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Need advice on how to handle a hateful bride... - Page 3

post #31 of 62
2/2/09 at 7:27am
I hope your dear boy recovers quickly!

Whatever the situation, rudeness, foot-in-mouth, temporary insanity, etc.; she has used up your goodwill. If ANYTHING else occurs with this bride I would suggest you cut her loose. In a case like this "Two strikes, you're out" seems more than fair.
You can take the girl out of Minnesota, but you can't take Minnesota out of the girl!
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You can take the girl out of Minnesota, but you can't take Minnesota out of the girl!
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post #32 of 62
2/2/09 at 7:31am
[quote="pnnllj"]I had to call and cancel a 2nd consultation tomorrow because my son has come down with a kidney infection and I have to get him to the doctor in the morning. She was very put out and said 'well I guess your son in more important than my wedding cake'. quote]

I would cancel her now!! If this is any indication of how she will be... you are headed for trouble AFTER the wedding too. Mark my words. I've been there. NO BRIDE is worth STRESSING about! Especially if you want to ENJOY doing cakes for long. I almost stopped doing wedding cakes b/c of this.

I now do not accept the down payment until after the consultation, so I can get a feel for the brides... just in case I need to tell them (my niece is getting married that same day and Im doing her cake)sorry.

Good luck.
Kim
It's a great day to create!!!
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Kim
It's a great day to create!!!
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post #33 of 62
2/2/09 at 7:48am
This is what I mean by Brides and their princess complexes. I'm getting married, so I am The Center Of The Universe. Yuck. Drop her now!!! The money she wants to pay you is in no way worth it.

I hope your son is OK and not too uncomfortable. Just remember that someone cake can never be more important than your child, and put this out of your mind.
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post #34 of 62
2/2/09 at 7:53am
Quote:
Originally Posted by dkelly27



her response was not "I'm sorry" like any person with a heart would have responded with, but she said "so I can't come for my consult?" icon_eek.gif
Emotions got the best of me and I told her that I didn't think I'd be able to work with her on her cake at all. Looking back, I'm not sorry that I sent her on her way.




First, I am so sorry that this happened to you. Your father of all people, my gosh you poor thing.

I actually dropped my kids Pediatrician over something like this. I had a 9 AM appointment for yearly checkups, but the night before, my 2 kids and I were in a hit and run with a drunk driver. We were not hurt, thank God, but the car was, so I had no way to get there. I called them right when they opened (9 AM) to cancel, and the receptionist was very rude and started lecturing me on their $100 no show policy. Nothing about are the kids OK, etc. And this was their doctor's office! People never fail to amaze me with their selfishness.
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post #35 of 62
2/2/09 at 8:44am
I still will never ever understand why people feel they should be nasty to someone who is making their wedding cake! Don't they realize that they are just going to harbor ill feelings to the baker or decorator and they will end up with a cake well, that I know I could care less how it came out. I must rather give the cake of the dreams to a bride that has respected and understood my profession.

I hope your son is doing better..and screw her! (I am afraid I would be less nice and tell her to go jump in a lake! haha)
Gotta have more cowbell!
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Gotta have more cowbell!
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post #36 of 62
2/2/09 at 10:54am
Thanks, summernoelle I appreciate that. It was 2 yrs ago this past Saturday that my Dad died and I still miss him so much.

I can't believe that receptionist at your kids Pediatrician's office. Wow, that's just being completely heartless. It's as if she didn't even hear what you were saying, she just focused on their last minute cancellation policy. Well, thank God you and your kids weren't hurt, that's the important thing.

The only positive thing that I can take from dealing with these selfish clods is, it really has made me more aware of how I treat others in customer service. Treat others how I want to be treated, KWIM?
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post #37 of 62
2/2/09 at 1:21pm
Thread Starter 
Hello Cake Friends,
We just got back from the doctor and he is improving already, yay! My bride is coming at 4pm, we'll see how that goes. I'm going to give her the benefit of doubt and see how she is today and then decide if I will do her cake or not. And, yes this is her 2nd consult, she has already changed the date, theme and colors...ugh. I have on hand some phone numbers of other cake decorators ready to give her! Thanks everyone for all the well wishes, advice and support, it helps so much.
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post #38 of 62
2/2/09 at 1:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by pnnllj

She was very put out and said 'well I guess your son in more important than my wedding cake'.



Seriously???? icon_eek.gif

If it were me, I would have just cut her loose. If she's that much of a PITH about a consultation 8 months before her wedding, I would hate to think what she'll be like in September!!!
Lauren~~Wife to Richard~~Mom to Olivia & Ruby
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Amateurs practice 'til they get it right. Professionals practice 'til they can't do it wrong.
I'm somewhere in the middle!
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Lauren~~Wife to Richard~~Mom to Olivia & Ruby
------------------------------------------------------
Amateurs practice 'til they get it right. Professionals practice 'til they can't do it wrong.
I'm somewhere in the middle!
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post #39 of 62
2/2/09 at 1:34pm
This sounds to me like a poor fit between decorator and client.

