Is there no honor in email agreements?

[Jerusha Amado]

Hi Kay and Jimmy,

It’s intriguing, Kay, that you don’t use email at all. I will ponder that notion!
And I have to agree with you, Jimmy, that David went through a lot more, so this could have been worse.

[Jerusha Amado]

Hi Justin,
How neat that you’re located in Hong Kong!
<>That thought did cross my mind, that even though emails are “semi legal”, if you will, who is going to bother with the time/expense of enforcing them?

[carl-swanson]

This is not unlike harp rentals for me, especially summer rentals. I’ll get an email in April from someone who wants a rental for 4 or 6 weeks for a summer music festival or music camp. I tell them the terms and they say they definitely want the instrument, and then I hear nothing or get nothing in terms of a deposit(which I requested), because they are hunting around for something cheaper. So my policy with rentals is: It’s not reserved for you until I get the money, and if you tell me you definitely want it and don’t send the money right away, I’ll rent it to the next person who comes along and gives me the deposit. Whoever comes up with the money first gets the instrument. In this case, when you get an email agreement without the immediate backup of a signed contract and a deposit, do not turn down other offers for the same date.

[Jerusha Amado]

In this case, when you get an email agreement without the immediate backup of a signed contract and a deposit, do not turn down other offers for the same date.

Good advice, Carl. Thank you!

[Jerusha Amado]

I was thinking more about what Kay said concerning using only phone and contracts. I wonder if there is more of a connection that’s created when people use the phone such that they would be more inclined to honor their promises as opposed to when the medium of communication is email, which is more impersonal?

[carl-swanson]

Jerusha- This woman was simply shopping around looking for the cheapest deal. It doesn’t matter what the method of communication is. Until she signs a contract and gives you a non-refundable deposit, she knows she can do whatever she wants.

[jimmy-h]

It is rude, though, to agree by email then drop the conversation with you.

There should be a piece called the Vexed Harpist that we can play after things like this.

[Jerusha Amado]

There should be a piece called the Vexed Harpist that we can play after things like this. I agree, Jimmy!

[Jerusha Amado]

Carl,
It might not have helped with her but establishing a better human connection might help in the future with ethical clients who are “on the fence” about hiring a harpist.

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