Crappy Picky Customers (Long)

Business By littlecake Updated 16 Apr 2013 , 9:40pm by Jess155

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littlecake Posted 1 Aug 2008 , 11:58pm
post #1 of 73

man...i'm on a roll today!

first lemmee tell about my workload tomorrow

1 8 inch round cake
8 quarter sheets
6 half sheets
3 full sheets
1 full sheet with a 1/2 stacked on top

3 tier wedding cake...

at 20 minutes to 5...this lady comes rollin in...

do i have time to do a couple cakes for tomorrow?

well, usually i'd say no, but i had some backup sheetcakes left...and i am saving for the new roof for the bakery...so i say yes..........

thinking she'd be grateful, and get something , simple....since it is so last minute...oh did i tell she has to have them first thbg in the morning?

all this is fine...EXCEPT...you woulda thought she was ordering a wedding cake as picky as she was...and as much time as she was taking....

all she was getting was 2- 1/4 sheets...she was pouring over my book telling me where to place every flower like i had never made a cake before...MEANWHILE..the icing on the full sheet i was working on before she came in was starting to set up...she was taking so long....i told her to keep looking i had to spread the icing before it got funky.

i guess i was tired too, cause i was in no mood to be micro managed...i told her she needed to trust me, i have made a few cakes before.

i asked her if i ever made her a cake before...she said yes, but she usually had it all charted out on a paper how she wants everything done....ugh.

you know the type....has fabric swatches ans a bunch of unrealistic stuff that she wants...on like a 25 dollar cake.

she told me i got offended at her because i am so busy...DUDE THERE ARE CAKES EVERYWHERE IN HERE...every fri it looks like a bomb exploded cakes!.....anyhoo...i just don't want these hard to please one with there charts and fabric swatches for a party cake...it's ok for those of you who get 75 bucks for a 1/4 sheet...i don't think i could get that here....i can do a 1/4 sheet in 10 minutes ...but not the ones these women want...and they don't wanna pay a lot either.

ANYHOO

it reminded of a rerun i saw about the king of queens when the nail place wouldn't do carries nails anymore...cause she's so picky and b*tchey...

i guess they got the awful customers in every business...it kinda made me feel better.

i been here too long waaaa i'm wore out and wanna go home....

my son says i need to raise my prices again to thin the peeps out.

thanx for letting me rant

72 replies
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SweetResults Posted 2 Aug 2008 , 12:16am
post #2 of 73

DEFINITLY raise your prices!! That will certainly help, few cakes, same amount of money or more.

Are you still doing her cakes or did you send her packin'?

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IHATEFONDANT Posted 2 Aug 2008 , 12:18am
post #3 of 73

If you were too busy to take time with this woman you should have told her no to begin with.

Every customer deserves to be treated with the same care. She had no idea you thought you were going to be able to do a rush job for her.

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lenabean Posted 2 Aug 2008 , 12:19am
post #4 of 73

some times i think people know when they are giving people a hard time and they enjoy it, someone will do her the same way, and your son is right go up on your prices a little not so much to thin the peeps out but to convensate you for these kind of customers

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lenabean Posted 2 Aug 2008 , 12:19am
post #5 of 73

some times i think people know when they are giving people a hard time and they enjoy it, someone will do her the same way, and your son is right go up on your prices a little not so much to thin the peeps out but to convensate you for these kind of customers

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littlecake Posted 2 Aug 2008 , 12:33am
post #6 of 73

i'm doing her cakes...and i did take about 15 minutes talking to her...that a lot more time than it usually takes to place an order for a couple of party cakes.

the people who usually get a rush order for the next day are not so demanding.

live and learn.

rough day at the office...finally going home....

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KeltoKel Posted 2 Aug 2008 , 12:40am
post #7 of 73

Well, people obviously like your cakes since you have so many orders. If you raise your prices, they will still come!

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littlecake Posted 2 Aug 2008 , 1:02am
post #8 of 73

i just wanted to add that i am ALL ABOUT customer service...i love making them happy.

but after a point, the endless discussion does get ridiculous ....anyone who has worked at a bakery knows what i mean....i don't think the cake order should take longer than making the cake, but that's just me.

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mkolmar Posted 2 Aug 2008 , 2:51am
post #9 of 73

My DH own an IT business, he's dealt with the same people before. He has his cell phone on him at all times and we've even received calls from people at 3am. Nothing like being woken up from a dead sleep for a telephone call with a client wanting to ask a stupid question about an install for NEXT week. Why it couldn't wait till the next morning I'll never know.
It happens to every business.


I think your son is right and it's time to raise prices. It might save you the hassle because you got one heck of a work load!

