I have a riding school in South Africa and would like your input of charging fees. I ask all my riders to pay their fees up front for the month. I also state on the indemnity form that they sign that cancellation of lessons or non arrivals are non refundable. Do you think I am being unreasonable? My thought on this is that I am available for those lessons and this money goes straight back into the riding school. Sometimes parents cancel lessons and expect me to deduct it from their monthly payments.Only serious answers please.
2007-03-08 00:43:04 · 12 answers · asked by june l 2 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
as a business owner in the equine field myself i think you are in the right. you count on those lessons for your business and if they cancel it is going to hurt your business if you deduct the money. i shoe horses and i just wish i could have the same policy. when a customer cancels on me it is very difficult to schedule another in their place so for every horse that is canceled i lose about $60. everybody seems to think that farriers and other equine specialists make tons of money but as you yourself know there are a lot of expenses, for me its shoes, gas, nails, etc. for you its feed, vet bills, and my favorite shoeing bills among others. our time is money, the biggest problem is explaining that to our customers. good luck.
2007-03-08 03:33:08 · answer #1 · answered by walker 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would allow a certain grace time for rescheduling lessons of 24-48 hours just so that you and the school have notice and could have a chance to fill the slot. It is not at all unreasonable to charge for no-shows or last minute cancelations, especially as you are stating this clearly when the lessons are paid for. A no-show means that someone has taken up time that could have been given to another student.
2007-03-08 11:55:01 · answer #2 · answered by Ravanne_1 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When I teach freelance, I ask my clients to pay one lesson in advance. If they do not arrive for the lesson, or don't give me 24 hours notice to cancel, then they lose that fee and must pay for another lesson on advance. However, it works both ways. If I cannot give them 24 hours notice that I am unable to attend, or if I cannot reach them and they miss a lesson, then I give the next lesson for free.
A full month of fees in advance is a little steep, but as I teach private clients, on their own horses, I have few overheads. Perhaps if they have to cancel a lesson, a minimum of 48 hours notice should be given so they don't lose their fee, but non arrivals should really lose their fee as the place on the lesson could have been filled by another client. If you have waiting lists for lessons, I would stipulate that three cancellations or non arrivals would mean forfeiting their place in the lesson, in favour of a more reliable client. I used to use my discretion, in this way, with my clients also...
2007-03-08 08:58:01 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I would do what doctors here in the US do, you must give at least 24 hours notice if you can't keep the appointment, otherwise you are charged for a office visit. That seems fair. Your deal seems a little bit harsh. I mean people have emergencies, sickness, etc. On the other hand, you do have a business to run, and your time is valuable. I think that the 24 to 48 hour notice is a compromise that both you and your students could agree on.
2007-03-08 09:01:42 · answer #4 · answered by sity.cent 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My riding school charges R100 a lesson. About the cancellation thing I think the people should have the lesson deducted if they have cancelled. If they haven't cancelled it's fair to charge them. I also juz wanted to ask if you don't mind how much you charge for stabling because I think my riding school's stabling costs are expensive and would like to compare.
2007-03-08 13:09:58 · answer #5 · answered by Horse crazy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
up front fees save the hassle of chassing people i suppose and i think you should charge a cancelation feeor make it non-refundable, those people should understand the appoinment they canceled could have been had by another paying customer. If they or you think its unfair maybe have a time frame for cancelation, which is refundable.last minute cancelations should be non refundable.
2007-03-08 08:55:21 · answer #6 · answered by mel_leno 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I completely agree with you. I think it is especially true if they don't give you at least a day's notice, or just don't show up. I think if they have a family emergency, or the child is sick, then maybe you could reschedule their lesson or something. But just cancelling should not be tolerated, you set aside time to work with them out of your schedule, and it is rude of them to think otherwise!
2007-03-08 13:32:21 · answer #7 · answered by jeepgirl0385 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if anything make them pay just before you give a lesson and if they want to make sure they have a lesson they should pay in advance.
my trainer has me pay right before i ride so he isnt troubled into getting the money after the lesson.
2007-03-08 09:47:55 · answer #8 · answered by mle9393 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It does seem a little harsh for group lessons, but for private lessons it sounds more than fair.
2007-03-08 13:26:54 · answer #9 · answered by nokhada5 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the money goes to support the barn and the horses, that's more then fine. you have them sign a paper so they know that they will not get their money refund so they have no reason to complain at you. if they sign it then they've agreed to it. you're doing the right thing.
2007-03-08 10:20:42 · answer #10 · answered by Chrysanthi W 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