Hi everyone,

This is not really a ......"disaster"....but it ticks me off......

A couple of weeks ago, a potential client calls to set up a meeting for her fiance and her to come for a tasting and to discuss doing their cake. We set it up for Wednesday. I baked some cupcakes and iced them and they called right before the appointment and canceled. They said they had been sick for the last couple of days. I said no problem and asked if the wanted to reschedule. The bride said they would "tentatively" reschedule for today (Friday) and I asked her to call me last night to let me know whether they would be coming on Friday, because if they were, I had to bake more samples. Well, I never heard from them last night so I figured they didn't want to keep the appointment. Today I went out for the day and tonight I come home to find they showed up. My husband told them I was out and since I never heard from them last night, that I assumed they wouldn't be showing. They said to tell me that they would still be in town tonight and tomorrow morning so I could call them to reschedule. I haven't called them. They told me they're leaving tomorrow. I have half a mind to not call them back at all.....it just sounds like trouble from the start....or is it me???? What would you do?

it depends on how much you want this customer. They obviously don't respect your time commitments. If you do call them, and they book, make sure you get paid in advance.

Ditto everything JoAnn said, especially the part about being paid well in advance.

If they're so thoughtless, I'd ask for half immediately to secure the date, and the balance at least two weeks before the event.

That way if they're sick or preocuppied in the final days before the wedding - they won't have to remember to pay for the cake...

BTW, your cakes are gorgeous! This couple will be very lucky to book you.

Well I think I would give them a chance. Be sure to have them sign the contract and put a deposit down. But I would do that no matter who they were.

I know many people have been sick lately (even me) and since they are from out of town I'm sure they have been very busy trying to get everything done.

They may have thought each of the other one called you and it turned out neither of them did.

I would give them a break.

Joanne

Give 'em a second chance!

OOps, I mean *third.

oh, go ahead and call them. Just make sure they know that if you ask them to contact you and they don't that this causes problems with the cake. and definitely get a signed contract and a deposit, as well as make sure that they have to pay at leas 2 weeks prior (and make sure they know - and put it into the contract) that if it is NOT paid 2 weeks prior, you will cancel the cake and KEEP the deposit.