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by Stefan Pylarinos
11 replies
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#screwed #venue
  • Profile picture of the author iva
    Did you sign a contract with them with specifics about the event?
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    Send me a PM if you have any questions.

    "Ask simple questions to get simple answers"
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  • Profile picture of the author johnny125
    For me looks without any chance to win.
    But maybe you can tak a look in that code of ethics and figure out if he did well?
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  • Profile picture of the author iAmNameLess
    1.) Yes you can file a chargeback

    2.) You say it isn't worth taking to court... why not? How much did you pay for the hour? How much was the event you were trying to sell? If 20 people were in attendance you are able to take him to court for the cost of the hour, 20 X event fee in possible damage, and for intangible damages to your reputation. Also, for filing fees. I doubt the YMCA wants that kind of press, they may even settle out of court.

    3.) When he pulled you aside and asked what the event was about... why did you tell him and why didn't they ask before? Generic answers work great... if there is a next time, just say the event is about social interaction.
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    • Profile picture of the author Stefan Pylarinos
      [DELETED]
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      • Profile picture of the author iAmNameLess
        Originally Posted by LifestyleTrans View Post

        Thanks for the advice.

        Should I file a chargeback? Is it worth it, or can it backfire or affect me in any way?

        I just see court as a big hassle. The last hour of the event was $40+, which is all I expect to get back for them not honouring that hour. I don't feel I should pay it.

        The event I was trying to sell was worth $1000.

        I originally gave them a generic answer when I signed up for the event: "It's about building self-esteem". He later e-mailed me saying he would not refund me because I was not honest with them upfront about the event and was too generic. My argument was they never really asked or inquired about it - if they asked more about what it was about, I would have told them.

        It is a concern that I will file a chargeback and they would dispute it, and I would lose because I signed a contract basically saying they have the right to kick me out without refund.

        Is there anything I can do or would be worth pursuing?

        I feel pissed at them, that I want to write BAD REVIEWS about them on meetup.com and other venue websites. But part of me feels it isn't the best use of my time and maybe I should just forget about it. Yes the guy was an asshole, but I am reacting too much to this are my thoughts too.

        What would you guys do?
        Your time would be better spent reading the art of war in my opinion.

        If you don't want to deal with court, then file a chargeback. They might win, but you have nothing to lose. You might as well file it.

        A bad review might keep a few people away from them but the reality is that you don't want to spend too much time trying to get back at them. File the chargeback and be done with it. Move forward.

        It is tough, and I understand how it feels when you get burned but you can either learn from it and move on. Or dwell over it and get nowhere!
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        • Profile picture of the author AUKev
          Am I the only one thinking that this train wreck could have been avoided ahead of time?

          You booked an event at the YMCA (Young Men's CHRISTIAN Association) location to teach men how to pick up chicks at bars?

          Not sure what experience you have with the Y in your area, but they have extremely strong standards in my area. My kids play youth activities and there is ZERO tolerance for profanity, vulgarity, skimpy clothing...

          Looks like both you and the person who booked it are at fault. The manager of the Y for not digging deeper about the content of your seminar, and you for not being a bit more transparent on your content.
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  • Profile picture of the author shane_k
    Here in vancouver, (where the op might have held his event) the YMCA might have christian background, but has extended far beyond that. I know there are a lot of people who join the YMCA because they wanted to use the pool, or a gym, or to take mandarin classes, or to learn how to knit, etc.

    I personally didn't know that YMCA stands for Young Men's Christian Association, I always thought it meant Young Men's Club of America. And I am betting you tons of other people don't see it or recognize it as a christian organization.

    However, saying that, you are totally right in that the op was at fault. He even admitted to originally "giving them a generic answer when I signed up for the event: "It's about building self-esteem".

    To me that seems like the op knew that if he came out truthfully and was 100% clear on what the event was about he knew he would be rejected. So he consciously misled the YMCA.

    Yes and the person who booked it probably will get a talking to from their boss about this, that they should have been more thorough on the content of the op's seminar.
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  • Profile picture of the author iAmNameLess
    I don't think the OP did anything wrong. It is the venues fault for not doing their due diligence. The OP didn't lie... it was about building self esteem.

    Whatever though, lifestyletrans, just move forward. That is all you can do, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose but as long as you move forward you're going to get into a better spot!
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  • Profile picture of the author apolwar
    The manager forced you out of the venue because you weren't allowed to do that kind of function there? Why was the event garish or rude or illegal?

    I would like to know the rules and regulations of the place you had an event to. It seemed your event was maybe taken out of context by the manager and thought it was 'scandalous' or something.
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    • Profile picture of the author Kay King
      You signed a contract without reading or fully understanding the terms. You misrepresented your event by giving it a general description of "about self esteem" when it was probably "how to pick up and score with women".

      Your defense is they didn't ask for more info. They assumed you were telling the truth - and you weren't quite doing that.

      The YMCA was the cheapest venue at $40/hr which is wise for a free seminar - but the YMCA is an organization and its goals and focus are on its website and on its literature.

      I expect the person who rented you the venue is as angry as you are - and I think you'd lose a chargeback.

      kay
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  • Profile picture of the author mjbmedia
    How do you know you've lost $1000 per sale per attendee.
    How hard have you tried to sell the follow on course to them even though you couldnt do it at the event as you wanted to or have you assumed they dont want it as they had to be ushered out early?

    If they (attendees) were as peeved off as you were then clearly they were impressed with the content so theres still a chance theyll be upsold if you try hard enough. Put your energies and focus into that more , sod the YMCA and the jobsworth , move on, learn from it, be more thorough next time, hell if youre smart you could even use it for some great PR

    Take the positives from it, learn from the negatives, thats business for you
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    Mike

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    • Profile picture of the author Kevin AKA Hubcap
      @LifeStyleTrans

      Why did you not give a more accurate description of the type of seminar you'd be holding?

      Do you think the "Y" would've approved your program if they knew what type of content it contained?

      IMO you tried to pull a fast one, got caught at the last minute and now are blaming the venue.

      I can't be sure, but it seems like you knew this type of program would pose a problem with this particular venue so to mitigate the risk of a "no", you decided to not be totally upfront about the seminar.

      You could try to get your money back but I do think you were wrong and I think you know you should've done things differently.

      At the very least it's a "teachable moment".

      Kevin
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