Well as some of you know I did another four ace's cake yesterday. I did the accents out of fondant and sprayed them with the wiltons spray color. The cakes were two chocolate adn two yellow 9x13's filled with cheese cake mousse and cream cheese icing. So I spent most of my day working on this cake. I was told when the order was put in by my friend that her friend would be paying me for the cake. Well yesterday came and my friend picked up the cake and never offered me any money for the cake, mind you when she came for the cake it was pouring outside so we really didnt stand around to bullshuck about the price or anything. Packed the cake in her car and she left. It took a cake board that had to be shaped to add to the cake. I had asked about the price of the cake and most of you all said to charge $100-120 for the cake and than my friend told me she was paying for the cake, so I decided I would give her a $20 discount and let her know that she was getting it at the price bc she is a friend. Well nothing still hasnt been said about the cost of the cake. So I dont ever think I will do another cake for her or atleast through her. I got SCREWED BIG time! I kept telling her to have the lady call me and talk to me directly but she never did. I never even got a picture of the cake either. It came out so much better than the one in my photos! Sorry I just had to get this off my chest! Megan

I would make up and invoice and either send it or hand it to her. Let her know that since it was raining that day it was picked up you didn't get the payment then but you are still expecting payment for the cake.

I don't think I would do a cake for her either. I agree as posted above that I would send her an invoice and collect on the service you provided. I pray that you don't loose a friend over this. Good Luck!

Absolutely...send her an invoice. AS your friend you told her she would be getting a discount & as a friend, she should make sure that you get paid for your work. I wouldn't take any more work from her without cash up front!! Sorry this happened!

My God how can people be like that? I mean if you buy something you have to pay for it. Before I started decorating cakes I would order them to a lady and she always asked me to give her 50% of the price of the cake in advance.

Definately send a bill and I'm sorry but skip the discount. I'm lucky with my friends, they insist on paying and usually pay MORE than what is charged.

I hope you get your money!

Okay she jsut asked me how for the cake and she is on her way over! I dont want to tell her through email. I want to explain to her that it took four cake mixes, 11 cups of cream cheese icing (two batches), four batches of cheese cake mousse, and the fondant accents. Plus all the stress she put on me telling me the party started at 4pm and NOT 5pm!! Mind you she told me this at 3pm!! Thanks ladies I will update you after she leaves!

Sorry but, some friend! I would definitely send her an invoice and then call her to tell her it's in the mail. And let her know you expect prompt payment. I wouldn't do any more business with her or her friend unless I got full payment at the time of the order. You also need to know your price at the time of the order so there's no question there. Too bad this happened but you have to look out for yourself. We want to assume our friends won't take advantage but sometimes it happens. That's one reason I stopped giving discounts.

Glad she is going to pay today!

Good luck and be firm with your price!

Good grief what a hassle!! I'm glad she's on her way over though. Sheesh.

I still insist on a deposit on my cakes, no matter who the friend is, they usually understand.

How mean! I agree with everyone else. Get your money and never do a cake for her again. All the work and stress involved and for nothing! I'd cry. good luck!

It may be too late for this post. But, I wouldn't go into all that detail. I would quote her a price and mention that because she is a friend I gave her a discount and tell her if anyone ask about the cake I will make it for $$.

The only thing I would do differently for next time, is talk about price BEFOREHAND. Saying, "they will need to pay" is one thing, and quoting them a price is another.

I mean, if someone isn't used to what it costs, they may DIE at the price if they are used to grocery store cakes. I always start out with, "for what you want, you are looking at $$$ for price." then they have a CHANCE to see if they want to go with it or scale back. How many things do you buy without finding out how much it costs first?

Mleissa

I hope it works out for you. You really shouldn't have to go through all this stress with a friend.

Hopefully this thing has worked itself out for you. The explination that you said you were going to give really isn't necessary- I figure either people appreciate our talent and are willing to pay for it or not. Going into detail may just make it seem like you're trying to justify your reason for overcharging, which you are in no way doing. Anyhow, hope all turned out okay!

Yes, I hope it all worked out too. What happened? Did you get your payment?

