Risky Business

So, today, I wanna talk about due diligence. More specifically, about how everyone should DO due diligence before booking vendors. Let me explain: You know how before you go out on a date with a guy, you Facebook stalk him for a bit first to find out if he’s a total creeper? Well, now that you’re a soon-to-be-married lady, it’s time to put those incredible internet sleuthing skills to work! On your vendors, that is.

This is going to sound super creepy for a minute, but bear with me. Most businesses are legit. Most businesses are run by honest, hard working people. But, in every area of business, there is the crème de la crème, and the crap de la crap. You want to make sure that you’re avoiding the latter like the plague. Run, bees, run! 

Here are some things that should tip you off that your vendor is maybe not as legit as they’re letting on:

1. They’re meeting you in their mother’s basement à la Will Ferrell in Wedding Crashers:

2. Their email addresses are riddled with numbers and underscores (i.e. DJ_SexXxy_69@email.com). 

3. They want to be paid in cheese.

Ok, so those were pretty exaggerated scenarios, but still, you get the point. Most of the time, even shady vendors can appear fairly normal…That is, until they disappear with your cash the week before the wedding and leave you in the lurch. 

Lurch fromThe Addams Family / image via talkceltic.net

In all seriousness, this happens more often than you think, and I’ve had to deal with many distraught clients whose florist bailed, or who never got their wedding photos. Sure, you can always sue if things go sour, but isn’t it better to prevent things like that from happening in the first place? Here is what you can do:

1. Don’t bother with references. It's like asking a psycho murderer if they are a pyscho murderer! Of course they won't say yes! I mean, references are nice, but vendors aren’t stupid, they only give references of people who were happy with the service. You don’t wanna talk to those people! You wanna talk to the bitter bride that got screwed over! And I bet that you sure as hell won’t find her on the reference list. Where do you find her? Online! For some reason, people tend to be a lot more honest when leaving reviews online. So, when you think you’ve found a vendor you like, scour the Net for reviews, especially bad ones. Hopefully you won’t find anything too bad. Use the same enthusiasm you once used to Facebook-stalk your now fiancé! See? It pays off. Also, use your judgment. Some people are just really hard to please. There is a difference between someone saying their florist never showed up AT ALL and someone complaining that the flowers weren’t the exact shade of coral they wanted.

2. Look up the company on the website of the business registrar for your province or state. This is usually free and will allow you to verify that a business is legit and allow you to see if they’ve filed for bankruptcy, how long they’ve been in business, etc.

3. Look up the company with the better business bureau or another consumer protection agency. This is also usually free and allows you to verify if the business has had any complaints filed against them.

  

4. If you can, avoid paying in cash. I understand a lot of people offer to pay in cash as a way to save money (I myself have done this). But beware that the reason cash is popular is that it doesn’t leave a trail. If/when sh*t hits the fan, you’ll have a hard time proving how much you paid for the services, so keep that in mind. If you pay by cheque, keep copies for the same reason.

5. C-O-N-T-R-A-C-T. You don’t have to be a lawyer for this one, trust me. Basically, get everything in writing. It doesn’t have to be fancy, it could even be a simple, bullet-point, word document. All that matters is that all essential information (coverage, price, etc.) is clearly stated and that both parties sign. If your vendor doesn’t provide a contract, ask for one. If they refuse, this is your cue that something shady this way comes! Even if they do provide one, read it before signing (I know this is painfully obvious, but so many people skip this step). Don’t be afraid to add clauses if something is missing or if you negotiated a different package, often times, the vendor contract is made to protect the vendor, not you, so look out for numero uno! 

6. Follow your gut. If prices are too good to be true, they probably are. Figure out what makes the price difference. 

So, there you have it! I know these steps sound painfully tedious, but it’s very quick and easy (and free, what do you have to lose?). Better safe than sorry! 

What do you normally look for before booking a vendor?