No Shows...

[Deep C]

Ok folks lets talk about something kind of serious here. I have seen it more this year than any other in my life... No shows...
Ok its windy and shitty and the foregone conclusion is that the day is probably gonna be cancelled. Fine and dandy. I have no problem with that but for the love of all things wet, how about a drive by phone call at least.
I always ask my people to check in the night before a trip to make sure all is good. Often they don't. Thats ok when the weather is good and the trip is definately on., or its a group that has seveal days in a rowgoing and we've already discussed it during the trip the day before. When it's borderline though a simple call can sort things out.
If I don't get a call, I'm obligated to go through all my prep for the trip. Thaw and prep frozen baits the night before. Then get up early, get to the boat and get fish ready. That includes firing up the engines and making sure all systems are good. Thats not a ton of work but certainly an inconvenience. With diesels, when you start em its best to leave them running. They're a ***** to restart when hot. So that means fuel getting burnt.
Now a 7:30 trip means the engines get lit at about 7:20. When somebody still doesn't show, I give it till 9:00 as a courtesy in case they were stuck in our sucky south Florida traffic... Almost two hours of fuel burn and oil wear.
Most of my people are good about communicating. My tomorrow and thursday group were good enough to call and weather cancell yesterday. Some though don't take that extra step of just letting me know. Weather is gonna happen and I'm not gonna ever get mad about someone wanting to bail even for comfort reasons.
A few times this season, I had people not show on nice days. When I called to see if they were stuck in traffic I found out they never even left up north...
Ok, today would have been blown out so no biggie but still it had me thaw baits burn a couple gallons and kill a couple hours twiddling my thumbs...

[knot for shore]

Paul,
Why don't you get deposits from these people? That would lock them in to having more responsibility and having more "ownership" in their trip. I know you've been in the business a long time. Has this tactic not worked in the past?

[Deep C]

Some I do have deposits on... Some I trust the people. This sadly enough seems to happen more often with "regulars" than people I havn't fished or fished much. If I get all pissy about it, I run the risk of them just not comming back. Sometimes being a "friend" has its drawbacks...

[knot for shore]

Yeah, I know. You walk a fine line with the "friends". Just kindly make them understand the importance of the party's communication with you the night before. Let them know what you have to go through as your part of their fishing adventure BEFORE the fishing gets started. This should happen regardless of them being a friend or not. And if they abuse you once, they go back on the "new guy" list and have to play like everyone else. What's fair is fair. And your livelihood depends on it.

[captcl]

Hate it when that happens Deep! I've had people give me deposits and never hear from them again! They did'nt even get near the boat! except for all the
pep work it would be clear money!(taxable of course). Then people get their nose out of joint when they don't show and want the deposit back! With all the technology around these days ( every other person has a cell phone to their ear) there is really no excuse. Maybe it's bad upbringing!
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Have a good trip!

[Cowboy]

It is ignorant and inconsiderate I have gotten to where I make them give me a cell phone ( don’t tell me nobody in the party has one hell most of the Amish up here have them now) and I call them the day or evening before. Just one more thing that we as captain have to take control of. Maybe they are partying it up or running late but they just can't find the time or courtesy to call, SO my answer is I will call you to finalize the day before. Been working so far so good.

[h2orowe]

We had that problem alot this year. They wouldn't show call or nothing. We also have alot of "injuries", "deaths" etc. I understand the deaths and injuries but it seems thats an easy excuse people tend to make that up. I would never make something up like that, I believe in Karma.
We get deposits now for everyone. I know it sucks for our regulars but like you said it's those guys that are the first one to screw you. We alteast get a credit card number, we may not run it. There again this year we have had more declines after the fact with the cards.
I have been fighting with a american express, for a trip we actually took in jan 2006. We took these people fishing, but because we did not catch Stripers we complained (not to us or our marina) but to his credit card company and they refused the transaction. Bear in mind we caught big blue fish ALL DAY, trolling casting they practically were jumping in my boat. He told his credit card company that we told him STRIPERS and we did not deliver and because we don't have a refund policy in place for anything other than not leaving the dock, they refunded his money. $850.00 refund all day trip. We even went farther than normal to see if any stripers were in the area.
Our boat is not that economical and we lost alot of money from that trip.

[h2orowe]

One thing I want to instill is that it's up to the capt to charge full price for a no show. Atleast threaten them with it.
As the mate I get everything ready I am at the boat atleast an hour early if not earlier depending on the trip. I go down to the boat (usually) the night before. I spend my evening making rigs at home making lunch for me and capt have drinks etc.
The maina says you have to wait an hour and half for you charter. If you leave at 5:30 I can't leave until 7. But I've been there since 4:30 gotten ice bait statered the engines, sometimes check oil or water (depending on weather capt has gotten there) everything ready and I can't leave til 7. Thats not fair.
And most of the time don't get paid for it. I could have done something else.
It is the most inconsiderate things. it's one thing in the middle of the summer, I can most likely pick one up on the dock, but the fall and winter really kills me.

[Deep C]

We had that problem alot this year. They wouldn't show call or nothing. We also have alot of "injuries", "deaths" etc. I understand the deaths and injuries but it seems thats an easy excuse people tend to make that up. I would never make something up like that, I believe in Karma.
We get deposits now for everyone. I know it sucks for our regulars but like you said it's those guys that are the first one to screw you. We alteast get a credit card number, we may not run it. There again this year we have had more declines after the fact with the cards.
I have been fighting with a american express, for a trip we actually took in jan 2006. We took these people fishing, but because we did not catch Stripers we complained (not to us or our marina) but to his credit card company and they refused the transaction. Bear in mind we caught big blue fish ALL DAY, trolling casting they practically were jumping in my boat. He told his credit card company that we told him STRIPERS and we did not deliver and because we don't have a refund policy in place for anything other than not leaving the dock, they refunded his money. $850.00 refund all day trip. We even went farther than normal to see if any stripers were in the area.
Our boat is not that economical and we lost alot of money from that trip.

I've only had one ugly thing along those lines. A fellow wanted a suummer trip. The day before I could see that the thunderstorms were going to be bad and start early. I also wasn't 100% done with the testing of a rebuilt engine. I called and wanted to schedule another date. He insisted we go. To stretch the day I suggested that we go real early and I even picked him up at a differeent marina which meant me leaving mine in the dark.
We fished, caught some bonitos and junk and the weather started closing us out so in we came. I am often too generous but I thrive on repeat business. So I offered him another full day on the house. He agreed, got off the boat and I continued back to my marina in a raging thunderstorm. I no sooner got home than the phone was ringing with Visa calling about them wanting to reverse the charge.
I let Visa know we had gone for about 5 of an 8 hour trip and I had offered another full trip to make up the difference... They sided with me. He never came back for the other trip though.. It is still there though cause I'm a man of my word...

[knot for shore]

That story reminds me of an hororable hunting outfitter that I used in Wyoming for antelope. I had the misfortune/fortune, depending on how you look at it, of killing a doe antlope on the morning of the 1st day of a 3 day hunt. He was, and still is an upstanding guy, in that he said I could come back out on the house as we stood above the animal.
Mind you, this was like 10 yrs ago and I e-mailed him the story, of which he did remember and he said he still stands by the offer. After all these years........he could have easily ignored the e-mail. If I get drawn, I'm going back this year. And he will get a nice tip!

Hate to hear about you guys ahving to deal with this varmin. Especiially those that try and reverse visa/mc charges. That's pretty low!