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tyty
Forum Fanatic
Joined: Sep 25, 2006
Posts: 1919
Location: Chicago
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 Posted:
Sat Jul 14, 2007 7:04 pm |
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Just need to vent. I had a bride that came for a tasting back in January, she gave me a down payment in March. The wedding is July 22. The final payment for the cake was due June 30. I did not hear from her so I called her the first week in July to ask what her plans were. She told me she would be over with the final payment July 3rd. I did not see or hear from her. I was thinking to myself that I was not calling her again. She wants a cake and she knows the balance is due. She called Thursday July 12 and said she would be over Friday when I get home from work. She was a no show, then she calls and says she will be over Saturday morning. She came over this morning with most of the $ but not all of it. She said she would come back over later with the rest of the $. It is now 9 pm, no $.
I don't like doing things in a rush, she had plenty on time. Should I just tell her I can't make her cake? I will not start this cake until I am paid in full. I wanted to start Sunday morning. |
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JanH
Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Mar 09, 2006
Posts: 9801
Location: Hebron, IN
Birthday: Feb 14
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Sat Jul 14, 2007 7:19 pm |
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Well, I don't think Colette Peters is sitting around waiting for her final payment just days before the wedding....
In the future, you might want to have a policy that calls for 50% to save the date (payable at booking) and the other 50% at least four weeks before the event. If the second 50% isn't delivered on time, no cake and you keep the booking fee. No exceptions.
This way the brides know upfront that no money = no cake.
HTH |
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khoudek
Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 13, 2006
Posts: 665
Location: Memphis Area, Tn
Birthday: Aug 19
Gallery Supporter Member
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Sat Jul 14, 2007 8:06 pm |
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| JanH wrote: | Well, I don't think is sitting around waiting for her final payment just days before the wedding....
In the future, you might want to have a policy that calls for 50% to save the date (payable at booking) and the other 50% at least four weeks before the event. If the second 50% isn't delivered on time, no cake and you keep the booking fee. No exceptions.
This way the brides know upfront that no money = no cake.
HTH |
Ditto, and use a contract. |
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leily
Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Jun 12, 2004
Posts: 5151
Location: Iowa
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Sat Jul 14, 2007 8:23 pm |
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If she signed a contract with you then she did not meet her end of the contract and you do not have to do the cake. There is ad eadline for a reason whether they know why or not it shouldn't matter, there is a deadline if they want the cake there.
Tell her when she delivers the remainder of the money that since she was 14 days late with the final payment that the cake will be completed 14 days after the delivery date was originally scheduled. (ok so I proabaly wouldn't really say it but I sure would be wanting too) |
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tyty
Forum Fanatic
Joined: Sep 25, 2006
Posts: 1919
Location: Chicago
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Sun Jul 15, 2007 12:42 am |
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I will have to add that clause to my contract saying if the balance is not paid on time I cannot do the cake.
She did make it over with the $ about 9:30. I was getting ready to call her and tell her I couldn't do it. This will not happen to me again. |
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leily
Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Jun 12, 2004
Posts: 5151
Location: Iowa
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Sun Jul 15, 2007 5:52 am |
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| tyty wrote: | | I will have to add that clause to my contract saying if the balance is not paid on time I cannot do the cake. |
You shouldn't have to add this line to the contract. If the contract stated when final payment was due and she didn't get it to you then she broke the contract and you do not have to do the cake. You don't need a statement in there saying that. The contract is there to specify when things and how things are done. If anything deviates from that contract then the other party has a right to cancel (or complain as customers do) granted most of the time as long as an agreeable solution is decided then the contract isn't canceled but at this point both parties have the opportunity to stop and say, that is enough and be done with it. |
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tyty
Forum Fanatic
Joined: Sep 25, 2006
Posts: 1919
Location: Chicago
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Sun Jul 15, 2007 10:17 am |
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Thanks to all of you, It is my fault. I should have contacted her on July 1st and told her the deal was off. |
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indydebi
Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Jul 07, 2006
Posts: 15620
Location: Indianapolis IN
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Sun Jul 15, 2007 11:46 am |
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I don't have time to do it now but I am hoping to be able to get back to it.