I agree with everyone's posts. I once had a referral client who tried not to pay me! She was bad news from the start, changed her design a billion times, would not call me back, was generally rude. THEN, refused to pick up her cake, so I offered to deliver it for a fee, then asked if she met me "halfway" to my house would I waive the fee? (mind you the "fee" was $5!!!!) I buckled, just to get her out of my hair. Drug my then 3 y.o. out in the rain to meet her, she was 15 mins. late, then tried to act like she'd forgotten her checkbook, took FOREVER counting cash, etc. At least I did not give her the cake until I had payment. THEN, her mom and g.ma put it into the TRUNK of the car WITHOUT the little rubbery mat I provided, and despite my caution.

Sorry....didn't mean to hijack the post, but am just strongly supporting you in your decision to use discretion if and when you take another order from her. It's too easy when it's "friends" to let yourself slide a little in your business "formality". GOOD FOR YOU!! Let us know how it all turned out. And now I will shut myself up!

I hope things can be resolved without issue. It's difficult to discuss $$ let alone with a friend.

I just made a cake for the Naval Hospital the day after I drove home from San Diego. The secretary that always orders the cakes is VERY difficult to deal with. It's hard to get a word in edgewise. Anyway, she ended up not paying me what I wanted for the cake despite my repeated correction of her mistake in price. So, she didn't get the fondant rope I usually put on the cake. She was furious that I didn't do the rope and this has been two weeks ago. I have yet to hear from her and I NEVER got my cake board back. My cake boards are plywood with my name and number written in big black letters and numbers on both sides. NOTHING! I am supposed to be doing the Corpsman Ball cake in June. I seriously doubt I will be doing that cake now!!!!!!!!!!!! How do I approach this woman (mind you 99% of our contact is through email) and inquire whether that order still stands?

Sorry to hijack this thread but this is a problem I am having!

Let us know how things turned out after your friend leaves.


Amy

if she is your friend,....why dont you just call her and ask her for the money. Call and say just remindng you about payment for the cake. Forget about sending it in the mail and all. If she is your friend you should be able to ask her for it without it being a problem.

Cakemommy - that must have been very irritating. I have to say that I would rather not deliver a cake than deliver one with bits missed off it - but I totally understand why you did it. Do you send price quotes by email? If so then you have a copy of this for evidence. I always make sure I have an email saying that the client agrees to the amount. It's difficult if she didn't pay you the full amount in this case as it seems like she never agreed to pay you that amount. What a bummer. We cake decorators really get messed up, is it because we're too nice and not assertive enough in our pricing?

Sorry if I sound confused but I dont get how you can rant about being ripped off if you originally stated that it was raining and neither one of you wanted to stand around discussing price. Also she never said she wasnt going to pay and she did contact you the next day doesnt sound like she is being mean she actually sounds like she is making an effort to pay you. As for the price well if you didnt discuss it before hand then I dont see how you can blame your friend if you dont get what you expected. She being a non cake maker/decorator she probably has no idea how much the cake is worth and it was up to you to enlighten her before hand. I dont think it is worth losing a friend over what was obviously your own mistake in how you handled this from the beginning. I would wait and see how much she pays before ranting and thinking that she is not a nice friend. Also I would keep my friend and chalk it up to a lesson learned. Sorry if I sound harsh but seems to me you are jumping the gun a little.

This all explains why I never start on a cake that isn't paid for in full before I turn on the oven. But then, I usually only do weddings any more, anyway.

Friends and family--my advice: Never, ever do business with them. If my f/f want a cake, and I feel like doing it, I'll just give it to them. If they want to "order" a cake, they become a customer and have to pay like one. Most decide not to order when they hear my pricing anyway.

I just read your post - did she come over yet? how did it go?

Okay hear goes she came over and never once said anything about the cake cost! I had brought up the subject several times and never once asked how much does she owe. I am trying to type up the email with the cost of the cake but I just cant get my words to sound right!

Send her an invoice for the full amount.

You are WAY too nice. Don't be chicken... address the problem directly to her. This will eat you up if you wait for her to remember.

I know it's so hard, but you really have to be upfront with these kinds of people. You have to stand up for yourself! Does this woman really think that she can just get a cake for FREE?

Send her an invoice and put a time limit on it - 30 days, whatever.

Mail it TODAY.