would you complain or is this all on me?

[Eagles]

I would complain.

[prairiedawn]

i would totally complain. that sucks

[whiskeyandwine]

I would probably complain, especially if you included word of their donation in any of your marketing materials.

[MixedBerryJam]

I would definitely contact them. Maybe spin it not so much as a complaint but like you recognize there was a failure to communicate, and you want to know what works best for them so THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN NEXT TIME I HIT YOU UP, LOSERS. Sincerely yours, smace.

[moolarkey]

I would contact them but I'd be careful how I worded what I said or wrote. You may want to have them donate in the future and if this isn't handled well they might refuse. They made a mistake, possibly they also got very busy and it slipped their minds. Mistakes happen, you didn't check on it, they forgot. Let them know their donation was missed but don't rant, you may want them to donate in the future.

[auntie]

If you paid for something, you get to complain.

If it's a donation in kind, you don't. You want to establish a good relationship going forward for next year.

I'd contact the manager and ask what you could have done differently to prevent a similar mishap in the future. My guess is you'll get a small cash donation and a better experience next year.

[cville]

It's 75/25 on you. I'd bring it up casually if I were there again, but I wouldn't complain. Working harder for free stuff is the norm.

[underwaterrhymes]

Yeah, this one is mostly on you. It sucks that they didn't come through, but if you aren't receiving donations ahead of time, you always followup the week of the event to make sure they'll be there and ensure you have a day-of contact to reach if they're a no-show.

ETA - I would still contact them and ask how to better approach it next year, especially if you recognized them as donors in printed material. Give them a chance to make it right and if they don't, find another coffee donor for next year.

[dexteroni]

Yeah, this is mostly on you - you definitely confirm, especially when it's getting down to the wire and you don't have it, and doubly if the donor names have already been used to publicize the event. If there's too much to do in the week leading up to the event, enlist more help. Did you run this thing alone? Is there not a committee?

But I would still send a friendly email - "Hey Jeff, we really missed your donation at the X School auction last weekend. All of the donors were listed in the program, and people had really been looking forward to yours. Did we have a miscommunication?"

I wouldn't go into what to do differently next year, because you know what to do - confirm. And it's Starbucks, so who knows if the same manager will even be there next year.

I'm glad everything else went well though!

ETA: From an attendee standpoint, IMO it's not that huge of a deal for one vendor to be different or not there at all. I think most people understand that it happens. It's not like it was the grand prize large-screen TV or car or whatever.

[readyin07]

Feb 28, 2015 11:02:23 GMT -5 cville said:

It's 75/25 on you. I'd bring it up casually if I were there again, but I wouldn't complain. Working harder for free stuff is the norm.

Technically I don't think it is on you because people need to do what they say they are going to do, donation or not. BUT I have worked with nonprofits and in fundraising situations long enough to know that is laughable. It is usually on the fundraiser to firm up donations so Invthe future I wouldn't rely on someone saying they would call me and that is a good job for volunteers the week of the event. Chalk it up to a good learning experience I wouldn't "complain," but I would send a note and say "I was so busy that I didn't even realize I hadn't heard from you last week before the event. i am guessing it fell off your radar as well. Hopefully we can plan to work together next year or at whatever your next event is." For perspective, at my last job I did a ton of events. Two to three days before events I went over my event plan and called every vendor to reconfirm what was on our banquet order and expectations. And these people were paid to have their shit together and sometimes they didnt

[blondemoment123]

I'd complain.

[RoxMonster]

I would contact them. I don't know that I'd word it as "complaining." I would say something like, "Obviously, our wires got crossed and the time/date, etc was lost in communication. How should I proceed in the future if I'd like to partner with you again?"

It MAY be that they feel shitty about dropping the ball and donate anyhow. At the very least, you have let them know (nicely) that they did not follow through--whoever's fault it was--and keep the door open for future donations.

[Deleted]

I would send a nicely worded complaint.

[underwaterrhymes]

Feb 28, 2015 11:52:49 GMT -5 blondemoment123 said:

I'd complain.

Complaining is the wrong approach. They didn't pay for the coffee. It was donated. When a donor doesn't come through, you don't complain, but you can work with them to see if there is a fix.

[crazycakes]

Congrats on the awesome fundraiser!

Definitely complain. I had to do this last year when a brewery bailed last minute for a fundraiser I worked on. They had committed to donating beer for the event and then ignored my calls and emails for weeks before the event. We ended up having to go buy kegs at the last minute. I was piiiissed. We ended up getting them to donate for all of our fundraising events this year to make up for it. So maybe Starbucks will do a "make good" for you if you raise a fuss. 

[Whitecaps]

Feb 28, 2015 11:56:05 GMT -5 RoxMonster said:

I would contact them. I don't know that I'd word it as "complaining." I would say something like, "Obviously, our wires got crossed and the time/date, etc was lost in communication. How should I proceed in the future if I'd like to partner with you again?"

I like this.
Congrats on a successful event!

[readyin07]

Feb 28, 2015 12:04:03 GMT -5 crazycakes said:

Congrats on the awesome fundraiser!

Definitely complain. I had to do this last year when a brewery bailed last minute for a fundraiser I worked on. They had committed to donating beer for the event and then ignored my calls and emails for weeks before the event. We ended up having to go buy kegs at the last minute. I was piiiissed. We ended up getting them to donate for all of our fundraising events this year to make up for it. So maybe Starbucks will do a "make good" for you if you raise a fuss. 

Not to split hairs but this situation I would definitely complain about as well. It is one thing to drop the ball...another to be a complete ass and ignore reminders.