Pls Read This Email, Is She A Pita Customer?
Decorating By three_sets_of_twins Updated 15 Aug 2009 , 7:29pm by 7yyrt
I was quite excited about an order that came my way, we emailed details back and forth (lots of unanswered questions) and looked like we were heading on the right ttack, But when I got this email a little red flag went up...Is this one of those PITA ladies who are never happy? How do I kindly decline her order now, after I already told her I would be free?
Dear XXX
Aha. begonia, could not think of the name of the flowers
They are very pretty!
Unfortunately I am very fussy with details(its a curse!) so I pay attention to the finest details. Example, I noticed your polk-a-dot cup cake paper cups in the pink Bouquet, such a nice touch!
I like the idea of the topiary style, I think its more elegant, as long as you can make the leaves look elegant to?, I think I would prefer it.
Honestly I prefer the Coloured vases, once again Im obsessed with details..LOL
I think well cancel the baby chocolates for the cupcakes, If I want to order some separately Ill let you know.
So you can quote me on:
3 centerpieces,
12 cupcakes , pink roses.
12 cupcakes, yellow and white daisies
12 cupcakes, blue and "lillac colored" bagonias,
Also give me a quote on 15 cupcakes/arrangement, perhaps it will look better this way?
Waiting to hear from you
I was quite excited about an order that came my way, we emailed details back and forth (lots of unanswered questions) and looked like we were heading on the right ttack, But when I got this email a little red flag went up...Is this one of those PITA ladies who are never happy? How do I kindly decline her order now, after I already told her I would be free?
Free?
available = free .. i hope
Oh oh oh oh--geez I was freaking out.
Ok so yeah just say --"sorry something came up, no can do"
you can just go ahead and tell her that you are now booked for that date and cannot take anymore orders.
I'm assuming she didn't make any kind of deposit since you are still in the quoting stage
If she can pay you big bucks then why not. Once in a while, you will get a really picky customer with OCD and that will be your challenge. If she is paying the right amount of money, I don't see why not.
well, you could tell her that you are getting booked up and all the changes she is making will not be possible to do her order the way she would like it to be done. And that she may want to look for someone who could.
I think she could be a PITA, but as long as you are strong, you could totally take her. just make sure the details are in your contract.
and do be firm with her, that any changes made are ok once, any changes after that are charged, and NO changes after X date. (all this emailing without a paid confirmation?)
if you want to decline, all you do is say you are afraid someone has paid to reserve the dates, and add in recommendations for other bakers.
xx
I don't think you should lie to her or make up excuses. You should tell her flat out that your time is valuable and this is YOUR paycheck that we are dealing with, and you are not going to be flip-flopping back and forth with her indecisiveness. If she needs it to be so "perfect" in her eyes, then she needs to learn how to bake and decorate herself, plain and simple. She will never be happy, and in the longrun she will turn in to a bigger headache than it is worth!
She's the paying customer and therefore wants to make sure she's paying for what she wants, exactly what she wants. I don't think she is asking for anything outrageously picky.
You never know, she may turn out to be 100% satisfied and just wanted to make sure all details are straight. I rather someone be SUPER picky from the get-go than be 'do what you want.. i'm sure i'll like it!' and then deliver and it was not what was in their vision. Too many customer's of mine assume what I like is what THEY like. I really appreciate customer's who understand that they are picky and let me know from the beginning.
Good luck w/ the order!
Hmmmm-- go with your gut. From her letter, she doesn't sound that bad--but a little annoying, yes. Elegant leaves?
I don't get how a a customer who is particular and knows what they want is automatically labeled a PITA?? I know there are plenty of PITA's out there, but I think when people are paying the prices we charge (or at least that I charge lol) they have a right to be a little particular about how they want their order... that, alone, does not make them a PITA.
As long as you are charging enough for it to be worth your while to do I would do it.
At least you know exactly what she wants.
If you could give her some examples of what you can do and tell her this is how it will look and she agrees to it then I don't see a problem.
It is always your prerogative to decline an order . I would just tell her as per her description and stating how perfect she wants it to be you would hate for your vision to differ from her vision and her be unhappy with the order. This is what I can do and this is how much Take it or leave it.
Ok..
free as in available yes lol.
Im still fairly new at this so i still tend to get a little nervous. I am soooo for and LOVE it when people give me details, it's just I kinda got the feeling she was the kind who wouldnt be happy with whatever Igave her.
I quoted her a price but made it a bit up there, nothing outrageous though.
but, like i asked her in each and every one of my emails, WHEN IS THE DATE, she hasnt answered. So I still have time to think about it and just tell her Im booked that day now since she never got back to me.
I have to say that it I have had that vibe, I think you have every right to say no to what ever customer that you are dealing with. After all it is your business and your money. If you don't want that stress than just cancel it. Life is to short, enjoy what you are doing don't get stress over it in a bad way.
you still dont have a date and have spent that much time discussing it with her? mmm...
send her an email saying that without a date, no further details can be discussed. she emails back without a date? either send the same email again, or ignore.
whether or not you take the order out of choice is up to you - but this is a waste of your time and energy if you truely arent available in the first place!
xx
Just from her wording, she sounds like a scammer. And the fact that she can't provide a date adds more to my suspicious nature. I wouldn't do it, but that's me.
Good Luck!
I agree that you should have a date before you have any more discussions about what she wants. As for her being picky...I think when any of us orders something, we have some expectation that it will be exactly what we want. It could be a challenge but very rewarding.
I don't get how a a customer who is particular and knows what they want is automatically labeled a PITA?? I know there are plenty of PITA's out there, but I think when people are paying the prices we charge (or at least that I charge lol) they have a right to be a little particular about how they want their order... that, alone, does not make them a PITA.
I agree.
Well sadly the woman changed her mind about the whole cupcake topiary. I guess the price shocked her, so now she wants a plain double layer carrot cake with cream cheese frosting and a star border. lol. That she will put a rubber duckie on top. lol. I would not have found that funny before I joined CC...
She also wants just plain old cupcakes with buttercream swirls along with the carrot cake. She has allowed me to tie little bows around each cupcake, as long "as the bows I choose are tasteful and elegant" lol???????
Tasteful, elegant, and rubber duckie dont belong in the same sentance as far as I know lol.
Oh and the cupcakes must be LILAC color. I had to google image that LOL.
Well even though she is picky, which she has every right to be, nothing overboard...her order is oretty much fool proof so I'll go ahead and do it.
Tasteful, elegant, and rubber duckie dont belong in the same sentance as far as I know lol.
Now that's funny right there! (as Larry the Cable Guy would say!)
Elegant, lilac, rubber, duckie...
https://www.mykeiko.com.au/images/prods/full/Purple%20Rubber%20Duck%20with%20washcloths.jpg.jpg
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