refunding deposit for canceled trip

[Lorenzoid]

I would not be upset if the dive op did NOT give me a break under these circumstances. It would be nice if they did, but I would not expect them to. Their policy is 180 days, and that's that.

 

[mathauck0814]

If it were my business, and I were able to fill your spot I would refund your deposit. If I were unable to fill your spot I'd point to the policy and send you on your way.

 

[ScubaSteve1962]

I'd like to get opinions from both travelers and those in the industry. When a customer cancels a reservation 178 days prior to the trip, and the policy is there is no refund of the deposit less than 180 days prior to the trip, would you give the customer a break? Would you want one if you were the customer? Thanks for the input.

Buy trip insurance! Like other's have said, you read the policy before booking the trip. I travel a lot had to cancel a twice, only lost money on the plane ticket. Can't get mad with the airline, I new there was a change fee when I booked the ticket. If he gives you a break then he has to give everyone a break.

 

[TSandM]

ev780 nailed it. The charter has a policy to protect themselves from last-minute cancellations. If they can fill the spot, they are unharmed, and can be generous by waiving their policy. If they CAN'T fill the spot, then they have been harmed, and the policy was clear. At that point, they have to decide whether the bad publicity from making someone angry is worth the money they'll retain by refusing to make the refund.

As someone who put together a charter a few years back, sank $10K of my own money into holding the reservation, and then had all but one of the people who had said, "Yes, I'm IN!" cancel on me, I understand the charter operator's side of this all too well.

 

[Scared Silly]

As said

ev780 was spot on with the best response.
Some times the non refunded deposit used as a discount to encourage someone to take the canceled spot.


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That said, I have had to cancel two trips. One was a last minute cancelation, The place had a no refund policy but we were able to reschedule and it cost us $500. Though we brought friends on the rescheduled trip and rented a bigger place so it actually did not cost us any additional funds. So a win-win.

The other time the air carrier canceled (long story) so we we had to cancel - the air carrier paid for the deposit (and more).

 

[herbdb]

What about the situation where you cancel on a dive boat that is not full? No one was turned away, the boat had more than the minimum divers for the trip. Do you charge them? I had one of these.

My daughter and son-in-law were getting their first OW dive (the same operator was providing the instruction), the instructor thought conditions were too rough for a first dive and took then to Jules Lagoon. We cancelled and dove the lagoon so we could be with them. The operator made the same as they would have had I not booked.

They charged me the full price for the three divers who did not go on the boat. I spent a lot of money with them that week. Three Nitrox certs, two open water checkouts and diving for five divers. That doesn't count the dive computer, fins, masks and snorkels I purchased from them.

I paid, but I still hold a grudge after 5 years.

 

[drbill]

I don't think I'd ever book with an operator having a 180 day cancellation clause, but once you do you are bound by those terms.

 

[tracydr]

We recently had to cancel a Channel Islands trip.
We were before the cancellation limit but rather than give us our deposit back, we were given a rain check. I'm okay with that because we will probably book with them and use the rain check, assuming no limits are when it must be used. It would have been nice to have dive insurance but would they cover spouse and friend's trip if we canceled for my health issue?
Either way, I understand what their policy is and I was okay with the decision to do a rain check.

 

[Scared Silly]

What about the situation where you cancel on a dive boat that is not full? No one was turned away, the boat had more than the minimum divers for the trip. Do you charge them? I had one of these.

My daughter and son-in-law were getting their first OW dive (the same operator was providing the instruction), the instructor thought conditions were too rough for a first dive and took then to Jules Lagoon. We cancelled and dove the lagoon so we could be with them. The operator made the same as they would have had I not booked.

They charged me the full price for the three divers who did not go on the boat. I spent a lot of money with them that week. Three Nitrox certs, two open water checkouts and diving for five divers. That doesn't count the dive computer, fins, masks and snorkels I purchased from them.

I paid, but I still hold a grudge after 5 years.

No the operator did not make the same. There is a minimum number of divers that will make the trip go but that number may not make a profit. They might break even or even take slight loss. So while no divers may not have been turned away (which you may know). You removed funds from their operation.

Example - for a boat that holds 14 PAX

<=7 - boat does not operate
8 PAX - boat goes but operates at a slight loss
10 PAX - boat goes and breaks even
>=11 PAX - profit

Such an operating plan gives some flexibility.

 

[herbdb]

I don't agree with your rational, that boat would have gone with or without us. They established the minimum number and they were above that without us.