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Expert May 2021

Frustrated with vendors

on April 4, 2019 at 8:43 PM Posted in Planning 0 28

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Am I the only one who gets frustrated with vendors/venues telephone/business etiquette? I had my heart set on a venue and set up a tour. The ‘coordinator’ didn’t even show to give us the tour. Instead, she has the bartender of the slot machine business (that we were not aware of) in the basement give us the tour. She had the info packet but couldn’t answer any of our questions. We called the coordinator that day, the next week and a few other times in the next two months. Every single time we’ve left a voicemail with the reason we’re calling and contact info. I’ve also emailed her. She WILL not return our calls and doesn’t seem to answer her phone/email during business hours.

So, back to square one we go looking at other venues. I’ve had a handful of venues that haven’t answered. I totally get that during business hours they might miss a call due to other events they’re planning and might call back within the week or later. Here is what bothers me though..... I leave every vendor a voicemail with my wedding date, contact info and reason I’m calling. I’ve had SO many vendors/venues call me back and if I miss the call they don’t leave a voicemail. Don’t people normally call A LOT of vendors and venues when they’re searching for their events? Why would you call me back and not give me your name (a lot of these places have more than one employee) or any info? Do they just assume I’ve memorized their phone numbers or put them in my contacts? Is this not bad etiquette? I’ve actually checked off a handful of venue/vendor options because of this. Am I being a bridezilla or does this bother others as well? I had a vendor that I’ve spoken to once text me a YouTube video out of the blue today. No, ‘hey this is so and so from so and so. Can you check out this video and let me know if that’s what you’re after?’ Or even, ‘this is so and so.’ Just a random video text.

