Booking, Cacncellation & Studio Policies

Studio Policies at a Glance

Booking, Cancellation & Studio Policies Heart & Hearth Pottery · 436 S Topanga Canyon Blvd, Topanga CA 90290 Effective Date: March 6, 2026 · Version 3.0
 

Heart & Hearth Pottery is a small, intentional studio with six wheels and a deep commitment to the people who show up. Every seat reserved holds a spot that could have gone to someone on the waitlist. These policies exist to honor your time, your instructor's time, and the studio's ability to remain here for all of you.
 

These policies apply to all classes, workshops, events, memberships, private bookings, and retail purchases. By completing a booking or purchase, you agree to be bound by these policies and the studio's Terms & Conditions.
 

1. Payment

Full payment is required at the time of booking for all classes, workshops, events, and private sessions. Your spot is not held without payment. We accept all major credit cards through our booking system.

All prices are stated in U.S. dollars. Processing and transaction fees are non-refundable in all circumstances.

2. Monthly & Recurring Billing

CALIFORNIA AUTOMATIC RENEWAL DISCLOSURE (Business & Professions Code § 17600)

The following programs are billed on a recurring monthly basis: Adult Intro Wheel, Adult Intro Handbuilding, Adult Evening Course, Continuing Practice, Kids Clay Club, Young Artists, Teen Studio, Homeschool Studio, Sages Clay, and Studio Membership.

For all recurring programs:

• Your enrollment renews automatically each month at the stated price until you cancel

• You will be charged on the same date each billing cycle

• To cancel, submit written notice to heartandhearthpottery@gmail.com at least 7 days before the next billing date

• Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period

• No refund is issued for the current billing period once the cancellation window has passed

A clear summary of the charge amount, billing frequency, and cancellation instructions is presented at checkout before any recurring enrollment is confirmed.
 

3. Cancellations & Refunds

All cancellation requests must be submitted in writing by email to heartandhearthpottery@gmail.com. The time of your email determines which window applies. Verbal requests are not accepted.
 

Monthly Classes & Multi-Week Series

7 or more days before first session: Full refund minus $15 processing fee 3–6 days before first session: 50% refund OR 50% studio credit — your choice Fewer than 72 hours before first session: No refund, no credit After first session has begun: No refund, no credit
 

Once a series has begun, your seat was reserved for the full arc. No partial refunds are issued for remaining sessions
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Drop-In Sessions, Workshops & One-Day Events

More than 72 hours before session: Full refund minus $15 processing fee Within 72 hours of session: No refund, no credit No-show: No refund, no credit — no exceptions
 

Private Bookings (Birthday Parties, Corporate, Couples Retreat)

14 or more days before event: Full refund minus $25 administrative fee 7–13 days before event: 50% refund Fewer than 7 days before event: No refund. Studio credit valid 90 days at studio discretion. No-show: No refund, no credit
 

Summer Camp

21 or more days before camp start: Full refund minus $25 administrative fee 8–20 days before camp start: 50% refund OR 50% studio credit — your choice 7 or fewer days before camp start: No refund, no credit No-show or early departure: No refund, no credit
 

4. Makeup Classes

Makeup sessions are a courtesy, not a contractual obligation. We offer them when we can because we understand that life happens. The following rules apply consistently to all enrolled students.

When a makeup may be available:

• You must notify us by email before your scheduled class begins. Notification after the fact does not qualify.

• One makeup maximum per series enrollment — this limit is firm.

• Makeups are subject to space availability and are never guaranteed.

• Makeups must be completed within the same enrollment period. They do not carry forward.

When a makeup is not available:

• No-shows: if you did not notify us before class began, no makeup will be offered. No exceptions.

• Date Night, Raku, Summer Camp, specialty workshops, and single-session events: no makeups. These formats cannot accommodate them.

• If no group makeup spot is available within your enrollment period, no credit or refund is issued.
   

Paid one-on-one makeup option: If you've missed a session and no group makeup is available, you may request a private one-on-one lesson with your instructor at $75. This is subject to instructor availability and must be scheduled in advance by email. This option exists as a genuine alternative to a missed session — not as a workaround to the makeup limit.
 

5. No-Shows

A no-show is failing to attend a session without notifying the studio before the class begins. No-shows are non-refundable, not eligible for studio credit, and not eligible for makeup. This applies consistently regardless of circumstance.
 

6. Transfers

You may transfer your booking to another person with at least 48 hours written notice and subject to studio approval. The incoming participant must review and agree to all studio policies before the transfer is confirmed. Transfers are not available for sessions already in progress or for Summer Camp enrollments within 7 days of the start date.
 

7. Members & Class Credits

• Monthly credits must be used within the calendar month they are issued. Credits do not roll over.

• Cancellation of a member-credited class more than 72 hours in advance: credit is returned to your account.

• Cancellation within 72 hours or no-show: credit is forfeited.

• To cancel or pause your membership: written notice required 7 days before the end of the current billing month. Failure to provide timely notice results in a charge for the upcoming month.

• Membership pause requests are evaluated case-by-case and are not guaranteed.
   

8. Open Studio & Practice Time

Open studio time, where included in a class or membership, is stated explicitly in your enrollment confirmation. It is not a default benefit of all offerings.

• Studio time is tied to attendance. It is earned only through attendance at the corresponding instructional session.

• Studio time must be used during the same calendar week as the attended class. It does not accrue, roll over, or apply to other offerings.

• Unsupervised studio access is prohibited unless expressly authorized in writing by the studio.

• Studio time that is not specified in your enrollment confirmation is not a guaranteed benefit.
   

9. Studio-Initiated Cancellations

The studio reserves the right to cancel any session due to insufficient enrollment, instructor unavailability, or circumstances outside its control. In the event of a studio-initiated cancellation:

• You will receive a full refund or the option to transfer to a future session — your choice.

