Furious w/ My reception hall
Over Memorial Day weekend, I booked my wedding for Oct 2009 @ the Swan Club. I knew they didn't take appointments for viewings, but I called ahead to make an appointment for booking.
The girl I spoke with on the phone sounded like she was taking down my information, including the number on the sheet I got my first time there with the price quotes. I told her who I saw, and she assured me he, or someone else, would be available to help me at 9am that Sunday.
When I got there that morning, my fiance and I, along with our parents, had to wait at least 20 minutes. I said I had called earlier in the week to confirm, and was met with 'well, I don't know who you spoke to but we don't make appointments.' Once again, I gave the lady at the front desk my original price quote sheet. When Jordana finally came in, she asked us if we had been there before. I told her yes, showed her the sheet, and she said she needed to go to the office and find the original. She came back 5 minutes later, said she couldn't find it, and wanted to xerox mine.
At this point, I should have left. I should have know this would be a disaster. Jordana was very nice and answered all of my questions. The questions she didn't have answers to (about extra things I wanted), she said she would call me the following Tuesday, and asked what time would be good for me. So, I was expecting her call that Tuesday with answers.
She then started to leave, and I said 'oh, I was hoping to book the place today.' She seemed rushed, because there were other people waiting, but she did print up all the forms we needed and we booked. Alot of things were not on the contract, such as the chocolate fountain during dessert, and other things, like flowers for the ceremony that I did not say I wanted (at $300 more ) were there. When I pointed this out, she said we could come in and ammed the contract at any time to include or remove the things we did or didn't want. I should have gone with my gut and demanded she print a new one, but I knew there were other people waiting and we had already taken up about 40 minutes.
Jordana has not called yet with answers to all my questions. But, starting that Wednesday, I started getting calls from vendors. ALOT of vendors. All of them said they received my information from the Swan Club. When the first 1 or 2 called, I was not too worried, but then I started getting 1 or 2 a day, all around 6pm.
The problem is, when I asked Jordana about recommended vendors, her response was 'If you look at our website, you can see a list of vendors we have a good reputation with.' She didn't make a single mention of the fact that the Swan Club would distribute my name to them.
I called the Swan Club on Wed June 4th to have them take me off whatever list they had distributed, WITHOUT MY PERMISSION, to their vendors. The girl at the front desk had no idea what I was talking about. I explained I had booked, gave her the event number, and I didn't want to be contacted by outside vendors. She must have asked me at least 4 times 'and you're sure you booked with us.' I said 'yes, I booked on May 25th, and since then I have been getting phone calls from photographers, DJ's, bands, florists, etc - all of whom claim they got my information from YOU.' Finally, I guess a lightbulb went off and she said 'Oh, Warren deals with that, I'll transfer you to him.'
Well, Warren didn't pick up the phone, so I left him a voicemail giving him all of my information, and the problem I was having, and I would appreciate a return phone call.
The following week, I continued to receive calls from more vendors, but no call from Warren. I called the Sawn Club on Monday June 9th again and asked to speak to Jordana. They said she was busy but they could transfer me to her voicemail. I asked to speak with someone about the calls from vendors directly, and didn't want to leave a message for anyone. She said 'OK, I will transfer you to Warren.' Well, guess what, I got Warren's voicemail.
This time, I was not nice about it. I told him in plain English that I did not appreciate the Swan Club distributing my personal information to other people. I also said that I expected to stop receiving phone calls from their vendors immediately, even if it meant he had to call them all personally and tell them to take me off the list. I then gave my phone number, again, and asked that he call me when he returned to the office.
No phone calls yet, except from 2 florists, who all said they got my info directly from the Swan Club.
I know my event is 15 1/2 months away. But I would think that since I am about to shell out about $20k at their facility, I could at least get a return phone call. I am a professional, and if I didn't return my client's phone calls promptly, you can bet they would take their business elsewhere. That is exactly what I would do if I wasn't sure I would lose the deposit.
