AIBU to think I shouldn’t pay for a service upfront?

[MuvaWifey77]

I have my first appointment with seamstress next week. she emailed wedding shop saying ; “cash only , pay on first appointment” .
I wasn’t very happy with that . AIBU ? Or is this just the normal ? I don’t want to email her that I’m upset about this without being sure but I feel apprehensive about paying for a service upfront then sending off my dress.

Opinions?

Is she established? Does she have good reviews? Are you sure it's not a deposit she wants rather than the full amount, that's very unusual imho.

She’s the seamstress at the wedding shop where I purchased my dress from. Recommended by them.

Email was very clear about paying her in full. I am lost now. 😥

I wouldn't pay upfront.

I wouldn't pay the entire amount upfront otherwise you don't have much sway when/if things go wrong. Can you offer to pay 60% now and the remainder after completion. Or find someone else?

I’ve only used a seamstress a few times but they all asked for a deposit and then payment of the rest on completion.

No doubt she's been seen off due to cancelled dresses or even weddings. I'd say payment up front in that trade is reasonable.

I work in a bridal shop, this is very unusual. There may be additional works that need to be done, or things that don't need doing.

We would never ask someone to pay up front.

You can say you are not happy with this arrangement, if she insists on payment up front I would look elsewhere. Standard time frame is 8 weeks for alterations, can be done quicker, but we are peak wedding season now so I would get cracking if your wedding is soon to make sure you have someone respected to go to.

If you are South my bridal shop does alterations for external brides, our seamstresses come highly recommended, I can pm you if you like.

I'd be worried by the 'Cash only' stipulation, quite aside from paying upfront.

But no, I would not pay upfront either. Deposit - yes, in full - no

The shop has email me back saying it’s the policy and won’t be changed just for me. She won’t dinheiro and get paid in the end. So , I will look for someone else I think. So upsetting ...

Do all the work *

If they are saying that it doesn't sound like a profitable company and why are the shop dealing with her get someone else it's ure wedd6 dress can't take the chance and I would.think the bridal shop would find someone else to team up with

Do not use her it’s very odd and risky - my wedding dress was made from scratch and the policy was a small deposit and payments each time I had a fitting. You certainly cannot pay all the money upfront as you don’t know if you will like the work, and if you don’t she can refuse to do any additional work without charging more money!

No doubt she's been seen off due to cancelled dresses or even weddings. I'd say payment up front in that trade is reasonable
Or maybe she damaged dresses in the past and won't risk the customer not wanting to pay (rightly so)...

Cash only and upfront, fiddling taxes and might damage dress.

Cash only and upfront, fiddling taxes and might damage dress.
Or '...., done the work really well but had customers before who've not paid or have but it's taken a lot of hassle to get the money'
I'm in a service industry and I take payment in full upfront because I've had issues before with people either not paying or being arsey or dragging the job out so I can't do the final bit & get paid. Customers who are happy to pay upfront are the sort who either won't bugger you about or if they do take their time with dragging it out, then at least I've been paid. Though to be fair most of my customers are from referrals so they know I'm not going to do a runner.

Not standard in my experience. I didn’t even pay a deposit! My seamstress was excellent. If you’re by some fluke in SW London contact me and I’ll get you her details.

The shop has been awful and not wanting to give her direct details. So I found myself with no reviews of her work, nothing to rely on, and was invited to have a (paid) consultation with her to speak to her and go ahead if I feel like it.

So I found someone else.
Thanks for the replies ladies

Gosh, paid consultation? I take back what I said! And this is the seamstress the bridal store recommended? Madness.

I wouldn’t mind paying for a consultation , I have to pay for her time, but I can’t pay for that before knowing about her, at the store, with store recommendation but no reviews , nothing , I don’t even know now this woman’s last name, the store won’t give her details.