I suggest we have a day on Uetliberg when the next thunderstorm comes, everyone will be required to wear copper suits and shout "all gods are barstewards".

Cheers,
Nick

We can rely on you to bring a bottle opener then, eh?

Well not to be against you on this, but sometimes people really have to cancel. Events, while it's great that there are people organizing them, are almost never the most important thing to everyone here.

I know I have Mayb'd myself all over the place, but it's why I am not committing, and if I show up as a maybe and there is no place left for me, I know that in advance. I don't think the Maybe button should be removed as it gives the promoter and idea of what may come and to either take the decision to be prepared, or not, and just be organized for those you rsvp yes, and do show.
But if it's not a drinks night type situation where it's a no loss financial situation, other type of events, where it does cost the promoter in advance should take deposits. So even if there is a no show, then they aren't at a loss.

The blacklisting thing doesn't sound like a good idea...personally. All the time restaurants take reservations, and guests don't show up, but they don't black list them, that would be suicide.

However, perhaps if people do rsvp with a yes, perhaps they should do it with a phone number inbedded for only the promoter to see including an email address. So the promoter can call the day of or before, to confirm, and also when they don't show up, the promoter has the number to ask why not?

They MAYBE are NOt doing anything at the weekend

The Black List is for the ones who don't show up and leave the OP with a bill because the restaurant make him pay for the extra food prepared... Or for those who comes for a free dinner out and run before the bill arrive...

What about those events where the cost is split between the people turning up?

If an event is 50CHF per person for ten people (total being 500CHF) and five who said they were going to turn up didn't then each person who thought they were going to pay 50CHF now has to pay 100CHF. (If you are a family of four then this would be 200CHF more).

I've booked accommodation for a group of people before for a weekend and not only did one couple not turn up, they also expected everyone else to pay for their share of the accommodation for them whilst the couple who did not turn up did not pay anything. On top of that, we had also bought food for them for the weekend.

This sort of thing used to happen to me a lot with people that I know so I;m reluctant to do it with people that I don't know.

I organise a ski trip each year - I find the hotel, get the numbers and then reserve rooms - in their names.

Normally the hotels want a credit card name/number for group bookings - I tell them that each person will call with their own details. If they haven't called by a certain date cancel the room.

Suddenly people turn up if they have already paid for a room

I totally agree with you. People who do this have no manners and don't have any idea the time and effort that goes into planning any event. These people have probably never organized an event in their life, they are mostly the losers who are just too lazy to anything for anyone else and have no conscious about letting people down. I Co-ordinate functions and events in my job.They are most events that you have to purchase a ticket. ( So if they don't Pay they don't Play ) Simple. Don't let these in considerate bum wipes to demotivate your good intentions. They are not worth it. I am sure there are still allot of people who still value your efforts.
Cheers.

That seems to be the best way - it doesn't work though if you're renting one big place.

In all seriousness, is this thread really still going, lets just agree that if something can't be avoided - illness, family crisis etc then it isnt rude to drop out but you should always do your best to advise the organiser, and offer some sort of financial assistance if they had lost money.

If you dont go because you cant be bothered, or had a better offer its just plain rude, and as with anything in life if you let people down you wont get invited again.

done

THIS is an extremely tiresome example indeed. I do not see any alternative solution in regard to the accommodation but I know one in regard to the food and that is that the meeting point is a shop or shopping area quite near to the lodgings, so that people can go shopping .... or else everybody can bring something with him/her. Which means that people having me in the group are usually well served with wines

But back to the accommodation. If they did not advise early enough about their not coming, they HAVE TO pay for the accommodation, absolutely.

Conversely when I organised the KFC event far too many people turned up for my liking




I lie I lie...I love you all

The KFC event now, is it?

Agreed.

However, on the basis that nothing - including life - is written in stone, then, depending on the type of event eg casual drinks after work, a bring-your-own food/drinks BBQ, it's also okay to simply have a change of mind and sometimes this can happen on the day of the event itself. This is the way with human nature at times.

There's nothing lost either side if there's no upfront financial commitment involved. The important thing is to let the organizer know you won't be attending as soon as possible.

If the organizer will be out of pocket as a result of you cancelling for whatever reason, then yes, it's only fair they be reimbursed accordingly. In this case, it should be clearly stated in the event listing from the get-go. This will deter people from signing up unless they are pretty certain they'll be attending.

__________________
" The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible. " ~ Arthur C Clarke

That is all very well in theory. EF events are very different to organising an event with friends or work colleagues. Very often, all you have is a forum name.

It is very difficult to chase an unknown member for reimbursement.

I can't see where the problem is with organizing an EF casual drinks meet-up involving members - known or unknown - and someone fails to show as this doesn't leave the organizer out of pocket. The important thing is to let them know as much in advance as possible.

Agreed on the logistical difficulties of chasing unknown members for reimbursement where upfront costs are involved.

It's actually quite difficult where 'friends' are involved as well.

The ones that don't reimburse you without a thought are not going to suddenly have a pang of conscience with a bit of gentle reminding from you.

Must say I'd never organise ski trips (I've organised 100s) restau meals or hotels for a group of people I didn't know and without guarantees.
A pity- but sadly experience shows that one is often 'left holding the baby' and the bill for a few!

Very happy to organise events where the specific number is not crucial - as with the recent one. Once I know people, then that will be a different matter. One instance where good old fashioned cheques for deposits was very useful in UK.

Very strange is if the organizer(s) are THE "no-shows". Declaring the start of the BBQ to be at 2pm but apparently mistaking it with 14.00 = 4pm and being there at maybe 4.30pm I met two others and we finally had our BBQ a bit farther up the lake. No money lost, and it was really nice, even if the start was a bit annoying. And to be clear, one of the others was US-American and one Indian, so that it was not a problem of language. Sure, the Indian had to cycle back to the Parkhaus to pay for a bit a longer time, as he otherwise might have run into problems, but otherwise all became well.