G
Oh most definately... they love it.... no need to waste time trying to contact me... no need to wait for normal hours to make changes... they can sit in their jammies if they wish.... heck they could sit naked working on my planners....
G
Guest
Guest
I said yes but only after I bug them and they don't use the entire thing. To be specific, I've only had a few that fill out all the forms.
Most dig right into the music even though I give them a sheet that asks for their bridal party, timeline, and then music. The next thing they fill out is the bridal party. Very few get to the timeline; I end up doing that with them.
Most dig right into the music even though I give them a sheet that asks for their bridal party, timeline, and then music. The next thing they fill out is the bridal party. Very few get to the timeline; I end up doing that with them.
G
Guest
Guest
Now that'll make for some interesting visuals in my fertile mind. I guess the wife'll have to change the sheets tomorrow... :sqembarrassed:
Ew.....
Rob/All:
Do you use the online planning tools in place of, or merely in addition to/as prep for personal planning consultations with the client.
From what Tom has said, it sounds like I would expect - that the online tools don't actually replace personal consultations, but merely act as somewhat convenient information-gathering tools to assist in them.
Is this generally universal, or are there some here who's entire planning process consists of online forms and tools?
I'm not asking that from a judgmental standpoint in any way and don't want the thread to degenerate along those lines - I just want to see where these tools fit in with your process.
Thanks!
G
Guest
Guest
They also LOVE paying by credit card when I provide a paypal pay button that leads them to a custom pay page. There they can pay with any credit card or paypal. None has paid with Paypal though.
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I know .... they do love that! I don't have a lot of them doing it though because I tack on a 4% "convenience fee" to cover what PayPal dings me for using it! 
K
Kirby Ball
Guest
I had to go with, I don't have any on-line services. Which would be the closest answer to the question.
In reality, we do have access to the online planning services with WeDJ, but at this point in time have not utilized them on our website for our client's use.
Will we offer this in the future? Possibly, as we have not ruled it out.
We really like the face to face time with clients and by spending that time with them we feel we have a better grip on who they are and what we can do for them.
YMMV
In reality, we do have access to the online planning services with WeDJ, but at this point in time have not utilized them on our website for our client's use.
Will we offer this in the future? Possibly, as we have not ruled it out.
We really like the face to face time with clients and by spending that time with them we feel we have a better grip on who they are and what we can do for them.
YMMV
Ew.....
Rob/All:
Do you use the online planning tools in place of, or merely in addition to/as prep for personal planning consultations with the client.
I use the online tools to gather initial information about the event. This information is gathered when a client first checks for availability. Mostly just client contact information and venue information.
Once they have submited the "Booking Inquiry" for an "Instant Quote". They get an email that not only gives the quote but also invites them to log into the client area and look around at the planners and even confirm their event and print a contract.
Then when/if the client asks for an interview then I use the tools to enhance that meeting.
Other times I have had the client call and after a 5 minute phone conversation where I've given them the log in information they have booked online 10 minutes later.... no joke.
No they don't, in fact I would encourage a one-on-one consultation if they feel it necessary to meet before and even after they have booked. I don't charge anything to do this just ask that they schedule an appointment to do so.
As far as planning tools and forms are concerned yes, those are entirely online. But, there is nothing that stops me from printing and mailing a planner to someone who is not internet savy.... (never had to do this).
Simply put the online availability checkers gather the basics such as Who, When, for How Long and Where. The online planners, timelines and music request system are how I gather the specifics needed to customize an event from Intros to End.
The fact that it is online means, for my client, that I get detailed information on their event instantly. No worrys about misscomunication, lost information or any such SNAFU. No need to make endless appointments to get it right.
djsarge
Mac Daddy DJ
I know .... they do love that! I don't have a lot of them doing it though because I tack on a 4% "convenience fee" to cover what PayPal dings me for using it!
Do you include the "convenience fee" in the price or do you charge them extra?
I charge extra.... I don't do enough transactions to justify making all my clients pay extra for it.