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28 Comments

Latest activity by Kristin, on April 8, 2019 at 4:32 PM

Super September 2019
ASMini914 · on April 4, 2019 at 8:47 PM
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I'm sorry you're experiencing this! I was looking for venues somewhat during the off-season, and most were very responsive over email. That being said, I think how they treat a potential bride is very telling. If they can't communicate well when trying to get your business... then its time to cross them off of your list!
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Master May 2020
Tara · on April 4, 2019 at 9:02 PM
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No, I haven’t had an experience like this before.
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Dedicated September 2020
Kelly · on April 4, 2019 at 9:09 PM
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I am so sorry, that is really frustrating. I will say that most of the vendors I contacted via Wedding Wire were very responsive. I had one potential vendor that was pretty slow in responding, so we choose not to go with them. Good Luck!
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Master June 2020
Anna · on April 4, 2019 at 9:15 PM
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I would take that as a huge red flag.
Every venue I contacted, got back with me, even if they were booked on my date.
If they're too busy to even get back to you I would be afraid that they would be too busy to deal with you once you have booked the venue. If someone truly wants your business they will definitely get in touch with you if they're so busy that they don't care if they lose business or not it doesn't sound like they're the one for you.
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Expert May 2021
· on April 4, 2019 at 9:16 PM
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I agree with this. I’m just checking off the non-responsive and poor communicators as I go. I started thinking I was being too harsh though. I’m just not going to beg someone to take my money. I found an excellent wedding planner who has been sssoooo helpful and we’ve not even signed a contract or paid her yet! I will say that when I DO get a voicemail or a professional vendor reply or answer a call it’s a sigh of relief. Any vendors I’ve contacted through this site have been great (I found my wedding planner through WW). There just aren’t a lot of options for my area on here.
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Master November 2019
Mrs. S · on April 4, 2019 at 9:20 PM
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I had my heart set on a venue that had sentimental value to me and the events coordinator totally blew me off after our initial conversations. It broke my heart but we found a great venue anyway. I mostly communicate with vendors through email, but I have had them ignore my messages on wedding wire a lot, even with a read receipt.
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VIP March 2019
Yoice · on April 4, 2019 at 9:27 PM
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I rely more on emails since it gives the vendors a time to reply whenever they have a chance. Usually thru email all things are more clear, in writing and is a way to cover you later on. You can always schedule a call, meeting or FaceTime call thru email so they plan their day around that. This worked for me best thru all the wedding planning.
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Expert October 2019
Samantha · on April 5, 2019 at 12:49 AM
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I'm sorry to hear your having a hard time with this! I actually emailed all the vendors first before calling any of them. It was easier for me to sort through them via email and figure out where we wanted to tour and who was within our price range and who offered what. I looked for vendors through Weddingwire and got responses from every vendor. Good luck!
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Devoted September 2020
Katie · on April 5, 2019 at 1:23 AM
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That's so strange, I've found venues to be extremely responsive through email. Like i almost instantly get a response with dates available for tour.
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VIP June 2020
Jessica · on April 5, 2019 at 8:20 AM
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UGH this drive me nuts! Its not just you! We haven't had a problem with the venue, but the catering company OMG they are terrible with communication. The first coordinator I started the process with ended up quitting and she passed me over to another coordinator, which she was great. She then passed me over to the women who manages the kitchen staff to talk about menu ideas. This women ended up getting into a bad accident and is always in and out of the office for medical leave (which she never emails me to tell me) and then there's another women I speak with for when the other women is out on leave. *eye roll*. I have no idea who I am supposed to be directing all of my questions too or who will be showing up the day of our wedding lol. I am now at the point where I just include all of them in emails and whoever answers me first is who I continue to talk with. They take about a month to respond and I send the same email every week if they do not answer me. My mom says its because they have other things to worry about and our wedding is still a little over a year out. I don't care lol I'm paying you to answer my questions.
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Expert May 2021
· on April 5, 2019 at 9:27 AM
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That would bother me so much! My original date was November 2020 but we recently moved it to April and I’ve been speaking to a coordinator since February of this year. We have a meeting next week to sign her contract and pay her but she’s already so responsive. She will text me or respond right away to my texts. Thankfully she’s a keeper! I think we also found a great all inclusive venue, which is very respsonsive to calls and emails. Good luck with your coordinator! I hope they all come together a little better closer to your day of!
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Expert May 2021
· on April 5, 2019 at 9:35 AM
