re: FROGGY Photo charges & CHANGES

[absinthangel.livejournal.com]

.
Thougth this worth a post & wondering how others are feeling about it.    

..those of us that have already paid THE ADVERTISED $60 for a phot op with Mr Leonard Nimoy, have this last week, suffered the disclosure that  'oh that price was wrong/a mistake  - it is supposed to be $80 - oh but if you have already paid  $60 you must still pay the extra $20 now - oh and if you want a refund instead you have to wait until after D*C (practically a month) for it'.... if I hadnt already made a costume for the photo I would be wanting my money back .... and IMMEDIATELY.

How is it DragonCon can allow a precedence like this to be set?    If a vendor/dealer/photographer can do it once, they can do it again and to every price on their site! ... what guarantee do we all have that there will be no further increases to current advertised prices of other photo ops, excused as 'mistakes' but the customer has to cop the loss for the vendor's mistake?

Comments

[littledrow.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

To add to this as a customer practice and to back up a few things that have been said in this post/replies, think of how much business Froggy may potentially lose. Not just in the return/refunds for those willing to wait, but also in the word of mouth.

To my experience/education on the process, a satisfied customer tells 2 maybe 3 people. A poor experience and that customer tells 10 to 15. Then you take into consideration the people they talk to about the customer's experience and do the math. 2 people tell 2 more people each and so on versus 10 people who tell 10 people each, etc. Staggering.

So spread the word on this one. Normally, I'm not one to encourage people to be a statistic but I really, really loathe bad business practices.

[dementia.livejournal.com]

I applaud you, deeply.

[veracity]

I'm wishing I could cancel my photo ops at the this point...and I'm not even seeing Nimoy (never got into Trek). It's just a ridiculous practice to make the customer eat you mistake cost. If this had been done the next day and refunds given immediately, I wouldn't have a problem. It's the fact it's this late in the season that the bait-and-switch happened. I say the bait-and-switch because that's what it feels like. Someone had to approve the costs and notice the money coming in long before now. It seems more calculated than accidental.

[littledrow.livejournal.com]

I have seen a rumor that Froggy bumped up the price for another celeb by $10. This guy is just slimy...provided it's true. I haven't verified the facts.

[veracity]

Ooh, which celeb? Do you know? I ask because I have two and if he bumps up the price, I'll have a bloodbath going. 30 was quite enough, thank you. I'm not buying my yearbook pics here.

[littledrow.livejournal.com]

I don't know. They didn't say, but here is the link to the conversation. http://community.livejournal.com/dragoncon/2091349.html?thread=21443925#t21443925 Perhaps you could ask them.

It's on a post from one of the directors of D*C so maybe this will get resolved on the side of the customers.

[veracity]

Ooh, I don't think that's one of mine, but just in case I'll have to stay extra aware apparently. This doesn't seem to be a one-off thing this year.

[littledrow.livejournal.com]

I can tell you one thing, and you and I have talked about Froggy before, but I will never...EVER...buy a photo op from that man now, even if it's Gerard Butler up for sale. I have heard too many horror stories and this just capped it.

[veracity]

If I hadn't already paid, I would walk now. Seriously. I assumed as the only photog, it was my only option. Now I'd rather not give my money. I might request a refund anyway. In short because of this "additional changes" that seems to be prevalent this year.

[littledrow.livejournal.com]

He needs some serious competition. I'd say he was being a bit viking in his business practices, but that'd be an insult to vikings.

[veracity]

And Eric wouldn't appreciate the comparison. He'd just use Froggy as a snack between meals. He needs at least two more so it's not a monopoly. Because those prices are getting outrageous.

[littledrow.livejournal.com]

Indeed! There is someone else I've heard mentioned, and if I knew more about the contracts and how to, I'd look into it. That's a bit more than this little fish could bite into, however.

[veracity]

I've heard mention of that other person but know nothing about them. I didn't even know there was another person until after I paid for Froggy. I just wish the con would let at least one more person have the option.

[littledrow.livejournal.com]

There might be some sort of no competition clause involved. I don't know how it works and can only speculate, but from the "flavor" of the post the director of D*C put up, I get the impression they weren't too thrilled either.

[veracity]

I wonder if they could fire Froggy for the bait-and-switch (and let's face it, that's exactly what they're doing) on customers. Since they're essentially a vendor. I wish there was no exclusive clauses. Hell, that's why I hate Atlanta half the time. Because it makes it difficult to get a fair deal.

[littledrow.livejournal.com]

Well unfortunately, it would be a horrible mess if they ditched Froggy at this junction. They would have irate celebs with actionable legal rights and frenzied con goers. Not to mention it would be bad form on D*C to do that. They can't exactly tell someone how to run a business. However, they can let this ride then tell him not to come back next year and announce that. However, good business practices means they can't exactly badmouth him. They have to put it in terms that essentially equate to The guy's an ass and we don't want that at our con instead of outright saying that. Leaves them with the higher ground.

[veracity]

Well, I meant more for next year instead of this year. But yeah, make sure he can't come back next year because his actions also reflect the con. Which puts their business in jeopardy. Imagine all the people not on LJ or Facebook assuming this normal behavior. They certainly wouldn't come back.

[littledrow.livejournal.com]

Especially first timers. I can't help but wonder if there had been notifications sent out or were some people who aren't on LJ or Facebook who were going to show up and be told they had to pay another $20 on the spot. Such a rude slap in the face, having expectations yanked out from under you, it would definitely send me running straight to the D*C people.

[veracity]

Precisely. It seems like the notifications were hit or miss. I mean, I can imagine a friend finding the link for Froggy on LJ or something and passing along the presale without any context. They might not have the same support system outside of the major communities. And that's a major problem.