I wish customers would use their brains before saying no straight away

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Long topic title and it doesn't really explain what I mean so here goes:

Following on from the I-pod topic.

I had a call last night regarding a quote for a wedding next year (July). The customer wanted to take advantage of my current discount offer and was pleased with the price I gave her. (The price is the same as I would normally charge to be honest, it's just that I added on what i would discount and then took it off so that it matched what i would normally charge..come on, that's how it works isn't it). Anyway, the lady was happy and impressed with the information I gave her over the phone and also impressed afterwards with the speed that I got all of the information confirmed to her in the confirmation email.... The reason I mention this is because of this - She made a comment whilst we were talking that made a lot of sense and I wondered why other people hadn't thought along the same lines.

She asked about deposits (I said it was a booking fee by the way) and I told her that £50.00 would confirm and keep the date for her. She then asked when the rest would be due and I confirmed that the balance would need to be paid 7 - 10 days before the function. She said "At this moment in time that is very, very helpful to us as things are pretty tight at the moment as I am sure you are aware"... I was a bit surprised as that's how I do things. I never expect full payment up front at all, only a booking fee and that's it.

This lady used her brain and realised that she had another 9 months to save up the remaining balance. It might be obvious to the rest of us BUT...Why don't all customers think like this?? Why do some of them get a quote from you and then say... "that's out of our price range" or something like that? Yes, I understand people have tight budgets but the Disco is an important part of the occasion. Ok, there are suits, dresses, venues, cakes, flowers etc all to get too but spread out over the months is easily done isn't it, especially if there are two of you.

Say, for example I was charging them £500.00 (which I'm not). They pay the booking fee and then have 9 months to find £450.00. That's only £50.00 a month. I agree that once you add all the other things on top and if they split those too then the monthly payments on the whole lot will be quite hefty but it's your wedding day!!!!! Everyone is skint when they are saving for their weddings.

I hope I am making some sense?

[soundtracker]

Perhaps we should be offering the opportunity for them to pay over x number of months interest free?

[Danno13]

It's because we're selling a service which isn't tangible. Unless you can convince them otherwise, they perceive the cheaper DJ to be the same, so they assume the extra £XXX is money wasted.

Unfortunatley it is often the case that the cheaper DJ will do just as good a job and provide the same level of service. This could be for many reasons - having a day job, not thinking of DJ-ing as a business, having the mindset that they can't get more (around here), or just not beleiving they're worth more.

All of which make it harder for full time DJs to compete, therefore there are less full time DJs, and it's why DJing is commonly thought of as a hobby, and not a career IMO.

(Runs for cover....)

[Vectis]

Perhaps we should be offering the opportunity for them to pay over x number of months interest free?

I've been known to do this on occasion when someone baulks at the price. Tell them they can pay off chunks online anytime they like and I'll reduce the outstanding balance accordingly.

Only one couple did that though, but they did it religiously on the 1st of the month each month until with about 3 weeks to go they'd cleared the balance :cool:

[rob1963]

I understand where you're coming from, Gary.

My deposit is also only £50 (to be increased to £75 when I print my next batch of booking forms).

Although I normally get the balance 14 days before the function, I even give them the option of paying on the night itself (obviously at the beginning of the night in cash).

However, I have a few customers who think the complete opposite to yours, as they want to pay the full amount at the time of booking, which is often over a year in advance.

I'm not going to complain!

:D

[Corabar Steve]

It's because we're selling a service which isn't tangible. Unless you can convince them otherwise, they perceive the cheaper DJ to be the same, so they assume the extra £XXX is money wasted.

Unfortunatley it is often the case that the cheaper DJ will do just as good a job and provide the same level of service. This could be for many reasons - having a day job, not thinking of DJ-ing as a business, having the mindset that they can't get more (around here), or just not beleiving they're worth more.

All of which make it harder for full time DJs to compete, therefore there are less full time DJs, and it's why DJing is commonly thought of as a hobby, and not a career IMO.

(Runs for cover....)

Try as I might, I can't see what relevance this has to Gary's post

[Danno13]

Because Gary was talking about people who don't book because they don't want to pay what he's charging. The above is my hypothesis as to why ;)


they perceive the cheaper DJ to be the same, so they assume the extra £XXX is money wasted.

