Refund?

[SabrinaO]

Post deleted

 

[JoshC.]

I say give her the money back. If you hold onto it it'll only cause harsh feelings which isn't a good way to start your business. And at this point you don't want to be losing any customers.

 

[Hardrock]

Honestly I would give the $50 back. Lets say you keep it because of your terms and then you have an angry customer that may bad mouth your new business. Its just $50 move on and maybe she will refer you other customers. Just my opinion! Good Luck!


Joshc beat me to it!

 

[inaka]

I would return the deposit.
In business, the customer is NOT always right, but $50 is a small price to pay for potentially bad word-of-mouth, etc. Especially if you're just starting out.
It might be different if you spent hours on a job and they went their money back, but this is a deposit for work you haven't even done yet.

I would just make it clear that you don't normally do this, but you'll make an exception, and be completely pleasant and smile the entire time.
Hopefully they'll be thankful and will remember you in the future, or potentially send other work your way via a referral, etc.

 

[480sparky]

Fifty clams isn't that much to refund considering the risk of having your name & business bad-mouthed.

Not only would I refund the money, I'd tell them I appreciate their service to our country and wish them well.

 

[Geaux]

Return the Deposit .. not like she had a say so over if they got deployed to Italy.

Inaka said it best ..."I would just make it clear that you don't normally do this, but you'll make an exception, and be completely pleasant and smile the entire time.
Hopefully they'll be thankful and will remember you in the future, or potentially send other work your way via a referral, etc."

 

[tirediron]

I would return the deposit.
In business, the customer is NOT always right, but $50 is a small price to pay for potentially bad word-of-mouth, etc. Especially if you're just starting out.
It might be different if you spent hours on a job and they went their money back, but this is a deposit for work you haven't even done yet.

I would just make it clear that you don't normally do this, but you'll make an exception, and be completely pleasant and smile the entire time.
Hopefully they'll be thankful and will remember you in the future, or potentially send other work your way via a referral, etc.

Excellent advice.

 

[RockstarPhotography]

Return it. If what she is saying is true, its the law that you have to. Just like If military is deploying over sea's their leases can be broke on apartments and such. Plus it's just the right thing to do.

 

[Stradawhovious]

Her hubby is putting his ass on the line for our safety and freedom by serving in the Armed Forces.. The least you can do is return the $50.

I realize this isn't my money we're talking about, but it is exactly what I'd do. :salute: There will be other customers.

 

[ababysean]

Can she do it sooner, before he leaves? I would try to schedule something before he leaves, if that is not possible, then I would refund the money. Military is a totally different issue then they wanted family pictures and now they are divorcing.... maybe you can talk her into doing just kids or some light boudoir?

 

[FavillePhoto]

I would return the deposit. You don't want to upset a new customer. She could come back and want to use you again, or recommend your services to all of her friends and family because of how well you handle a situation. It's all about pleasing the customer. You don't want to piss off one of your first customers! Almost all of our business if by word of mouth, so we go above and beyond to make sure our customers are happy. Even if they never order from us again, they might recommend us to someone else who could be our next big client.

 

[Robin Usagani]

Wow.. you must be very busy that you are taking deposits for a photo session more than 2 weeks in advance!. I only take deposits for weddings. Thats it.

 

[ababysean]

Really? I take payment for session fees to book the date.... It gets the family vested in their time. I am busy thought I'm booked until August (not with sessions though, when the kids get out of school for the summer I'm not doing sessions)

 

[SabrinaO]

Thankyou all for your advice! I returned it. You are all right... $50 isn't worth bad word of mouth.

 

[SabrinaO]

Wow.. you must be very busy that you are taking deposits for a photo session more than 2 weeks in advance!. I only take deposits for weddings. Thats it.

ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS require a deposit no matter how far away the session will be. This gets them locked in