03/01/2020
Let’s have an awkward conversation, shall we?
Late cancellation/missed appointment fees are a hot button issue for a lot of people. Why should you have to pay a fee if something unexpected comes up and you can’t make it? Who do we think we are, doctors?!
Here’s the thing. Most groomers work on commission, the vast majority do not make a penny unless they are grooming. So when we have a filled appointment slot not show up or cancel last minute, that slot is wasted and we’re just out that money. That money pays our bills, feeds our families, and keeps our businesses going. So to try and make up for a fraction of what was lost, some groomers charge fees for those missed appointments.
I know it can be frustrating - I do! Things happen last minute, things you can’t possibly control and it can feel like a punishment to have a fee added to your next service. But please know that is *not* the case. It’s the simple fact that, as with with most people, our responsibilities don’t change based on the circumstances of others. Many of us are softies and would happily eat the money lost if it didn’t have consequences to our lives and businesses, but it does so we just can’t.
The reality is that if we do not implement these policies, we will get taken advantage of. Not by everyone, of course, but there are people that will make an appointment and cancel it ten minutes before, or not show up. And they will do that repeatedly. I speak from experience.
So if something comes up and you miss or cancel an appointment and get charged a fee, please know that it’s not personal, we still love your pets, and are very grateful for your patronage. We just have to protect ourselves.
❤️✂️🐩