Deposits exist for a reason: without one, 15-25% of artisan workshop bookings turn into no-shows — people who booked but didn't show up, without notice. With a well-calibrated deposit, the rate drops below 3%. But 'well-calibrated' is less obvious than it seems: too high scares curious customers, too low doesn't really hold them.
How much to ask: the formula that works
The rule we see working best in Italian artisan workshops is: low fixed deposit (€10-15) for group workshops, higher deposit (€20-30) for private workshops. The reason is psychological: €10 feels symbolic, you book without thinking; €50 feels serious commitment, you hesitate. For group workshops where you want max booking volume, the first logic wins.
How to communicate it without sounding commercial
The line that works is: 'To confirm your spot, a €10 deposit. The rest, €X, you pay in the workshop on the day'. Three advantages: small number (just a deposit), transparency (you know exactly what's left), on-site payment (human relationship). On Handsome this logic is built in: the customer always sees total price and deposit, no surprises.
Domande frequenti
- Can I set a custom deposit different from €10?
- On Handsome the deposit is uniform across the platform for customer consistency: €10 group, €25 private. Custom 'on-request' workshops allow different terms.
- What happens if the customer doesn't show up?
- The deposit is kept per policy. The artisan doesn't get the balance but doesn't waste time either: no chasing, no refunds to handle.
