

A cousin of mine always wants something for nothing at first I would,nt charge her and say its ok as ive just qualified ohhhh that only lasted a few times, now if she wants anything she has to pay for it and she has only asked me once since she has to pay lol.


I think you did the right thing by wanting money from her after all you are trying to make a business for yourself regardless of being your sister

what you said to her is exactly true to the point, its hard with family as you dont like asking for money but go as you mean to go on, charge charge charge thats the only way your gonna get a wage

Come on, shes your SISTER, not a stranger that uve never met before.
Mayb im wrong, and yes you are running a business and you dont want her to think she can get away with a freebie, BUT I personally think your being slightly harsh.
Sorry, thats just my opinion.

If it was my sister i would of still done it and let her pay me when she had the money.For immediate family i wouldnt be overly worried about it, they are your family and for the price of a tan i wouldnt be concerned about not getting the money straight away.Thats just my opionion too!

Well I have to say I don't charge my family members for any treatments, however lengthy they may be, I wouldn't dream of taking money off them tbh.

As someone else said, she is your sister, how would you feel if she treated you in the same way. I would be terribly hurt if a family member did that to me.

Sorry but it's just my opinion.

it all depends really, would she have paid you later? or was she just trying it on to get away without paying at all?

Are you really close to your sister or not? did you she would be a good advert for you?

I would have done this for free if I ws close to my sister, if I thought she was taking the mick then I would ask for the money first, or let her pay me later but if she didnt I would make it clear she wouldnt get away with it again!

Families eh?

Hi girls, thanks for your replies

I left it at that, once I had posted, to see what she would say. She was out fishing and about 5 minutes later txt me to say she had caught a Bass. Bit random I know, but it meant that she had taken what I'd said on board and didn't hold it against me!

She's asked me today if I will wax her 1/2 leg and then tan her ready for this weekend, and she said, 'Of course I'll pay you'! Too bloomin right she will, I haven't done this training just to give freebies or put it on tick, even for my sister!

Ooh, I seem mean sometimes, lol!

This is always a tricky situation, and i suppose it depends on the nature of the relationship with your family member, and history there within - which is something we don't have the benefit of knowing. For e.g. if my sister asked me for a delayed payment situation, I know from past experience that I would never get any money for it, but you guys don't know that.

This was a difficult one for others to call, and only the people involved can truly assess the situation and confirm whether their actions were correct or not. Glad to hear it's all gone okay though, and it is okay to treat those around you to a few freebies or cost price treatments in the name of practise!! ;-)

That's just it, I don't charge her full price because she's my sister and she knows it. I'm not saying I wouldn't have got ant money, but she has done similar in the past and then said that because she's done *insert whatever here*, that 'we'll call it quits, yeah?'

Well not any more I'm trying to build a business and she would be the same.

I would do my sister for free but she insists on at least covering my costs - works for us.

Awwwww

I would do any treatments on my imdediate family for free......

I wouldnt dream of charging them..You never know when you may need your family to do something for you !

I usually do my sisters treatments for free, after all the practising over the years I have done on her I think I will always feel in debt to her. Just reminising all the spray tans that turned her orange and patchy whilst standing freezing in our garden and the lumps of concrete on the ends of her nails whilst I was practising L&P! Having said that we have an understanding that she only comes into the salon when I'm free and if I get a client walk-in whilst she's having her nails done etc I go help the client and she waits until I'm finished before returning to her

HTH x

If I were in your position, I would compromise with her (ever the peace maker) and ask her to get two bookings from her friends, colleagues, neighbours and as a thank you do her treatment free.

It really depends on your relationship with your sister and only you know that. Everyone's advise will be different as we base it on our feelings to our family. You just need to do what fells right for you, I dont think we can say its right or wrong. x