So tourists that don't turn up (slight rant)

[lowenduser]

So, st the weekends, I earn a couple of extra quid running walking tours of my town. Get my publicity through tourist boards, hotels etc. I always take bookings through the phone or by email, and I always phone two hours ahead to make sure the tourists are turning up - mainly because, although I don't live too far from the city centre, it IS a 45 minute trip, and if it's a big group it's no issue, but if there's only one or two turning up, there's no point making the 90 minute round trip for nothing.

Anyhows, occasionally, even after confirming the tour two hours ahead, the tourists don't turn up. No call to say it's cancelled. No call to say they're late or lost. Just a no show. Now, I know what it's like to be on holidays and you get sidetracked, but boy was I annoyed after leaving my friend's kid's christening party last Saturday (where I stayed off the partying end of things) to give a tour - confirmed and all - to be greeted with two no-showers. It's not the money - it's the pain in the ass of having to turn up.

I hasten to add that on the three occasions confirmed tours have ended up as a no-show - they have been Canadain tourists which is unusual Any other cancellations have rang ahead! I was going to post this on Saturday, but I was so annoyed I would have been banned for life off here for the amount of f-words I would have used!

</rant>

[SpankyPants]

Damn the Canadians!

[ADbassman]

I didn't know there were seals in Ireland.

[merlin]

If they have booked and then confirmed you should still get paid for it. As annoying as it is. I know how you feel, i hate when someone phones me, books a job then doesnt show. I end up sneaking into my invoices a FAF.

Whats a FAF you ask? it stands for F*** Around Fee. Things like $50 for miscellaneous fixings, or "travel time" or "timber needed for install"



Damien

[lowenduser]

em, there are..... lots and lots of them *confused* lol

[lowenduser]

Originally Posted by merlin

If they have booked and then confirmed you should still get paid for it. As annoying as it is. I know how you feel, i hate when someone phones me, books a job then doesnt show. I end up sneaking into my invoices a FAF.

Whats a FAF you ask? it stands for F*** Around Fee. Things like $50 for miscellaneous fixings, or "travel time" or "timber needed for install"



Damien

hmmmmm good one! Although could prove difficult "invoicing" tourists

[merlin]

Yes but dont you invoice a particular company/hotel/tourist board? or do they just pay you cash in hand when they arrive?

If they do, hmm perhaps ask where they are staying and knee cap them. NO i mean perhaps have them pay a small deposit at the place they are staying? Im sure, like me, you get a lot of your business from a handful of places?

Damien

[ADbassman]

Originally Posted by lowenduser

em, there are..... lots and lots of them *confused* lol

Well theres your Canadians. They're off clubbing seals.

[lowenduser]

Originally Posted by merlin

Yes but dont you invoice a particular company/hotel/tourist board? or do they just pay you cash in hand when they arrive?

If they do, hmm perhaps ask where they are staying and knee cap them. NO i mean perhaps have them pay a small deposit at the place they are staying? Im sure, like me, you get a lot of your business from a handful of places?

Damien

well, business isn't good enough to start hiring the "heavies" yet.... although I might have to start importing baseball bats in bulk....

Yes, Ive looked into the deposit issue as I do get alot of my business from the likes of hotel front desks etc. Main issues would be

1. Front line desk people wouldn't want to handle my money and I'm not running in for that two minute query at the front desk from a tourist who's making a quick query on the way out for breakfast

2. The only time I would physicall see my "clients" would be at the meeting spot. Far less messy transacting there.

As I said, it's not really the money as much as not turning up. The nature of the business is that I get a call or mail and "I will meet you at X time at X place" (with confirmation call) would, to be suffice enough confirmation that someone is turning up.

What I might do is ask where they're staying. Agree to meet them there and adjust my route to start there and work back there. Handy for them. Handy for me if they don't turn up.

[Depth_Charge]

Given the lack of official arrangements (they just meet you at X place at Y time) my bet is a lot of tourists get lost on the way to meeting you, or lose confidence in the deal and decide to bail.

Annoying as it is, I guess some would shrug and say "Thats' Poker".

[lowenduser]

Originally Posted by Depth_Charge

Given the lack of official arrangements (they just meet you at X place at Y time) my bet is a lot of tourists get lost on the way to meeting you, or lose confidence in the deal and decide to bail.

Annoying as it is, I guess some would shrug and say "Thats' Poker".

hehehe - well I have to dumb meeting arrangements down for the American market!

yep - at this stage I'm taking that poker approach.

[ADbassman]

Is this you?

[FL Knifemaker]

When I book my tour, I won't cancel on you!!

I should book tours of my town!! Here's the biggest Budweiser distributorship in the world, heres the phosphate mines, this is the crackhead neighborhood, this is the trailerpark where Kidrock once filmed a music video, here is the shopping center where they filmed Edward Sissorhands

I could make a fortune

[lowenduser]

Originally Posted by ADbassman

Is this you?

hehe - yep - bejaysus begorrah. Nothing like a bit o' fishing. Come on my tour and we'll get a few trout for your dinner!

Originally Posted by FL Knifemaker

When I book my tour, I won't cancel on you!!

I should book tours of my town!! Here's the biggest Budweiser distributorship in the world, heres the phosphate mines, this is the crackhead neighborhood, this is the trailerpark where Kidrock once filmed a music video, here is the shopping center where they filmed Edward Sissorhands

I could make a fortune

You're more than welsome! Sounds like a good tour you've planned - beer, drugs, music and when you've absorbed enough of all of the above, go see where they filmed a guy with freaky looking hands!