Wedding Has anyone tried to renegotiate w/ their vendors given the current economy?

[newbie124]

When I was initially talking to vendors back in March-May, one of the most frequent lines I heard was "Well, with the high cost of gas these days (fill in blank on how much we''re going to have to further upcharge you for our services)."

Well, now that gas prices have PLUMMETED, I''m wondering if anyone''s tried or been able to renegotiate some rates (especially travel fees) w/ their vendors?

Of the vendors we booked, only 3 are actually charging travel/delivery fees. However, none of them at the time had specifically referenced the price of gas, so I''m not sure if they actually did mark up costs or just charged their standard rates. I guess it wouldn''t hurt to ask, although since we''ve already given deposits, not sure how flexible they''d be. Still, I''m curious if others have tried and had any luck?

 

[neatfreak]

I would try to negotiate with anyone without a signed contract that you are prepared to lose if they get offended. But with a signed contract I think it''s not the nicest thing to do...

 

[Mediterranean]

Date: 11/24/2008 4:44:29 PM
Author: neatfreak
I would try to negotiate with anyone without a signed contract that you are prepared to lose if they get offended. But with a signed contract I think it''s not the nicest thing to do...

I agree w/ Neatfreak.

What you could do is call up and ask if the delivery fees/upcharges are still in effect now that gas prices have gone down. It''s a valid query, but it doesn''t sound like a demand or a segue to get out of the agreed-upon terms, so I don''t think it will ruffle feathers if you ask nicely, and out of genuine curiosity...

If you really, REALLY feel like it''s a substantial chunk of your wedding budget, AND you have an excellent, excellent reason why they should reverse the fee, you can present proof of the exceptional circumstance, and ask what can be done ( an exceptional circumstance such as: they''re 2 blocks away from the venue, or the "gas charge" is an addendum to an original contract made AFTER the fact of your signing with them and putting down a deposit, based on NO fuel surcharge, or there are other brides whose weddings take place during the same month as yours at the same venue who don''t have such a charge added to their contracts by the same vendor).

Other than that, if it''s not a huge chunk of the budget, and you did indeed sign a contract with full knowledge of the surcharge, it might a better idea to cut costs elsewhere, so that you can count on excellent service from the "fuel surcharge" vendor. Because there''s nothing like someone taking your question the wrong way and holding it against your wedding, ugh!

 

[Italiahaircolor]

Once you have a signed contact, you''re pretty much locked in.

 

[marchswallowbird]

Also, keep in mind that travel/delivery fees usually cover at least part of the cost of the vendor''s time, not just the direct costs, especially if it is a small vendor.

 

[jcarlylew82]

travel cost covers more than gas too (i work for a catering company).
It also covers maintenance on cold vehicles (ones with coolers.. think food and flowers!).

Like others said, it never hurts to ask!

 

[Steel]

Date: 11/24/2008 5:31:27 PM
Author: Mediterranean

Date: 11/24/2008 4:44:29 PM
Author: neatfreak
I would try to negotiate with anyone without a signed contract that you are prepared to lose if they get offended. But with a signed contract I think it''s not the nicest thing to do...

I agree w/ Neatfreak.

What you could do is call up and ask if the delivery fees/upcharges are still in effect now that gas prices have gone down. It''s a valid query, but it doesn''t sound like a demand or a segue to get out of the agreed-upon terms, so I don''t think it will ruffle feathers if you ask nicely, and out of genuine curiosity...

If you really, REALLY feel like it''s a substantial chunk of your wedding budget, AND you have an excellent, excellent reason why they should reverse the fee, you can present proof of the exceptional circumstance, and ask what can be done ( an exceptional circumstance such as: they''re 2 blocks away from the venue, or the ''gas charge'' is an addendum to an original contract made AFTER the fact of your signing with them and putting down a deposit, based on NO fuel surcharge, or there are other brides whose weddings take place during the same month as yours at the same venue who don''t have such a charge added to their contracts by the same vendor).

Other than that, if it''s not a huge chunk of the budget, and you did indeed sign a contract with full knowledge of the surcharge, it might a better idea to cut costs elsewhere, so that you can count on excellent service from the ''fuel surcharge'' vendor. Because there''s nothing like someone taking your question the wrong way and holding it against your wedding, ugh!

+1

 

[newbie124]

Date: 11/24/2008 5:31:27 PM
Author: Mediterranean

Date: 11/24/2008 4:44:29 PM

Author: neatfreak

I would try to negotiate with anyone without a signed contract that you are prepared to lose if they get offended. But with a signed contract I think it''s not the nicest thing to do...

I agree w/ Neatfreak.

What you could do is call up and ask if the delivery fees/upcharges are still in effect now that gas prices have gone down. It''s a valid query, but it doesn''t sound like a demand or a segue to get out of the agreed-upon terms, so I don''t think it will ruffle feathers if you ask nicely, and out of genuine curiosity...

I agree that this would probably be the best approach to take (I probably won''t, since none of the vendors we hired specifically attributed extra costs to gas).

However, I disagree that asking something like that would be considered offensive or not a nice thing if the vendor had previously told the customer that they were charging extra specifically b/c of fuel costs.

That''s the excuse the airlines gave for raising fares and implementing extra fees over the summer, and many consumers are now arguing that those fees should be rolled back or reduced now that fuel prices have dropped (not likely it''ll happen, but just making a point that it wouldn''t be an unusual expectation).

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 11/25/2008 12:09:10 PM
Author: newbie124

Date: 11/24/2008 5:31:27 PM

Author: Mediterranean

Date: 11/24/2008 4:44:29 PM


Author: neatfreak


I would try to negotiate with anyone without a signed contract that you are prepared to lose if they get offended. But with a signed contract I think it''s not the nicest thing to do...

I agree w/ Neatfreak.


What you could do is call up and ask if the delivery fees/upcharges are still in effect now that gas prices have gone down. It''s a valid query, but it doesn''t sound like a demand or a segue to get out of the agreed-upon terms, so I don''t think it will ruffle feathers if you ask nicely, and out of genuine curiosity...

I agree that this would probably be the best approach to take (I probably won''t, since none of the vendors we hired specifically attributed extra costs to gas).


However, I disagree that asking something like that would be considered offensive or not a nice thing if the vendor had previously told the customer that they were charging extra specifically b/c of fuel costs.


That''s the excuse the airlines gave for raising fares and implementing extra fees over the summer, and many consumers are now arguing that those fees should be rolled back or reduced now that fuel prices have dropped (not likely it''ll happen, but just making a point that it wouldn''t be an unusual expectation).

If they specifically said the cost of fuel, I agree that it is more reasonable to ask them to lower it. If it''s general travel costs, I stand by my original thoughts about signed contracts. And my reasoning is that I wouldn''t want to risk pissing off a vendor that I needed/really wanted for my wedding.