Cancellation policy.
Our classes, firings, and workshops are small and they fill fast — when a seat goes unused late, it usually can't be filled. Here's exactly how refunds work, by program, so there are no surprises.
Jump to your programWe're a small shop.
We always try to do right by our students — and we'd refund every request if we could.
Here's the honest math: instructors, visiting artists, clay, glaze, and gas are booked and paid for well in advance of a session. Our margins are tight, which is exactly how we keep prices as competitive as they are. When a seat is held or an event date is reserved, that spot comes off the calendar — and if it's released late, we've already spent the money and lost the chance to fill it.
That's the whole reason the windows below exist. They aren't there to penalize anyone; they're what lets us keep paying our teachers fairly and keep the kilns running. Thank you for understanding.
One rule applies to everything.
All refunds — classes, Raku, workshops, private bookings — incur a $20 processing fee. It covers the card and scheduling fees we've already paid on your registration.
We're also unable to transfer credit, hold a spot, or roll a payment into a future session. Refund windows are counted from the start date of your class, firing, or workshop, and cancellations are effective when we receive them in writing.
Cancelling a class.
Counted from the first day of your session. Our classes are in high demand, so earlier is always better.
If you know in advance you'll miss a week, tell your instructor — they're glad to catch you up, either walking you through what's coming before you go or covering it when you're back. It's also why we offer so much open studio time during the session: enrolled students can come in and practice as much as they like.
Cancelling a firing.
Raku takes days of setup, gas, and staffing for a fixed number of participants — so the window is longer.
Rain or extreme heat: if we postpone a firing for weather or safety, you keep your spot on the rescheduled date, or take a full refund with no fee.
Cancelling a workshop.
Visiting-artist workshops have dated deadlines published on each workshop's page — travel and materials are booked far ahead.
Each workshop lists its own dates under Workshops. If a visiting artist has to cancel, every registrant is refunded in full with no processing fee.
Private bookings & events.
Private bookings hold the studio and staff for your group, so deposits work a little differently.
Headcount changes: final numbers are due 7 days ahead. We can add guests if space allows, but we can't reduce the price below the confirmed minimum after that point.
Sessions start promptly at the reserved time.
Your instructor's time is blocked for your slot only, so lessons and private events begin at the reserved start time whether or not everyone has arrived. If you're running behind, we'll try to make up the time at the end — but if the day's schedule doesn't allow it, we won't be able to return those minutes.
More than 15 minutes late, the lesson or event is subject to cancellation with no refund. Please come a few minutes early if you can — it's the easiest way to get your full session.
Call us, or email.
The easiest and best way is a phone call during business hours — we'll handle your cancellation right then. Outside those hours, please email rather than leaving a voicemail; we can't date-stamp a message.
Call during business hours
(626) 791-9220, Mon–Fri 10am–6pm or Sat 10am–5pm. We'll take care of it on the spot — no follow-up needed.
Or email us anytime
hello@gbclayhouse.com with your name, the class or firing, and its start date. Please don't rely on a voicemail after hours.
We confirm & refund
We reply with the refund amount based on the date we heard from you. Refunds go back to the original card, usually in 5–10 business days.
The fine print.
Edge cases, illness, gift cards, and what happens if we're the ones who cancel.
I'm sick — can I get an exception?
Please don't come to the studio unwell. Email us as soon as you know: we can't refund outside the windows above, but we'll do our best to get you into an open studio session or a later class where space exists. Extended illness or emergency? Tell us — we read every note.
Can I send someone in my place?
Yes, for a class or firing you can transfer your spot to another person at no charge, as long as you email us their name and contact information at least 48 hours ahead. Kids' classes are the exception — those must match the enrolled age group.
What if the studio cancels?
If we cancel a class, firing, or workshop for any reason — low enrollment, instructor illness, weather, kiln trouble — you receive a full refund with no processing fee, or your choice of a spot in the next available session.
Do gift cards and memberships follow this policy?
Gift cards are non-refundable and don't expire. Memberships are month-to-month: cancel any time before your next billing date and you keep access through the end of the paid month. Partial months aren't prorated.
Does a missed week get made up?
No. Sessions run on a fixed schedule and each seat is reserved for you across all six weeks. Enrolled students do have studio access outside class time during the session — that's the best way to catch up.
What about work left behind after a cancellation?
We'll fire and hold finished work for 30 days after your session ends. Greenware from a cancelled registration can be picked up within two weeks; after that, shelf space gets reclaimed.
This policy applies to registrations made on or after January 1, 2026 and may be updated — the version on this page is the one in effect.