Bride Wants To Talk To My Other Brides??
Business By Bozilla_Cakes Updated 30 May 2010 , 11:45pm by thebarley7
"Now she is wants to only pay for half of the cake up front and the rest on delivery because that is what her wedding adviser said was customary"
I would ask her if the Wedding Adviser is being paid 1/2 now and the balance on the day of the wedding? That is if she "performed adequately" .
I am just a hobby baker, but this even hackled my fur! 
I agree with Edna, run......
I say she is trouble and would stay away from that type of costumer.
Edna
Funny you say that...I started wondering I should tell her my policy...again...and then tell her if she isn't comfortable with my policy, I understand and she may want to check out other bakeries. But I don't want to sound brash. But it would make me feel better if she would see that everyone else in town has this same policy and maybe she would chill out.
I don't think you have to say it on a harsh way, just tell her that this is your policy and your costumers never had a problem before with this. So you can respect if she prefers to go to someone else that has a policy that fits her style...
Edna 
...But I don't want to sound brash. But it would make me feel better if she would see that everyone else in town has this same policy and maybe she would chill out.
Bozilla, I don't want to sound brash either, and this isn't really directed just at you, but at the glut of posts like this lately that seem to be peculiar to our industry.
Why are you letting HER run YOUR business? Your business should be run based on professional business decisions and policies, not feelings and fears. You're not telling her you kill squirrels! You're telling her payment in full is due two weeks before the event. Who cares how she "feels"? You have to get over that if you want a long career.
Customers don't take our policies personally. We shouldn't either. They're either willing to accept them, or they're not. And they make their decisions on who to deal with based on that...and they deal with the consequences of those choices. They don't hate us, or have half the feelings we, in our fear, assume they'll have. Stop equating "Policy" with "mean". Policies = professional.
Policies are the basis of what makes a business run smoothly and efficiently so you aren't having to reinvent the wheel every time a new customer makes a pouty face. The inconsistency and constant stress that results from that way of working will be the death of your business. I guarantee it.
You bring certain things to the table as a profession cake designer. You make cakes every day. She'll probably only order one in her whole life. You know how this should work and that is why you should lead this dance.
Again, this is not directed at you, bozilla, and I hope no one is offended, but the glut of threads running here complaining, "the bride farted, I have to change the entire way my business runs or she won't like me!" worry me. I only say this with love for all of us here.
Just tell her that your policy stands for a very good reason. The person who is informing her is trying to take control of your business. You have given her the testimonials and have proven that you are a professional and if she has a problem with your policy, she is welcome to find another cake decorator that fit her requirements.
Some people just have to prove that if they are paying big bucks for your service, then they get to order you around. It's all for show. Stand your ground. You definitely want to make sure her check clears before you do this cake.
I totally agree with KHalstead. This is the right way.
...But I don't want to sound brash. But it would make me feel better if she would see that everyone else in town has this same policy and maybe she would chill out.
Bozilla, I don't want to sound brash either, and this isn't really directed just at you, but at the glut of posts like this lately that seem to be peculiar to our industry.
Why are you letting HER run YOUR business? Your business should be run based on professional business decisions and policies, not feelings and fears. You're not telling her you kill squirrels! You're telling her payment in full is due two weeks before the event. Who cares how she "feels"? You have to get over that if you want a long career.
Customers don't take our policies personally. We shouldn't either. They're either willing to accept them, or they're not. And they make their decisions on who to deal with based on that...and they deal with the consequences of those choices. They don't hate us, or have half the feelings we, in our fear, assume they'll have. Stop equating "Policy" with "mean". Policies = professional.
Policies are the basis of what makes a business run smoothly and efficiently so you aren't having to reinvent the wheel every time a new customer makes a pouty face. The inconsistency and constant stress that results from that way of working will be the death of your business. I guarantee it.
You bring certain things to the table as a profession cake designer. You make cakes every day. She'll probably only order one in her whole life. You know how this should work and that is why you should lead this dance.
Again, this is not directed at you, bozilla, and I hope no one is offended, but the glut of threads running here complaining, "the bride farted, I have to change the entire way my business runs or she won't like me!" worry me. I only say this with love for all of us here.
I COMPLETELY agree with this post. I couldn't have said it better. I run my cake business professionally like I learned to do in my corporate life and I've never had these types of problems (knock wood - my very own bridezilla may be right around the corner...).
It's not unreasonable to ask for references. But you just need to firmly inform her that you will not change your business policy for payment. Period.
