I desperately need to share my terrible shopping experience as a cautionary tale for future group bookings. We were excited to celebrate a birthday with a hat-making activity, but the joy quickly faded when we got the final bill. My conclusion about the visit is this: "The mandatory nature of the 15% charge for a group booking, particularly considering the perceived disparity between the cost of materials and the final price, felt excessive and somewhat exploitative." Beyond the sticker shock from the mandatory $42 gratuity added to my $211 balance, I also discovered a major accounting error. "I left a $75 deposit. My receipt shows a $55 deposit. Please review." This lack of transparency and the fundamental error compelled me to leave this public review and immediately contact customer service for clarification and resolution.
Customer: I am extremely frustrated. I want to know why I was charged a mandatory 15% gratuity without clear disclosure for a hat-making activity, and why my receipt shows a $55 deposit when I paid $75 upfront.
CS Rep: I sincerely apologize for this confusing and frustrating experience. That is absolutely not how we want our group events to conclude. I see the mandatory gratuity policy applies to groups of eight or more, but I agree we need to improve upfront communication. If you loved this post and you would like to receive extra details concerning WholeCustomDesign Branding kindly visit our web site. Regarding the deposit error, that is unacceptable.
Customer: Unacceptable is right. That is a $20 error that I shouldn't have to track down. I need that resolved immediately, and I need clarity on that mandatory fee, which feels completely exploitative given the high price of the materials already.
CS Rep: I completely understand. I am processing a refund for the missing $20 deposit right now. We take full responsibility for that mistake. While the gratuity policy is standard for large groups, due to your experience and our lack of clarity, I can issue you a voucher for $40 off a future purchase as a gesture of goodwill.
Customer: I appreciate the quick resolution on the deposit, and the voucher helps acknowledge the poor policy communication. I hope you review the group policy overall.
The reason I left this review on the website is to hopefully prevent others from falling into the same trap.