Waiting Charge

[faisal]

Had a assignment today. Was asked to reach the place (that was 100miles away) at 11am. I reached on time but the guy I was to deal with was 1 hour late. So the assignment officially started at 12.

Should I charge anything for that 1 hour of waiting.....??? What do the rest of you do???

Thanks

Faisal

[Csae]

Unless im super busy, i generally don't like to throw in these types of fees.

Unless i don't particularly want to work with that person again, then i'll add a whole bunch of extras.

Or, if you had to rent out equipement/book a place/had a bite to eat.

If not, the publicity you get is much more beneficial then the small amount you'd charge for lateness. Mind you, repeat offenders are a different matter.

I personally like the type of customers that compensate you on their own for these types of things, but they are rare

[cdifoto]

I charge for a block of time. Someone can book me for, say, 3 hours and that time starts when I get to the spot and ends when I put my gear away after the last click. That means if the client is late they simply get fewer shots.

[Rooz]

I charge for a block of time. Someone can book me for, say, 3 hours and that time starts when I get to the spot and ends when I put my gear away after the last click. That means if the client is late they simply get fewer shots.

x2. charge per hour. set the appointment start and finish time. if they're on time, thats up to them.

[faisal]

Csae, CDI and Rooz.....thanks for the inputs...I think I like the fixed finish and start time....I just need to be able to decide how much work there is. Problem is the clients are never sure what the want in the first place. Always there is more work than they estimate...

[adam75south]

yea i usually charge a certain amount and deal with however long it takes

i've had to restrict a couple of clients on time, one because i had another gig to get to...and another because they bought me by the hour....and on that one, i went ahead and stayed another hour just because i felt like it.

but i do understand how waiting for someone would be frustrating.

[Honest Gaza]

I guess the important thing is to identify these expectations up front when the assignment is booked.

Let the customer know what they are paying for in terms of "timeframe windows", and then you are well within your right to do so.