Vendor Relations & First Impressions

mp1082 Posted: Aug 19, 2010 10:24 AM

Vendor Relations & First Impressions

Just wondering how many of you really take into account the initial encounter you have with a vendor, when considering whether or not to use them.

There have been at least 3 vendors who I can think of immediately, whose work I was absolutely in LOVE with, and would have paid more than I budgeted for...but their replies were either extremely delayed (going on 2 weeks and 2 emails for the first reply!), very impersonal (i.e., here are our prices, bye. No congrats, no thanks, nothing.), or just plain rude (This is what I charge, if you can afford me feel free to write back).

So, what do you girls think? I've been pretty disappointed about all 3 of these. It's like, don't you want my business? Are you that rude?

J79 Posted: Aug 19, 2010 10:25 AM

Re: Vendor Relations & First Impressions

we've had this talk. if they dont respond to me in a timely manner its unprof and i write them off

there are way too many vendors to deal with that

i need reliable, prof and respectful

KailaKuuipo Posted: Aug 19, 2010 10:26 AM

Re: Vendor Relations & First Impressions

No joke, FH just sat down next to me and hit yes.

kimmaymb20 Posted: Aug 19, 2010 10:27 AM

Re: Vendor Relations & First Impressions

If they are a popular vendor they may just be busy. I had to take into account when I was emailing them, was it a busy wedding time, and I didnt expect thank yous or what not. I never really had a bad vendor experience.

Im getting Married Posted: Aug 19, 2010 10:28 AM

Re: Vendor Relations & First Impressions

Yup. I did not use a very popular shop on here b/c of the customer service. It was lacking to say the least and that was in person.

I have no intention of giving our hard earned money to anyone who is rude or has no customer service

AngnShaun Posted: Aug 19, 2010 10:28 AM

Re: Vendor Relations & First Impressions

Absolutely... First impressions are super important... but obviously its not all that counts... and sometimes months later your first impression can be totally negated... which happened to me with one vendor...

mp1082 Posted: Aug 19, 2010 10:29 AM

Re: Vendor Relations & First Impressions

Posted by kimmaymb20

If they are a popular vendor they may just be busy. I had to take into account when I was emailing them, was it a busy wedding time, and I didnt expect thank yous or what not. I never really had a bad vendor experience.

2 things on this:

1) I received a very timely response from a very popular vendor, and it was just rude and impersonal. No excuse for that.

2) If you are SO busy that you can't get back to prospective clients within 48 hours, you can afford an assistant (or at least a blackberry/iPhone/etc), to keep on top of mail.

That's just my opinion. Anything more than 2 days going by is very bad business.

evita2781 Posted: Aug 19, 2010 10:30 AM

Re: Vendor Relations & First Impressions

yes! there was this one vendor that FH and I went to that ended up being cheaper than who we booked with but FH was really PO at them b/c when we walked in, they basically ignored us as they kept on walking by and they totally were not friendly - i'm glad we didn't book with them!

J79 Posted: Aug 19, 2010 10:31 AM

Re: Vendor Relations & First Impressions

Posted by mellyrose

Posted by kimmaymb20

If they are a popular vendor they may just be busy. I had to take into account when I was emailing them, was it a busy wedding time, and I didnt expect thank yous or what not. I never really had a bad vendor experience.

2 things on this:

1) I received a very timely response from a very popular vendor, and it was just rude and impersonal. No excuse for that.

2) If you are SO busy that you can't get back to prospective clients within 48 hours, you can afford an assistant (or at least a blackberry/iPhone/etc), to keep on top of mail.

That's just my opinion. Anything more than 2 days going by is very bad business.

first of all, if youre that busy that you cant respond to me in a timely manner, what does that say abt how you will treat me at the wedding or in planning?

not ok

mp1082 Posted: Aug 19, 2010 10:33 AM

Re: Vendor Relations & First Impressions

Posted by J79

first of all, if youre that busy that you cant respond to me in a timely manner, what does that say abt how you will treat me at the wedding or in planning?

not ok

That too. Your prospective clients should be just as important as secured clients, and treated the exact same.

kimmaymb20 Posted: Aug 19, 2010 10:34 AM

Re: Vendor Relations & First Impressions

Posted by mellyrose

Posted by kimmaymb20

If they are a popular vendor they may just be busy. I had to take into account when I was emailing them, was it a busy wedding time, and I didnt expect thank yous or what not. I never really had a bad vendor experience.

