I just finished up with the most irritating MoB that I've ever had. At least I thought I had. She was soooooooo ticky. Between January and this weekend, I had received 119 emails from her! Discuss, discuss, discuss! She wanted a 5 tier buttercream cake for an outside evening wedding in June in South Ga.!!! She didn't want fondant but wanted it as smooth as fondant. This is a woman who wanted a groom's cake to be an 8 pack of old coke bottles in the crate. No problem, I can carve a coke crate and make coke bottles out of rice krispies and cover them with fondant. Here's the kicker.......she wanted the bottles to be clear!!! How the heck am I supposed to make edible clear cake????? Well, I did it but the bottles weren't clear. She had printed off pics of vintage crates and bottles and wanted them to look exactly as the pics.I was so stressed on Sat. when I delivered their cakes which was an hour and half away, I could hardly function.
I rented my $150 cake pedestal to her and told her to be sure to save the seperator plates ( 4 of them). I had written my name and 2 phone numbers on the bottoms She emailed me this morning and said that she threw it all away! And she assumes the pedestal is in the trash too because she can't locate it! WHAT??????????? I didn't charge her a deposit since she swore she'd return everything! I'm the stupid one I guess for not charging her a deposit! How ditzy can people be?! Anybody else have horror stories with the people not the cakes? I will never do another cake for anyone who starts out like this.
Cardinal rule for anyone new and starting out...Take a deposit for everything you rent and enough to cover if they don't return it....
This is why I don't lend/borrow or rent anything out.Can't be bothered trying to chase someone down to return my stuff...
OH I can not even imagine what choice words I would have for that MOB. Sorry for your loses on that one.
Yep, I have some. I know that if she threw it away in the trash that it didn't stay there. Somebody knew it wasn't trash and retrieved it I'm sure. I'm going to send her a bill for pedestal and the plates. Why in the world would anyone throw away a huge 22 inch silver round pedestal? She owes me for the groom's cake and said that she'd drop off the check at my son's business since it's closer to her than I am. Yeah right. She's trying to avoid facing me.
Cardinal rule for anyone new and starting out...Take a deposit for everything you rent and enough to cover if they don't return it....
This is why I don't lend/borrow or rent anything out.Can't be bothered trying to chase someone down to return my stuff...
I always ask for a deposit and have never had a problem but this time I didn't. I felt she was very responsible, cause it's a freind of my sister-in-law and she kept griping about how much everything costs and was SOOOO very involved. I learned my lesson. Never again. I don't care who they are or how responsible they are.
Well you can take comfort in knowing that you only have this one terrible encounter with this woman. Pity the groom who looks forward to a lifetime with that for a mother-in-law and the probability that "like mother, like daughter"!
Well you can take comfort in knowing that you only have this one terrible encounter with this woman. Pity the groom who looks forward to a lifetime with that for a mother-in-law and the probability that "like mother, like daughter"!
LOL. That's for sure. I'm feeling better about all of it. Someone had mentioned advice earlier about someone just starting out. I'm not new at this. I've been in the cake business for over 30 years. I'm just new to these forums as a poster. I've always been a browser until today.
Well you can take comfort in knowing that you only have this one terrible encounter with this woman. Pity the groom who looks forward to a lifetime with that for a mother-in-law and the probability that "like mother, like daughter"!
LMBO Well said 
[/quote]
There is no way in the world someone would throw a 22 inch silver pedistal in the trash!!
That stinks! Can you call the venue and ask them if they have seen your pedestal?
I bet that as soon as you send her a bill, the stand will mysteriously turn up and she'll return it to you. Some people just have an eye for anything shiny and can't help but snatch it if they think they can get away with it.
OH I can not even imagine what choice words I would have for that MOB. Sorry for your loses on that one.
Yep, I have some. I know that if she threw it away in the trash that it didn't stay there. Somebody knew it wasn't trash and retrieved it I'm sure. I'm going to send her a bill for pedestal and the plates. Why in the world would anyone throw away a huge 22 inch silver round pedestal? She owes me for the groom's cake and said that she'd drop off the check at my son's business since it's closer to her than I am. Yeah right. She's trying to avoid facing me.
I couldnt even fit one of those babys in my bin!!!!! How on earth would you throw that away is beyond me!
That stinks! Can you call the venue and ask them if they have seen your pedestal?
It was at a church. I did call the pastor and of course, he knew nothing about it but looked in the trash to no avail and said he'd ask around. I think someone took it and instead of admitting she was negligent, just says it was thrown away. I agree with everyone else. There's no way that anyone would throw that beautiful piece away and if by some chance, it was left 'beside" the garbage, someone would have rescued it. Then again...I've had someone throw away 30 linen tablecloths too. LOL At least they were rescued.
honestly, I learned the hard way too..but do NOT sell to those whom are asking for perfect detailing ..it is NOT worth the headache and stresses! If anyone comes to me about too many details, with perfection and too many requests..I just simply say,,I'm sorry, but I'm not available and best of luck. DONE DEAL>..Just making cakes itself is stressful and hard,,so why make it NOT fun when it should be fun to do too?? Don't sell to those picky ppl...NOT WORTH it!
