Is AUTHOR wrong in the post ? POST : So when I was a kid, there was this balloon artist in my town that I adored and would see him at every Chinese New Year street festival making these fantastic balloon animals. When I was 8 I cried so hard when the whale I got deflated and my mom said we had to throw it away. We took a picture of it with precious film so I would still remember it. 

I grew up, moved away and then moved back. Last Chinese New Year he was at a carnival. Couldn't believe it was him and took a card saying I wanted him at my 30th birthday next year even thought it was 11 months away. 

I sent him an email that week to say how excited I was and that I would be reaching out later in the year. (I did that in case I lost the business card too). 

&amp;#x200B;

Fast forward to late November, I asked if he was available for a January party. No response.   


Emailed in early December and got a reply saying he was available for the date in January. I didn't get an answer to follow up emails like "What are your rates?" etc. I emailed in mid December twice when he didn't follow up.   
Eventually I just said "are you still interested in this at all?" To which I get the reply "yes call this number". Not 24 hours later there's a follow up to say "you need to book now cause someone else is looking at this date"  

I did the booking and locked him down for the time and date.   


Today I get a phone call from his customer service rep saying he double booked and the party that starts before mine had booked before I did...which I think is not my fault because I had been trying to get him since the beginning of the previous month.  

My options are to have him come later (which doesn't work) or have another rep (his daughter)  from the company come instead. I told them I would think about it but didn't get into the whole "I have been a fan since I was a kid" thing.   


I was really looking forward to this and I know it's extremely silly that a 30 year old to have balloon animals. I don't normally throw huge birthday parties and I've been saving up for the big 3-0 for a while. 

 I mean the replacement is his daughter but I'm disappointed and annoyed that this is happening. 

WIBTA if I pushed back saying I wanted this particular balloon artist and it was the lack of communication on their end that made me the "later booking"? Should I demand a refund? Or should I give the apprentice daughter a chance? I worry if I demand it is him, he might loose business and hate coming to my event. 