heavenlymom
TPF Noob!
- Joined
- Sep 18, 2008
- Messages
- 55
- Reaction score
- 0
- Can others edit my Photos
- Photos NOT OK to edit
I knew it would happen eventually. No matter how hard you try you can't ever keep every customer happy. I opened my studio in April and had been doing fairly decent on keeping customers happy and keeping my prices very low. Working as a photographer in the past for other companies I knew that at some point I would do something wrong and tick off the wrong person.
That time has now come. I had issues with mailing a CD due to problems with my post office. I am taking the blame, I have no problem. The CD was finally mailed off (a month later) and received and now they say there is more than their photos on their CD. I should have double checked it but I let an associate who was helping me out burn it and assure me they were all on there (they knew what photos were this customers). I am giving back a partial refund since they have received their photos. You'd think this would make them happy since that is what they asked for. I even offered a free session and free CD of all the portraits for this holiday season and told them the CD would be in their hands the same day before they left. They refused, which is fine. They are still not satisfied.
I hadn't been opened long when they first came in so they got all their portraits, plus two re shoots (they weren't satisfied) for under fifty dollars.
I know most would refund their whole payment, but I decided to do only partial as I don't take to rudeness well. I was contacted by phone and threatened to have my reputation ruined if I didn't refund at least part of the payment. It would have been nice if they had contacted me and just simply said, I am unhappy with the service, please refund my money. Nope, couldn't do that though. I have never been short with a customer, not once but right now honestly I don't know how I will do in this business because this person has me on the verge of tears. No matter what I do they will slander my name and ruin my business and that is bad for a photographer just starting out. It wouldn't make a difference if I refunded them the whole amount, it has been stated that they still will make a point of telling everyone they know to bypass me.
I admitted fault, and apologized. I have done all I can do and still ... they are unhappy.
Now that being said, I know this will happen from time to time in a business no matter how hard we try not to. People and myself will make mistakes and customers will get angry. If anyone has any advice on how to handle these situations and move on I'd love some. Please be somewhat kind as my self esteem in the photography business is lower than normal right now.
I do have many pleased customers who come back, but I hate having people dislike my stuff. LOL! I know that will happen a lot, but it still stings.
Advice on how to toughen up and take the good with the bad.
That time has now come. I had issues with mailing a CD due to problems with my post office. I am taking the blame, I have no problem. The CD was finally mailed off (a month later) and received and now they say there is more than their photos on their CD. I should have double checked it but I let an associate who was helping me out burn it and assure me they were all on there (they knew what photos were this customers). I am giving back a partial refund since they have received their photos. You'd think this would make them happy since that is what they asked for. I even offered a free session and free CD of all the portraits for this holiday season and told them the CD would be in their hands the same day before they left. They refused, which is fine. They are still not satisfied.
I hadn't been opened long when they first came in so they got all their portraits, plus two re shoots (they weren't satisfied) for under fifty dollars.
I know most would refund their whole payment, but I decided to do only partial as I don't take to rudeness well. I was contacted by phone and threatened to have my reputation ruined if I didn't refund at least part of the payment. It would have been nice if they had contacted me and just simply said, I am unhappy with the service, please refund my money. Nope, couldn't do that though. I have never been short with a customer, not once but right now honestly I don't know how I will do in this business because this person has me on the verge of tears. No matter what I do they will slander my name and ruin my business and that is bad for a photographer just starting out. It wouldn't make a difference if I refunded them the whole amount, it has been stated that they still will make a point of telling everyone they know to bypass me.
I admitted fault, and apologized. I have done all I can do and still ... they are unhappy.
Now that being said, I know this will happen from time to time in a business no matter how hard we try not to. People and myself will make mistakes and customers will get angry. If anyone has any advice on how to handle these situations and move on I'd love some. Please be somewhat kind as my self esteem in the photography business is lower than normal right now.
I do have many pleased customers who come back, but I hate having people dislike my stuff. LOL! I know that will happen a lot, but it still stings.
Advice on how to toughen up and take the good with the bad.