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Cake for a friend - Page 2

post #16 of 29
3/1/12 at 5:31am
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I would write him a professional letter tomorrow and let him know that the dates are filling fast, and you must have the "$500(?)" deposit by "xxx" date or you will have to cancel the cake order.



I would go with this approach, too, but I wouldn't say "cancel the cake order". HE HASN'T YET PLACED HIS CAKE ORDER.

I'd write: The date you were interested in is still open as of today. If you'd like to reserve it... (etc.) Without a deposit, that date is available to anyone. If someone else reserves it, then I wouldn't be able to do the cake you were asking about.
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post #17 of 29
3/1/12 at 7:17am
run, corre, courir! like other posters have said, treat it like a normal client and email the hold the date charges/rules if you feel you can't run from this one.
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post #18 of 29
3/1/12 at 7:23am
OMG, Listen, MKC, do NOT make a free cake for this asshole. You call him up and say, "I am not able to pay upfront for the cake cost, I dont have it, and you shouldnt expect me to pay for it upfront. IF YOU WANT THE CAKE, YOU DELIVER THE MONEY NOW. If not, I will get another customer who will pay. And then you ask him if he would be willing to buy something for you without getting the payment upfront. Hell No" and then tell your husband he can either deal with it or he can see a divorce lawyer. seriosuly, why would you put up with this shit? Be strong and dont let ANYONE walk all over you. I am not kidding. These people on these boards are being way too polite. Run a business, not a charity.
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post #19 of 29
3/1/12 at 7:34am
Lets say that he actually shows up with the deposit money...

Looking at his current behavior, I would bet my paycheck he will have a hard time showing up with the rest of the money 2 weeks prior to the delivery date. I would make sure you have a WRITTEN contract statying that 1- the deposit money is meant to reserve the date, is NOT refundable but can be applied towards the final cost of the cake 2- that if he does not show up with $$$ at least 2 weeks prior to the delivery date, THERE WILL BE NO CAKE! Deposit lost. Period.

This may sound a bit harsh, but these people do not understand any other kind of language.
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post #20 of 29
3/1/12 at 7:38am
I've been in this position before and if you have problems with getting the deposit ou are almost garaunteed to have a problem getting the full amount. He is defintely taking advantage of the situation. Agree with the previous reply about ensuring you give him a deadline date and if its not met, there will be no cake coming from you so he might want to find other arrangements. And personally I don't have a problem with stating when I'm being taken advantage of. Put the onus on him.
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post #21 of 29
3/1/12 at 9:57am
Thread Starter 
Thank you everyone. I don't really care for this guy either and I will NEVER make him a cake for free. I agreed to make the cake because he's my husband's best friend but he already took advantage of us and his other friends in the past (not for cakes) and I've learned my lesson.

I will give him another 2 weeks and will stick to it. Then, I will cancel the whole thing if I haven't received the deposit.

The bride already thinks that daddy paid for the cake. She was also pain to deal with...asking for multiple scketches and ugly designs (in my view).

We gave him a contract and it's clear that the deposit is non refundable and only saves the date.

I will keep you posted !
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post #22 of 29
3/1/12 at 10:08am
Think like a businiess woman and not a "do gooder" friend, which is what he expects of you, and hopefully gets it for free.
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post #23 of 29
3/1/12 at 10:10am
run!! run!! RUUNNN!! The only thing worse than doing a cake for people who have been nothing but a pain is then sinking all those hours, lack of sleep and child neglect into a design you don't EVEN LIKE!! Oh honey...you are not OBLIGATED to them...friend or not. I have a "friend" who I have noticed a pattern with over the past two years. She is too busy all year to do anything - with me. Everyone else is hanging out and invited to her get togethers so she isn't too busy for her other friends. She's soooo incredibly busy and overwhelmed with life right up until about two weeks before either of her kids birthdays. THEN I hear from her and how much she really does love and misses me and we should hang out and oh, by the way, she hates to ask but can I do this or that one's birthday cake??? I was questioning my view of this until...just a couple of weeks ago guess who has time for coffee and wants to catch up? Just before handing out the invitation for a March birthday???? Yup. Guess who ISN'T doing the cake????????? THIS GIRL!!!! It's unbelievable to me how people think they can just use us up like this. I'm over it and you should be too. RUN!! It's got bad juju written allll over it!
Cake disasters are like childbirth...you swear you'll NEVER make another cake but soon the pain is forgotten and you are elbow deep in BC again.
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Cake disasters are like childbirth...you swear you'll NEVER make another cake but soon the pain is forgotten and you are elbow deep in BC again.
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post #24 of 29
3/1/12 at 12:22pm
Your husband's best friend.... so you need to stay on good terms, probably.

Sounds like he's trying to get a $1,000 wedding gift out of you. Tell him you and your husband already have a gift for the wedding, and that the cake is a purchase, not a gift. They might be miffed and buy elsewhere, but that would be good!
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post #25 of 29
3/2/12 at 4:23am
Ditto to all of the above and I'm glad you are taking control. I think the hardest thing for you is to write that letter because you are such a considerate person. However, he has forfeited any right to consideration. I suggest you just right the letter and send it off before you can change your mind. Suddenly the problem is his - not yours and that's the way it ought to be.
It's easier to ask forgiveness than to ask permission.
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It's easier to ask forgiveness than to ask permission.
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post #26 of 29
3/2/12 at 5:18am
Doing your best to keep good relations should never be one sided. Period.
Life is short. If there was ever a moment to follow your passion and do something that matters to you, that moment is now. -quotebites.com

http://m.facebook.com/Edible.Elegance.cakes.Zimbabwe
http://www.flickr.com/photos/73178569@N05/
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Life is short. If there was ever a moment to follow your passion and do something that matters to you, that moment is now. -quotebites.com

http://m.facebook.com/Edible.Elegance.cakes.Zimbabwe
http://www.flickr.com/photos/73178569@N05/
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post #27 of 29
3/4/12 at 6:33pm
Thread Starter 
Well we got our deposit! He has finally taken us seriously. Now will see if we get the final payment.

Thank you everyone for your help and support.
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post #28 of 29
3/4/12 at 8:28pm
Woot! Woot!
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post #29 of 29
3/4/12 at 9:13pm
I am happy to hear that you got the deposit.
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