BUT... What I will do from time to time is waive that charge if they pre-pay the contract total up-front in a single charge. Mathematically, the fees are less for one transaction than for two equal payments. Don't ask me why when it's a fixed percentage, but that's how it comes out!
They get the fee waived, and I get some scratch up-front.
Check with your states laws. In some states it is illegal to charge extra because a customer is paying by credit card. You can have a set price for all purchases and offer a discount for cash, that is legal.
See http://www.gofso.com/Premium/LE/06_le_ic/fg/fg-merchants.html
STATES THAT PROHIBIT CREDIT CARD SURCHARGES
http://www.gofso.com/Premium/LE/06_le_ic/fg/fg-merchants.html#MORE:B
Yes, and no.... But thanks for keeping me honest! I 'bout messed my pants when I saw your post, so thank you. After researching some more, I found that it all hinges on terminology and context.
Yes.... Visa and Mastercard prohibit vendors charging a SURCHARGE for using credity cards (Amex and Discover do not).
BUT... Here's what I found:
"While Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover prohibit surcharges (with the Discover exception noted above), all allow the assessment of a “convenience fee” to cover the costs of providing an automated payment channel, such as Interactive Voice Response (IVR), kiosk-based interfaces or the Internet.
For Visa and Mastercard, Convenience fees charged for web, kiosk or IVR payment channels must be charged uniformly to any payment type accepted via that payment channel. In other words, even though the cost for ACH payments is much less than for credit card payments, and different credit card companies charge different rates, the same convenience fee must be charged for any web, kiosk or IVR transaction, regardless of the payment type used. American Express and Discover do allow assessment of a convenience fee for credit card payments over convenient channels, even if there is no fee, or a different fee charged for ACH payments taken over the same channel."
So yes, I am okay with charging a convenience fee for this.... BUT - At the same source I found that I need to stop making it a PERCENTAGE and make it a FIXED RATE.
This is because Visa mandates that - that all charges be a fixed fee, and not variable based on the amount.
So thanks for your post - even though the charge is still compliant and legal, I do have to modify the way I'm doing it.
Thanks for that post man - AWESOME!
Yes, and no.... But thanks for keeping me honest! I 'bout messed my pants when I saw your post, so thank you. After researching some more, I found that it all hinges on terminology and context.
Yes.... Visa and Mastercard prohibit vendors charging a SURCHARGE for using credity cards (Amex and Discover do not).
BUT... Here's what I found:
"While Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover prohibit surcharges (with the Discover exception noted above), all allow the assessment of a “convenience fee” to cover the costs of providing an automated payment channel, such as Interactive Voice Response (IVR), kiosk-based interfaces or the Internet.
For Visa and Mastercard, Convenience fees charged for web, kiosk or IVR payment channels must be charged uniformly to any payment type accepted via that payment channel. In other words, even though the cost for ACH payments is much less than for credit card payments, and different credit card companies charge different rates, the same convenience fee must be charged for any web, kiosk or IVR transaction, regardless of the payment type used. American Express and Discover do allow assessment of a convenience fee for credit card payments over convenient channels, even if there is no fee, or a different fee charged for ACH payments taken over the same channel."
So yes, I am okay with charging a convenience fee for this.... BUT - At the same source I found that I need to stop making it a PERCENTAGE and make it a FIXED RATE.
This is because Visa mandates that - that all charges be a fixed fee, and not variable based on the amount.
So thanks for your post - even though the charge is still compliant and legal, I do have to modify the way I'm doing it.
Thanks for that post man - AWESOME!
Make sure that Visa's policies and California's laws are in sync. When in doubt call your State Comptroller or other governing body. You already know Visa and MasterCard's stance
Quite frankly I think charging your client to process their credit card is hogwash.... I understand that it might cost you a percentage of the transaction as a fee imposed by Paypal or your Merchant Service providor... but that's just a cost of business and you should have already incorporated that into your rate structure.