My payment is due 3 weeks prior to the event. I have a pre-formatted Word document where I just fill in the blanks with name, amounts, due dates, etc. The first part of the document opens with "Your date is rapidly approaching! With so many details to attend to, here is your reminder that your cake/catering payment due date is coming up in a couple of weeks......" I would email it out 5 weeks prior to the event.
I haven't had any no-pay problems, so it's not actually been an issue for me, but if you're having a problem, perhaps this might be an idea that works for you. |
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Candy120
Frequent Member
Joined: Jan 15, 2007
Posts: 271
Birthday: Apr 13
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Sun Jul 15, 2007 11:51 am |
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Did you say you wanted to start the cake Sunday morning? The day OF the wedding??? How big is the cake??? |
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JanH
Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Mar 09, 2006
Posts: 9801
Location: Hebron, IN
Birthday: Feb 14
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Mon Jul 16, 2007 2:07 pm |
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Candy120, tyty wanted to start today, Sunday July 15, not Sunday, July 22.  |
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Deana
Regular Member
Joined: Mar 25, 2005
Posts: 175
Location: Virginia Beach, VA
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Mon Jul 16, 2007 2:32 pm |
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I learned my lesson the hard way..
I way undercharged a bride (three tiered heart with champagne glass separating top and #2 for $100 bucks - mainly because she knew my sister and I believed her sob story...) anyway - she paid me half - I ran in to her several times about town - always stated that she would get my money to me.. fast forward to night before wedding, 1030pm she calls my house hysterical - wanting to be sure I was still doing the cake - I felt bad (and it was almost done) so I finished it and delivered it to the reception.
Month later I am still trying to collect the other $50 bucks - WILL NEVER EVER DO THAT AGAIN.
NO MONEY - NO CAKEY. My new motto. |
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DebbyTCL
Regular Member
Joined: Jul 06, 2007
Posts: 154
Location: Murfreesboro, Tn
Birthday: Aug 22
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Tue Jul 17, 2007 4:34 am |
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tyty - I have in my contract several different things. (And each item has to initialed by the bride with a full signature at the bottom of the final contract) 1 of them is: 50% of the total contract at time of booking, the remaining 50% is due 2 months before wedding date. If balance is not paid by due date, their order is off the bake schedule. (The due date is at the end of the contract by the signature line and they have it initial that too). If figure that if the cake is important to the bride and she wants it at her wedding, then she will make it a priority to pay for it on time. |
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tyty
Forum Fanatic
Joined: Sep 25, 2006
Posts: 1919
Location: Chicago
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Tue Jul 17, 2007 12:04 pm |
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| DebbyTCL wrote: | | tyty - I have in my contract several different things. (And each item has to initialed by the bride with a full signature at the bottom of the final contract) 1 of them is: 50% of the total contract at time of booking, the remaining 50% is due 2 months before wedding date. If balance is not paid by due date, their order is off the bake schedule. (The due date is at the end of the contract by the signature line and they have it initial that too). If figure that if the cake is important to the bride and she wants it at her wedding, then she will make it a priority to pay for it on time. |
Debby, I have my contract set up the same way, they read, sign and make a down payment. I should have honored my own contract and called her after the final payment was not made on time. It won't happen again. I have never had a problem before, but I am doing more cakes now, so I know I have to be firm. |
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alibugs
Frequent Member
Joined: Mar 14, 2007
Posts: 288
Location: id
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Tue Jul 17, 2007 12:15 pm |
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I would put in the contract if you do not pay on the date you will cancel. I would then charge an additional 50 dollars if you decide to rebook. |
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tyty
Forum Fanatic
Joined: Sep 25, 2006
Posts: 1919
Location: Chicago
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Tue Jul 17, 2007 7:04 pm |
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Sounds like a great idea. |
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