what is your refund policy?

[christina]

hi. what is your refund policy. i want to say no. i dont want to give it back. im not in the mood for this. the money is spent, i had bills to pay.

i want to tell her that all sales are final and the money is now studio credits.

her husband surpised her with a gift cert. he purchased the gc through paypal on my blog. i had a gc special, he paid $350 and got 50% added to it. i am so annoyed right now. i dont know how to word it.

wwyd?


her email tonight: it was titled "a huge favor"

I just left a phone message, but thought I would write an email as well. I am writing to ask for a huge favor, to see if you could refund the gift certificate my husband purchased. We have found that we still have many things we need to purchase before the birth of our baby boy and money has become tight. Your photos are incredibly beautiful and worth every penny, but beyond our means at this point. It would help me to calm my nerves if we could get a refund. Your photos are some of the best I have ever seen and I hope we will be able to afford some in the future. Our order was through paypal on January 11th and through xxxxxxxx@gmail.com. Thank you so much for your help.

[AndrewCCM]

Whatever is in your written contract/policy is what I would go by. If it is not stated, then you may have issues... I have never had to refund a customer (Thank Goodness), but I have had them bail on me...I kept the retainer in those cases (twice).

[BabyHopes]

What does your contract or terms say about gift certificates?

[christina]

for the paypal sales, i made a pulldown menu on paypal, i never thought to write that the gc were non-refundable on my blog. i was surprised someone actually bought one.

i have never had this happen before.

i mailed her a paper gc today before i got the email and it says: non-transferable, non-refunable, no cash value.

is that enough to cover me?

[Angelo]

Just my two cents, for whatever it's worth.
What would you do if the tables were turned?
Good luck in your decision, whatever that will be.

[HotHolly]

I would refund it. Have her send it back. btw I dont think you can say a gift certificate has no cash value. What ever terms you put on it, it needs to be stated at the point of purchase. She also may not realize that she wont get back the face value of the gift certificate. Dont refund her more than they paid.

[Rson]

I have 2 sides to me.....

1: Screw them they are probably lying.

2: New baby's are expensive and they are telling the truth.

The sad thing is that 1 usually is more true.

[hotshot38]

A gift certificate IS cash value. BEFORE electronic gift cards, if you went to a store with a $25 gift certificate and only spent a $1, the store would give you back $24 in cash. So, technically, she could just buy the least inexpensive thing on your menu of offerings and get the rest back.

BTW, accountants hate gift certificates because they can never be written off the books if they don't get cashed.....they have to carry that value over from year to year. At least, that's what I've been told. (used to do IT for a bunch of number crunchers)

[photojournalist]

I would give her a refund.

[AndrewCCM]

Originally Posted by hotshot38

A gift certificate IS cash value. BEFORE electronic gift cards, if you went to a store with a $25 gift certificate and only spent a $1, the store would give you back $24 in cash. So, technically, she could just buy the least inexpensive thing on your menu of offerings and get the rest back.

BTW, accountants hate gift certificates because they can never be written off the books if they don't get cashed.....they have to carry that value over from year to year. At least, that's what I've been told. (used to do IT for a bunch of number crunchers)

Some gift certificates (these days) have expiration dates...some decline in value over time as well. Kinda like losing frequent flyer miles..

[LonestarMan]

Husbands are stupid. The shoot and the viewing would be tense if Mom really does not want to be there and is only thinking what else she could have done with the money. I lean toward a refund.

[Orogeny]

I would give her the refund minus any paypal fees (if that wasn't included in the price).

Tim

[gregt1310]

I agree with Tim. Give her the refund minus any paypal fees. You may get some good faith advertising out of it, if you go this route. Just my .02 worth.

[nastytrucker]

Hmmmm as a hardliner when it comes to business and new first time Father I am conflicted on this one. If you can afford it I would probably give a refund, especially if you know she is really pregnant. I know I have kinda jumped the gun buying things for my wife I shouldnt have, (see: Rooms at Bellagio instead of Excalibur). If you're flexible with them you may have the potential for a long term customer.

[brad]

The first rule of acquisition: Once you have their money, never give it back.


That said, I'd refund it. If its within a certain amount of time, you can refund it via the paypal interface and you don't have to eat the fees. It also is instant for them.