Hey there guys! I am so hurt, disappointed and just plain mad!! I made a bunch of stuff for a craft show at my sister in laws work so that I might make enough money to buy some xmas presents for my kids.....I am disabled and cant work right now so I am more than broke! So I worked for 3 days, went to bed in tears from the pain, making sugar cookies, cupcakes, macaroons and a couple of bouquets. Total on all the items I sent in was 188.00

Well, I spoke with my sil and she said, noone did any good today....you only made 53.00!! Oh I was so upset, the only reason I did this show was at least 12 people asked me to, I did the same thing last year and ran out of things by lunchtime! So I picked up the leftover items and it just didn't seem to match up, like I was missing something!

I got home and compared my spreadsheet to what they said I sold and I am missing 40.00 in product! 5 packs of cookies, a tin of a dozen cookies, 3 packs of macaroonns and 4 boxes of 2 cupcakes! I have made a lot of cakes for the people there and I am so sad that they would do this to me, I just don't get how people can be so heartless as to just take something that is not theirs! And now I STILL do not know what I am going to do for a couple of xmas presents for my kids! At least I got to turn it into a teaching moment for my kids, I explained to them how upset I was and wanted them to know that whenever they take something that does not belong to them, there is a person SOMEWHERE that is hurt by it! Thanks for listening to my long rant, I know that my non-cake friends just won't understand that I am hurt that this happen. (that whole its just cake thing)

I'm soooo sorry this happened to you. You are NOT a fool for assuming that people will do the right thing! Hopefully things get better for you soon.

I'm so sorry this happened to you, I just can't believe people can be so cruel, especially when you need the money, and worked so hard. Did you ever find out what happened? I know you said it was a teaching lesson for your kids, goes to show what a wonderful mom you are, you're kids are very lucky.

I think you should talk to your SIL about it...tell her you looked at your spreadsheet and you're missing $40 worth of stuff and you wondered if one of your boxes got left there by accident. See what she says, but keep it friendly.

It does feel terrible when someone rips you off and it's at a time when you really needed the money. I had a garage sale once with my mom and one of her friends and the only reason I agreed to do it was because I was so behind on my electric bill that they were going to shut off my lights. My mom's friend kept selling my stuff and pocketing the money. I confronted her on it and she offered to give me her old baby stuff that she was selling, whatever hadn't sold at the end of the day...like I wanted polyester jumpsuits from the 70's for my baby (no kidding, that's what she had).

What did they say when you confronted them about the missing product?

My SIL is the one who picked up the leftovers and the money so I had to go to her house to get it.....I told her something isnt right but I will check it when I get home, she helped me figure it out and agreed that something was not adding up. So her plan is to talk to the lady who ran the craft show and see if maybe they were over by40.00 or something. She has to be careful how she handles it cause she is the one who has to go to work everyday with these people! ! ! Thanks for the ear guys!

I wonder if people snacked all day long on the goodies thinking "oh it's just 1 cupcake or it's just 1 cookie" and before you know it they 1 cookied them selves into 40$ worth?

Either that or they all took goodies home with them.

So sorry that that happened to you. But I think you're not giving your non-cake friends enough credit.

Certainly your non-friends can understand why you'd be upset when you sent in $188.00 worth of products got $53.00 from sales, but inventory returned was less than $135.00.

I think everyone reading this post, as well as your non-cake friends can agree that you got ripped off!

IMHO, since "they" were acting as your agent ("they" had possession of and/or control over your inventory) and were responsible to make sure that only items that were paid for were removed from the selling area.

"They" are responsible for the missing items/missing revenue.

Believe me, if it was "their" stuff - "they" would have made sure that it didn't sprout legs and walk off....

You owe it to your children to ask "them" to return the missing products or cough up the rest of the money you're owed. Would make no difference to me if they didn't know what happened, it's only necessary that "they" return to me (in product or money) what I entrusted to them.

Is it possible, "they" thought "they" were entitled to a portion of the leftover product because "they" helped you sell some of them? Or did "they" forget to let you know that "they" allowed customers to take product now with a promise to pay later...

