Am I Crazy?!

ninjasgirl · February 2010

So, I have been having major frustrations with my reception venue. We had booked with them because they gave us a good deal, but now I am beginning to think there may be something to the saying, "You get what you pay for."
I have been trying to arrange for a tasting every time my fiance is in from the military (it has been about once a month for 6months) and everytime there is a miscommunication and it falls through. I call or email and get no answer. And recently I found out that they were bought out and I was never notified.
I am scared that things will be awful on the day of because nothing else with the venue has. Am I crazy to be considering another reception site sense I will be loosing my deposit?
Thanks!

MairePoppy · February 2010

If you can't arrange a meeting with the new people, then you should be very concerned. Contact your state's department of consumer protection or attorney general's office. They probably have an online form for you to fill out. Good luck/

ninjasgirl · February 2010

Thanks ladies. I contacted the new lady at my venue to express my concerns and I am waiting to here back. My wedding is in 3 months so I am looking around to see if any other venues even have my date available.

As far as money goes... my family doesn't have a ton but it could be a possiblity. I'm just not sure about if I wuld be able to get any money back. I paid a deposit of 25% and then a few months later I paid another 25% as a second payment. Is the second payment still part of the deposit?

Catwoman708 · February 2010

YES you should be concerned and NO you are not crazy.

You might want to go to the venue in person and meet with the manager, and/or coordinator if they have one. You have already paid money and they have to honor that.

Because the venue has been bought out, it's possible they didn't have all the infomation, and expain why communications fell through. I think I'd give them one more chance to make it right, and prove they will handle things professionally.

Explain WHY you are having second thoughts, and the numerous attempts for tastings and not being able to reach anyone. If they want your business they will shape up. If they won't, ask for your deposit back.

BostonBride919 · February 2010

Take it from me - You DO get what you pay for!! I had a great deal on a florist and that's the only vendor I regret hiring. Just pay a bit more so you can be comfortable and stress free on your wedding day and everythign will come together as you expect it to

anne.azano · February 2010

IF you can find another venue, explain why you are dissatisfied and ask for your money back. If they say no, threaten to plaster their name all over the knot with what a bad experience you had. Threaten to do the same on twitter, facebook, whatever.

It sounds harsh, but I had a really bad experience with a travel agent and airline, and they were unwilling to lift a finger to help me. After lots of frustrating phone calls and being stonewalled, I simply wrote an email explaining what horrible service I'd received from the company and why people should not trust them or book flights through them. Then I sent that email to the company and said, "this is what I'm going to forward to everyone I know in my contacts list on my email, facebook and twitter" (which was a lie, cause I don't even have a twitter account!). Then I said, "or you could work with me to find a solution to this problem." And, lo and behold, we worked it all out. Bad news travels fast on the internet. Sometimes companies need to be reminded of that. A negative rant on your local board is not something that wedding venue wants in a recession. They'll be likely to give you your money back just to avoid the bad press.

ninjasgirl · February 2010

Thank you for the advice. This is what has developed:
We found out that the new owner bought the assets but not the liablity which means that they are not responcible for our monies paid.
I'm heart broken because we don't have the money to switch the venues and everytime we interact with this company I see more warning signs: the wedding coordinater that we were working with just quit on Monday so now we are working with the owner, who does all of the office work and cooking himself. Everytime I tell him something I am not satisfied with he says it is either not his fault or he is doing the best he can. He is promising to do whatever we want to make us happy. But frankly he could promise me the sun and the moon and I still wont trust him because nothing he has done so far is up to scratch.
Thanks for letting me vent. I guess I am just stuck hoping for the best.

anne.azano · February 2010

Seriously, does this guy know about the knot forums? Let him know that you could RUIN him. send him a link to this board and say that you haven't mentioned the name of the venue yet, but you're seriously considering doing it (on your local boards, where the most damage would be done). A bad review these days goes far with the internet. Vendors can't afford that. If you bring out he big guns, he'll most likely realize it's in his best interest to make you happy. good luck, it's a terrible situation, but you do have options!

anne.azano · February 2010

Plus, it that legal? Buying assets without liability? Tell him you're going to contact consumer protection just to make sure. or a lawyer... even if it's a bluff.

EMF9903 · February 2010

This sounds awfully frustrating. IMO before you start telling him you are going to RUIN him, thats a bit harsh if hes the new company, explain to him that you are marrying someone in the military and its is IMPERATIVE that anything you schedule with him is done when it is supposed to happen. My fiance is in the military and it can be very difficult to make things work around a schedule of coming or going or shift work. If as you said you cant financially switch venues just make sure the owner and anyone else is aware of the situation and your concerns.

While people should just respect us because we are paying them lots of money it doesnt always happen that way.... when dealing with money issues with my apartment complex manager as she was treating me like crap and not paying my fiance money he was owed (he was deployed so I had to deal with her) I asked her if this is the way she treats everyone in the military and all of a sudden things started to happen.... she was an incredibly shadey/crappy person... I hate "playing" the military card but unfortunately that can work at times. He deserves the respect of at least keeping appointments while he is doing a job that not all of us would want to do.

I really hope that everything works out for you this sounds terrible!!!

anne.azano · February 2010

A bit harsh, but if she doesn't stand up for herself, he's could ruin her wedding. Anyway, it's just a threat, with any luck, she won't have to say anything bad about his company, because he'll do the right thing. The one time I was angry enough to make such a threat, I got immediate results.

anne.azano · February 2010

Just want to add, emf9903, that you're totally right that this approach may is extreme. I want to say that this should definitely be a last resort! If you are going to stick with this company, you'd be better off compromising and working with him, catching more flies with honey, and all that. It's only if you decide you definitely want to find another venue and he won't give you at least some of your money back that you should even think about doing something like what I've suggested..

EMF9903 · February 2010

UGH!!! Good Luck, I cant begin to imagine:(

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