What Is The Cancellation Policy For Clay By The Bay?

Clay by the Bay is a popular pottery studio located in San Francisco that offers a wide range of classes and workshops for all skill levels. They provide everything needed to create beautiful handmade pottery pieces, from clay and tools to kiln firing. With experienced instructors, Clay by the Bay allows both beginners and experts to express their creativity through clay.

Booking Cancellations

Clay by the Bay has a strict cancellation policy for class bookings. According to their refund policy, fees paid for classes are non-refundable. Once a class is booked, the fee cannot be transferred or refunded, even if the booking is cancelled in advance.

This strict no-refund policy applies to all class bookings, including wheel-throwing, hand-building, clay events, couples classes, private lessons, and kids classes. The full class fee will be charged at the time of booking, regardless of whether the class is attended or not.

Clay by the Bay does not offer credits or refunds for missed or cancelled classes under any circumstances, including personal emergencies. Customers are advised to carefully review class details before booking to avoid issues.

Private Event Cancellations

The cancellation policy for private events at Clay by the Bay is designed to protect the business while also allowing flexibility for customers, according to the private events page on the Clay by the Bay website.

For private events booked more than 30 days in advance, there are no cancellation fees if the event is cancelled at least 15 days prior to the scheduled date. If the cancellation occurs 14 days or less before the event, a 50% cancellation fee applies based on the total cost.

For events booked 30 days or less in advance, cancellations must be made at least 7 days prior to avoid fees. If cancelled fewer than 7 days before, a 50% cancellation fee is charged.

Cancellation fees help compensate Clay by the Bay for losses incurred from holding or preparing for an event that is later cancelled. The 15 and 7 day deadlines provide customers flexibility while protecting the studio. Customers are advised to carefully review cancellation policies when booking.

Refund Eligibility

Clay By The Bay has a strict no refund policy, as stated on their official refund policy page. Once a purchase is made, whether for classes, private events, or merchandise, customers are not eligible for refunds.

However, Clay By The Bay may grant credit vouchers in limited circumstances. Customers who cancel up to 2 weeks prior to a scheduled class or workshop may receive a voucher for the amount paid. This voucher can be used towards a future class or merchandise purchase. Cancelations under 2 weeks are generally not eligible for any refund or voucher.

For private events like birthdays or corporate events, the 50% deposit is non-refundable if the event is canceled within 2 weeks of the scheduled date. Cancellations made 2-4 weeks prior may receive a voucher for the deposit amount. Anything over 4 weeks notice can get a full refund of the deposit.

Extenuating circumstances like severe illness or injury may warrant an exception to the no refund policy on a case-by-case basis, at the discretion of studio management.

Rescheduling

When it comes to rescheduling classes at Clay by the Bay, customers have some flexibility depending on the situation (FAQ – Clay By The Bay Pottery Classes San Francisco). For regularly scheduled classes that are booked online, students can reschedule their class for another time or date as long as they provide at least 24 hours advance notice. Rescheduling requests made with less than 24 hours notice are subject to a $35 cancellation/rescheduling fee. For specialty workshops and events, the rescheduling policy depends on the specific class. Some workshops require notice 2-4 weeks in advance to reschedule without penalty. Customers should check the specific class page for details on the cancellation timeframe when booking (Current Class Schedule – San Francisco – Clay By The Bay).

To request a reschedule, customers can log into their account online or call the studio. Rescheduling is based on availability, so popular classes may book up quickly. Clay by the Bay recommends rescheduling as soon as possible to ensure students can attend on another scheduled date. The studio tries to accommodate requests when feasible, but does not guarantee the ability to reschedule. Any applicable cancellation/rescheduling fees are due before booking a new class time.

Covid-19 Exceptions

Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, Clay by the Bay has implemented special cancellation policies to accommodate customers affected by the virus. According to their safety page, Clay by the Bay will issue full refunds or credits to any customers who need to cancel due to experiencing Covid-19 symptoms, testing positive for Covid-19, or exposure to someone who tested positive.

Customers simply need to provide notice of cancellation via email up to 24 hours prior to the start of a class or private event. As long as the cancellation is specifically Covid-19-related, regular cancellation policies and deadlines will be waived. Clay by the Bay aims to be flexible and understanding during this difficult time while also maintaining rigorous safety protocols to protect customers.

Extenuating Circumstances

Clay By The Bay understands that occasionally a student may need to cancel or reschedule due to an unforeseen personal or medical emergency. While the general cancellation and rescheduling policy is strictly enforced for normal circumstances, Clay By The Bay may make limited exceptions for student emergencies on a case-by-case basis with proper documentation (i.e. a doctor’s note).

Students who experience a serious illness, injury, or personal emergency that prevents them from attending class should contact Clay By The Bay as soon as possible to explain the situation and request an exception to the cancellation policy. Clay By The Bay may ask for verification of the emergency and will evaluate each request individually to determine if a cancellation fee waiver, credit, or makeup class is appropriate.

Extenuating medical circumstances that may warrant an exception include:

• Serious illness, injury, hospitalization, or medical procedure
• Infectious disease or contagious illness requiring isolation/quarantine
• Flare up of disability or chronic health condition

Other personal emergencies that may qualify include:

• Death in the immediate family
• Significant trauma or crisis (assault, accident, etc.)
• Court appearance or jury duty

While Clay By The Bay aims to be understanding of emergencies, approval is not guaranteed. Mild illnesses, pre-existing conditions, work conflicts, travel delays, forgetting about class, and changing one’s mind are not generally considered extenuating circumstances.

For inquiries regarding emergencies and exceptions to the cancellation policy, please contact Clay By The Bay at 415-200-8200 or [email protected].

Notification Deadlines

To cancel or reschedule a class or private event at Clay By The Bay, customers need to provide advance notice by certain deadlines:

• For private events, a minimum of 2 weeks’ notice is required. Notification must be provided at least 14 days prior to the scheduled event date. See https://claybythebay.myshopify.com/products/artist-membership
• To cancel a class registration, notice must be given at least 24 hours before the start of the class. Less than 24 hours’ notice is considered a forfeit of the class fee.
• For membership renewals, Clay By The Bay requires at least 2 weeks’ notice to cancel the auto-renewal. Notification must be received a minimum of 14 days before the next membership term begins. See https://claybythebay.myshopify.com/collections/memberships

Customers should contact Clay By The Bay by phone or email to provide cancellation notices before these deadlines. This ensures there is adequate time to process refunds or rescheduling requests.

Contact Information

To inquire about making cancellations or ask any questions related to our cancellation policy, please contact Clay By The Bay directly.

You can reach us by phone at (415) 416-6475 or send an email to [email protected]. Our friendly staff is available to assist you 7 days a week from 10am-9pm at our studio located at 1618 Pacific Ave, San Francisco, CA 94109.

For more information, visit the Clay By The Bay Contact Us page.

Summary

To recap, Clay by the Bay has different cancellation policies depending on if you booked a private event or class. For private events, you can cancel up to 30 days before your event for a full refund. Cancellations between 15-30 days receive a 50% refund. No refunds are given for cancellations less than 15 days before the event. For public classes, you can receive a refund or reschedule if you cancel at least 24 hours before the class starts. No refunds are given for no-shows or last minute cancellations. There are exceptions for COVID-19 and other extenuating circumstances if you provide proper documentation. Be sure to notify Clay by the Bay of any cancellations or rescheduling requests as soon as possible, and no later than the posted deadlines. Contact [email protected] or 555-123-4567 with any questions about the cancellation policy.