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Post by quaysider on Jan 6, 2019 18:09:34 GMT
Well it had to happen I suppose but we've just had an email from lovely American couple who'd been booked to come with us from Nantwitch to Llangollen in May... they'd booked AGES ago .. in fact, I think they were our first 2019 booking last April. I know it's pathetic, and it WAS due to reasons beyond their control (ill health) but it does a feel a bit orrible.... normally I'd have a drink but this ruddy dry January and all that... Fingers crossed someone else will book the trip - who knows, someone reading this might fancy coming along www.narrowboatellis.com/cruise-4-2019.html
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Post by Deleted on Jan 6, 2019 18:13:27 GMT
Must be a bitter pill when there's nothing you can do about it.
I'll have a whisky for you if that helps.
Hope the date is filled really soon.
Rog
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Post by sandk on Jan 6, 2019 18:22:52 GMT
I'm afraid working for yourself is like that, do you take a deposit to cover your expenses when someone makes a booking?
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Post by quaysider on Jan 6, 2019 18:49:35 GMT
I'm afraid working for yourself is like that, do you take a deposit to cover your expenses when someone makes a booking? a little one yes - and morrally we agreed that whilst it shows as non-refundable, if we can fill it, we will refund it... it's what my dad would do so it's the right thing... just a shame we might have "missed" another couple who would have come along were it not showing booked ... as you say, swings and round abouts I suppose. I'll just have to send Andy out on the Dilly to make up the loss if we can't fill it.
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Post by sandk on Jan 6, 2019 19:08:07 GMT
I'm afraid working for yourself is like that, do you take a deposit to cover your expenses when someone makes a booking? a little one yes - and morrally we agreed that whilst it shows as non-refundable, if we can fill it, we will refund it... it's what my dad would do so it's the right thing... just a shame we might have "missed" another couple who would have come along were it not showing booked ... as you say, swings and round abouts I suppose. I'll just have to send Andy out on the Dilly to make up the loss if we can't fill it. I'd be wanting 50% upfront in your business, same for any new customer when I'm supplying parts for a job. If they are a trusted customer then it's business as usual.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 6, 2019 19:11:01 GMT
Its certainly a nice bit of canal. When I spent the winter on the shroppie and the welsh branch in 1999/00 it was full of Americans. That was before the 911 demolition thing.
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Post by quaysider on Jan 6, 2019 19:15:26 GMT
a little one yes - and morrally we agreed that whilst it shows as non-refundable, if we can fill it, we will refund it... it's what my dad would do so it's the right thing... just a shame we might have "missed" another couple who would have come along were it not showing booked ... as you say, swings and round abouts I suppose. I'll just have to send Andy out on the Dilly to make up the loss if we can't fill it. I'd be wanting 50% upfront in your business, same for any new customer when I'm supplying parts for a job. If they are a trusted customer then it's business as usual. the booking deposit is 150 per booking (not person) and the balance IS due 8 weeks before departure... with a cancellation loss pro-rata table on the website if cancelled within the 8 week period.... even that is a worse case senario as we would refund every penny if re-sold... probably would even if not cause "shit happens" to people .... In theory, more than 8 weeks should be a long enough window to re-sell the trip - I suppose we'll find out in due course lol.
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Post by dyertribe on Jan 6, 2019 19:18:52 GMT
I'd be wanting 50% upfront in your business, same for any new customer when I'm supplying parts for a job. If they are a trusted customer then it's business as usual. the booking deposit is 150 per booking (not person) and the balance IS due 8 weeks before departure... with a cancellation loss pro-rata table on the website if cancelled within the 8 week period.... even that is a worse case senario as we would refund every penny if re-sold... probably would even if not cause "shit happens" to people .... In theory, more than 8 weeks should be a long enough window to re-sell the trip - I suppose we'll find out in due course lol. However, they should have travel insurance to cover their losses
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Post by Deleted on Jan 6, 2019 19:30:31 GMT
the booking deposit is 150 per booking (not person) and the balance IS due 8 weeks before departure... with a cancellation loss pro-rata table on the website if cancelled within the 8 week period.... even that is a worse case senario as we would refund every penny if re-sold... probably would even if not cause "shit happens" to people .... In theory, more than 8 weeks should be a long enough window to re-sell the trip - I suppose we'll find out in due course lol. However, they should have travel insurance to cover their losses Normally comes with an 'you take the first hit clause' - only ever time I claimed on travel insurance was just after I got married - two policies each with £150 as a first hit, honeymoon cottage cost £450. Still rankles today that the insurance company insisted on applying both 'first hits' just because we had separate insurance policies.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 6, 2019 19:36:29 GMT
Who knows, if their unavoidable cancellation isn't a 'bad' experience for them, they may come back.
Nothing to be gained in driving a wedge between you and your potential customers.
Nantwich onto the Llangollen is a very popular route.
Maybe you could somehow highlight it's availability.
Rog
ETA What the hell is the 'dilly'?
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Post by naughtyfox on Jan 6, 2019 19:37:16 GMT
I'm afraid working for yourself is like that, do you take a deposit to cover your expenses when someone makes a booking? a little one yes - and morally we agreed that whilst it shows as non-refundable, if we can fill it, we will refund it... it's what my dad would do so it's the right thing... That's nice. Perhaps you need to advertise more widely? Nantwich to Llangollen is 'the dream route' so you'd think people would be clambering to get on board for that one.
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Post by Trina on Jan 6, 2019 19:50:01 GMT
I'd be wanting 50% upfront in your business, same for any new customer when I'm supplying parts for a job. If they are a trusted customer then it's business as usual. the booking deposit is 150 per booking (not person) and the balance IS due 8 weeks before departure... with a cancellation loss pro-rata table on the website if cancelled within the 8 week period.... even that is a worse case senario as we would refund every penny if re-sold... probably would even if not cause "shit happens" to people .... In theory, more than 8 weeks should be a long enough window to re-sell the trip - I suppose we'll find out in due course lol. If no takers after a while,perhaps advertise it with a 'slight' reduction due to a cancellation ?Folk love the idea of a bargain...even when only a small bargain.😄
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Post by naughtyfox on Jan 6, 2019 20:17:20 GMT
the booking deposit is 150 per booking (not person) and the balance IS due 8 weeks before departure... with a cancellation loss pro-rata table on the website if cancelled within the 8 week period.... even that is a worse case senario as we would refund every penny if re-sold... probably would even if not cause "shit happens" to people .... In theory, more than 8 weeks should be a long enough window to re-sell the trip - I suppose we'll find out in due course lol. Folk love the idea of a bargain...even when only a small bargain.😄
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Post by Mr Stabby on Jan 6, 2019 20:47:27 GMT
the booking deposit is 150 per booking (not person) and the balance IS due 8 weeks before departure... with a cancellation loss pro-rata table on the website if cancelled within the 8 week period.... even that is a worse case senario as we would refund every penny if re-sold... probably would even if not cause "shit happens" to people .... In theory, more than 8 weeks should be a long enough window to re-sell the trip - I suppose we'll find out in due course lol. However, they should have travel insurance to cover their losses I suspect the reality is that they did a bit of Googling and found out he was ginger.
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Post by quaysider on Jan 6, 2019 22:54:46 GMT
Who knows, if their unavoidable cancellation isn't a 'bad' experience for them, they may come back. Nothing to be gained in driving a wedge between you and your potential customers. Nantwich onto the Llangollen is a very popular route. Maybe you could somehow highlight it's availability. Rog ETA What the hell is the 'dilly'? I believe it's Mancunian in origin... most folk around here would have said "on the rent".... ahem... lol but we've just had Mancs guests and it "cropped up" lol....
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