My seven day option is only offered to enquirers who are coming from a previous client family -e.g. my sister is getting married - or new contacts who want to find time to make a visit to me, or those who have made a visit and want time to think it over, I never act as a window salesman and force closure on a first meeting but I will take a booking if they want to.
This is never made to a casual - "is the date available" - enquirer. To me they are like web-browser and take their chances, if its gone its gone.
The one I mentioned was some time ago. I had what appeared to be a firm interest, the couple said they'd post a deposit. After some time, aboy two weeks, I had an another enquiry from someone in a family I'd covered before, very keen. I told them I was waiting on a deposit and I would contact first couple, if they didn't or couldn't send the deposit then couple number two could have the date. Couple one were still interested I told them the situation and that I couldn't hold the date any longer without the deposit, they promised they would send the deposit that same day. Two days later deposit hadn't arrived so I contacted couple two, they posted deposit and the following day both cheques arrived. All I could do was pass couple one on to another videographer. They had had longest time to get the deposit to me but prevaricated. I like to be fair and honest but I can't run a business on promises and possibly loose couple two and then one decides not to book anyway.
|