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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Is this a CF?

68 replies

AllNaturalIngredients · 24/07/2020 17:23

So I’m a self employed makeup artist who rents a room at a local salon for every day I am there. This is about a first time client, don’t know her at all.

The week before lockdown officially started events had started to be cancelled and therefore appointments etc, no problem. I had one appointment still left standing for a wedding guest on the Saturday, couldnt get her to answer my calls or voicemails to see if she was still attending but assumed she would let me know if wedding was cancelled. (By the time I paid rent for the room it wouldn’t really pay me to take a singular appointment but I would never let a client down if possible).

I still live with my mum and she got a letter about shielding so I then knew that I was going to have to cancel regardless. But I was gutted at having to let sown a client at the last minute, I love my work and was worried that it might affect my reputation. Out of desperation I sent the lady a text when she still wouldn’t answer the phone the night before apologising profusely and explaining the situation, I told her a would send her a voucher to make up for it that she could use after this was all over. And I meant that wholeheartedly.

But her reply shocked me, “oh the wedding was cancelled anyway here’s my address for voucher” 😳

So she simply was going to be a no show anyway, which would have cost me rent. And she knew the voucher was for letting her down (as I thought). I was annoyed at the time but then forgot about it until I got a cheeky message today telling me she was still waiting for the voucher 😡

I know I offered, but I suppose I’m annoyed because I know she wasn’t go to do the decent thing for me. She never even acknowledged my calls until she got a whiff of the free voucher. Obviously I have no option now but to give it but I resent it so much.

AIBU or did I cut the rod for my own back?

OP posts:
LouiseTrees · 24/07/2020 17:27

Tell her you are not opened yet so that’s why the voucher isn’t there. I agree she’s unreasonable but you do kind of have to send it now.

FedUp196 · 24/07/2020 17:27

She is definitely a CF! But for the sake of your reputation it might be better to rise above it and give a voucher anyway? Maybe a smaller amount than would cover a full service so she has to top it up?

StaffAssociationRepresentative · 24/07/2020 17:28

Make sure the voucher you send is linked to her buying something else more expensive or at least an equivalent value or maybe a 3-for-2 offer

MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig · 24/07/2020 17:28

I’d say sorry but the voucher was in lieu of my not being able to honour your appointment. As you have now informed me that you had no intention of attending the appointment anyway obviously my offer is no longer required. Cheeky mare.

LouiseTrees · 24/07/2020 17:31

FedUp and StaffAssociation have good ideas.

Namechangex10000 · 24/07/2020 17:32

Yeah I’d have to go with @MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig Here!!! She’s a cheeky fucker and I’d be telling her that the voucher was a goodwill gesture for having to let you down (despite already paying a days rent on the salon room for her sole appointment as you had been unable to contact her) as she informed you that the event was cancelled and she had simply chose to not inform you then on this occasion you will not honouring the voucher

Mairyhinge · 24/07/2020 17:33

Can you send a voucher like £5 off a £50 spend? So it's still a voucher but hardly worth it for her? Iyswim?
Or 10% off when you spend £50 3 times?! A vouchers a voucher if you haven't stated what it would be?
Yes she's a CF!!

roses2 · 24/07/2020 17:33

Give her a voucher for 20% off

AllNaturalIngredients · 24/07/2020 17:40

I’m after re reading the original text I sent to look for any wiggle room, I specifically said a voucher for a makeup application 🙈 Id nearly rather buy her a voucher for makeup with someone else rather than try to make small talk with her for an hour while trying not to head butt her 😆

OP posts:
WhoWouldHaveThoughtThat · 24/07/2020 17:45

Send a voucher with the title 'Fancy Dress Party Makeup Session' if she turns up do her makeup so she looks like a clown. Grin

Covert19 · 24/07/2020 17:45

It could be a voucher for 10% off makeup application. Also, this voucher can only be used on Tuesdays between 9 and 10am. And it will expire in two weeks.

Covert19 · 24/07/2020 17:46

@WhoWouldHaveThoughtThat

Send a voucher with the title 'Fancy Dress Party Makeup Session' if she turns up do her makeup so she looks like a clown. Grin
Genius!
GinDrinker00 · 24/07/2020 17:47

I’d just reply “the wedding was cancelled which you failed to tell me therefore you’d of been a no show so unfortunately there’s no voucher for you. Piss off CF.”
In a more professional manner of course. Wink

Noshowlomo · 24/07/2020 17:49

She is 100% a CF, and the response above is perfect. You didn't let her down, so won't be giving her a voucher.

IntermittentParps · 24/07/2020 17:52

sorry but the voucher was in lieu of my not being able to honour your appointment. As you have now informed me that you had no intention of attending the appointment anyway obviously my offer is no longer required.

Exactly this.

There will be other customers.

smittenkittennn · 24/07/2020 17:52

Did you say a voucher for a free makeup application or just a voucher for makeup application? If you didn't specify free then maybe send her a 20% off a makeup application voucher? Only to protect yourself from her doing something like posting bad reviews online - total CF.

StaffAssociationRepresentative · 24/07/2020 17:52

@AllNaturalIngredients

I’m after re reading the original text I sent to look for any wiggle room, I specifically said a voucher for a makeup application 🙈 Id nearly rather buy her a voucher for makeup with someone else rather than try to make small talk with her for an hour while trying not to head butt her 😆
yes but you can still restrict the time to an early weekday morning and you can still link it to another purchase
honeygirlz · 24/07/2020 17:54

But the wedding was cancelled so I would just say as she didn’t notify you, the offer for a voucher is no longer valid.

totalitarian · 24/07/2020 17:54

I would tell her " dear client, unfortunately due to the Covid situation, I have had no income for the past three months, and have been unable to work, hence why voucher hasn't been forthcoming as yet. It's a very difficult situation as you can imagine. I'll do my best to get something for you, but I should be grateful if you would mind waiting a bit longer just so I can get back up on my feet again"
Possibly this will guilt her a bit ( and it's all true) if she still insists then you had better honour it.

FartingInTheFence · 24/07/2020 17:57

I wouldnt respond to the CF cunt at all.

Plenty of business and customers out there. Fuck her.

Esspee · 24/07/2020 17:59

The important thing when you are working in this kind of business is not to get any bad reviews.
I would send a voucher for 10% off her next three appointments.

WhereYouLeftIt · 24/07/2020 18:00

"Obviously I have no option now but to give it but I resent it so much."
I'm not seeing 'no option' at all.

I'd go with MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig's suggestion of
"I’d say sorry but the voucher was in lieu of my not being able to honour your appointment. As you have now informed me that you had no intention of attending the appointment anyway obviously my offer is no longer required."

Gogogadgetarms · 24/07/2020 18:01

I’d honour it. It’s one appointment out of your day and for all you know she may refer friends (as opposed to leaving a bad review that you reneged on an offer).
Could you ask for permission to share the photos on your business page and advertise that you did this complimentary session for good PR? Make it work for you.

IntermittentParps · 24/07/2020 18:01

I would tell her " dear client, unfortunately due to the Covid situation, I have had no income for the past three months, and have been unable to work, hence why voucher hasn't been forthcoming as yet. It's a very difficult situation as you can imagine. I'll do my best to get something for you, but I should be grateful if you would mind waiting a bit longer just so I can get back up on my feet again"
No, absolutely not! This is way too emotive and gives way too much information.

Mydogisthebestest · 24/07/2020 18:02

Voucher for free make up on a Wednesday at 10am to be used by the end of august

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