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Advice about rude client email

post #1 of 31
10/19/12 at 5:58pm
Thread Starter 
Hello everyone,

I got an inquiry for a cake order today. It was for a one year old with a smash cake. I would love your opinions on what to tell this woman next. Here are the emails.

"Good morning,
I'm looking for cake pricing. My son's first birthday will be November 17, 2012 however I need the cake ready for pick up Friday November 16. The cake will be for a 2 tier fondant cake estimate of 30-35 people and I also need a butter cream smash cake decorated similarly. Let me know of the best pricing in email and I will get back to the vendor seems most fair. Thank you for your time."

So I gave her the price and she said she wanted to meet. She emailed back and said,

"Let me know ff tuesday is ok with you around 10am. Don't book the date please. Saturday, November 17, 2012 at 11:30am is the birthday party set-up time. Can you prepare a slice of cake for me to taste if possible. It's an indoor building in Mullin's Park called the Veteran's Building.

Thanks for your time and we will keep in touch. Give me your phone number and name so I can call you on monday to confirm. what free filling's do you have?"

I told her I only do tastings for orders of 100 servings or more but she could place an order for some cupcakes. Here is the next email.

"Are you doing any cakes this weekend? Can you make a little extra batter to make one cupcake? I just want to try before I make the final decision. I was thinking about purchasing cupcakes from you for halloween but thats a little far away. Lets do wednesday at 10am. Let me know if that is possible."

At first I wasn't going to and i was so mad but then I decided to just let it go and bring her a cupcake. Now this made me even madder. I am ready to tell her her date was taken. Who does she think she is? Here is the last email.

"I can meet on Sunday also in the afternoon so the cupcake can be fresh for tasting. I'll keep your number just let me know if sunday is ok or if not wednesday just fridge the cupcake."

What would you say to her? And no, I cannot meet Sunday. Makes me so mad.
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post #2 of 31
10/19/12 at 6:17pm
Just wonder what about the whole thing makes you mad? I agree its a bit strange for her to want to taste the cake for a relatively small order, but there are a lot of really bad tasting cakes out there so I can somewhat understand why she is asking. You are well within your rights to stick to your 'no' answer though.

If she really wants to try it, I think she should come pick it up herself. Not expect you to deliver one cupcake.
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post #3 of 31
10/19/12 at 6:26pm
NO, NO, and NO. This kind of customer is one of the many reasons I stopped making party cakes. IT'S A FREAKING BIRTHDAY CAKE FOR A 1 YEAR OLD ...NOT A WEDDING CAKE FOR CRYING OUT LOUD! Although I realize she is probably being polite in her communication, I can totally understand your frustration. Sorry to vent, just brought back some of the issues I used to deal with icon_confused.gif
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http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1639748767#!/pages/Brookville-OH/Clever-Confections-Wedding-and-Party-Cakes/121751374504069?ref=ts
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http://www.cleverconfections.com
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1639748767#!/pages/Brookville-OH/Clever-Confections-Wedding-and-Party-Cakes/121751374504069?ref=ts
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post #4 of 31
10/19/12 at 6:39pm
I'd be uncomfortable with her as a client, given her terse emails, constantly changing the date for the appt., her need to tell me how to handle my business, etc. I especially don't like her comment about going with who is "most fair". That sounds pretty loaded to me.

I'd e-mail her and tell her that I'm booked.

JMHO
Rae
I love you, but your emergency is not my crisis!

They say that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but it is not one half so bad as a lot of ignorance.--Terry Pratchett (b.194
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I love you, but your emergency is not my crisis!

They say that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but it is not one half so bad as a lot of ignorance.--Terry Pratchett (b.194
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post #5 of 31
10/19/12 at 6:42pm
Thread Starter 
What makes me mad is the fact that I told her no and then she rudely asked me if I was making any cakes and didn't I have left over batter. Just rude and pushy. Then I stupidly give in about the cupcake and she wants to dictate further. Just irks me.
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post #6 of 31
10/19/12 at 6:44pm
Thread Starter 
Rae, I think I will tell her that. I had also told her I require 20% down and to hold the date. She says, "Don't give away that date until we meet." Umm...sure lady.
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post #7 of 31
10/19/12 at 6:45pm
It's not worth the stress. You don't need her as a client. I would tell her that you are no longer available, which is not a lie because in my head, I would NEVER be available to take her order. icon_smile.gif

www.facebook.com/Angela.CupcakeElegance

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www.facebook.com/Angela.CupcakeElegance

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post #8 of 31
10/19/12 at 6:48pm
Thread Starter 
I just emailed her back and told her that. Thanks for the advice everyone! I feel better and I dumped her. thumbs_up.gif
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post #9 of 31
10/19/12 at 6:57pm
She sounds like trouble with a capital T.
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post #10 of 31
10/19/12 at 7:27pm
Doesn't sound rude to me...a little terse perhaps, but this is a customer, not a friend. If she had contacted my bakery I would have offered a to-go tasting box for $30, same as for any other order regardless of size.

I've had customers ask for a single cupcake to try, and usually I can't accommodate them, but if we happen to be making that flavor on the schedule I can set one aside or freeze one. Doesn't cost me anything, and it goes the extra mile for the customer. If the customer wants the cupcake delivered, they are welcome to pay the delivery fee ($1/minute round trip).

I'm also surprised people are judging others for how they host events. A large extended family for a first birthday party can easily be 30-35 people, and in some cultures a kid's first birthday party is similar to a wedding reception in size and cost.
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The Bakery Business Perspective
An experimental blog with new content every Tuesday!

Recent Articles: The Magic Pricing Formula • Copyright Law
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post #11 of 31
10/19/12 at 8:46pm
Don't let stuff like this get you mad. I have people that want to have a tasting (and choose 8 flavors of cake!) before they order a 6" birthday cake off my pre-designed menu. On the business side it's a NO situation, but I remember life before I made cake. I settled for crappy bakery cake over the risk of trying something from an expensive custom baker because I was a scardy cat and was soooo paranoid about getting ripped off.

The beauty of what we do is we can turn down any order for any reason!
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post #12 of 31
10/20/12 at 2:12am
Quote:
Originally Posted by FromScratchSF


The beauty of what we do is we can turn down any order for any reason!




Amen, sistah!
Life's too short to make cake pops.
___________________________________
www.sweetperfection.com.au
www.facebook.com/sweetperfectioncakes (come visit sometime!)
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Life's too short to make cake pops.
___________________________________
www.sweetperfection.com.au
www.facebook.com/sweetperfectioncakes (come visit sometime!)
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post #13 of 31
10/20/12 at 6:03am
Thread Starter 
I'm sure with more experience as a business owner I will deal with these people better. I feel like she can go to someone else and dictate to them. I'm just not going to deal with her. She sent me another strange email which confirmed my decision.
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post #14 of 31
10/20/12 at 7:43am
Ugh, she's a pill. I would have dumped her sooo fast.
Answers to the most often asked questions re: SPS. SPS instructions are on Page 15 of the Sticky at the top of the Cake Decorating Forum. Supplies can be ordered from Oasis Supply, Global or BakeryCrafts.
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Answers to the most often asked questions re: SPS. SPS instructions are on Page 15 of the Sticky at the top of the Cake Decorating Forum. Supplies can be ordered from Oasis Supply, Global or BakeryCrafts.
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post #15 of 31
10/20/12 at 9:22am
She is a very dominant and complicated person, it is not worth it. I had a similar experience with a friend's husband. He requested a first communion cake tasting with two flavors for 50 people. They spent two hours in our house and did not get back to us until two weeks later in our church. She let me know that they were going to go with another baker.
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