I couldn’t use an airline ticket and my cancellation fee was 100%.
I bought an airline ticket. And then my plans changed. I didn’t buy additional insurance or the more expensive package to allow for changes. So that was it. Use it or lose it. I paid R1.2k or so for something I didn’t use. 100% cancellation fee. Not the end of the world, but I know the feeling. That is why we are sympathetic, but only to a certain extent. Because we also get changes of plans from our customers. Some examples below.
Examples from bicycle couriers customers cancelling last minute
- Like when we rock up to collect the bike and the made other plans. Without informing us. And the vehicle is there to collect. So the costs are already spent on our side. And that vehicle has been taken out of service for someone else during the busiest time of the year. So, there is a ripple effect.
- Or when return bike transport is booked but the sender decides to buy a THULE rack and drive down with his bike on holiday and only informs us of such when the waybill is sent to the bike shop for collection as agreed and booked. Again, the time and admin is spent.
- Or when someone books and pays for bicycle transport through us. To send a bicycle to the start line of the event. But then decides they want to send it with someone else. And inform us on the day or the night before. At that point we’ve already done the work and arranged the necessary.
- And this is a sidenote but I have seen this in all walks of life and many businesses before. The 8020 rule certainly applies. Often the person who changes or cancels may also have been the one which took up the most time for the get-go. Not judging here. Merely stating the facts. Via anecdotes.
Please be mindful of last-minute cancellations
We aim to please. And our stellar reviews point to the same thing. But there has to be a cut-off point. The service fee is super low. So a concierge like experience is difficult to achieve. Maybe we should add a buyers protection fee for when plans change. Like a kind of insurance. At say R100 per waybill or such. But that is very little for last-minute changes. As it often takes more time to amend than to book your boxed bicycle transport from scratch. And yes, according to the T&C way may charge a cancellation fee at our discretion.
Next!
Where can we send your boxed bicycle next?
*From (A) to (B) and hopefully not changed to (D) via (C) as above 🙂