"throwing out" such a lovely pedestal? No way; but it's the 119 e-mails that got me! Are here any words in the English language that she left out?
Hope you get your stuff back, cuz I doubt you'll be seeing anymore $ from her.
Sorry this happened!
P.S., For future reference, check out "how to make sugar bottles - tutorial" you will see how to make the clear bottles.
Why in the world weren't you paid ahead of time for the groom's cake? And after doing cakes for 30 years, I would think you've dealt with enough crazy people to know you charge a hefty deposit on ANYTHING you rent out, even to friends or family.....
Sadly, I wouldn't be surprised if this woman ignores a bill for the pedestal and stiffed you for the groom's cake to boot. She sounds like a wack job who loves to micro-manage everything around her. Good luck......
Why in the world weren't you paid ahead of time for the groom's cake? And after doing cakes for 30 years, I would think you've dealt with enough crazy people to know you charge a hefty deposit on ANYTHING you rent out, even to friends or family.....
Sadly, I wouldn't be surprised if this woman ignores a bill for the pedestal and stiffed you for the groom's cake to boot. She sounds like a wack job who loves to micro-manage everything around her. Good luck......
Small Claims Court is always an option if she refuses to pay.
Why in the world weren't you paid ahead of time for the groom's cake? And after doing cakes for 30 years, I would think you've dealt with enough crazy people to know you charge a hefty deposit on ANYTHING you rent out, even to friends or family.....
Sadly, I wouldn't be surprised if this woman ignores a bill for the pedestal and stiffed you for the groom's cake to boot. She sounds like a wack job who loves to micro-manage everything around her. Good luck......
Please don't try to make me look like the bad guy in this case. I am the victim. I'm sure we've all made judgement calls we regret. You don't know the people or entire situation so please don't pass judgement.
I wasn't paid ahead of time because I had told her a minimum price for the cake and wasn't definite about the charge until I fininshed it. She paid for the groom's cake on Tuesday. That was not a concern of mine as she paid the total on the wedding cake the day she ordered it. This family is a very affluent family in a very small town. I trusted her completely.
First and foremost I am so sorry that this happened. And I am sorry that people on here find that they have to preach to everyone about contracts and what to do when you are just starting out when like you pointed out they have no idea who you are.
I have a feeling that when confronted she will pay for the pedestal because being a well known member of the community she wouldn't want something like ripping of the cake deocrator to follow her around.
Sorry if it came off like I was attacking you, CLW....
I've just seen too many decorators here complaining about non-payment when they should have been paid before they even turned on their oven. You're right that I don't know all the circumstances, but it just seemed like a red flag to me. I really do hope that the customer will do the right thing and reimburse you for the cost of the pedestal. But for those that mentioned small claims court, I know first-hand that winning a judgement in small claims doesn't guarantee you will see any money...
First and foremost I am so sorry that this happened. And I am sorry that people on here find that they have to preach to everyone about contracts and what to do when you are just starting out when like you pointed out they have no idea who you are.
I have a feeling that when confronted she will pay for the pedestal because being a well known member of the community she wouldn't want something like ripping of the cake deocrator to follow her around.
Thanks Amy, I hadn't thought of her reputation being ruined and her being embarrassed. Maybe I need to nonchalantly mention the pedestal deal to some of her church members or friends in front of her with the point being made that "somehow it was thrown away and maybe they've seen it. " Like I said, this is a small towna nd I'll see her around.
LOL
Sorry if it came off like I was attacking you, CLW....
I've just seen too many decorators here complaining about non-payment when they should have been paid before they even turned on their oven. You're right that I don't know all the circumstances, but it just seemed like a red flag to me. I really do hope that the customer will do the right thing and reimburse you for the cost of the pedestal. But for those that mentioned small claims court, I know first-hand that winning a judgement in small claims doesn't guarantee you will see any money...
Apology accepted. Small claims court can be a joke. I know from experience. You can end up with even more money and time invested and lost. I'm over it. LOL....
On to the next cake. I have a huge cake to deliver tom. morning and the MoG just called and wants to rent my square pedestal for the cake. The bride said in the beginning she couldn't afford it but the groom wanted it so his mom is pitching in. The first thing out of my mouth was, "There's a $150 cash deposit since it's last minute plus the rental and when you brings it back to ME on MONDAY morning, your $150 will be returned. LOL
Quote by @%username% on %date%
%body%