How Much Should I Push?

Decorating By CakesbyMichele Updated 22 Jul 2013 , 7:56pm by vtanderson

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CakesbyMichele Posted 21 Jul 2013 , 6:04pm
post #1 of 11

So, I'm getting a bit annoyed.  I have a bride that I met with last August.  She put money down saying that she wanted to go with me but didn't know what she wanted for a design.  She showed me a couple pictures of ideas she had in mind and I price quoted her for BC and fondant based cakes.  I periodically followed up with her and sent her some pictures along the idea of what she had liked/described.  She would eventually respond with a negative.  She would also send a few pictures which I would respond back to her and then not hear from her for a month.  Well, we are a month away from the wedding.  She sent a picture last week stating that her fiance finally liked this one and could it be done in buttercream.  I told her no because of the damask stenciling.  Gave her the price and still haven't heard back.  I looked on line yesterday and see they sell a damask mold so emailed her back to tell her I could do it in the BC with the mold and get the same look.  She also sends a picture of a 5 tiered cake but only needs cake for 100!  I asked her about that too.  No response.  I typically require all my brides to be paid up in full a month prior and we are at a month away now.  I did say in my email I had to know her decision fairly quickly as I would have to order the mold.  Do I keep contacting her repeatedly until she responds?  I can't wait another month to hear from her because then it will be her wedding day!  How much emailing/phoning is too much?

10 replies
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Norasmom Posted 21 Jul 2013 , 6:09pm
post #2 of 11

Send one more email and say if I do not hear from you by the end of the day I will be unable to do the cake due to time constraints.  That is all.  She sounds like a pain!

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ellavanilla Posted 21 Jul 2013 , 7:00pm
post #3 of 11

how much is enough? as much as it takes to get the order from the client. as its a custom job you simply have to know. if you need to know today, then tell her it's today or you're refunding her deposit. then put her check in the mail if she doesn't respond. 

 

Personally, I wouldn't accept the deposit without knowing exactly what the order is. There is too much risk for a change in the order or what you're going through.

 

When she gets the check back she'll know what's what.

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CakeGeekUk Posted 21 Jul 2013 , 8:31pm
post #4 of 11

Hi Michele, this is a tricky situation.  You want to finalise the cake order and therefore need to be firm, yet you don't want to get her back up risking her bad-mouthing you to other brides. I would email her one more time and tell her that if you don't hear from her by close of business, you will not be able to complete her custom order and will refund her booking deposit. If you still don't hear from her, send her a refund explaining that you made it clear that the cake order would need to be finalised and paid for one month before the wedding date and because this was not possible, you regret you will not be able to proceed.  Be as nice as pie, but firm at the same time.  Fifty per cent of my wedding cake bookings involve the payment of a deposit only and design being finalised about three months before the wedding.  Some brides will be last minute, but I'm firm about the one month cut-off. You will always get one or two brides that test your patience to the limit.  Good luck Michele!

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jason_kraft Posted 21 Jul 2013 , 9:20pm
post #5 of 11

ADo not send any more emails...call them and keep calling until you talk to them in person.

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scrumdiddlycakes Posted 21 Jul 2013 , 10:13pm
post #6 of 11

I agree with Jason, call her.

I'm terrible, and I mean terrible, with my personal e-mail. It could just be that she has so much going on, and is slow with her e-mails like me, and probably has no idea how much planning and time goes into a cake, so doesn't understand the rush. (benefit of the doubt, lol)

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denetteb Posted 21 Jul 2013 , 10:47pm
post #7 of 11

AFairly quickly is way too vague. Whether by email or voice you need to give a specific deadline.

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maybenot Posted 22 Jul 2013 , 4:03am
post #8 of 11

She's essentially voided the contract by not paying in full one month before the event date AND she's "avoided" committing to a design? 

 

Well, from me, she'd get a phone call telling her that I'm not making her cake (but I am keeping the deposit because I've turned away business for that same date) UNLESS she fully commits to a design (that cannot be altered once chosen) AND pays in CASH, IN FULL, no later than Friday, 7/26/13, by 5pm.  No exceptions.

 

I then follow up with an e-mail citing the same requirements and if I don't have the set design and the $$ by Fri. at 5pm, I cross her off of the calendar--and I don't buckle when she calls crying on Sat. morning.

 

Some people will never do anything unless their hand is put to the fire.

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Babbo Posted 22 Jul 2013 , 11:45am
post #9 of 11

id call her, and get it all sorted asap so you can have piece of mind ;-0

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vtanderson Posted 22 Jul 2013 , 7:55pm
post #10 of 11

I'd give this girl a deadline, 5 days max so she can get things sorted and settle on a design.

 

I totally agree with what everyone else says, and if she doesn't by that date tell her tough banana's, you've got a business to run and a life to live.  She sounds like a procrastinator and someone who expects everyone to jump when she says so.  Protect yourself or she'll take advantage of your sweetness (and I'm not talking about your beautiful cakes :)  )

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vtanderson Posted 22 Jul 2013 , 7:56pm
post #11 of 11

Let us know what happens too :) Its nice when we can all learn from each others obstacles so we can all better each other  

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