Ok, I totally blew it! I did the one thing I SWORE I would never do. I let someone take their cakes without paying. She asked if she could pay next week and I said sure! As soon as I said it, I thought "why did I do that???". So now it has been nearly a week and no $60. Big surprise. I found her ph # tonight and will call her. Feel really stupid.

I totally know how you feel!!!

I did that with a cake and many cookie bouquets!!!

Now I ask for payment upfront!

I have sold many cakes and NEVER had anyone ask that of me, I was so surprised I guess in the long run, the odds aren't so bad.

Sorry to hear you're in that position now....

I've had a couple of people ask to pay later, but they asked the day they placed the order...not the day they picked it up, and they always paid. Of course, I work with these people and new their pay schedule. Fortunately, I never had someone say that when picking up the cake. What is appropriate to say as you are standing there (obviously) with a completed cake?

Sorry,SugarSpice. Hope you don't have too many problems after you make the call.

Yikes!!! Hope it works out for you....I just don't understand people like that. Do they ask the grocery store if they can pay for their food the following week??

Well, I called her and she didn't apologize, but was nice and of course she couldn't get cash till Tues (told her I wouldn't take a check) On the upside she said the cakes were very good, and she wanted to settle up with me in person-so I think the odds are pretty good she will come through. Really irks me tho, she obviously had no intent of tracking me down to pay me (business card on the cake box), and I completely agree, she would never consider that at the grocery store!! Next time, I will say-I'm sorry, the cake can't leave until it's paid for , I will wait while you go to the ATM! I would rather feed it to the co-workers for free than encourage someone's thought that their lack of financial planning is my problem-UG Ok, I feel better now

As I type I am waiting for a $70 payment!!
I dropped off the cake at the hotel and the couple was up in their room at the time and I had to leave. She emailed me later about the cake and payment and I told her to mail it to me. Her party was on the 20th
She is a good customer so I have faith but I will never leave without payment again. Live and learn...

Update....SHE ACTUALLY PAID ME!!! Yipee!! Live and learn is right, I will not make that mistake again!

Good for you I'm still waiting

I hope your "check is in the mail" as they say. Can you call her again, or is it too soon?? Good luck, DiscoLady!!

got my 70 bucks!!!!

I get wedding cakes paid in full two weeks before the wedding. For a regular cake, ask for a post dated check that you would be happy to hold. The one cake I got stuck on on a good friend of my son's.

Sugarspice and Discolady..I'm glad you got paid.

My sister in law has stiffed me on serveral cakes but what do you do the last thing I won't to do is get into a huge fight over money with my husbands family.

To rachpizano: She has shown that SHE doesn't care about family relations, and is quite willing to take advantage of "family." I would tell her, "Sure, I'll do the cake (when she asks again) AFTER you settle your bill." Then, it's cash up-front. Don't turn it into a huge fight, just be firm (while smiling!). I love the old saying, "No one can take advantage of you without your permission." Get some spine, girl!! You'll be happy that you did!! (BTW, if the tables were turned, don't ya' think she'd tell you to take a hike??!!)

I know I tell this to myself every time. she always has this sob story about why she can't pay. last week she called asked for one and my husband (her brother) told her that we were no longer giving freebees. probably won't see the money but maybe at least from here on I won't be asked to do free cakes

What has been happening lately is that most of my friends and family know I am trying to start off a cake biz. I have taken lots of classes and I am developing my talent pretty good.

When anyone has a party they ask if I could contribute a cake. What do I do about that?? Or they will have me do these real custom cakes and short change me some time I barely break even. It really bothers me but I am trying to be nice too much of the time. Then I get invited and I have to buy a gift so I am running my biz backwards before it can even move forward.

sugarnspice

Tell them you are only doing paid cakes right now. That's crazy to be asked to do a cake and you still have to bring a gift!! They're definitely taking advantage start up or not! If you want to give away practice cakes, that's one thing. But to be expected to bring free cakes, that's another.

I agree and my husband had pointed out to me that it is a waste of time and talent to keep doing this. He said they save on gas cause since you are coming to the party anyway you bring the cake and I dont even charge a delivery fee.

If I want this to work I have to stop being so nice.

sugarnspice

To sugarnspice: You can always make the cake as a gift. Otherwise, charge for it, including delivery, or they can pick it up. Nice people are often taken advantage of by not-so-nice people.

I no longer give cakes as a gift. I had a friend who's son got married. She was giving the reception, the bride's mother was only contributing, soda & popcorn. . This woman told me she didn't know how she was going " to pay for all of it". She was ordering the cake from me, feeling sorry for her. I told her I would make the cake and give it as a gift. I made a 4 tier heart shaped cake, BC/ strawberry filling, with 3 separations. Delivered it to the hall up 2 flights of stairs. No one there to cut the cake, so I cut & served it. Had to clean all my equipment.
A week later she called to chit chat, I guess she forgot who she was talking to. She told me about the new computer system she bought & paid for, $3000. I was dumbfounded, but didn't say a word, and nicely ended the call.
The next time she called with a similar sob story for her in-laws anniversary, I made the cake, but I was paid in full, and no discount.
Being "nice" doesn't pay.