Okay so right now I'm starting to sort of work with two catering/venue places. One place looks very positive and like it will evolve into a very good thing. One looks like its going to fizzle out before it starts...of course I wondered that even when we did a tasting...just was not super impressed.

Anyway my question is with the second one....

So the owner/manager calls me and asks for a cake for a bride for March 19th. This was last month. I gave him a general quote as he asked for, and a size...and he said that's great, he'll talk to the bride.

A few weeks ago I call him and ask if he is still interested in the cake. He is busy, receptionist says he will call back. He does not call back. A couple days later he calls back to say he is about to talk to the bride and will get back with me.

A few days after that, he calls to ask if the bride called me....no....so he says he will call the bride and make sure that she does.

Have not heard anything since, and the cake is supposedly due in two weeks.

Here is my question: How much "nagging" am I supposed to do? My gut is just to wait and see if they call me back. I feel like I do not want to waste phone time only to have him tell me "Never mind, we had to do something different." I feel like lack of planning on their part does not constitute an emergency on my part.

So like I said, I don't want to nag, but I don't want to come across as untrustworthy either. But their cake is not the only one in the whole world, you know, so its not like I can sit around the house waiting for the call. Who waits until 2 weeks before the wedding to get the cake, anyway???? Even if it IS considered part of a catering package.....

Would you call back again, or just shrug it off unless they call wanting the cake for sure?

Maybe an email stating that if you do not hear from the bride or planner within the next 48 hrs. you will be taking them off your book. An email will give you the proof that you attempted to right their wrong. People are the worst part of making cakes. I'd be the nicest baker in the world if it wasn't for my customers! ; )

No I think you have done your part, if they want to book they will call you. (in theory lol)

I would call back one more time, and just politely say, if I cannot confirm the details for this cake by x date, I will assume that you aren't interested in ordering it and will go ahead with other orders for that day....that way the time pressure will be on them and if you don't hear from them, you can make other plans. Hope that helps!

I agree with Sorelle, I would send an email. Perhaps stating that they expressed interest and that you blocked that date out of good faith without a deposit or payment in full. Let them know you have other potential clients interested in the date and you need them to contact you with 48hrs or that date will be given to the next available client. I understand it puts you in a difficult spot, but business is business. If they want to ensure you will create their cake, payment or deposit must be made. I would offer this one last follow up. If they contact you later after the 48hrs, remind them the reason you sent the email and then state the date was taken as mentioned to the next client on the list. Perhaps next time they will jump on it.

I actually don't think they have email....they may but I don't have the address and its not on their website.... so I guess I'll call one last time this week and see.

Their weekend isn't booked up or anything but I do not want to "train" them that its okay to expect me to be hung up on cake details to serve 75 people for a month and a half and only find out what they need a week in advance.

I agree with the others...you need a time limit. Maybe one last attempt stating that you have to have at least 2 weeks notice prior to doing a wedding cake and that as of now you are assuming that they are not booking. I would call first and then back it up with an email. It's always better to have something in writing. Since it's a wedding cake I would think you 'd want some payment upfront as well.
Actually, have you thought about dropping by this guy's business and doing a face -to-face? Sometimes we forget that it's a lot harder to avoid someone when they're standing in your doorway. And even if he's not there, you can hand-deliver your note so they can't deny you tried to reach them.

Personally, I'd just email and say that you're confirming that they do not want a cake for that date, and that you are not planning on delivering anything to them that day since you haven't heard from them. CC it to the catering venue and however many other email addresses you have that are associated with the venue. If they do want it you should be getting a call about 5 minutes after you hit "send."

Time to get tough. Business is Business. Call them and even if you have to leave an urgent message with his receptionist, tell him in no uncertain terms you must have confirmation of order and details with 48 hours to hold their date.

Who in the world doesn't have an email in this day and age!!!!?????

I won't even do business with people like that. This is an electronic age and that's how business is done, so they need to get on board.

If it were me, I'd walk away simply because they don't appear to be a serious business.

Chances are if they have a website they have email. They may not post it, but they have it. Why not call and ask for his email address.

At my day job, we don't have an website yet my non computer lit bosses have email addresses.

Do you have some kind of written arrangement as to how this is supposed to transpire, something that at least details who is responsible for what such as they refer brides to you and then it is up to the bride or are they responsible to handle the bride, etc. If not I would say get something in writing asap as imo if the bride finds out 48 before her wedding she does not have a cake but she knew your company was who was recommended it will look poorly on you. Perhaps the person at the venue has not explained properly to the bride what she is supposed to be doing etc. In this case I would worry about putting something in writing either in email (again check with his office) or fax a note saying if I don;t hear by such a such date all the final details I would assume you have made other arrangements. If they do not have email or a fax I would say this may not be someone you want to do long term business with