Getting Nervous About This Bride...

Business By ConfectionsCC Updated 21 Sep 2011 , 10:28pm by ReneeFLL

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ConfectionsCC Posted 18 Sep 2011 , 7:22pm
post #1 of 14

I have a bride that booked her wedding cake for Oct back in May of this year. I told her it was fine to pay her deposit with pay pal, so I sent her an invoice....wellll...the actual deposit is not due until Sept22, which is this thursday...Does anyone else find it strange she has not paid yet, given that she has had MONTHS to pay? I no longer do the deposit this way, I learned to get deposits before booking them...but I booked her before I had this policy! I sent her a message through pay pal reminding her of her payment....2 weeks ago...How long should I wait after the due date to tell her her cake is cancelled, and should I possibly hold the date for say another 24 hours just in case she calls me panicking?? If not paid, should I call, email, or both to notify her about the cancellation? I have a weird feeling she went with another baker and failed to inform me about it...

13 replies
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BlakesCakes Posted 18 Sep 2011 , 7:51pm
post #2 of 14

I'm glad you changed your deposit policy for the future.

You've reminded her once, and really, that's enough.

If you're inclined to do it, perhaps call her and bring the issue to a head,
"I still have your cake on my calendar for Oct. and I don't have your deposit. It's due no later than 9/22. Am I still making your cake for Oct. X?"

If she doesn't answer & you leave the message, wait for her to contact you or to send the deposit.

No deposit on time, no cake. Period.

Rae

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ConfectionsCC Posted 18 Sep 2011 , 9:04pm
post #3 of 14

Ugh this just sucks icon_sad.gif I will be loosing a lot of money if she has gone with someone else and forgot to tell me!!!!! I have had her date on the calendar since May, and have turned down other orders for that weekend! BLAH! At least my other brides paid their deposits at the consultations...NEVER AGAIN will I allow this to happen! it was my first booking for a wedding cake...live and learn!

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MimiFix Posted 18 Sep 2011 , 11:25pm
post #4 of 14

Sorry, I think she found another baker. And I don't think she forgot to cancel. She just doesn't care enough. No one else is as important as she is.

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aligotmatt Posted 19 Sep 2011 , 12:04am
post #5 of 14

I've had people know about their due date a year ahead of time, and they pay it a few days before it's due. You sent her a reminder email, if you get a payment by the end of the 22nd, you're making her cake. If you don't, then you aren't. It's a bummer that you've turned down other orders, but at least you've learned

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cakesbycathy Posted 19 Sep 2011 , 1:38am
post #6 of 14

At this point you may be getting worked up for nothing. She still has 4 days to make her payment. You've already sent her a reminder. If you haven't received it by the 21st, call and send and email reminding her that if you do not receive her payment by the following day her order will be consider cancelled.

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mariacakestoo Posted 19 Sep 2011 , 1:57am
post #7 of 14
Quote:
Originally Posted by MimiFix

Sorry, I think she found another baker. And I don't think she forgot to cancel. She just doesn't care enough. No one else is as important as she is.


Probably. And since she has no money invested in you, what's the point of contacting you (from her point of view)? I'm so glad you changed your policy.

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ConfectionsCC Posted 19 Sep 2011 , 3:26pm
post #8 of 14
Quote:
Originally Posted by mariacakestoo

Quote:
Originally Posted by MimiFix

Sorry, I think she found another baker. And I don't think she forgot to cancel. She just doesn't care enough. No one else is as important as she is.

Probably. And since she has no money invested in you, what's the point of contacting you (from her point of view)? I'm so glad you changed your policy.





Ha, so glad I changed it too LOL! I did it that way before reading about deposits here on CC icon_biggrin.gif Love all my CC friends!!!!! Still no payment today, she has until Thursday! If I wake up Friday morning and it hasn't been sent, guess that means Oct 22 is open again!

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Cake_Karen Posted 19 Sep 2011 , 3:59pm
post #9 of 14

If you have not rec'd a payment by the date you set I would then send her an e-mail confirming that due to non payment you are sorry but have taken her out of your diary and will not be available to make her cake.
That way you will have your back covered.

I have been stung this way before. Made a cake at late notice for someone I did not know (5 days notice) and then came the day for collection and they did not turn up and everytime I rang them they cut me off!

I got left with a huge cake I could not use and out of pocket for quite a lot of money!

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rlowry03 Posted 19 Sep 2011 , 4:22pm
post #10 of 14
Quote:
Originally Posted by BlakesCakes

You've reminded her once, and really, that's enough.

If you're inclined to do it, perhaps call her and bring the issue to a head,
"I still have your cake on my calendar for Oct. and I don't have your deposit. It's due no later than 9/22. Am I still making your cake for Oct. X?"

If she doesn't answer & you leave the message, wait for her to contact you or to send the deposit.

No deposit on time, no cake. Period.

Rae




I agree. One reminder should be enough but I would also call her and leave a message just in case she's one of the rare few who don't check emails regularly or your message went into junk mail and was missed. If you don't have payment by Friday morning I would call and email that her cake order has been cancelled. I would highly recommend not budging on due dates. There are way too many posts about bakers that have done that and then ended up baking all night or never got paid and lost the opportunity to take another cake for that date.

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yummy_in_my_tummy Posted 19 Sep 2011 , 7:53pm
post #11 of 14

I hope this isn't too far off the original post, but there are a couple of things that are very very odd to me when it comes to payments...

One, is that some business owners (or at least some bakery owners that I've read here on CC) will give multiple reminders about a deposit / installment / balance, etc.

And two, most clients think that it's ok to need two or three reminders - even worse, some clients EXPECT it.

What happens when you don't pay your electric bill? Or your water bill? You get one notice, which is normally lumped in with your next bill. And if you don't pay it, you don't get anymore water. Nobody at the water company is calling you to track your money down. It's part of being an adult. If you subscribe to a service - or purchase an item that requires a deposit / installment / balance, be an adult and pay your bill!

Just my two cents icon_smile.gif

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ConfectionsCC Posted 21 Sep 2011 , 3:36pm
post #12 of 14

Well, ya'll, she paid this morning!! I guess she figured it wasn't due until tom morning...so she would wait last minute! Happy though, means I get to make a VERY large order icon_biggrin.gif

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BlakesCakes Posted 21 Sep 2011 , 10:01pm
post #13 of 14

YAY!!!!!!!!

Rae

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ReneeFLL Posted 21 Sep 2011 , 10:28pm
post #14 of 14
Quote:
Originally Posted by ConfectionsCC

Well, ya'll, she paid this morning!! I guess she figured it wasn't due until tom morning...so she would wait last minute! Happy though, means I get to make a VERY large order icon_biggrin.gif




Good for you! thumbs_up.gif I looked at your photos and they are beautiful. You will have to post pictures of the cake and let us know that it was for this bride.

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