Detailing Appointment BlowOff

[asap2stacks]

Alright so I had a client set up to get her couple fully detailed on the 9th at 9:00am she made her appointment two weeks ago from today. After calling her twice yesterday and leaving a voice mail still nothing. If she blows off her appointment am I allowed to send her a invoice for not showing up to the appointment like sending her a $30.00 no show no call invoice?

[irvsmith]

You could. If I wanted her to be a client (good fleet of cars, high possibility of a referral to a dealership, I would gently follow up later with a "we had scheduled an appointment on Monday did you need to reschedule (even though it is a past date)?" You could even tack on the cancellation charge to a future invoice as a separate line item to recoup some costs.

Or if you don't care about the future of the relationship then yes try and get her for a cancellation charge.

That is just my $.02 from my consulting days.

[mwoolfso]

If a cancellation charge was never at the time she agreed to the appointment, then you have no legal standing to request a cancellation charge. That doesn't make it illegal for you to try though.

You didn't mention calling her to confirm the appointment was still a GO 1-2 days prior; hope you did that but on the odd chance you didn't then you should add this to your arsenal. In this day and age, 2 weeks is a lifetime with people's hectic schedules.

[idriveblackcars]

op to be honest, she will never pay the charge and you will lose her forever along with any residual business. I would just get over it.

[custmsprty]

If she doesn't show up move on. You don't need unreliable customers who don't value your time. If she blows you off once, she'll blow you off again and time is money.

[kevincwelch]

Maybe she's in the hospital. Who knows?

I would follow up with a call next week to see why she didn't show up and try to work out a solution for her if she simply has a cost/time crunch. If she had a real legitimate reason, she'll reschedule.

Cancelation or no show fees rarely get paid (even in medicine) and serve only to anger. I'm not sure there's any good evidence that it deters people from not showing.

Perhaps a way around this is to take a credit card deposit at the time of scheduling.

Sent via my mobile device...

[precisionmobile85]

I had that happen to me a few weeks ago and it sucks but I just had to accept it and get over it. It was the first time it happend to me but prob won't be the last. It's a business and that stuff happens. If you don't have a no show fee documented from the start I wouldn't pursue one. Word of mouth is big in the detailing world. You don't want to have your name tarnished when you didn't even do any work to a car. Just my opinion

[detailsbydennis]

It happens. Follow up with a call, email, text. Tell them you need a confirmation to keep the appointment. Maybe prepay the appointment with an incentive. A small Discount or an additional service like an windshield treatment.

[GSKR]

Detailing is more of a impulse decision.2 weeks out is a long time,you should of followed up with her prior.2 weeks out I never let that happen or count on it.The only clients who will wait and you can count on are the one that appreciate your time and work.I never let a new client wait more than 2 days to do a detailing job a lot of Sunday's are just part of working in this industry.Dont let it bother you.

[Mike@ShineStruck]

It sucks doesn't it?

I had 2 people stop by and BS with me and gave them my number (guess I should of taken theirs) while I was in the middle of a Polish job..
Never heard from them..
Some people are just time wasters
Perhaps they price shopped
Others may actually had some other restraint due to cash or schedule

Just do a follow about and let it run its course.
Perhaps they'll reschedule...if they don't, no loss to you