12-21-2005, 01:50 AM
Just to set the record staright on Brad Kerr (UintaIce) and his deposit. Brad and his wife reserved two prime November dates many months in advance. Later, they called and changed from two days to one. After that, they called to change the day they originally had to another one, which I accommodated by changing other people's reservations (after calling all of them to get their permission!) to fit Brad and his wife in. Then, a few days before the trip, his wife calls and says Brad has some kind of "depression" (exact word used), and they can't make the trip. Just so happens the cold weather had just moved in. After changing the reservation, and that of several others, to accommodate them, and then getting a call to cancel just prior to the trip, I could not re-book their single day. So I kept the $200, with no regrets.
I rarely keep a deposit on a missed trip, and never if I can re-book the day. Goodwill and repeat business is more important to me personally and my business than a 1/2 day's pay. Just ask Don in Denver, who cancelled two days last summer, but I was able to book Crossineyes for one of his days. Don kindly volunteered to pay for his other day that I could not re-book, and is coming to fish again in 2006. Thanks Don! My kind of customer!
Also, every invoice clearly states that deposits are non-refundable 90 days prior to the trip, but can be used to book any future dates without penalty. Brad Kerr never indicated he wanted to take a later day that season, which he could have done and I asked his wife about the day she called to cancel.
This is my business, and I only have so many days I can work, so I can't afford to lose too many. The weather costs me some, but that goes with the territory, and I know that going in. All I ask is that the customer shows up for their trip, gives plenty of notice if they can't make it, or re-books another day or days. I also never charge customers for days lost due to weather or closed roads, which most guides will stick you for. (ask Crossineyes. He came up last June and we fished a couple hours before a gale blew in, and I told him to come back another day, which he did.)
Decide for yourself, that's all from me on this. I'll stand on my record and a long and growing list of loyal, repeat customers to whom I owe a deep debt of grattitude for making it possible for me to have the best job in the world, in some very nice places, doing what I love to do. (Well, when it's not -5 and windy!)
Jim Williams
[url "http://www.fishflaminggorge.com"]www.fishflaminggorge.com[/url]
[signature]
I rarely keep a deposit on a missed trip, and never if I can re-book the day. Goodwill and repeat business is more important to me personally and my business than a 1/2 day's pay. Just ask Don in Denver, who cancelled two days last summer, but I was able to book Crossineyes for one of his days. Don kindly volunteered to pay for his other day that I could not re-book, and is coming to fish again in 2006. Thanks Don! My kind of customer!
Also, every invoice clearly states that deposits are non-refundable 90 days prior to the trip, but can be used to book any future dates without penalty. Brad Kerr never indicated he wanted to take a later day that season, which he could have done and I asked his wife about the day she called to cancel.
This is my business, and I only have so many days I can work, so I can't afford to lose too many. The weather costs me some, but that goes with the territory, and I know that going in. All I ask is that the customer shows up for their trip, gives plenty of notice if they can't make it, or re-books another day or days. I also never charge customers for days lost due to weather or closed roads, which most guides will stick you for. (ask Crossineyes. He came up last June and we fished a couple hours before a gale blew in, and I told him to come back another day, which he did.)
Decide for yourself, that's all from me on this. I'll stand on my record and a long and growing list of loyal, repeat customers to whom I owe a deep debt of grattitude for making it possible for me to have the best job in the world, in some very nice places, doing what I love to do. (Well, when it's not -5 and windy!)
Jim Williams
[url "http://www.fishflaminggorge.com"]www.fishflaminggorge.com[/url]
[signature]