Wedding Etiquette Forum

question about a vendor review

We're starting to write some reviews for our vendors. Everyone really went above and beyond for us and we couldn't be happier. I have a quesion about something that happened with my DJ though. 

The DJ we hired (let's call him Bill Smith) owns the company. It's called BIll Smith's DJ's. He's the one we delt with from 7 months ago when we hired him all the way up to the Wednesday before the wedding when he called me to confirm everything. We asked him a few times at the beginning of the process if he would be our DJ on the actual day, and he said yes, and that was one of the cornerstones of his company. 

Wedding day comes...and DJ Frank shows up. No call, no email, no text, no nothing from Bill. Now, DJ Frank did a terrific job. He had all of the songs correct, he played everything on my must play list, he was a great emcee, he kept the crowd going, and I got a ton of compliments on him. He came into the bridal room to introduce himself and the start of the reception and I asked if Bill was sick. He just shrugged and changed the subject. We gave him a healthy tip and our thanks at the end of the night but he left in a hurry when I brought Bill up again. 

So do I write that in our review? I would totally hire this company again, and I'm certainly pleased with the service Frank provided us, but I do think it was unprofessional of Bill to just not let us know he was unavailable and would be sending someone else.  I don't want to give a bad review though. 
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Re: question about a vendor review

  • Just be honest about what you told us. Saying you were happy with Frank and would hire them is not a bad thing at all so dont worry about a negatively skewed review but I be honest about Bill not showing up because you would hopefully want to avoid this happening to another bride. My feeling from the way you described Frank's reaction toward bringing up Bill leads me to believe Bill had another wedding booked and forgot.
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  • I would write something along the lines of "Dissapointed that Bill didn't DJ like he said he would but thrilled with DJ Frank." And maybe call the DJ and ask why you got Frank. But that's just me. The regs will probably have better advice.
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_question-about-a-vendor-review?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:52e96edf-7d8a-484e-a667-7f8a4372e9d0Post:6966c517-7977-470e-9274-8c55f0211b42">Re:question about a vendor review</a>:
    [QUOTE]Just be honest about what you told us. Saying you were happy with Frank and would hire them is not a bad thing at all so dont worry about a negatively skewed review but I be honest about Bill not showing up because you would hopefully want to avoid this happening to another bride. My feeling from the way you described Frank's reaction toward bringing up Bill leads me to believe Bill had another wedding booked and forgot.
    Posted by OwningAHome1981[/QUOTE]

    <div>THIS!!!</div><div>
    </div><div>If I was looking to hire Bill I would want to know this. </div>
  • Absolutely include that in your review. IMO, it's a huge issue if a vendor promises to show up and then doesn't follow through. You can still say you were happy with Frank's DJing skills. 
  • ditto...I'd just make mention of it shorter. The emphasis in the review should be left on the quality of the service. Most contracts say something about if requested DJ is unavailable, a suitable replacement will be provided. He was obviously a suitable replacement so you don't want to be too hard.
  • loca4pookloca4pook member
    1000 Comments 25 Love Its Name Dropper First Anniversary
    edited March 2013
    I would definitely say something in the review and this is why..YOU got lucky with the sub, but others may not. One of the things many DJ companies do is "subcontract" out so they might just advertise on craigslist for a person who wants to DJ a wedding and they pick Joe Shmoe who they know nothing about for your wedding. When I interviewed DJ companies, many warned me that it happens alot in the industry where a DJ company doesn't have a designated amount of full-time DJ's, they just subcontract around when they need extra. They warned me to pick a company that  can ensure me that subcontracting is not part of their protocol and that it is always the same...so many DJ's.

    I think brides need to know UPFRONT ift the DJ they pick  is gonna be the DJ that actually does their wedding. By putting this in the review, they will know to SPECIFICALLY ask this company what their policy is on that situation.

    I get sometimes illness happens, but if this was TRULY the case in your situation, he would have called you to explain and apologize. The fact that the guy shrugged his shoulder and said he didn't know suggests the original DJ might have knew upfront he wasn't going to be your DJ and wasn't being honest.
  • Just be frank (heh) in your review.  Honesty is the best policy.  Say that the person you were promised didn't show, but that the subsitute was amazing and you are thoroughly satisfied.

    Let future brides do with that what they will.
    Don't make me mobilize OffensiveKitten

    image

    Anniversary

  • Pele, that made me laugh. Teehee
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_question-about-a-vendor-review?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:52e96edf-7d8a-484e-a667-7f8a4372e9d0Post:80249270-7872-49b0-a9dc-dda459eecfbd">Re:question about a vendor review</a>:
    [QUOTE]Pele, that made me laugh. Teehee
    Posted by Weezy56[/QUOTE]

    <div>
    </div><div>:P I aim to please</div><div>
    </div>
    Don't make me mobilize OffensiveKitten

    image

    Anniversary

  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_question-about-a-vendor-review?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:52e96edf-7d8a-484e-a667-7f8a4372e9d0Post:6966c517-7977-470e-9274-8c55f0211b42">Re:question about a vendor review</a>:
    [QUOTE]Just be honest about what you told us. Saying you were happy with Frank and would hire them is not a bad thing at all so dont worry about a negatively skewed review but I be honest about Bill not showing up because you would hopefully want to avoid this happening to another bride. My feeling from the way you described Frank's reaction toward bringing up Bill leads me to believe Bill had another wedding booked and forgot.
    Posted by OwningAHome1981[/QUOTE]

    Couldn't have said it better. I think exactly what you said to us is what you should write. Maybe make it a point to highlight the quality of DJ Frank and how happy you were and that you would hire them again, but this is something any bride/groom considering him would like to know.
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