Did you guys ever go into a hall and the hall tells you that you can ONLY use their vendors? What if you want to use a different florist, or a different dj or photographer than what they have to offer. My friend was told that she couldnt use the dj company she wanted because they were not 'house' djs. i never heard of this...how can they do this? Then her dj told her that he has to pay like $10,000 to one particular hall just to be allowed to play there- and then on top of that- her dj has to pay a 'kick back' to the hall, money to the BM and all this other stuff. That is insane! Can anyone shed some light on this for me? How is that fair to us if we have family friends who are photographers or djs, etc. and and cut us a better deal than 'in house' vendors?..... sorry for the vent!
marymoon
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Re: Vendor politics...is this actually legal?
I don't know if that's entirely true. I think some halls only allow you to use vendors that are insured ina certain way, and so maybe their house vendors are the only ones that are? I don't know. I'd ask the hall and see what they say the reason is. If it's just for their own personal gain, I'd go to another hall!
Marisa M
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Re: Vendor politics...is this actually legal?
I have heard of getting a discount on house vendors, IF you decide to use them - I have also heard of halls including EVERYTHING in their per head price - (ie: florist, dj, photographer, etc.) They can not FORCE you to use a house vendor though - I say run far far away from that place and don't look back !!
july06bride
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Re: Vendor politics...is this actually legal?
that doesnt sounds correct... double check...or check with another hall! i was never told i HAD to use the house vendors...and I am NOT using all house vendors
BRIDEMICHELE
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Re: Vendor politics...is this actually legal?
I haven't seen any halls that make you use their house vendors but I am sure that if you do use their house vendor then the hall gets a kickback. My hall gave us a whole speech about how they carefully select their house vendors and they pick the best. That might be true but there is also money involved. There's got to be!
Mrs. dleeny
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Re: Vendor politics...is this actually legal?
vendors pay a fee to the hall for them to be recommended. so obviously it is in the hall's interest to push these vendors.
we were not pressured at ALL to use their vendors though. I have received some annoying phone calls (who don't stop calling me, at WORK!) trying to solicit their services. but that's about it.
LaurenluvsTJ
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Re: Vendor politics...is this actually legal?
I am only using one vendor recommended by the hall. All the others are not. The hall never pressured me to use anyone, they just gave me a list of recommended vendors and that was it. My vendors said they have been to my hall many times, even though they are not 'recommended'
nferrandi
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Re: Vendor politics...is this actually legal?
I did visit a few halls that made you use specific vendors. I don't know the lagality of it all, but that policy was atunr off for me and I would have never used a hall that forced me to sue specific vendors.
Goldi1021
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Re: Vendor politics...is this actually legal?
Posted by LaurenluvsTJ
I am only using one vendor recommended by the hall. All the others are not. The hall never pressured me to use anyone, they just gave me a list of recommended vendors and that was it. My vendors said they have been to my hall many times, even though they are not 'recommended'
I'm in the same boat. My caterer had recommended vendors. I didn't use the photographer they recommended but I did use the florist and band company they recommended. I researched many options for each service and I ended up liking the suggested florist more than the others I saw. Their work was great and the fact that they had a relationship with the caterer made me feel a bit at ease. When it comes to aesthetics, nobody was going to dictate who I was going to use. I was going to book the band regardless.
L&M2006
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Re: Vendor politics...is this actually legal?
My friend booked a country club and she had to use 1 of the 2 florists they worked with. I don't know why, but it sure doesn't seem fair. I wouldn't want to book w/ that hall.
Sonicstef
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Re: Vendor politics...is this actually legal?
My hall had the same policy with florists. At the time I didnt think it a big deal but it became a huge problem b/c the florist was so aweful and I had little choice to go elsewhere.
Vendors pay a huge amt to be on those lists and the whole practice sickens me...but they are private business and allowed to specifiy any rules they want. The only option is to negotiate an exception when you book (which I tried but didnt work) or go elsewhere.
Edited to add: Its a very common practice in Manhattan. They claim its because of insurance reasons, etc.. which I can understand but the real reason is pure greed.
marymoon
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Re: Vendor politics...is this actually legal?
Yeah that's why I'm thinking ti isn't illegal , because it's a private business and you have the option of not booking there. Some house vendors are very good though
summer06bride
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Re: Vendor politics...is this actually legal?
I know a lot of places we saw in New Rochelle for example the Surf Club makes you use one of three house florists. My girlfriend who is getting married at the Glen Harbor also has to use one of those three house florists. I only saw this up there though.
October Bliss
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Re: Vendor politics...is this actually legal?
I went to 16 different catering halls before deciding on which one to book. Not one of them told me I 'had' to use their vendors. They of course all had a recommended vendor list, but in no way was it required.
Blu-ize
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Re: Vendor politics...is this actually legal?
Posted by Sonicstef
My hall had the same policy with florists. At the time I didnt think it a big deal but it became a huge problem b/c the florist was so aweful and I had little choice to go elsewhere.
Vendors pay a huge amt to be on those lists and the whole practice sickens me...but they are private business and allowed to specifiy any rules they want. The only option is to negotiate an exception when you book (which I tried but didnt work) or go elsewhere.
Edited to add: Its a very common practice in Manhattan. They claim its because of insurance reasons, etc.. which I can understand but the real reason is pure greed.
I agree with this. I think that just because a vendor pays the hall money to be recommended doesn't necessarily mean they are really great. I think the whole practice stinks.
nervouschic
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Re: Vendor politics...is this actually legal?
Thank you ladies for all of your feedback. I am sooooo annoyed at this. I feel sorry for my friend. Is this what I'm in for. I'm going to island or something....lol..already pulled out of my hall.
But my question is this....Lets just say that you go to a hall- you're getting EVERYTHING...soup to nuts. Lets say for argument sake that your wedding is the most expensive wedding this hall has ever booked..and you want to bring in 'uncle Joe' to be your dj....this hall wasy saying no..they are not our 'recommended' vendor. You mean to tell me they're gonna let you go elsewhere for the sake of them not letting you use 'uncle Joe' as a dj?
Its like extortion...embezzlement.... I heard that a very popular hall on herel wants like $20,000 from a photographer in order for that photographer to be 'house'. Then on top of that- the photographer has to pay out every Tom **** and Harry that was involved in the booking. no wonder us brides are getting the $hit end of the deal and everything is so much $$.
Mrs.Z
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Re: Vendor politics...is this actually legal?
We were givin 'house' vendor list and we would have saved money had we used them. We were able to use outside vendors as long as they had a certificate of insurance before the entered. I would double check that before you sign anything.
nervouschic
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Re: Vendor politics...is this actually legal?
Of course. Most (most) companies have insurance anyway- thats understandable.
M&LSept1606
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Re: Vendor politics...is this actually legal?
vendors do have to pay thousands to be housed at certain places. Then they have to pay for every referral as well. Every time they step foot in to the hall they are housed in, the hall gets a piece.
I've never heard of any place saying that you HAD to use their house vendors. But, I wouldn't put it passed them. If I was told that, I would not book that hall-period.
edited: I don't believe you get a huge big deal discount if you use a house vendor either, they just make it seem that way
Tracy06
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Re: Vendor politics...is this actually legal?
I have never heard of that, but since we are using thier house vendors we are getting a discount