You have your reasons for doing what you did; presumably she has her reasons for saying what she did (if she's taking lower priority before she pays you a cent, what's her guarantee that she'll be worth more once you have the sale)?

IMO? When home-based businesses portray themselves as businesses and charge as businesses they need to behave as businesses as well.
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post #40 of 62
2/2/09 at 1:50pm
OMG!!! I had a bride e-mail me and wanted to get together this week for a consult. Her wedding is the last weekend in June. I told her to call back in May and we'll get together the. We have an agreed price and size, so she can change all that she wants between now and then and NOT bug me about it. I flat out refuse to meet someone more than 3 months ahead. I'll book your date, but I don't want to see you before then. That keeps the crazy away from me for that much longer!!!
Eat Smart... Eat Cake!!!
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Eat Smart... Eat Cake!!!
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post #41 of 62
2/2/09 at 1:51pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MaisieBake

This sounds to me like a poor fit between decorator and client.

You have your reasons for doing what you did; presumably she has her reasons for saying what she did (if she's taking lower priority before she pays you a cent, what's her guarantee that she'll be worth more once you have the sale)?

IMO? When home-based businesses portray themselves as businesses and charge as businesses they need to behave as businesses as well.



icon_eek.gif That a bit cold but then thats my opinion and we are all certainly entitled to our opinions. I feel a person's health and well being should always be priority. icon_cool.gif Life can't be replaced.... cake can wait and if she has been a difficult client already (second consult, changed date, etc.....) then hey.........

I have a 6 year old with Autism, Seizure disorder and ADHD and best believe everything and eveyone would be put on hold if he came down with a serious illness. A minor sniffle no biggie but something like a kidney infection (or in our case a seizure) you would have to wait. If it were the actual wedding of course you will do your best to accomodate your client and give them the cake of their dreams! But its just a darn consult. RELAX! lol
If you fail to prepare, prepare to fail!!
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If you fail to prepare, prepare to fail!!
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post #42 of 62
2/2/09 at 2:01pm
When I was doing weddings our shop gave one free redesign up to 90 days prior to the event.

Any date changes 90 days prior or they asked for additional consults to redesign or color change etc. was $50. That was in addition to the cost of the cake and must be paid at the time of the consult. We got smart and used "let's go ahead and have you pay for that consult now and get the money part of of the way so we can get to the fun part!"

So many brides on that first chargable consult got a blank look and said "really, I thought you were joking!" We'd smile back and nicely say "nope, it's written into the contract (show them copy) and this is where you signed and dated that you understood that charge."

Oddly enough we didn't have that many redesigns.
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post #43 of 62
2/2/09 at 2:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MaisieBake

This sounds to me like a poor fit between decorator and client.

You have your reasons for doing what you did; presumably she has her reasons for saying what she did (if she's taking lower priority before she pays you a cent, what's her guarantee that she'll be worth more once you have the sale)?

IMO? When home-based businesses portray themselves as businesses and charge as businesses they need to behave as businesses as well.



WOW, that was alittle harsh, I'm a true beliver that you can replace a cake order but you can NEVER replace your family (FAMILY FIRST)
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post #44 of 62
2/2/09 at 2:15pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MaisieBake

This sounds to me like a poor fit between decorator and client.

You have your reasons for doing what you did; presumably she has her reasons for saying what she did (if she's taking lower priority before she pays you a cent, what's her guarantee that she'll be worth more once you have the sale)?

IMO? When home-based businesses portray themselves as businesses and charge as businesses they need to behave as businesses as well.




I fail to see your logic here. A business is a business period. If my child is sick that takes priority over anything else, I would grant that same courtesy to the client if they had to phone and cancel.

I really hate when people don't give the same respect to a "home" business as they do to a "store front" business.

Constructive criticism is one thing, but you WAY over stepped your boundaries on this one with your rude and uncalled for comment, shame on you. Maybe you allow your clients to buy you, I like the OP choose not to prostitute myself out for a stupid cake. They can buy my cake they cannot buy me (Thanks Indydebi for that one)
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post #45 of 62
2/2/09 at 2:26pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MaisieBake

This sounds to me like a poor fit between decorator and client.

You have your reasons for doing what you did; presumably she has her reasons for saying what she did (if she's taking lower priority before she pays you a cent, what's her guarantee that she'll be worth more once you have the sale)?

IMO? When home-based businesses portray themselves as businesses and charge as businesses they need to behave as businesses as well.



That just doesn't make sense....You can possibly believe that "businesses" do not have emergencies come up. That has got to be the most asinine thing I've ever seen on these boards. Who do you think run businesses??? PEOPLE do! All I can say is...Ignorant to the extreme....
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