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melodyscakes Posted 2 Aug 2008 , 11:53pm
post #10 of 73

I was going to do a post about irritating customers, but I'll hike yours, hehe

I have a customer come pick up a small $38.00 birthday cake today...cut out to look like a WWF wrestling ring, with a handmade ring around it...
she didn't want to use my rope ring after she came and picked it up, she had her own....I helped her get her rope ring put on the cake...then she tells me that she is not happy with the cake. she thought it didn't look professional enough. grrr so then her husband pipes in, yeah....we don't like it, can we have 1/2 off?
I grid my teeth, because this cake was plenty cool and very professional! I was very impressed with it (I didn't make it, my talented employee did)
I was going to take a picture to put in our book because it was so cool.
anyway, while grinding teeth I told them that I couldn't give them half off, but I'd take $10.00 off.
they acted all sad. it took all I had not to throw that darn cake in the trash and tell them "no cake for you!"

then they said that we had made a 3-D car, seen on my web site at www.sweetcreationsbymelody.com
and they didn't like that either.
I am thinking about calling them and asking very sternly that they find another custom bakery, because I will not except any more orders from them ....we'll see how I feel when I go in on Tuesday.

did I mention I only charged $38.00 freakin' bucks for the cake that they wanted half off.


then the other day, I had this young man, probably around 16- or 17 years old, ordered a $0.50 cookie. then there was a knat (spelling?) flying around and he says, "there is a bug in here, that could've gotten on my cookie, can you do something? I said fine, and was going to give him is two quarters back....and he said, how bout a 'nother cookie? can you see me roll my eyes? he got the exact same cookie and ate it too.. I was fuming.


then last weekend I had a wedding cake, the bride ordered this cake that had about $500.00 worth of gumpaiste flowers on it, I told her it would be cheaper to do the roses in butter cream roses instead....and only charged her $50.00 for the roses (it cost me that much to pay my employee to sit and make them all!) she calls me after I drop the cake off....on her lopsided table, and said the cake is leaning....I say well the table is not balanced, she says get back here quick to fix it. I get there and they had moved the cake into the cooler. then some of the roses fell off in the move....not to mention that the band was playing very loudly on the drums right next to my cake.
anyway she is upset because the flowers weren't what she wanted and the cake is ugly. I explain about the gumpaiste roses costing an extra $500.00 so we decided on butter cream.

I am always such a jolly person, but lately I am sick of customers....and they are who pay the bills.

on the other hand, I have many many wonderful customers who love me and my cakes, and tell everyone every chance they get.

I've just had my share of idiots in a short period of time.


now, I've hijacked your thread, and vented, and feel better now.

smile.



melody

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littlecake Posted 3 Aug 2008 , 1:56am
post #11 of 73

(((((((((melodyscakes)))))))))))))

i was just thinking today how 5% of the crappy customers make everything suck.

i think your complaining half off customers are playing you....if they were that dis satisfied they wouldn't keep coming back...i never ever give discounts unless i think i did something wrong...beauty and art are subjective...who are they to judge that it isn't cool enough for em.

i'm a real harda$$ with the customers about giving money back...so they don't try to play me anymore....one time someone did what they did to you...to me....and i gave their cake away...right in front of them...and sent em packin to wal mart...i figger i don't want the half off hard to please customer anyway...i don't do half price or money off...i work too hard on the stuff.

i had a very bad week this week with customers...but on the other hand business is booming...i think we just need to weed out the bad apples.....

i got a story for ya from today you won't believe....last year a woman ordered 2 full sheets....she called from out of state....anyhoo today was the day, she got them at last years prices...which are A LOT cheaper than this year....59.99 for a full sheet last year (what was i thinkin)....anyhoo she gets here...the total was around 130, for both...with tax and all....SHE THOUGHT SHE WAS GETTING 2 FULL SHEETS FOR 59.99....and was NOT happy.....i told her i'm not cheaper than wal mart for petes sake.....she kept standing there...like she expected me to give her 2 full sheets for that price...i just stood there too...finally after the "stand off"....her husband finally said..."pay her".

i kinda had an epiphany today.....some people think even cheap prices are expensive....i mean really.

i had 18 orders and a wedding cake today...i'm a 1 man show...so i was hoppin....in the middle of everything....a gal came in and wanted to order just a smash cake...DUDE...i didn't have time ta pee, let alone spend time taking a specail order for a 5 dollar cake....so i senbt her to wal mart.

so i've decided i'm revamping my shop....if i don't have time to mess with the little orders...i'm stopping the little cakes...cupcakes...and junk with a small profit margin....this stuff is really aggravating to me these days anyway.

people who don't have a shop don't realize what we have to go thru sometimes.....be proud of me, i was nice to the customer of the OP today...i really made an effort, she loved her cakes...i timed myself, i did take me a shorter time to make them than take her order...lol

sometimes it does feel good to vent about stuff, i feel better too.