2 things on this:

1) I received a very timely response from a very popular vendor, and it was just rude and impersonal. No excuse for that.

2) If you are SO busy that you can't get back to prospective clients within 48 hours, you can afford an assistant (or at least a blackberry/iPhone/etc), to keep on top of mail.

That's just my opinion. Anything more than 2 days going by is very bad business.

if your emailing on a weekend or a friday I would never expect a vendor to return my email until at least mid week. some vendors work alone so they might not return emails right away. I am all the benefit of the doubt. Everyone is human. If its been a month then I would move one but if it took 2 weeks Id always do a follow up email. Sometimes at work I check my emails and start doing something else and then forget about them. The client will reemail me and then I will answer It happens.

Im getting Married Posted: Aug 19, 2010 10:34 AM

Re: Vendor Relations & First Impressions

As for contact the only thing I can add is some vendors don't do email so I try email and phone if I get no response than you are crossed off..I do not care how good you are.

mybabylovesmoi Posted: Aug 19, 2010 10:36 AM

Re: Vendor Relations & First Impressions

yeah, I have definitely written off some people by their responses.

One make up person I emailed with a bunch of questions and her delayed response was

'what's your wedding date?'

That was it. As if she didn't want to bother answering any of my questions if she was already booked anyway.

eww, didn't even respond

mp1082 Posted: Aug 19, 2010 10:38 AM

Re: Vendor Relations & First Impressions

Posted by kimmaymb20

if your emailing on a weekend or a friday I would never expect a vendor to return my email until at least mid week. some vendors work alone so they might not return emails right away. I am all the benefit of the doubt. Everyone is human. If its been a month then I would move one but if it took 2 weeks Id always do a follow up email. Sometimes at work I check my emails and start doing something else and then forget about them. The client will reemail me and then I will answer It happens.

Of course 2 business days. Never would expect replies on weekends, though I do get them.

If a vendor doesn't regularly check their email listed for business, they either shouldn't list it, or mention that phone calls are better.

I am also for benefit of the doubt...but it's a very cut-throat world, especially now. People shouldn't assume their talent alone will win anyone's hard earned money.

I'm also speaking strictly about the vendors who I have sent follow up emails to, etc. Mostly though, it's the rude and impersonal ones. If you don't even have the time to reply to me, it's almost an automatic disqualification.

Many wedding vendors don't take on more workload than they can handle, so that they can give each client the attention they deserve. Many videographers, photographers, wedding planners, etc even say they are no longer booking for certain years, which is a nice heads up.

xoabxo Posted: Aug 19, 2010 10:39 AM

Re: Vendor Relations & First Impressions

yes! one company never wrote back and another guy got nasty when we said that we still wanted to look around and we would let him know.

Moonmist09 Posted: Aug 19, 2010 10:40 AM

Re: Vendor Relations & First Impressions

first impressions are so important! there have been several vendors that FH and i have not used because of their lacking customer service and lack of enthusiasm.

BlushandBashful Posted: Aug 19, 2010 10:41 AM

Re: Vendor Relations & First Impressions

Posted by J79

we've had this talk. if they dont respond to me in a timely manner its unprof and i write them off

there are way too many vendors to deal with that

i need reliable, prof and respectful

ITA, 100%. I am spending WAY too much money on this wedding to be treated like a vendor is doing me a favor by replying. IMHO, keep looking. Those vendors aren't worth your breathe, or $$.

heathery72 Posted: Aug 19, 2010 10:42 AM

Re: Vendor Relations & First Impressions

I was dealing with a vendor that I initially had a very hard time contacting. I thought I really wanted to work with them, but their communication remained the same after I book. I was very unhappy so I cancelled my contract. If it takes a long time for them to get back to you, don't book!

mp1082 Posted: Aug 19, 2010 10:42 AM

Re: Vendor Relations & First Impressions

I'm not asking for these vendors to be like 'OMGGGG tell me your proposal story!!!!' but a simple 'congratulations on your engagement' would be a nice touch. At VERY least 'Thank you for your interest' is mandatory.