• We will notify you at least 48 hours in advance whenever reasonably possible.

• The studio is not responsible for travel costs, childcare, or other arrangements made in anticipation of a cancelled session.
   

Rescheduling is not a cancellation. If the studio reschedules a session to a date or time you cannot attend, you may request a full refund minus the processing fee by notifying us in writing within 48 hours of the rescheduling notice.
 

10. Force Majeure

The studio's obligation to deliver services may be suspended without penalty due to wildfire, natural disaster, public health emergency, loss of studio access, or other events making safe operation impossible. In such cases:

• The studio will provide advance notice as soon as reasonably possible.

• Participants who have prepaid for sessions that cannot be delivered will receive a full refund or credit at their election, within 30 days.

• Sessions that are rescheduled — rather than cancelled — due to force majeure do not automatically trigger refund eligibility.
   

11. Materials, Firing & Kiln Safety

Approved materials only: Only clay purchased directly from Heart & Hearth Pottery may be used or fired in the studio. Work made from unapproved or unknown materials will not be fired. Participants are responsible for compliance regardless of whether they were supervised at the time.

If unapproved materials cause damage to the kiln or equipment, the participant is financially responsible for all resulting repair, replacement, downtime, and associated costs.

Firing outcomes: Ceramic firing is inherently unpredictable. Cracking, warping, glaze defects, explosions, and firing loss are normal risks of the medium. Firing loss does not imply negligence and is not grounds for a refund or credit. The studio will always notify you if a piece is lost or significantly damaged during firing.
 

12. Finished Work & Pickup

• Greenware (unfired pieces) not claimed within 2 weeks of the final class session will be recycled.

• Bisque-fired and glaze-fired work will be held for 30 days after the end of the session or notification of completion, whichever comes first.

• After 30 days, unclaimed work becomes studio property and may be repurposed or discarded.

• Standard pickup hours are Monday–Friday, 10am–4pm. Pickup outside these hours requires prior written coordination by email.

• Work will be released only to the participant of record unless prior written authorization is provided. Once released to an authorized third party, responsibility transfers to the participant.

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Shipping: Shipping is available upon written request and full advance payment of all shipping costs. All shipping costs and risks of loss or damage in transit are the responsibility of the participant.
 

13. Minors

A minor is any individual under the age of 18. The parent or legal guardian of a minor participant is responsible for all required consents, waivers, and studio communications. Parents are financially responsible for any damage caused by a minor in their care.

The studio may remove a minor from any activity for safety or conduct reasons and will contact the parent or guardian immediately. Refund eligibility in this circumstance follows the conduct termination provisions of Section 15.
 

14. Studio Conduct

• Arrive on time. Demonstrations begin at the start of class. Late arrivals may miss critical instruction.

• Wear clothes you don't mind getting dirty. Aprons are available but clay travels.

• This is a shared space. Clean your wheel, tools, and workspace before leaving.

• Respectful conduct is required at all times — in the studio, in written and verbal communications, and in any public reference to the studio.
   

15. Conduct & Termination

The studio may suspend or terminate access to services for unsafe behavior, misuse of equipment, threatening or aggressive conduct, or serious violation of studio policies. Termination is a last resort. The studio will generally attempt to resolve concerns through direct communication first.

In the event of termination for conduct reasons:

• Written notice will be provided.

• A pro-rata refund of prepaid fees for sessions not yet delivered will be issued within 14 days.

• The studio may offset this refund by the documented cost of any damage caused by the participant, up to the amount of the refund.

• The studio reserves the right to decline future bookings from any individual terminated for conduct reasons.
   

16. Billing Disputes

If you believe a charge was made in error, please contact us in writing at heartandhearthpottery@gmail.com before contacting your bank or payment provider. We will investigate and respond within 5 business days. Most billing concerns can be resolved quickly through direct communication.

You retain the right to dispute any charge with your bank or payment provider as provided under the Fair Credit Billing Act and applicable law. If you have contacted us and have not received a substantive response within 5 business days, you are free to escalate through your financial institution.
 

17. Retail Sales

• Retail purchases — including clay, tools, and gift cards — are separate from instructional services.

• Gift cards are non-refundable and non-redeemable for cash, except where required by California law. Gift cards do not expire.

• Clay and consumable retail items are final sale once opened or used. Unopened items in original condition may be eligible for exchange within 14 days at the studio's discretion.

• Processing and transaction fees are non-refundable in all circumstances.

• Retail items brought into the studio for use remain subject to all studio safety, firing, and material policies.
   

18. Photography & Shared Studio Environment

Heart & Hearth Pottery is a shared creative environment. Photography or video may occur during classes and events — by the studio, by instructors, or by other participants. If you do not wish to appear in studio-controlled media, please notify us in writing before your first session. The studio is not responsible for media captured or shared by other participants.

Studio images of minors will not be published without explicit written consent from a parent or legal guardian.

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19. Limitation of Liability & Governing Law

To the fullest extent permitted by California law, the studio's total liability for claims arising from these policies — excluding physical injury claims governed by the separately executed Liability Waiver — is limited to the total amount paid by the participant for the specific service giving rise to the claim.

If any provision of this policy is found unenforceable, the remaining provisions continue in full force. This policy is governed by California law, with venue in Los Angeles County.
 

Failure to read or understand these policies does not exempt a participant from their terms. The policy in effect at the time of purchase governs the transaction.
 

If you have questions about any part of this policy before booking, please reach out. We're real people in Topanga Canyon and we'll write back.

heartandhearthpottery@gmail.com

Heart & Hearth Pottery · Topanga, California · Version 3.0 · March 20