We’ve been doing registrations for five years and we’ve noticed a pattern. It’s a rush. The line up forms early. But we have a highly efficient team of Maiwa veterans to guide the process. Here are some tips for successful registration.
On the first morning we take registrations by phone (no fax), our web site, and in person.
LECTURES: We have a 200-seat theatre so please don’t wait in line on the first morning at our Granville Island store if you only want lecture tickets. Lectures are unlikely to sell out on the first morning.
WORKSHOPS: Patience pays off. The phones are very busy so expect to redial on the first morning. We fill all spaces on a first-come first-served basis. A certain number of spaces are divided between on-line and in-store registration.
On the first dayWE DO NOT TAKE FAX registrations. WE DO NOT TAKE E-MAIL registrations at any time and discourage individuals from sending credit card information through e-mail.
ON-LINE REGISTRATION To register through the website, please set up your customer account ahead of time. At 10am on June 22 the registration buttons will appear. It is necessary to refresh your browser page to see this change.
When you have successfully completed your order you will see a message "Order Number 1234 has been successfully completed!". For a complete walk through the on-line process see our Help Pages. NOTE: there are no shipping charges for on-line registrations.
It is a good idea to have a second choice handy when you arrive or call. We maintain a waiting list and encourage people to ask to be added to it, especially in the first week. Registration confirmation will be sent by mail. Please allow 1–2 weeks for us to process your registration and another week for it to arrive through the mail. Payment is due at time of registration.
Running a workshop series of this scope involves considerable administrative and management time. Therefore our cancellation policy is as follows:
Cancellations on or before July 31, 2009, will be charged a $35 fee.
Cancellations after July 31, 2009, receive a 75% refund.
Cancellations after August 15, 2009, receive a 50% refund.
Cancellations after August 31, 2009, receive no refund.
Students who are unable to attend a workshop may elect to send a qualified replacement if they notify Maiwa in advance. Maiwa reserves the right to cancel classes due to lack of enrollment, instructor illness, or unforeseen circumstances. In the unlikely event of a class cancellation, Maiwa’s liability shall be limited to a refund of class fees. Maiwa shall not be responsible for airline tickets, hotel reservations, travel costs, or other expenses.
Registration FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
When does registration start? 10 am. Monday June 22, 2009
Is there a rush? There is a rush for workshops. We bring instructors from around the world and class size is limited.
I'm away/working/busy on registration day. Can I register ahead of time? No. Please read about all your registration options below and select the one that works best for you. We have a large number of enthusiastic registrants and we have tried our best to be fair to all.
What is your cancellation policy?
Cancellations on or before July 31, 2009, will be charged a $35 fee.
Cancellations after July 31, 2009, receive a 75% refund.
Cancellations after August 15, 2009, receive a 50% refund.
Cancellations after August 31, 2009, receive no refund.
When should I arrive to register in person? Your call. People have arrived as early as seven, coffee and muffins in hand. We are next to the Granville Island Market so food and coffee are nearby.
Can I register for my friend? You can register for yourself and up to two friends. Payment is due at time of registration. There is a fee for cancellations so make certain you understand our cancellation policy.
Can I register by phone? Yes.
Your phone line is always busy - what should I do? Redial. Redial. Redial.
Can I register by fax? NOT ON THE FIRST DAY. After the first day you may fax your registration form and credit card info. You may wish to check course availability by phone first.
Can I register by mail? Yes. BUT we don't open mail registrations until 11:00 am. on the first morning. Mail is fine for lecture and event tickets. Don't forget to send your credit info, or cheques payable to Maiwa Handprints ltd.
Can I register by e-mail? No. Please use our on-line site instead. E-mail is not a secure way to send credit card information and messages are occasionally blocked by spam filters.
Can I register on-line? Yes.
How do I register on-line? The symposium site has a page for each workshop, lecture and event. On registration day we add the
I'm trying to register on-line but I get an Out-of-stock message. If you get the Out-of-stock notice, then the course is sold out on-line. This can happen very quickly on the first morning. At this point you can call and see if there are still spaces left for phone registration.
How do I know my on-line registration worked? You will have a confirmation screen giving a summary of your purchase. Please print this out and keep it. You will also receive an e-mail message confirming your purchase amount.
Something mysterious happened and I can't be certain my on-line registration worked. What should I do? E-mail us right away at maiwa@maiwa.com give us as much information as you can (especially) including which workshops you were trying to register for. If you suspect you are having e-mail difficulty please call us 604 669 3939 (The phones are usually past the mad rush by 12 noon).
I sent an e-mail but I got a reply from "Spam Arrest". What's up with that? Spam Arrest is our spam filter. If this is your first time trying to contact us via e-mail you will recieve an e-mail reply from spam arrest asking to verify that you are not a spambot trying to fill our in-box with ads for cheap viagra. You'll have to type in a code that appears on the page. Don't worry it is all legit. If you'd prefer not to, there is still no cause for alarm. We check the spam filter persistently on opening day and authorize messages from registrants whom the spam filter has stopped.
I tried everything but my favourite workshop is full. What can I do? Our staff know the workshops inside and out. We would be happy to suggest an alternative. We also keep a waiting list and if you get placed on it early there is still a chance that you will get in. People's plans change and spaces do open up.
