I have been having an online conversation with the mom for 2 weeks, who was unsure if she should order such a pricey cake. Finally, she decided to order the cake and cookies and sent someone nearly 40 miles to give me my 50% deposit.

The day before the party, I read on her Facebook, that the baby is being rushed to the hospital with an incredibly high fever. Uh-oh!

The day of delivery I get a call from an aunt telling me the party was cancelled and that they didnt know what to do. I told them I could hold the cake for 2 days, but didnt suggest having it linger around for more than that.

Today, the day after the original party date, I was suppose to get a call telling me where and when I should finally deliver. No call. I told my husband no biggie, they had more important things on their minds, and I had my 50% at least .

ENTER MY GRANDMA

Grandma: You should make them another cake just out of the goodness of your heart if they have the party another day.

Me: In my heart I feel as if it were the right thing to do. (AS a mom I do, in the business aspect of it I'm confused)

My husband: She didnt call or at least have someone call you to apologize and say "Let me at least pay the rest" SHe is leaving you with a 50% balance and a pretty big order.

The little girl is still in the hospital.

What would you do?

Put yourself in HER shoes.
What would you want done if your baby was in the hospital? I am sure calling the cake lady is the last thing on her mind. It would be mine, and I say this with kindness.
I've had a baby in the hospital and all your focus is on that baby.

Christy, Coral Springs here.

I agree with Mommadukes. It may not seem like it is a smart business move right now, BUT..when people...potential customers hear about what u did...and how u "ate" the first arrangement. that will look better on you. You will look like a person and not like a shrewd business woman. I would (but that is me personally) even go ahead and call to see how the baby is doing and see if there is anything you could do. And tell her not to worry about the remaining balance and the order she made and when she is ready to talk about the party to let you know and you can make arrangements. If you have kids, then u should know what to do. Like Mommadukes said...put yourself in the mother's shoes. I really don't think the woman was just blowing you off. She obviously has more important things on her mind. You should know the old saying..."What comes around, goes around". Show her this act of kindness and your reward will be so much sweeter!!! Sometimes it's not always about the money. And besides, it's not like she just blew you off with a lame excuse....it's a legit reason. GOOD LUCK AND KEEP US POSTED!!!

Oh, the delivery was in the Margate area. I am down South in Hialeah.

I hope the baby girl is doing alright.

I am glad to hear it! We all have that inner voice for a reason...and we have to listen to it as much as possible. It's like our conscious and what we can live with. I (me personally) wouldn't wait for the baby to get out of the hopital. It shows that u are thinking of her and her child. I don't know where you live or where this woman lives...or how far away it is from each other, but 40 miles isn't that far. It should take you what about 40-45 minutes to get there. Now understand this, when it's time to make arrangements with this woman again, you have to stick with the original price you and her had agreed on. That is just good business. You ate the first one, she can't expect u to take another loss and cheapen the price. Being kind is one thing, being nieve is something total different. And if for some reason she asks you to lower the price, that's when you need to tell her..."I can't do it, I am sorry, because I took a loss the first time. I can't financially do it again." I don't think she would, but if she does....stand your ground! Unfortuantely, there are people who will try to take advantage of your kindness. You can't let that happen.

oooh, I didnt mean to charge her again for the cake, I meant do it again for her for free.

I know she didn't do it on purpose and that its an important matter.

I would be doing the entire cake and cookie order again and not re charge her the orginal price. SHe would just have to pay the remaining balance.

and you could up the stakes one more level.

take the cake to them in the hospital.

surely the nurses and family could enjoy it.

and depending upon the nature of the illness the little girl might at least get to see it, if not even a have a wee taste, knowing this will be her special cake when she gets well.

Is putting it in the freezer - and holding it until the little girl is ready for a party - an option? Then you could simply give it to the family and decline further payment... just a thought. If I were the mother, this would make me happy.

It's always best to listen to that little voice.

That or if they had to cancel the party completely I would probably offer to refund all but $50 (or $75...to cover your costs, whatever) and then get permission to deliver a special cake for the birthday girl (enough for the family, 12-15 servings) to the hospital.

That way they aren't out tons of money...and all you are out is time...and you are going to look REALLY good as well...but most importantly....you are helping put a smile on someone's face.

I recently donated a cake to one of my customer's kids in the hospital just for fun, and it WAS SO FUN!!!! (Cardiac patient, little 2 year old guy)

Actually, then donate the original cake (sounds like you made it already?) to another hospital, or firehouse, or some other place with lots of people with a nice big stack of business cards, and this may turn around to be a really great thing for your business.

Shelters love cakes and cookies, too. And can be a write off! I agree that cake is the last thing on their mind. A celebration when the child gets out of the hospital is all the more sweet. Charging the remaining balance is good for everyone.

Thanks everyone for the wonderful ideas.

I think I am going to give the mom a call tomorrow. I think they were saying that they may discharge her today.

I'll keep you all posted!

HI Guys,

Just an update.

I never heard from her again.

I called her and it rang a few times.I didnt want it to ring 15 times if they were in the hospital, plus that would annoy me. Not even the answering machine came out. Maybe she saw it was me and avoided the call thinking I was hounding her for my money.

They discharged the little girl already.

I have no idea. I was never told and they never posted it.


I dont think I have chatted with this many So. Floridians on here.

In the future, I would immediately suggest freezing the cake for them - from the first conversation. That way it's TOTALLY not on their minds and everybody wins in the end - you get paid and they get the cake they paid for. Sorry if I'm too businessy here but I would not do the cake again for free. Maaaaaybe for a discounted price if that is a kindness you can afford to extend but just as it's not her fault for not calling or requesting it to be frozen (well really it IS, but we all understand that was the last thing on her mind) it is certainly not yours.

It's probably the last thing on her mind right now. I've had a baby in the hospital and even once you get home, until you know they're all better, the little details slip your mind. In a couple of weeks she will probably start thinking of having the party again, at which point she'll either contact you and you can decide what to do then, or she'll figure she forfeited her deposit and she'll get a grocery store cake.

I had this happen- the little girl was in the hospital w/ H1N1 the night before her party. Cake was done, so I suggested that they attmept to freeze it (the mini mouce cake in my pics) I was worried about the black running as it thawed, but they said it worked great and looked just as good as is did when they took it home. I would have never offered it for free- it isn't my fault nor their fault that this happened!

You said you had Internet conversations with the mother for 2 weeks and that you read about the baby being taken to the hospital on her Facebook page. Why don't you contact her that way? Just post that you had tried to contact her by phone to inquire about the baby's health. That way, if she didn't take your call because she thought you were trying to collect, she'll know differently. Tell her if they decide to go ahead with the party, you'd be happy to apply her paid deposit toward another order (or whatever arrangement you want to work out with her).