[PaintsPwn]

I'm serious. I have no idea how you do it.

My biggest pet peeve in the world is being late, and people who are late to a time you BOTH agreed on >8| And then when they're not in the saddle, ready to go when you get there.

What if I had other clients? I don't yet, but I am planning on starting up lessons for realz this summer, at which point, if you're not ready within 10 minutes that I step foot on the property, you're S-O-L.

When I do lessons, I take 30 minutes to brush my horse down, tack him up and warm him up - I was always prepared!!! Which is why I may have gained more knowledge from the instructors, but really. Being on time? Ain't that hard. EVERYONE has a clock! It's so rude and inconsiderate, and it just drives me insane!

-headdesk-

 

[upnover]

AMEN!!! I do have lots of clients and when one lesson is over I go straight to my next... and people are STILL late! Their lateness cuts into their own lesson time and I figure it's their fault, but sometimes we really needed that entire lesson time to work on something. Or what I hate is when someone's 10 min late for a 30 min private lesson. By the time they get their stirrups adjusted and walk down to the ring they have like 5 min to ride! I don't get it!

What I really REALLY hate are no shows. We have a cancellation policy at our barn and I still get no shows. I know things come up and you get busy and forget to call, but there are much better things I can be doing then sitting around waiting for you to show up.

 

[dressagexlee]

I've been late for lessons before when I was in Pony Club, but that was because my horse was extremely hard to catch. Multiple times, we would have to give up catching her and I'd end up riding other horses, most of which were actually teaching me something instead of push button. I eventually requested that should would be moved in to a small paddock (she was in a six acre pasture with thirty other horses), and that never happened.

My trainer takes away a piece of tack for every five minutes you are late. Starting with stirrups. The lesson still runs as planned.
Two idiot girls that she teaches were notorious for being fifteen of more minutes late because they would just sit around and talk instead of tacking up. So, one day she decided to do this, and they were both left with a halter and lead-rope for reins.
They happened to be practicing show height that day. 3' courses.
They were never late again.

When we ran a lesson program at a barn, we never had any late people, but we did have one that almost never showed and never called, either. And they were still paying! We also had a refund policy if people called in with good reasoning, or if they canceled in advance. I just don't get people.

 

[PaintsPwn]

I -love- that 'take away tack' rule. That is the best rule I've ever heard of, really XD

 

[Mercedes]

Don't even give it a second thought. The lesson starts at the agreed upon time and ends at the agreed upon time. If they're late, you still end/leave when the time is up. They pay you the full amount.

I assure you, it only needs to happen once for them to get it. And if they don't, you simply end up getting paid the same amount for less work. That's a good deal for you. :wink:

 

[sandy2u1]

Exactly Mercedes.

 

[upnover]

I assure you, it only needs to happen once for them to get it. And if they don't, you simply end up getting paid the same amount for less work. That's a good deal for you. :wink:

You'd *think* they'd get it. You'd be amazed at how many times people get a 15 min private lesson and STILL run late.

What i hate is that regardless of if I get paid, I have better things to do then sit around and wait for them. And sometimes they really NEED that full lesson time.

 

[Mercedes]

You'd *think* they'd get it. You'd be amazed at how many times people get a 15 min private lesson and STILL run late.

What i hate is that regardless of if I get paid, I have better things to do then sit around and wait for them. And sometimes they really NEED that full lesson time.

STOP! :wink: Now, go back and reread what I posted.

Did you reread it? So, why are you still bent out of shape?

You DON'T wait. If they are late, they are SOL. You leave at the agreed upon time, THEY STILL PAY YOU. You are out NOTHING. You had the appointment anyway, you get paid regardless of what they do or don't do. Why are you upset for getting paid to sit and do nothing? I'll take that job! Take a book with you, or whatever.

What THEY NEED is of NO CONSEQUENCE to you. NONE. ZIP. ZERO.

Stop investing your heart and soul into people who show such disrespect.

Frankly, if I found myself getting irritated, I'd just drop them as clients and be done with it.

Now take a deep breath and put that energy into something that you find worthwhile. The horse is dead, why are you still flogging it? :wink:

 

[upnover]

I reread what you wrote... and then what I wrote... and I didn't think that I sounded upset, but... i guess I did! It was a bit of a rant. But... isn't that what we're doing on this thread? ranting about late people? No? Sorry! Late people just drive me nuts.

And sorry of i'm "flogging a dead horse" but all I was trying to say that cutting off a lesson at the ending time regardless doesn't always get your point across that they need to be there on time. 98% of the time they come rushing in, oh i'm so sorry, there was so much traffic, getting out of the school parking lot was crazy, the bus was late, i had to take jr to basketball first, etc etc etc. I'm not going to drop what are otherwise good clients. But when I am sitting there twiddling my thumbs (which, yes, is a great way to get paid) I can't help but think of all the other things I could be doing with my time.

 

[justsambam08]

^^I think of the "pay me for your lateness" thing works only with some people....I mean some people are just habitually late. I happen to always be ten minutes early, but I know my aunt no matter how hard she tries is 45 minutes late to everything....so we just tell her "be here {at such time}" which is 45 minutes before we really want her.

I happen to like the taking tack idea. You could also try just plain charging these people extra for actually wasting your time....five minutes equals five extra dollars, and no extra time added on to the lesson.

 

[Mercedes]

I reread what you wrote... and then what I wrote... and I didn't think that I sounded upset, but... i guess I did! It was a bit of a rant. But... isn't that what we're doing on this thread? ranting about late people? No? Sorry! Late people just drive me nuts.

LOL! Yes, it was a rant, but the whole point is that once you've ranted, you need to let it go for good, otherwise a change needs to be made.

I'm not going to drop what are otherwise good clients. But when I am sitting there twiddling my thumbs (which, yes, is a great way to get paid) I can't help but think of all the other things I could be doing with my time.

But they aren't 'good' clients. Or they'd have called you to say they're running late, rescheduled, or whatever. A good client doesn't run late regularly. A good client might be late once in a blue moon and for those, you don't ever feel put out or having wasted your time. Those once in a blue moon late clients pay you extra for having to wait for them. They buy you an 'I'm sorry present'. They offer to take you for dinner. Etc...

Repeated lateness is a blatant act of disrespect. They're more important than you. That it irritates you is a sign that at least subconsciously you know that and it doesn't make you feel good.

Okay, getting out of my psychologist's chair now.

 

[anrz]

Haha- I like the idea of taking tack away . It drives me CRAZY when people are late for lessons, especially group lessons, because if it's a problem that my instructor needs to work out like tack, injury, etc., we ALL are wasting our valuable time sitting in the arena adjusting our stirrups for the tenth time for lack of better things to do. I always make sure I arrive at least 45 minutes early for my lesson; that way, if I have trouble bringing a horse in from the pasture of if they have some little cut that needs taking care of, I won't be wasting anyone's time and money.