Charging for cancellations/NO SHOWS!

[eden_beauty]

:evil: Hi guys

I recently had a situation where two ladies(friends) booked to both come together and have a body wrap. (by text) also have email address.

I don't normally do 2 clients at the same time as i have a small home salon and it's a bit tight to fit 2 beds up at the same time but i thought i will make an exception, So as you do i set up everything perfect.candles,beds,everywhere hoovered and clean and waited

I thought 5 minutes before they were due that i would text her and see if they were on their way. She texts back Who is this? I knew this was bad so i explained she had booked etc etc. She was VERY apologetic (at first) she said she was away for the weekend and her friend must have forgotten too - i said no worries but that i would need her address so i could invoice her for 50% of the treatment costs (should be 100% for no shows but decided to give a little leeway)

Then she starts telling me it's my fault - i didn't remind her etc etc, sje wouldnt give me her address, I said that's not a problem i will send the invoice by email, so i did.

I assume i will not get payment from this but i want to treat all clients the same so in future i am now going to ask all clients for an address at the point of booking aswell as email address and tel number so that if this happens again i will invoice home address....Have any of you got similar stories and if so how did you go about enforcing payment??? if you don't have an address...Also what are your policies on cancellations/NO SHOWS?? :evil:

Lisa

 

[All2Hand]

I assume i will not get payment from this but i want to treat all clients the same so in future i am now going to ask all clients for an address at the point of booking aswell as email address and tel number so that if this happens again i will invoice home address....Have any of you got similar stories and if so how did you go about enforcing payment??? if you don't have an address...Also what are your policies on cancellations/NO SHOWS?? :evil:

Lisa[/QUOTE]

You are right, you won't get the money but there will think twice about messing you about. In the future it is best if you make sure all your new clients fill out a short consultation card before you start treatment. I had the same problem this morning. I am doing nails part-time, hopefully full- time by July. My boss did not turn up so I phone her up but she would not pick up the phone. She had an e-mail the day before as a reminder so I am not impress with her but I will be catching up with her at work tomorrow :evil:
A bit of sunshine and everyone forgets their appointment!
I am redoing my pricelist at the moment and i will be adding this kind of information on the small print!

 

[eden_beauty]

Yes thats it! Normally i always do a consultation card before treatment (when they are here) but we somehow have to protect ourselves when they do not turn up and that is why i am asking for address details as part of the booking process now.

Lisa

 

[JackOfAllTrades]

I understand your frustration...been there myself many times.
But I never found people willing to pay a deposit.
I know a couple of salons asking for credit card details - I think it discourages clients more than anything from booking.
I take a 50% deposit for hair extensions as hair needs to be ordered per client and they definitely come in - though once a had a girl who I came in at 8am for to do her extensions - she rang the salon at 11.30 as she just woke up!!!! I wanted so badly to tell her your chance is gone missy - go back to bed, but I bit my lip and just did the extensions when she strolled in at 1pm.
At least I ensured that she would come in EVENTUALLY, otherwise I could have been down a big loss for the hair.

For treatments that don't cost that much, I phone clients in advance or send a text to remind them about the appointment. They usually call if they won't make it.