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As far as the email, I like using email to contact the venues/vendors as well. It’s easier for both of us to respond to and it also is a great way of keeping tabs on things that have been said or appointments that’s have been set to go back to check times, etc. There were a handful of vendors who did not provide their email and requested a phone call for pricing or tours. So, our first contact and only option is a phone call. The venue that totally blew us off had two phone numbers and an email listed. We called both numbers and left voicemails as well as emailing her. She was just a dud. The coordinator we went with did have all of her contact info listed on her site but my initial contact was through wedding wire and she actually called my cell phone one evening to touch base with me and I felt like I made a new best friend. Lol. She was able to nail my vision with just asking me a few questions. The venue we’re most likely going with has also been very responsive via email and phone calls, thankfully. When a venue/vendor calls and doesn’t leave a voicemail or call back it makes me think that our business really doesn’t matter. That maybe they just have enough clients already they don’t really care to make anymore contacts. That’s just fine but if you call me back after I’ve left a voicemail requesting info and you don’t leave a message telling me at least who you are or how to even obtain that info I won’t be calling back. I even leave my email along with my name, wedding date and phone number and say if they have a price list I would like them to email me a copy if possible.
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Master September 2019
Sherry · on April 5, 2019 at 2:43 PM
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I did not personally have to experience this but if I did, I can't imagine I would be feeling any differently than you are. Communication is huge! If you cannot communicate with me and I am trying to give you my business, I will take it elsewhere. I am sorry this is happening and I hope you find your dream venue!
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Expert June 2019
Sara · on April 5, 2019 at 2:59 PM
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I'm so sorry, it definitely adds to the stress! My venue/ vendor search was really hit or miss at first. I emailed literally 70+ venues through WW. Some got back to me immediately, some never got back to me. Some I had a brief exchange with and realized they were too pricey, and told them no thanks. I had a final list of like 5 places, then we visited the top one. Communication with that venue was good. We loved it and booked it. Then, the next several months we had a HORRENDOUS experience communicating with them (total nightmare of lost paperwork/ misplaced deposit, no response after dozens of calls/ emails, etc.). Things finally seem to be back on track now with a new contract. Sometimes there are red flags with communication, and sometimes it seems fine.. I guess you just never know.
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Master October 2019
Laura · on April 5, 2019 at 5:16 PM
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I'm very frustrated with them, so I understand. I have my heart set on a date too, and they either don't even return my calls or emails, or they try and steer me to a different date. The date I want is my late grandmother's 100th birthday so it's sentimental.
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VIP August 2019
Bridget · on April 5, 2019 at 10:23 PM
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I agree with you, this is a huge turn off. It would make me wonder if they can handle weddings because they cant even handle a consult. I'm sorry your going through this it sounds very frustrating! I'm sure your perfect vendor with come through soon
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Master 0000
Judith · on April 5, 2019 at 11:05 PM
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About 80% of venue/ catering services I worked for , and those I know of friends using, will not book for more than 14 months ahead, at any time, for any reason. And a lot of smaller venues and restaurants will not book or guarantee any prices quoted for more than 8-12 months out, the furthest out only for holidays. Too many people change their minds. And people trying to beat others out by booking really early, leave venues booking up to 15 months ahead, til everyone hears, they are full. But at 3-6 months, may have ⅓-¼ of all dates free, due to changes and cancellations. But because of their reputation for always booking early, no one looks at them now that they have these vacancies. It is just poor business for smaller and local ( not chain) caterers and venues to book too early. And florists and rentals find that when someone changes venues, even if they keep that other vendor, the whole contract has to be redone to suit the new place. You are looking far to early for lots of places to bother with you, at 18-20 months before your wedding.
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Savvy December 2019
Courtnee · on April 5, 2019 at 11:09 PM
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I had an experience like this with my first choice. They were giving me the run around about a quote for a destination wedding. I waited something like 3 weeks until I finally just gave up and found a travel agent/ wedding planner. Sometimes you really have to call in a middle man.
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Expert May 2021
· on April 6, 2019 at 12:05 AM
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If a venue doesn’t want to “bother with me” at any point in my planning process I’ll look elsewhere. That information could also be left in voicemails these places aren’t leaving. Also, if that were the case that is even more reason to leave me a voicemail and not just call back and leave nothing. It takes less than two minutes to say, “I’m sorry but we don’t book out anymore than xx months in advance. We would be happy to give you more information come xx month when you’re closer to your date. Thank you for considering us.” I haven’t updated my wedding wire account but our wedding date has been moved up to April 2020. This has been expressed to any vendor I have contacted.
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Master 0000
Judith · on April 7, 2019 at 6:48 PM
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I absolutely agree that any vendor that is not booking, still needs to get back to you, even with a form letter style. Caterers I worked for never soured future business by turning people away rudely, or just not responding. Many were pre website days, or even now, have a small informational, not interactive, website. But by email, by letter, or calling a number asking you provide an address or email address, they would send out info, explain their timeline for bookings, what general tours or tastings done every few months for general public, that you could attend. And a when to contact, who to contact, areas serviced, price ranges, foods, sample of menu types. I give no excuse for the business of no response. That is bad business. Just that when I saw how far in advance the date was on your profile, I thought you might not realize that being too far in the future might be the reason you were striking out so often. I do know, lots of independents like DJ's and bartenders do just blow people off, figuring they always book enough in the last few months that it suits them not to book, or worry about any business they lose. These are often people who do it part time. . . But no response, no explanation, not even an explanatory email or letter, I see as just more of the routine rudeness that is everywhere these days. 😈
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Frustrated with vendors

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