BTW. i lived in kansas city for a few years awhile back, i used to sell the stuff i used to paint to a shop in parkville

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APrettyCake Posted 3 Aug 2008 , 2:24am
post #12 of 73

I am TOTALLY never owning a shop! I have ZERO patience for aggravating customers like that! I would have been MORE than satisfied telling them what they can do with their cakes.
I am happy with my 4-5 cakes a month and lots of repeat biz-ness! Heck, I am even picky about who I give my card out to. I do not need them crawling out of the woodwork. icon_rolleyes.gif

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gateaux Posted 3 Aug 2008 , 2:28am
post #13 of 73

Wow you guys. So sorry you have to deal with customer like that.

I dont have a shop, I bake for fun. But I can tell you that when I go somewhere and they tell me the price of something I will not haggle with them unless it's a garage sale.

I think you guys need a sign in your shops:

We worked hard on your cake to make it just like you asked. So the ...

Price is as listed, discussed or quoted.

If you do not like your cake: Walmart is that-a-way. They will be glad to provide you a quick replacement.

Do not ask for a discount on your cake or we will give it to charity.

We worked hard on your cake to make it just like you asked.

Now if there is something wrong or the spelling is not right they might have a case, but if they did the "wrong spelling" it's on them!

Good Luck.

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MaisieBake Posted 3 Aug 2008 , 2:30am
post #14 of 73
Quote:
Quote:

I told her it would be cheaper to do the roses in butter cream roses instead....and only charged her $50.00 for the roses (it cost me that much to pay my employee to sit and make them all!)




We see comments like this here all the time.

If you have a problem with the price the customer paid, whose fault is that?

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kimmypooh79 Posted 3 Aug 2008 , 4:54am
post #15 of 73
Quote:
Originally Posted by IHATEFONDANT

If you were too busy to take time with this woman you should have told her no to begin with.

Every customer deserves to be treated with the same care. She had no idea you thought you were going to be able to do a rush job for her.




That lady was lucky to get a cake on such short notice....she couldn't even have gotten a grocery store cake done so specifically in that time. Beggars can't be choosers!

Quote:
Originally Posted by MaisieBake

Quote:
Quote:

I told her it would be cheaper to do the roses in butter cream roses instead....and only charged her $50.00 for the roses (it cost me that much to pay my employee to sit and make them all!)



We see comments like this here all the time.

If you have a problem with the price the customer paid, whose fault is that?




I don't recall her saying she had a problem with the price but with the brides attitude. Hell, she did her a favor and saved her $500!!! Don't bite the hand is what I say!

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Mac Posted 3 Aug 2008 , 5:30am
post #16 of 73

littlecake--
I know what you mean about the micro-managers telling you how to do your job.

My best friend's SIL ALWAYS calls me for cakes...the first one, she spent 30 minutes describing the color of blue she wanted for a diaper cake. After half-a** listening to her, I told her "I got it".

She is a PITA--I have made her son's last 3 BD cakes. The first one was Barney and Baby Bop (FBCT) and Baby Bop broke but I was able to put it back together. Told her, she told her son and he talked about that for a year. The next year, he wanted a Psalty character with the 3 presents dancing around his feet. Didn't put the presents dancing around his feet (they were beside Psalty)--he talked about that for a year.

This year, I made a Wiggles cake--mom bought the cake topper and wanted a cake with a road on it. Well, this year I hit the jackpot--got it right. Mom told me she was so worried since I messed up the last 2 cakes that she prayed that this one would be right. Guess what??? She has to find another decorator--she is on my sh** list and I refuse to do another cake for her.

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Mac Posted 3 Aug 2008 , 5:30am
post #17 of 73

littlecake--
I know what you mean about the micro-managers telling you how to do your job.

My best friend's SIL ALWAYS calls me for cakes...the first one, she spent 30 minutes describing the color of blue she wanted for a diaper cake. After half-a** listening to her, I told her "I got it".

She is a PITA--I have made her son's last 3 BD cakes. The first one was Barney and Baby Bop (FBCT) and Baby Bop broke but I was able to put it back together. Told her, she told her son and he talked about that for a year. The next year, he wanted a Psalty character with the 3 presents dancing around his feet. Didn't put the presents dancing around his feet (they were beside Psalty)--he talked about that for a year.

This year, I made a Wiggles cake--mom bought the cake topper and wanted a cake with a road on it. Well, this year I hit the jackpot--got it right. Mom told me she was so worried since I messed up the last 2 cakes that she prayed that this one would be right. Guess what??? She has to find another decorator--she is on my sh** list and I refuse to do another cake for her.

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Mac Posted 3 Aug 2008 , 5:31am
post #18 of 73

littlecake--
I know what you mean about the micro-managers telling you how to do your job.

My best friend's SIL ALWAYS calls me for cakes...the first one, she spent 30 minutes describing the color of blue she wanted for a diaper cake. After half-a** listening to her, I told her "I got it".

