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Mensch
Forum Addict
Joined: Jun 19, 2009
Posts: 702
Location: The Diogenes Club
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 Posted:
Wed Nov 04, 2009 9:59 pm |
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I say non-refundable, but it is at my discretion. I have refunded retainers on several occasions.
I had an e-mail last spring from a bride who cancelled their cake three months before the wedding. Her groom had been killed in a car accident. She never asked for the money back, but I returned it anyway and she was really grateful. I filled that empty slot in no time.
people who call or e-mail and say they cancelled their wedding, or found someone cheaper... no way. |
Last edited by Mensch on Wed Nov 04, 2009 10:33 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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CakeForte
Frequent Member
Joined: Oct 21, 2004
Posts: 481
Location: Internet
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Wed Nov 04, 2009 10:29 pm |
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When I worked in hotel catering...people canceled all of time. The refund policy was based on a percentage from how far out you were from the event date. So less than 6 weeks, 10% refund if even that much.... more than 6 months 80% refund. Not the exact numbers, but was along those lines.
Now if it was a bride/groom death, like mentioned above, not really something to lie about since it can be easily verified, so I would personally refund. That's just asking for bad karma. |
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catlharper
Frequent Member
Joined: Apr 21, 2008
Posts: 200
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Wed Nov 04, 2009 10:30 pm |
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I use to have such a kind heart and would have thought, sure, refund..but after reading stories on this site and others, as well as watching a bride lie outright on tv during a Bridezillas (still wondering if she got sued for it) saying she was SO distraught that the wedding was cancelled when it was not...well, non-refundable means non-refundable.
As an event planner the first thing I recommend is wedding insurance in case of cancellation...it covers all fees for them so they are not out their deposits. But as a baker, if a deposit has been put down then they can consider that the money has been spent to purchase ingrediants for their cake and is no longer available. Period. |
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Ruth0209
Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 09, 2007
Posts: 943
Location: Scenic Idaho
Birthday: Feb 09
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Wed Nov 04, 2009 10:53 pm |
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| momma28 wrote: | Ok I had a sad email this morning from a brides mother who came with her for a tasting last Monday. After the tasting they said they were going to call me this week with a final decision on whether they needed a sheetcake to go along with th wedding cake for extra servings. I said that I would collect the deposit then and they agreed. My deposits are non refundable, says it in my contract.
So back to the email, the mother of the bride emails me this morning that the wedding has been cancelled and that her daughter is distraught. She asked that I hold all her information in case they reconcile because they were set on using me. I write back and say how sorry I am and that I will be praying for her daughter in this difficult season.
They did not sign or give deposit so its not really relevant to this case but it made me think. What if I had let them go ahead with the deposit last week (and settle the sheet cake issue later). I would feel terrible not refunding that deposit after only a week when the bride is greiving. My dh said that if it had gone any longer it could have cost me another wedding on that day so the deposit is compensation for holding the day.
Any thoughts? Have any of you experienced a cancelled wedding and how did you handle it?
Thank You |
First, I just have to disagree that a cancelled wedding is a sad thing. It's unfortunate that the bride is unhappy, but it really is not a tragedy. If the groom isn't ready, he's doing her a favor. C'mon, life is full of disappointments. Better a cancelled wedding than a divorce.
Secondly, and I think more importantly, as a business person I don't think it's my role to be personally invested in why an order is being cancelled. It's not people you know, it's not your crisis. It's simply a cancelled business transaction for you.
I agree with those who have said they would refund a deposit for a death of the bride or groom. That is a REAL tragedy that could not be anticipated, and I would definitely refund. Otherwise, I just don't think you have any ethical obligation to refund. When a person signs a contract, they know what they are agreeing to. I wouldn't expect a business to let me out of a contract because I was having some kind of personal problem. |
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costumeczar
Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Oct 18, 2007
Posts: 2589
Location: Henrico VA
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Thu Nov 05, 2009 9:54 am |
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Non-refundable is just that, but I agree with the "at your discretion" part of it, too. I've given refunds if I felt that it was the right thing to do, totally at my discretion.