If I were a client and you quoted me, for the sake of argument lets say $1000.00 for your services and then I say can I pay with credit card you then tell me there's a Convienence Fee of 10% to complete the transaction I just might tell you to blow it out your butt...
Believe it or not you can wright off those transaction fees as a cost of business at the end of the year... why push it off on your client that just doesn't make sense to me. IMHO
If I were a client and you quoted me, for the sake of argument lets say $1000.00 for your services and then I say can I pay with credit card you then tell me there's a Convienence Fee of 10% to complete the transaction I just might tell you to blow it out your butt...
Believe it or not you can wright off those transaction fees as a cost of business at the end of the year... why push it off on your client that just doesn't make sense to me. IMHO
Different strokes for different folks
For the record, I've removed the charge from my site and will incorporate the fee. This not because of any issue with "passing it on to the client," but simply for the perceived compliance issues that houston brought up. Even though I've discovered that there are no legality issues with the practice, a superficial suspicion of impropriety as evidenced by houston's post could just as easily create undue worry or suspicion for clients who don't possess a full or accurate understanding of the regulations involved, and I'd rather not engage in something that will foster that kind of mindset or potentially open a dialog on it. Its just not worth it.
As for passing it on to the client - I have no qualms about that at all. And having it as a "charge" vs. incorporating it into your rate structure is just semantics.
People are used to paying transaction fees and convenience fees all over the place - be it online, convenience stores, drive-throughs, etc...
Proportionally speaking, the convenience charge they pay online to make a payment on the site through PayPal is less than the charge they pay to use their card for a burrito at a mexican restaurant!
So unless they are diligent and principled enough to avoid all those situations and Ticketmaster and the likes for any and all their other purchases in life, they really don't have a leg to stand on when it comes to paying for a dj!
For the record, I've removed the charge from my site and will incorporate the fee. This not because of any issue with "passing it on to the client," but simply for the perceived compliance issues that houston brought up. Even though I've discovered that there are no legality issues with the practice, a superficial suspicion of impropriety as evidenced by houston's post could just as easily create undue worry or suspicion for clients who don't possess a full or accurate understanding of the regulations involved, and I'd rather not engage in something that will foster that kind of mindset or potentially open a dialog on it. Its just not worth it.As for passing it on to the client - I have no qualms about that at all. And having it as a "charge" vs. incorporating it into your rate structure is just semantics.
People are used to paying transaction fees and convenience fees all over the place - be it online, convenience stores, drive-throughs, etc...
Proportionally speaking, the convenience charge they pay online to make a payment on the site through PayPal is less than the charge they pay to use their card for a burrito at a mexican restaurant!
So unless they are diligent and principled enough to avoid all those situations and Ticketmaster and the likes for any and all their other purchases in life, they really don't have a leg to stand on when it comes to paying for a dj!
Different strokes for different folks
People are used to paying transaction fees and convenience fees all over the place - be it online, convenience stores, drive-throughs, etc...
Proportionally speaking, the convenience charge they pay online to make a payment on the site through PayPal is less than the charge they pay to use their card for a burrito at a mexican restaurant!
So far as I know, and I do a lot of online shopping and practically use my debit card for every purchase I make, have never been hit with a "Convience Fee".
Maybe it's that way in your neck of the woods but I've traveled all over this country while serving in the Navy and this is not a common Fee.
May very well be regional - others speak up as well.
I get hit-up at restaurants, convenience stores, etc. Maybe it's smaller or franchise merchants who have to pay more for merchant card processing services and don't have the benefit of doing high-volume transactions to get better processing rates. The higher-volume of those transactions you do monthly or annually, the lower your processing rates become, and the merchants I mention, as well as dj's for that matter-do not fit into that bracket of providers (Walmart, Olive Garden, etc., et. al.) who do enough of a volume and have a small enough of a "hit" to incorporate it into their normal prices or rates.
Huge retail chains and franchises can easily absorb these kinds of processing fees because they do such a volume that they pay less than we do to process the same amount.
At any rate, I've changed my policy effective immediately.