She is a PITA--I have made her son's last 3 BD cakes. The first one was Barney and Baby Bop (FBCT) and Baby Bop broke but I was able to put it back together. Told her, she told her son and he talked about that for a year. The next year, he wanted a Psalty character with the 3 presents dancing around his feet. Didn't put the presents dancing around his feet (they were beside Psalty)--he talked about that for a year.

This year, I made a Wiggles cake--mom bought the cake topper and wanted a cake with a road on it. Well, this year I hit the jackpot--got it right. Mom told me she was so worried since I messed up the last 2 cakes that she prayed that this one would be right. Guess what??? She has to find another decorator--she is on my sh** list and I refuse to do another cake for her.

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melodyscakes Posted 3 Aug 2008 , 3:06pm
post #19 of 73

I wasn't unhappy with the price of the cake..I was unhappy with the ungrateful bride who demanded a refund, because she would have rather had gumpaist roses, and I was surounded by angry family members by my self so I wrote a hefty check back to the mother of the bride. does that clarify for you Maisycake?


not in the mood today.

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MaisieBake Posted 3 Aug 2008 , 5:39pm
post #20 of 73
Quote:
Quote:

I wasn't unhappy with the price of the cake..I was unhappy with the ungrateful bride




Why are you confusing grateful with business?

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melodyscakes Posted 3 Aug 2008 , 7:29pm
post #21 of 73

good grief.

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LiliS Posted 4 Aug 2008 , 4:49am
post #22 of 73
Quote:
Originally Posted by melodyscakes

good grief.




I dont post much but OMG I have to agree with you!!!

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kimmypooh79 Posted 4 Aug 2008 , 5:12am
post #23 of 73
Quote:
Originally Posted by MaisieBake

Quote:
Quote:

I wasn't unhappy with the price of the cake..I was unhappy with the ungrateful bride



Why are you confusing grateful with business?





?????Seriously MaisieBake....seriously???????? Sheesh!! icon_rolleyes.gif

Melody don't waste your energy. If I had been your bride I would have been grateful to you for saving me so much money!!! icon_biggrin.gif

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littlecake Posted 4 Aug 2008 , 6:01am
post #24 of 73

maybe some peeps don't have any grateful customers. LOL

if it was that way i'd just close the door forever....that's where i get a lot of the satisfaction from this business from.

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melodyscakes Posted 4 Aug 2008 , 7:57pm
post #25 of 73

I love most of my customers, they ohhh and ahhhh over my cakes. they are so sweet and worth working so hard for.
then there are a few that I'd like to strangle, they get me upset, and I am glad to come here to post or vent with those who know exactly what I am talking about. it feels good to have a conversation with fellow business owners. thank you littlecakes! and most others


when I tell hubby, he gets so mad and wants me to scream at them or something, and gets angry when I give in to a discount....which I shouldn't but do occasionally. it feels good to chat with you guys about business "stuff"


about my customer that wanted a discount on the wrestling ring, I am thinking about calling her and telling her sorry it didn't work out as her custom cake baker, good luck on finding a new one......don't call me again.

melody

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gateaux Posted 5 Aug 2008 , 1:16am
post #26 of 73

Everyone has a bad day. We dont understand everyone else all the time and that is ok.

We cannot aggree with everyone either just know that there will always be people on here that are here to support you.

That is what CC is all about.

Good Luck.

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VickiChicki Posted 5 Aug 2008 , 2:39am
post #27 of 73

I am loving you guys - because I have experienced ALL and more of what you have vented here. I will have to share later! I AM babysitting grandkids right now and one is crying!

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onceuponacake Posted 5 Aug 2008 , 3:02am
post #28 of 73

i would have said here's your full refund. and you dont get the cake OR oh you don't like my ring sure i'll help you put yours on.. that will cost $50.00 for me to do that lol

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arosstx Posted 5 Aug 2008 , 3:13am
post #29 of 73

I wouldn't even waste time calling a customer you no longer want to make cake for. Just wait until they call, and tell them you are booked.

Doesn't matter if you are booked making cake, making whoopie, eating a pizza - you're booked! Eventually they'll get it. Calling them and telling them they need another baker will have them telling their friends that you are rude and shouldn't call you. You being "booked" all the time will tell them you are so good that you're always in demand!

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justducky Posted 5 Aug 2008 , 11:52am
post #30 of 73
Quote:
Originally Posted by littlecake

maybe some peeps don't have any grateful customers. LOL

if it was that way i'd just close the door forever....that's where i get a lot of the satisfaction from this business from.




Thank you for the morning laugh. I am on my first cup of coffee and misread this. I was thinking... She gets most of her satisfaction from closing the doors??? icon_confused.gif

I'm going after more caffine now icon_smile.gif

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