Birthday party WWYD

[goldengirlz]

We have a deposit down for a play place for DD’s birthday next month. I contacted the business and said I wanted to cancel (I’m still within the cancellation window.) They wrote back begging me not to do so and said I could host a party anytime within the next five months.

I feel terrible but, like, I don’t want to spend $1,000 on a party several months past DD’s birthday. We’re going to come up with a plan B to celebrate instead.

They’re holding a $100 deposit and maybe I could let them keep that.

I don’t know. WWYD if you were me?

[icedcoffee]

I’d cancel and take my deposit back.

I’m sympathetic to businesses right now but the list of people I’m paying for services I’m not using is growing and a play place is pretty low on that list.

I’m already out the money for my cleaning lady, daycare and soccer for services I’m not receiving.

ETA:  And we're worried about my H's job so...the list needs to end somewhere.  I'm not a heartless bitch.  Or maybe I am....

[jennistarr1]

what kind of business, a birthday party only place or a place that you can visit otherwise

You can compromise, 100$ refund in the form of gift card where you can bring birthday kid and just a few friends and do something smaller scale

Our local Y is begging us not cancel our memberships but again I can't see paying for a service we aren't getting
they've furloughed most of the staff and while locations are being used for childcare for essential workers-the state is paying for that. I'm really not feeling good about where money is going and think a better business decision is to figure out a keep afloat price and offer that to members to keep their membership going and then count it as a donation

[cricketwife]

Would you want to have your party there next year? I’d try to go that route and let them keep the deposit until then. It is a risk as they could close before then but I think I would do that if I could.

[bugandbibs]

We canceled both of the parties for my girls. If/when we get through this in WA it’s likely to be summer time and it doesn’t make sense to have their parties then. I feel confident that we can book a party easily in June if there has been a big change before then. I’m sympathetic, but I have to look out for the needs of my family first and not focus on keeping other people employed.

[lovelyshoes]

I would cancel. It sucks, but unfortunately that’s the world now.

[readyin07]

Gosh darn. This made me cry. I can’t imagine how desperate these small businesses must be to hold onto cash. M f-er.

I don’t know. If it was something I could afford and my prospects for the future were reasonably stable I might hold onto it and host a “yes! This is over” party for fun. On the other hand I am scared for these businesses’ stability and whether in a month’s time they will still be operational unfortunately

[goldengirlz]

Thanks, guys, this thread is alleviating my guilt somewhat. I want to support small businesses, but there are so many good causes out there.

(And actually, this place is part of a chain but it sounds like this franchise might be locally owned.)

I already bought the cheapest party package so scaling back isn’t really an option. If I host a party, I’d still want to be a good hostess and serve food, etc. That all adds up.

I don’t really care that much about getting my deposit back, but I don’t think I want to commit to throwing a big party. Maybe I’ll ask if they can give me a credit/gift card instead.

[mbcdefg]

Mar 26, 2020 18:35:52 GMT -5 goldengirlz said:

]I already bought the cheapest party package so scaling back isn’t really an option
...

Maybe I’ll ask if they can give me a credit/gift card instead.

If it’s not a stretch for you to let them keep the deposit, I’d ask them to book you a spot in a few months (do a half birthday party, or a “yay everything is better now!” party) and they can upgrade you to a better package for the original cost you were going to pay for the basic package.

If it’s a stretch for you to give up the money - especially if it’s possible that they could go out of business and you wouldn’t get the cash back (ditto readyin07) - don’t feel bad about asking for a refund. Of course they’re in a rough spot but you have to take care of your family.

[freshsqueezed]

I would cancel and get my deposit back. I hate to sound cold but we all have problems right now so I agree with the first responder that the line gets drawn somewhere for everyone right now.

[goldengirlz]

Mar 26, 2020 19:20:32 GMT -5 mbcdefg said:

Mar 26, 2020 18:35:52 GMT -5 goldengirlz said:

]I already bought the cheapest party package so scaling back isn’t really an option
...

Maybe I’ll ask if they can give me a credit/gift card instead.

If it’s not a stretch for you to let them keep the deposit, I’d ask them to book you a spot in a few months (do a half birthday party, or a “yay everything is better now!” party) and they can upgrade you to a better package for the original cost you were going to pay for the basic package.

If it’s a stretch for you to give up the money - especially if it’s possible that they could go out of business and you wouldn’t get the cash back (ditto readyin07) - don’t feel bad about asking for a refund. Of course they’re in a rough spot but you have to take care of your family.

Yeah, it’s not a stretch to lose the deposit — but it would be throwing away money to spend hundreds of dollars to host a half birthday I don’t really want or need. I think I’ll let them keep the deposit and put this out of my mind.

[maudefindlay]

I'd cancel and get the deposit back. No way I'd hold out to use them in a few months as the reality is they likely won't be there to use. Plus, once we get the all clear I think it will take time for people to get their confidence back in going to play places, concerts, large venue sporting events etc.

[sent]

I want to care because small businesses and families and all that and I am a small business owner too, but I think I also draw the line at a party place. That was already a discretionary item to begin with. Of course my opinion is colored by the fact that pre-COVID, play places gave me anxiety that the kids would get sick. And I don't think the kids would be into a birthday 4 months later or process what "yay it's over" really means to care enough about a party for it at a play place.

jennistarr1, our Y said they would not charge April's payment. I appreciate that.