Comments on: FAQs: How do I say “no” to a client that’s not right for me? http://blog.prestonbailey.com/2011/03/08/faqs-how-do-i-say-no-to-a-client-thats-not-right-for-me/ Preston Bailey is an award winning event designer. He is renowned for his breathtaking weddings, unique floral designs, centerpieces, floral artistry, and inspired table settings. Sat, 25 May 2013 04:17:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Nichelle http://blog.prestonbailey.com/2011/03/08/faqs-how-do-i-say-no-to-a-client-thats-not-right-for-me/#comment-5530 Nichelle Mon, 14 Mar 2011 18:00:47 +0000 http://blog.prestonbailey.com/?p=4808#comment-5530 How do you go about charging coordination fees? Especially for events that are non-profit. How do you go about charging coordination fees? Especially for events that are non-profit.

]]> By: jacin {lovely little details} http://blog.prestonbailey.com/2011/03/08/faqs-how-do-i-say-no-to-a-client-thats-not-right-for-me/#comment-5529 jacin {lovely little details} Mon, 14 Mar 2011 17:40:42 +0000 http://blog.prestonbailey.com/?p=4808#comment-5529 such great advice, i have had to turn down a few clients in the past and although it is a hard move to make, it is the right move in the long run. such great advice, i have had to turn down a few clients in the past and although it is a hard move to make, it is the right move in the long run.

]]> By: Maureen http://blog.prestonbailey.com/2011/03/08/faqs-how-do-i-say-no-to-a-client-thats-not-right-for-me/#comment-5471 Maureen Wed, 09 Mar 2011 19:01:28 +0000 http://blog.prestonbailey.com/?p=4808#comment-5471 Thanks so much for your thoughtful post, Preston! I look forward to your blog every day. I have learned the hard way to say "no" if my gut/Creator/God is really telling me to at the first meeting. Two time I could "sense" that we were really not a good fit. I told them this in the first meeting, and even gave my friend/competitor's card. But they talked me into still taking a second meeting. I regretted it all the way... One the bride was wonderful but the family was VERY adversarial and treated every little detail like a negotiation - trying to squeeze out the last penny. Said they were there to "protect" the bride. It was sooo insulting. I did end up quitting prior to a deposit being placed, thank God. The second one - after a deposit was already placed the mom brought swatches of ribbon to hold up to the petals of the roses, and thought half the roses in the bunch matched ok, but the other half had too much peach in them. sigh. So now I follow my instincts/God/Creator. It really is a spiritual journey and we learn the hard way sometimes ha ha Thanks so much for your thoughtful post, Preston! I look forward to your blog every day.

I have learned the hard way to say “no” if my gut/Creator/God is really telling me to at the first meeting.

Two time I could “sense” that we were really not a good fit. I told them this in the first meeting, and even gave my friend/competitor’s card. But they talked me into still taking a second meeting.

I regretted it all the way…

One the bride was wonderful but the family was VERY adversarial and treated every little detail like a negotiation – trying to squeeze out the last penny. Said they were there to “protect” the bride. It was sooo insulting. I did end up quitting prior to a deposit being placed, thank God.

The second one – after a deposit was already placed the mom brought swatches of ribbon to hold up to the petals of the roses, and thought half the roses in the bunch matched ok, but the other half had too much peach in them. sigh.

So now I follow my instincts/God/Creator. It really is a spiritual journey and we learn the hard way sometimes ha ha

]]> By: PH http://blog.prestonbailey.com/2011/03/08/faqs-how-do-i-say-no-to-a-client-thats-not-right-for-me/#comment-5422 PH Wed, 09 Mar 2011 03:44:39 +0000 http://blog.prestonbailey.com/?p=4808#comment-5422 Great post!!! I am starting to learn to say NO to clients that i feel are not right for me and usually I just use my instinct.... but after reading this post, it gives me a better general guideline of what to lookout for. Thank you Preston! Great post!!! I am starting to learn to say NO to clients that i feel are not right for me and usually I just use my instinct…. but after reading this post, it gives me a better general guideline of what to lookout for. Thank you Preston!

]]> By: Melonie Karl http://blog.prestonbailey.com/2011/03/08/faqs-how-do-i-say-no-to-a-client-thats-not-right-for-me/#comment-5416 Melonie Karl Wed, 09 Mar 2011 02:17:22 +0000 http://blog.prestonbailey.com/?p=4808#comment-5416 I had to say no to a client who wanted to spend $1500 on a wedding for 100 persons. I tried showing her the cost breakdown but she just got a nasty attitude and stormed out of our meeting. She later hired another planner who quit a few months before the wedding. I had to say no to a client who wanted to spend $1500 on a wedding for 100 persons. I tried showing her the cost breakdown but she just got a nasty attitude and stormed out of our meeting. She later hired another planner who quit a few months before the wedding.

]]> By: Doyin http://blog.prestonbailey.com/2011/03/08/faqs-how-do-i-say-no-to-a-client-thats-not-right-for-me/#comment-5407 Doyin Tue, 08 Mar 2011 18:54:23 +0000 http://blog.prestonbailey.com/?p=4808#comment-5407 I had to say no to a client who wanted to spend $2000 on her entire wedding. I adviced her on the costs of the type of wedding which she wanted and turned her down in a nice way. I had to say no to a client who wanted to spend $2000 on her entire wedding. I adviced her on the costs of the type of wedding which she wanted and turned her down in a nice way.

]]> By: Clare Baukham http://blog.prestonbailey.com/2011/03/08/faqs-how-do-i-say-no-to-a-client-thats-not-right-for-me/#comment-5405 Clare Baukham Tue, 08 Mar 2011 18:01:44 +0000 http://blog.prestonbailey.com/?p=4808#comment-5405 I had a client that wanted everything and wanted to pay next to nothing. I had to eventually tell her that I thought so and so florist could accomodate her much better for what she was looking for. It's tough because you don't want to make it seem like you are not capable of the job and you don't want to insult them by saying "hey you're cheap and I'm not doing this because I'm not a charity". IT went well the way I handled it. I had a client that wanted everything and wanted to pay next to nothing. I had to eventually tell her that I thought so and so florist could accomodate her much better for what she was looking for. It’s tough because you don’t want to make it seem like you are not capable of the job and you don’t want to insult them by saying “hey you’re cheap and I’m not doing this because I’m not a charity”. IT went well the way I handled it.

]]> By: Meaghan Schmaltz http://blog.prestonbailey.com/2011/03/08/faqs-how-do-i-say-no-to-a-client-thats-not-right-for-me/#comment-5403 Meaghan Schmaltz Tue, 08 Mar 2011 17:03:37 +0000 http://blog.prestonbailey.com/?p=4808#comment-5403 Great post! I had to say "no" to a client I met earlier this year for major personality conflicts. I was so nervous. Thankfully a colleague gave me your advice - pass them on to someone they will match with. I slept well that night. Great post! I had to say “no” to a client I met earlier this year for major personality conflicts. I was so nervous. Thankfully a colleague gave me your advice – pass them on to someone they will match with. I slept well that night.

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