Why are you letting HER run YOUR business? Your business should be run based on professional business decisions and policies, not feelings and fears. You're not telling her you kill squirrels! You're telling her payment in full is due two weeks before the event. Who cares how she "feels"? You have to get over that if you want a long career.
Again, this is not directed at you, bozilla, and I hope no one is offended, but the glut of threads running here complaining, "the bride farted, I have to change the entire way my business runs or she won't like me!" worry me. I only say this with love for all of us here.
I COMPLETELY agree with this post.
I can't add anything to what these ladies have said.
Your business .... your rules.
Me? I'd be happy to tell her "advisor" my handy-dandy line about being more than happy to bend over to make it easier to take a flyin' kiss at my big 'ole rear end! 
Must not be much of an advisor if she really believes this.
LOL.... Debi I kinda thought that this sounded like you!
......
I would ask her if the Wedding Adviser is being paid 1/2 now and the balance on the day of the wedding? That is if she "performed adequately" .
......
The terms of your contract are indeed your terms. I run into your situation in my business sometimes, both where the potential customer wants to speak to past customers, and also those who attempt to dictate what they will pay and when.
Referral requests are normal, although they don't come up often. I always contact prior customers and obtain permission to give out their name and phone number, and ask for the best time for them to be contacted. I then let the potential customer know and ask that they kindly contact them at respectable hours, etc.
As for those who think they should determine payment terms, or other aspects of the business, well... If someone has special circumstances, I am willing to work around that and will adjust the contract accordingly. But definitely not without good reason.
Regarding the situation at hand, where an "advisor" is telling the bride what the payment terms of the cake should be??? I'm speechless. Final payment upon delivery is not "cake industry" protocol . Please do what's right for you and your business. With regards to cake, I rarely see bakers out there who accept final payments on the day of the wedding. Most require payment prior.
Do not let anyone bully you. Stand proudly beside your business and its' practices.
Good luck, and I hope everything works out with this client.
Final payment upon delivery is not "cake industry" protocol .
Everything that I read before I got married in 2008 said payment upon delivery of services. I was surprised but complied with each and every vendor that required payment one week ahead of time. The vendor, caterer, DJ, AND Cake Lady!
Not to be off-topic but I was looking on your site (Bozilla_Cakes). Did you know that your wedding cake page says the bites are $20/doz and the FAQ/Flavor page says $18/doz? I don't know if you do them differently for weddings but I thought I'd let you know!
Artscallion - I LOVE YOU - better words were never spoken. I too am amazed at how some of these wonderfully gifted cake decorators allow some of the behavior they describe and then they complain about the client. NOTE TO ALL YOU WONDERFUL CAKE ARTISTS - People will treat you the way you allow them to treat and it's not the person trying to bully but the person allowing the bullying.
As far as this bride's advisor - who is it? Her Aunt Tillie??? Really, is she telling the photographer, the event location, florist, etc. that she will pay them on that day?? You have your contract and there are rules to that contract that she needs to follow - no if's, and's or maybe's. Respect your contract and make her respect it as well.
Oh Please! This bride is either completely misinformed due to her sham of a wedding advisor or just in complete PITA. At this point I wouldn't blame you one bit if you told her you are now booked since her 72 hours have come and gone and you accepted another order.
Hmmm, so she is going to race down to the reception place in her underwear - hair in rrollers - with wet nails and pay you what you are owed on the day ......................spare me..................i don't think so.
She has seen your cakes
Tasted your cake
Knows the price of the cake................and yet she still wanted to speak to past customers - 
Good grief - what next?
Have you stand there at her bridal table and spoon feed her - her cake.
She seems rather dramatic................and precious.
Gotta love those precious brides to be.
Bluehue.
I think all of the responses here are wonderful, but I must commend on ein particular...
Artscallion, your response was eloquent, non-offensive, and completely and absolutely true! Who is the professional here...the vendor, or the bride? People won't respect our decisions unless we respect them ourselves. In some instances, you may feel the need to bend a rule, but if that happens, it should be YOUR idea, not the customer's, and no one else ever need know. Also...I have to agree on your signature line...I, too, am driven CRAZY by those who write "marshmellow"; it is MARSHMALLOW!
Sounds like she's being coached by her 'consultant'. As everyone else on here agrees..you do not have to adhere to HER rules. It's your business. We always got paid in full just the week prior to the wedding. Never had a problem with any of them. A lot of wedding vendors (not bakers) DO allow a 'pay the day before' policy. But it's always prior to the ceremony--not when they arrive! I'd email the little chica and politely say,
'Sorry, my policies can not be changed. If you wish to reserve the date and follow the policies as stated in our contract I need to know by this afternoon at 4 as I have another bride who is considering that date as well. I thank you for your consideration and welcome the opportunity to work with you, however I know your wedding will be wonderful no matter who you choose to do your cake.'
