OK people. Help me out here. I did a cake tasting for a potential client. And it was the father who initially contacted me and discussed details at length about what his daughter wanted. (I found this a little different to begin with). The bride, mother and father came.

We talked about what she was interested in and then he asked about pricing. I told him my prices start at $3.50/serving for brides and $3/serving for grooms for standard flavors of Yellow, Chocolate, marble. Red Velvet, Straw. and carrot were 25 cents more a serving. I charge a set-up and delivery fee of $50.

the cake was going to be a 4 tiered cake. Delivered to a place that has 2 flight of stairs. He asked if it was negotiable. I said no. He said we'll see. I offer my bride's free cake plateau rental for orders over $1000 and this order would be. That is a $50 value in itself for the plateau for the grooms and brides together. I told him that would make up that $50 for him. They left after the tasting and said they would get back to me in a week.

He called me back and approached the delivery and set-up fee again and I reminded him that I said it was non=negotiable then and still is. He was shocked that I was willing to "give up the whole thing just over $50" I could have said the same thing about him but didn't.

What do you think?

stick to what you told him. business is business. if you back down to him. you will feel you have to do so for the next one. stick to your guns.hth

I say stick to your guns!

I think he's one of those people who fells like he just HAS to have the last word or get in the last jab over something.

Either you stick to your guns, and endure some attitude from him, or "cave in" and have him treat you like some pushover little girl.

He sounds EXACTLY like my dad.

Well, I'm not sure if you really need this order but IMHO cut him loose. These types of people are looking for deals on everything and it won't stop there. Seriously, I think they really get off on getting you to give in on something and if you don't they will make it their business to get something from you later, ie. refund. It is NOT just about the $50 delivery fee, it is their overall attitude in general, believe me, this will be a PITA order for you. I'm frankly very cynical after working in the service industry for a long time but there are just some people you don't want to do business with, fortunately it's a small %, I recommend you heed the warning signs and walk away. Sorry to be a downer but over the years you learn to recognize these folks.

Oh dear. Pray for him.

I just don't understand how people figure that you lugging a cake up 2 flights of stairs,your gas,your time,stands and other items basically used for free and you are supposed to give a break on the delivery or yet for free.....No Thanks...I'll pass ...even if it was for $1000.00....I'll decide to who and when I give a discount.Cake Muggles...

Dude, that is just rude!

I would stick with to my guns. Tell him, the $50 is for all orders. If he doesn't fell comfortable with it, then it would probably be best for him to go with another baker.

Don't back down.

He's a bully, don't back down because it will just get worse when he calls later and wants free upgrades on this and that.

It seems like in all areas of work or whatever, there are people who have this idea about themselves - that they are doing us a favor by becoming our clients. Like they are some special gift or something and we should be grateful to them for ordering cakes from us! People like that just need to move along!

I agree with everyone else - loose this looser!

He wants to be a bully and probablly tries to pull his passive aggressive routine on people in all of his dealings. I love it how he tried to turn it around on you as if you were the one being unreasonable by letting his order slip through your fingers. Puuhhhlease. I agree with the other poster that this is a power trip on his part and you will be doing yourself a favor to let him take his business elsewhere.

I agree with cutting him loose. I think I would just tell him, "no one should work for free and that fee is there because there it is work to deliver and set up a cake. It is non-negotiable and so are the other terms."

reminds me of a friend who, after meeting with the client (who drove up in a Ferrari) and explaining the cost for a sculpted birthday cake for his wife said in an incredulous tone,"DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?! I NEVER PAY RETAIL.".

Ugh. What a jerk. She held firm and told him that she doesn't work for free for anyone.

Actually, I'd charge $50 extra for each flight of stairs!

Here's what I think: People like this you will never make happy regardless of what you do. Even if you did give in to this request, there would be something else for him to find to quibble over. I work with the public and I know some people are like this. I agree with the previous post that he would have to have the last word. Just stick to what you told him and let him take it or leave it. And IMHO, you shouldn't think twice about it!!

Call him back and tell him you'll wave the fee, fast forward to day of wedding, let them come pick up 4 seperate cakes in 4 seperate boxes and have no friggin clue what to do with them.
Heck you can even leave out the dowels if you want to , seeing as those are part of the "set-up".
Let them stack 4 cakes on top of one another without any supports, he'll wish he had coughed up that extra 50$ bucks then.

I had a jerk like this once back in July. He didn't like my rate and tried very hard to get me to lower it. The cake he wanted had a lot of detail. He wanted a deal. But I stood my ground. He was such a PITA that I decided to not take his order.

DO NOT GIVE IN! I agree with every other person here. He will nickel and dime you to death and then request a refund later for some imagined problem. NOT WORTH IT

Duplicate post, please also see:

http://cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopicp-6728689.html#6728689

HTH

I think you sholuld definately not give in.

I agree with everyone also. He is most definately a bully. He had alot of nerve asking if the fee was negotiable. You were right telling him no. Every other place to order a cake from has a delivery/setup fee also. The $50 is cheap I think. Where I live the fees start at $80 for the first 10 miles. He was getting a discount from you to begin with as far as I'm concerned. JMHO. Stick to your guns.

Cake Muggles just don't get it!!

If you give this guy an inch, I promise you, he'll be back for more discounts. The grief can only get worse.

Ditto everyone else...let him find somebody else.

Stand your ground! People like that make me so mad I start thinking of things to charge them extra for LOL.... I guess I'm just stubborn like that. I might would give someone a break on something......but that's not the way to get breaks from me