I don't give back the full amount, though, because if someone's booked then I've spent time with them answering emails/baking samples/writing up contracts etc. |
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jentreu
Regular Member
Joined: Apr 01, 2009
Posts: 169
Location: Greenleaf, WI
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Thu Nov 05, 2009 5:38 pm |
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the only time I ever gave a deposit was when the groom's fists sent the bride to the hospital all black and blue. My hubby worked with her, so he went to see her and everything. I had proof, and I figured it was a reward to her for not marrying the (insert really bad word here).
Otherwise, non-refundable is non refundable, as others have said. |
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Kitagrl
Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Jun 16, 2005
Posts: 4066
Location: NE Philly suburbs
Birthday: Jan 31
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Thu Nov 05, 2009 5:58 pm |
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I take small deposits ($50) so it doesn't hurt if I don't refund it. However if I felt like refunding it, I would. Usually not though. |
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HowCoolGomo1
Frequent Member
Joined: Jan 26, 2009
Posts: 228
Location: Canyon Lake, TX
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Thu Nov 05, 2009 6:15 pm |
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Am I getting this right? They came for a tasting, that you didn't charge for and now the MOB is saying you're going to be their cake designer? When the girl finds another fiance. Yep; and I'm going to win the lottery I never play.
How do you know that the MOB has found someone else at beyond cheap? How do you know that she didn't want to taste your cake, so she could tell someone else that's the flavor.
All right I'm not sure about this, you are now feeling guilty? Guilty for what? You have a business to run. No one should be immune, pay, pay, pay. This includes family and friends. You didn't even get a deposit!
Your time is worth big bucks.
Don't ever sell yourself short. |
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FromScratch
Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Mar 12, 2007
Posts: 5380
Location: Southern NH
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Thu Nov 05, 2009 6:16 pm |
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I agree... non-refundable means just that... non-refundable. I have it in my contract that all monies paid are non-refundable and date specific. It's not my problem that her groom bailed. It's unfortunate for her yes, but it's probably for the best right now.
I had a bride cancel because her groom was not "ready to commit" (to just her anyway). I kept her deposit on file for her becuase she was such a sweetheart, but she signed the contract and understood the terms. Now death of the bride or groom... yeah... that's different. A true tragedy, and I would make exceptions there. In general though... keep your feelings out of the business end of the deal.  |
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newmansmom2004
Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 22, 2007
Posts: 796
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Thu Nov 05, 2009 6:20 pm |
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| cakesdivine wrote: | | I had a bride tell me their wedding had cancelled when their final balance was due...come to find out one of her guests was also a friend of mine, the wedding wasn't cancelled at all, they had a family friend offer to do the cake as a gift, I stupidly refunded the money before finding out the wedding was still on. So now I don't care what your excuse is...NO REFUNDS means NO REFUNDS! |
I agree with OP's hubby - nonrefundable means nonrefundable. And the above is an excellent reason why. People will pull all kinds of shenanigans to get out of paying for something when they can get it for free. And let me tell you, there are some darned good actors out there who can cry on the spot and give you the saddest story you'll ever hear.
Even if you collect a deposit and the bride calls you three hours later to say she's cancelling, during that three hours you may have already turned down another cake order. |
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HowCoolGomo1
Frequent Member
Joined: Jan 26, 2009
Posts: 228
Location: Canyon Lake, TX
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Thu Nov 05, 2009 9:36 pm |
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Non refundable, means non refundable!
I'll sick my bald Dad on them, he doesn't know squat! |
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newmansmom2004
Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 22, 2007
Posts: 796
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Fri Nov 06, 2009 8:48 am |
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| HowCoolGomo1 wrote: | Non refundable, means non refundable!
I'll sick my bald Dad on them, he doesn't know squat! |
I don't know why but this totally made me laugh! LOL  |
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