It's polite, but gives you an out and her a chance to make up her mind quickly.
good luck!
I would not give her anyone else's information. True this is a cake, but you have to protect your past customers. It is wrong for her to even ask you to do something like that. I would be very upset if I was a past customer and my information was giving away, now what does that say about you. She knows that is not right, she doesn't go to a car lot and ask for past customers name and contact information. People do not need much info today to steal someone's identity. DOn't do it, if this is her determining factor she will just have to walk. It sounds fishy to me.
Lol...I was wondering if the bride had read one of those "20 questions a bride should ask" things, but it looks like her wedding advisor read it for her. I would simple state. "My policy is to receive full payment in advance by XXX date. If your wedding advisor would like to contact me directly I can be reached at XXX-XXXX." (pause/close mouth) Then just restate your policy to the wedding advisor when she calls.
I think she is just trying to make sure her bride had signed with a reliable baker. Smile when you say it, it's not personal, the bride/advisor are just trying to cross their T's and dot their I's, they don't realize they are being PITAs. Time to handle your bride as Buddy would say.
The ONLY (well almost) time a cake is paid for when you receive it is in line at the grocery store! I agree with others that you should just calmly reply that your policy is to receive XXXX to save the date and XXX on such a date. That's standard policy. Let us know what she says.
I agree with all the other posters who said stick to your guyns. Very tactfully and professionally tell her your policy is to pay the deposit by whatever date and the balance by whatever date. If she is not comfortable with that then you understand if she shops elsewhere for a cake.
Don't know if this has already been said, but when I first started, I was asked about references and simply passed the future bride's phone number and email address to past clients. They called at their leisure and it was no big deal. I got that order back then and have made well over a thousand dollars from that brides friends, family and co-workers. So yes, it may be a bit of a stretch to get references, but for me it was well worth it!
On a resume, you list references (only after you have gotten their permission!). When we got a new roof, the contracter handed me a list of previous clients, and we called three or four (I have to believe he had their permission). I always ask around before hiring someone.
The bride asking for references should not be a problem at all. I agree, don't give any info of other customers without their explicit permission. I would not see this as an insult. Especially if she doesn't know you from Adam, she is smart to protect herself!
(My DH reviews resumes daily, and ALWAYS calls the references. He tells my children constantly that is one area of your resume you DO NOT want to embellish, or list someone without their permission!)
To me yeah always call if they give them but they really don't hold much weight to me. As if a contractor is going to give you anybody he had problems with!!!
I mean as a cake decorator i am going to give you the numbers of the brides that I did the most amazing cakes for and totally outshone their expectations! Not the ones that I delivered the wrong cake or it collapsed during the wedding....
Search the BBB or the internet.... Get a truer picture and then ask for refutes of any concerns you find!
I think she is just trying to buy time and drag her heals at the end of the 72 hour period. I am do not give a 72 hour period.... they do a tasting if they want to book amd hold the date they put down 50% and book it, if they wait they do so at the risk that I may become booked while they wait. Unfortunately the more you give the more they will try to take. Sounds like she is just trying to run you in circles.
Very interesting thread!
I decide the policies of my business - not the bride and not the consultant. I had a bride recently ask for "sheet cakes and a small cake because the caterer said they would be easier to serve and cheaper or have some of the cakes fake". LOL Bless her heart. I had to tell her my sheet cakes would cost EXACTLY the same as regular cake so there was no advantage to give one guest the beautifully decorated tiered filled cake and giving one the sheet cake. I also told her that dummy cakes cost the exact same to frost, decorate, etc. As for being "easier" on the caterer, she was being paid to cater and serve. If it was a little "harder" to serve wedding cake that was her problem and not mine.
They booked with me. Good for them. She is not getting sheetcakes, fake cakes but honest to goodness tiered, filled wedding cakes that the caterer will have to slave over to serve. Boo Hoo. My business...my rules.
Denise, I just LOVE that story!
As a caterer, I was amazed at how many caterers I ran into who confessed that they didn't know how to cut a wedding cake and they HATED cutting fondant cakes! 15 minutes later, I left them a little more educated, but geesh, people, you do this for a living! Shouldn't you take some time to, you know, figure it out????
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