Bobnewnan

I've been on a number of workshops since retirement and got some great pictures and training. But I ran into something different 'this week.
Paid my deposit and waited. Received the invoice and noted that I was charged for a single. Hadn't been asked and didn't want a single so when I paid the invoice I just deducted the single charge. Within a day got a reply that my payment was short and he noticed it was equal to the single charge. Wrote back and said I didn't want the single but I would get a check in the mail tomorrow.
Well he hit the roof and ranted he had never had a client like me and since I hadn't paid the full charge by the 90 day deadline, my reservation was cancelled, my credit card deposit refunded and my final check was voided (with a picture of the voided check) Said I should have said something when I got the invoice and implied it was my fault. Well, yes,
It was my misunderstanding, I didn't ask for a single so didn't expect to pay for one. Cost me the air fare and trip insurance but I've never run into someone with such a burr under his saddle. Sort of figured some buddy wanted to go on that workshop so he just dropped me and got his buddy. Probably better off for me, we'd probably spent to much time arguing about shutter speeds and f-stops! Lesson learned, read the invoice very carefully and know what you are buying.(that applies to anything)

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

You'd probably learn more here on the Ugly Hedgehog!

srodday Loc: Mass

That's unusual. Most instructors assume you want to double unless you explicitly ask for a single. Weird! Other than the money lost, best not to have gone. Sounds like anything could have set him off.

berchman Loc: South Central PA

You would be doing a service to other potential workshop participants by supplying the name of the workshop.

salmander

I agree. This is important. This is a workshop to avoid at all costs (no pun intended). Informing us about what workshop this is might save someone else a lot of grief.

gwong1 Loc: Tampa, FL

So, Who should we avoid?

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

By "single," do you mean a hotel room? It seems their reaction was ridiculous. People who are in business should know how to deal with customers.

I've stopped going to workshops because of their limited value to me, although I am signed up for a dawn to night local workshop. It's entirely outside, shooting.

berchman Loc: South Central PA

A few years ago I attended a workshop in NYC by Steve McCurry. It was so bad that I wrote an accurate devastating review of it which I posted on photo.net. In my review I compared it in detail to a well-designed and run workshop by Neil van Niekerk. McCurry's sister, who was the business manager of his workshops, offered to refund my money. I accepted. McCurry is a great photographer but he is not a teacher.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Right. I've been to camera and computer events where the presenter seemed to ramble and use up minutes offering us nothing more than his ramblings. Hands-on outdoor workshops have worked for me, so I'm looking forward to the next one.

leftj Loc: Texas

OK, I'm stupid. What the heck is a single?

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

One half of a double.

berchman Loc: South Central PA

It's the extra fee charged if you are going to occupy a hotel room by yourself and not with a roommate (a double).

leftj Loc: Texas

So how is it there was an over charge if it's one half of a double?

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

We need more details. Prices are usually set at the double rate - two people in a room. If only one person will be paying, then they usually charge a lot more because they are losing the amount the second person would pay for the workshop.