In other words, they aren't not booking Gary because they don't want to pay £XX now and save £X a month until the final payment. It's because they've had a cheaper quote and don't think that paying any extra will get them any more - they see all DJs as the same.

Thankfully, this is not true for all clients of course, else alot of us would go out of business.

[nigelwright7557]

I understand where you're coming from, Gary.

My deposit is also only £50 (to be increased to £75 when I print my next batch of booking forms).

Although I normally get the balance 14 days before the function, I even give them the option of paying on the night itself (obviously at the beginning of the night in cash).
:D

I usually just take a £20 deposit and get the rest on the night.

I must admit that could be a little scary if they then dont pay on teh night and I have to chase it but that hasnt occurred yet.

Many people are finding times hard and struggle to even find the cash for food, rent etc never mind £500 for a disco. I have had people knock me down to £75 for a night and then they still backed out as they couldnt afford it !

I got offered a wedding gig recently for £150.

I think my area is quite poor, most the jobs are low paid and that reflects through onto my customers.

[ppentertainments]

I usually just take a £20 deposit and get the rest on the night.

I must admit that could be a little scary if they then dont pay on teh night and I have to chase it but that hasnt occurred yet.

Many people are finding times hard and struggle to even find the cash for food, rent etc never mind £500 for a disco. I have had people knock me down to £75 for a night and then they still backed out as they couldnt afford it !

I got offered a wedding gig recently for £150.

I think my area is quite poor, most the jobs are low paid and that reflects through onto my customers.

Now Now Nigel, the area you live does NOT affect what you charge for a disco :D :D :D

[soundtracker]

I think my area is quite poor, most the jobs are low paid and that reflects through onto my customers.

and the rest of the country is so affluent! Wake up man, if you fish in the canal, you'll catch a bike wheel!

[Penfold42]

and the rest of the country is so affluent! Wake up man, if you fish in the canal, you'll catch a bike wheel!

:agree:....... you also need to try different places....to catch bigger things....

.....like a shopping trolley! :D :D :D :D

You need to think outside the box! :)

[nigelwright7557]

and the rest of the country is so affluent! Wake up man, if you fish in the canal, you'll catch a bike wheel!

I have yet to have a corporate booking.

I use Yellow Pages and my own website for catching the fish.

[Spirits High]

:agree:....... you also need to try different places....to catch bigger things....

.....like a shopping trolley! :D :D :D :D

You need to think outside the box! :)

Where should I fish for a pikey caravan Tone :p :p :D :D

[Dragonfly]

:agree:....... you also need to try different places....to catch bigger things....

.....like a shopping trolley! :D :D :D :D

You need to think outside the box! :)

or just befriend a crip :D :D :D :D :D they can come in handy :D :D :D

[PropellerHeadCase]

...She made a comment whilst we were talking that made a lot of sense and I wondered why other people hadn't thought along the same lines.

She asked about deposits (I said it was a booking fee by the way) and I told her that £50.00 would confirm and keep the date for her. She then asked when the rest would be due and I confirmed that the balance would need to be paid 7 - 10 days before the function. She said "At this moment in time that is very, very helpful to us as things are pretty tight at the moment as I am sure you are aware"... I was a bit surprised as that's how I do things. I never expect full payment up front at all, only a booking fee and that's it.


I wonder, though, if her comment related to the deposit or the final payment. One of the ladies at my kids' day-care is getting married next May and finding budgeting difficult because all of the service providers want a 50% deposit, now, so saving up isn't an option... they pay later, they lose.

Also worth bearing in mind that sometimes the wedding budget takes into account future income and/or the budget is the money that mummy and daddy are putting in and there is nothing else coming in or at least not sufficient to 'save'.

[Corabar Steve]

I have yet to have a corporate booking.

I use Yellow Pages and my own website for catching the fish.

Can't say I'm surprised then.

[Vectis]

Can't say I'm surprised then.

:agree: I was just reading the thread and then noticed you'd posted my exact thoughts! ;)

I'm not in YP this year and about 30% of my gigs are corporate :beer1:

Now see bullet point 103 here (http://www.defra.gov.uk/erdp/docs/sechapter/section13/population.htm). OK slightly out of date but I've read (but just can't cite) newer evidence that says the same. Edit: Page 3 here (http://www.iwight.com/living_here/planning/images/EconAuditJan2006.pdf)