The Swan Club is a beautiful place, and I have heard excellent things about them from other people, including brides who had their event there. But I am worried that if I can't even get a return phone call, how can I have a nice event?
has anyone else had a similar experience?
The girl I spoke with on the phone sounded like she was taking down my information, including the number on the sheet I got my first time there with the price quotes. I told her who I saw, and she assured me he, or someone else, would be available to help me at 9am that Sunday.
When I got there that morning, my fiance and I, along with our parents, had to wait at least 20 minutes. I said I had called earlier in the week to confirm, and was met with 'well, I don't know who you spoke to but we don't make appointments.' Once again, I gave the lady at the front desk my original price quote sheet. When Jordana finally came in, she asked us if we had been there before. I told her yes, showed her the sheet, and she said she needed to go to the office and find the original. She came back 5 minutes later, said she couldn't find it, and wanted to xerox mine.
At this point, I should have left. I should have know this would be a disaster. Jordana was very nice and answered all of my questions. The questions she didn't have answers to (about extra things I wanted), she said she would call me the following Tuesday, and asked what time would be good for me. So, I was expecting her call that Tuesday with answers.
She then started to leave, and I said 'oh, I was hoping to book the place today.' She seemed rushed, because there were other people waiting, but she did print up all the forms we needed and we booked. Alot of things were not on the contract, such as the chocolate fountain during dessert, and other things, like flowers for the ceremony that I did not say I wanted (at $300 more ) were there. When I pointed this out, she said we could come in and ammed the contract at any time to include or remove the things we did or didn't want. I should have gone with my gut and demanded she print a new one, but I knew there were other people waiting and we had already taken up about 40 minutes.
Jordana has not called yet with answers to all my questions. But, starting that Wednesday, I started getting calls from vendors. ALOT of vendors. All of them said they received my information from the Swan Club. When the first 1 or 2 called, I was not too worried, but then I started getting 1 or 2 a day, all around 6pm.
The problem is, when I asked Jordana about recommended vendors, her response was 'If you look at our website, you can see a list of vendors we have a good reputation with.' She didn't make a single mention of the fact that the Swan Club would distribute my name to them.
I called the Swan Club on Wed June 4th to have them take me off whatever list they had distributed, WITHOUT MY PERMISSION, to their vendors. The girl at the front desk had no idea what I was talking about. I explained I had booked, gave her the event number, and I didn't want to be contacted by outside vendors. She must have asked me at least 4 times 'and you're sure you booked with us.' I said 'yes, I booked on May 25th, and since then I have been getting phone calls from photographers, DJ's, bands, florists, etc - all of whom claim they got my information from YOU.' Finally, I guess a lightbulb went off and she said 'Oh, Warren deals with that, I'll transfer you to him.'
Well, Warren didn't pick up the phone, so I left him a voicemail giving him all of my information, and the problem I was having, and I would appreciate a return phone call.
The following week, I continued to receive calls from more vendors, but no call from Warren. I called the Sawn Club on Monday June 9th again and asked to speak to Jordana. They said she was busy but they could transfer me to her voicemail. I asked to speak with someone about the calls from vendors directly, and didn't want to leave a message for anyone. She said 'OK, I will transfer you to Warren.' Well, guess what, I got Warren's voicemail.
This time, I was not nice about it. I told him in plain English that I did not appreciate the Swan Club distributing my personal information to other people. I also said that I expected to stop receiving phone calls from their vendors immediately, even if it meant he had to call them all personally and tell them to take me off the list. I then gave my phone number, again, and asked that he call me when he returned to the office.
No phone calls yet, except from 2 florists, who all said they got my info directly from the Swan Club.
I know my event is 15 1/2 months away. But I would think that since I am about to shell out about $20k at their facility, I could at least get a return phone call. I am a professional, and if I didn't return my client's phone calls promptly, you can bet they would take their business elsewhere. That is exactly what I would do if I wasn't sure I would lose the deposit.
The Swan Club is a beautiful place, and I have heard excellent things about them from other people, including brides who had their event there. But I am worried that if I can't even get a return phone call, how can I have a nice event?
has anyone else had a similar experience?