Obviously, something happened to those missing baked goods. You need to hold the accountable people accountable. Even on "consignment" if the items don't sell - you get them back!

Unless of course, the baked items were tagged with a suggested donation amount and left unattended on a display table with a coffee can that had a little sign saying "pay here."

Jan, I absolutely agree with EVERYTHING you said! !! When I said that my non-cake friends wouldn't get it I meant they jsut dont know how much work goes into it ! I will be sure to stay on top of these boneheads to find out what happen, and I agree I do owe it to my kids to find out! Thanks again ya'all!

Gotcha mw902.

This is absolutely terrible! I certainly hope it was a simple miscalculation on someone's part, and not an outright theft of your hard work.

I agree with JanH. If someone takes another person's items to sell, they also take the responsibility to ensure that all correct monies are returned and/or left over items that did not sell.

Definitely speak with your SIL about it, and ask her to speak with whomever was in charge of maintaining the table(s). This shouldn't be a 'live and learn' situation for you ... but it should be for those in charge. You'd think people who work in an office would know better.

This is a heart breaker. Oh God I'm misting up first thing in the morning.

Go, Jan!!

Hurray for your understanding sil too. And for you understadning she's gotta tread lightly but surely for you.

I'm hoping this turns out wonderfully for you after all is said & done--not discounting this anguish at all though.

Is there anywhere you can take your leftovers by chance?? In hopes of a further timely sales I mean?

Just curious, how many Munchkins do you have?

This is just an awful story, but you are a great mom to turn it into a teaching lesson for your kids! I would go over to DSIL and make her vomit up the money! Next time, if there IS a next time, get a deposit for the goods FIRST, then the balance upon delivery. No matter WHO orders, relatives or friends too. This is not the economy to be playing around in. The absolute NERVE!! I'm very sorry this happened to you, but you've gotta get tough for the next time. Chin up! Taryn4256

That just plain old stinks!!! I wonder if they didn't sell it at your prices or gave samples or ate samples themselves.

Horrible! You can not trust anyone with $ or product. Things like that are a DIY or not at all. If they left your stuff unattended- that is soo wrong!

This whole thing is so wrong. You just can not trust people. I would take your spread sheet and go ask for the difference.

I'm sorry that you had to experience that. As I have learned and many people have said in this thread...you just can't trust people. Most only have their own interest at heart or have an agenda (I learned this the hard way).

Hopefully your SIL will do the right thing and compensate you for all the missed proceeds of the sale. Its the only right thing to do.

Slightly off topic, but maybe you could let your church, or if you don't have one, one of the big churches in your area of your predicament. If they do an angel tree, they maybe could include your kids...just a thought.

OMG - your SIL must know of your situation and it's amazing to me that she would even let this happen to you as if you need the extra stress in your life So disheartening to see stuff like this happen esp at Christmas time - I seriously hope things work out for you and that they do the right thing by you

Live and learn. Next time have them pay for everything up front and let them sell the stuff if you aren't going to be there in person.

I'm so sorry this happened to you!

If it is like the craft sale they do at my workplace, they will not pay for any items ahead of time. In fact, YOU have to pay a certain amount to have a table there, and the items are left in a large conference room, pretty unattended most of the time.

Maybe next time try to fid a different type of sale, where you are actually able to sit at the table and make sure nothing disappears. Again, so sorry it happened!

I hope they give you some of that money back! I understand that your SIL works with them, but the more reason to respectfully state your point and at least let them know that your are not stupid and there is stuff missing. At least so you feel like you stood up for yourself!
Are there any other craft fairs in churches or schools? in my area they are all over the place! MAybe you can contact some other place that is neutral ground so they are more accountable.

Sorry for the misunderstanding MW902 but yes what cutiepiecakes said is totally true. It's amazing what people will try to get away and it's so disappointing to find out that people can be so inconsiderate and downright dishonest Sending hugs and well wishes - hope things go well on Monday