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Would you book a vendor that doesn't do contracts?

behsco90behsco90 member
100 Love Its Third Anniversary 100 Comments Name Dropper
in Chit Chat
Specifically transportation.  

FI and I were looking into renting a vintage classic car, and there's really only 3 companies in our area to choose from.  Our first choice does not do contracts.  That of course made us hesitate right there.  So we called up our 2nd choice, but it's WAY out of our budget.  He gave us a recommendation, which ended up being our first choice company.

I told him we hesitate booking our 1st choice because they don't do contracts.  He told us he's known the guy a long time and it's a reputable company and has been in business a long time.

So that made us feel a little better BUT our 1st choice also has NO reviews whatsoever.  Not on TK, WW, Yelp, anywhere.  I know most car/limo companies don't have many reviews to begin with, but how can a company that's been around for 30+ years have no reviews?

And the 3rd company has only been around a year, but has a few reviews on WW and does a contract.  However, I don't believe they have a permit in the city of Portland, which is required if they are picking up passengers in the city, or they face fines.

So anyways, what would you ladies do?  We were thinking we could write up our own contract to protect ourselves at least.
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Re: Would you book a vendor that doesn't do contracts?

  • Maggie0829Maggie0829 member
    Eighth Anniversary 10000 Comments 500 Love Its 25 Answers
    I would never book a vendor without a contract.  A business professional should know that a contract not only protects their client from certain things but it also protects them from getting fucked over by clients.

    So if this vendor refuses to sign or make up a contract then do not book with them.  Do you really want to book them and then the day of your wedding comes and there is no vintage car waiting for you?  Not only do you no longer have a ride you also have no recourse for getting your money back.

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  • AddieCakeAddieCake member
    10000 Comments 500 Love Its Fourth Anniversary 25 Answers
    Nope. Too many shady people in the world not to do contracts.
    What did you think would happen if you walked up to a group of internet strangers and told them to get shoehorned by their lady doc?~StageManager14
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  • kaitlynmichellekaitlynmichelle member
    Fifth Anniversary 500 Love Its 1000 Comments Name Dropper
    Absolutely not. Too many risks without having a contract in my opinion.
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  • theartistformerlyknownastheartistformerlyknownas member
    10000 Comments 500 Love Its 5 Answers First Anniversary
    No. Write up your own contract. If he refuses to sign it, run away.
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  • larrygagalarrygaga member
    2500 Comments 500 Love Its First Anniversary First Answer
    vintage classic car
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  • behsco90behsco90 member
    100 Love Its Third Anniversary 100 Comments Name Dropper
    Thanks ladies, that was my gut feeling was to not do business with them. On to our 2nd or 3rd choice.

    @larrygaga, haha yes I know. I am not good with words.
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  • FiancBFiancB member
    1000 Comments 500 Love Its Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    Nope nope fucking nope
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  • novella1186novella1186 member
    5000 Comments 500 Love Its Second Anniversary First Answer
    lolo883 said:
    No. Write up your own contract. If he refuses to sign it, run away.
    This. I would even find a really detailed solid contract from a similar business and then just alter it a little bit to apply to that business and your situation just to be sure that EVERYTHING is covered. 
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  • sarahuflsarahufl member
    Tenth Anniversary 2500 Comments 500 Love Its First Answer
    Interestingly enough, we didn't have a contract for our caterer. It wierded me out at first, but it ended up being fine. He says he doesn't do contracts, but our email exchanges acted as a contract. He also didn't require a deposit.

    That said, I had done business with him before, in an old job- he catered a few big parties for us (which I didn't realize at first, until after we met with him). Also, I think it is important to note that he is a sort of redneck, down home North Florida boy and I guess they do business differently. I will say that he and his business manager were very good with communication and were super easy to work with, so I never felt uncomfortable about it.

    His food was awesome and he was incredibly easy to deal with, so it worked for me. But generally, no- I wouldn't say that works across the board.
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  • thisismynickname2thisismynickname2 member
    5000 Comments Sixth Anniversary 500 Love Its First Answer
    Try going on sites like legalzoom and get a basic contract yourself, if you really want this company. 

    When I think of the pages of legalese just to rent an econo-box from a cheap nationwide car rental company, there's just no way I'd rent a valuable vintage car without a contract. 
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  • SBminiSBmini member
    500 Love Its 1000 Comments Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    I don't think we have a written contract for transportation. I called them up on the phone, and booked on the phone. I then called them a week before and confirmed everything with them. They were perfect, zero issues what so ever. 

    I would not, however, book something like a florist without a contract. I did that- because she was so highly recommended, and it was a nightmare. I couldn't even get my money back because I didn't have a contract that showed that she didn't do her job!
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  • luckya23luckya23 member
    1000 Comments 500 Love Its Second Anniversary First Answer
    I don't recall signing a contract for my venue - I just sent in the check with my wedding date on it.  Fingers crossed, I guess!

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  • labrolabro member
    5000 Comments Sixth Anniversary 500 Love Its 5 Answers
    Honestly, there wasn't a TON in our vintage car rental agreement that was protection for us...it was more about what you couldn't do to the car, limitations on # of people, etc. more than "This will happen if we don't show up". I feel like in general, as long as you have some sort of acknowledgement of services to be provided - description of the car, time and date, price, etc. in an email or letter communication then you'll generally be ok.



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  • badbnagdwaybadbnagdway member
    1000 Comments 500 Love Its Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    We don't have a contract for our DJ. We met him in person, he has good reviews, and he does it as a side-gig. 

    I think it is always good to have a contract, but generally unless you do some major revisions to a contract the contract is written heavily in favor of the vendor, and does not necessarily help you in real time address the flake factor, of, the person or company just plain didn't do what they said they would do. 

    If you are supposed to be driven around in the classic car, the thing I would be most concerned about would be that the car service is properly licensed and insured. 
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