Wedding Cake Consultation - They No-Showed!
Decorating By cambo Updated 18 May 2007 , 4:32am by cambo
I'm making a wedding cake for one of my daughter's teachers on July 7th, and their consultation was tonight. I made four different kinds of cake and 4 fillings! The xtras didn't go to waste as my daughter has a carry-in tomorrow at school, so that worked out. At first I was so PO'd that I just went off to my husband, but after I calmed down, I became concerned that maybe something terrible may have happened, so I'm going to give her the benefit of a doubt. I still haven't heard from her!
I left her an email that she'll receive tomorrow a.m. at school.....if she calls and says "oh, I totally forgot", I'm not sure how I'm going to handle myself!
Any helpful advice if "oh, I totally forgot" happens to be the case?
Oh no! I can't believe she didn't show! I would charge her if she wants another tasting, and not apply the amount to her cake! First tasting free, she no showed, that was her first tasting as far as I'm concerned! I would charge her $35 next time, and may actually up her price a little if she orders for you to cover it!
UPDATE:
She called and left a vmx at 10:00 p.m. last night.....it was an "oh, I totally forgot" situation. She was very apologetic in her vmx message and her email and stated she and her fiance were so embarrassed.
The fact that she's a teacher at my daughter's school and is her track coach doesn't change the way I feel the slightest bit. I have a business to run and she's just another customer, and she's not family. Boy, can you tell I'm still really PO'd this morning.....moreso, now that I know she uh, totally forgot!
She's human, I know, and we're not perfect.....and her wedding is only 6 weeks away and I remember the stress of those days, but that's still no excuse....this is her wedding cake for goodness sake! Oh well, I was prepared to give her a small discount or not charge her delivery and set up....not anymore.
UPDATE:.....and her wedding is only 6 weeks away and I remember the stress of those days, but that's still no excuse....this is her wedding cake for goodness sake!
Exactly! With a wedding ONLY 6 weeks away and she doesn't have her cake squared away yet? ..... and she FORGOT????
no excuse
UPDATE:.....and her wedding is only 6 weeks away and I remember the stress of those days, but that's still no excuse....this is her wedding cake for goodness sake!
Exactly! With a wedding ONLY 6 weeks away and she doesn't have her cake squared away yet? ..... and she FORGOT????
no excuse
Exactly! I know how involved she is with extracurricular "stuff" at school and agreed to let her have her tasting so late because she has conveyed and idea of what she wants design-wise....but she just needs to pick flavors! And I get stood up!
I am telling you..she is going to be a pain!!! Can you count on her to pay you, or will she "forget"?
I would make her pay for the cakes you could not use, make her pay for the next tasting, and give her no discout!
At 6 weeks away who else is gonna make her cake? She is going with you...No one else will do it so close to the date...She is stuck, weather she relizes it or not.
And I bet even with all the extra charges you will be less expensive than any other bakery! If she doesn't like it..Tell her to try to find someone within her time frame. You do not have to be rude, just direct. You said it...It is you business. If she thows it back up at you stick to your guns!
What if she "just forgot" to show up at her work, the school, well this is YOUR work! Take it or leave it...
I am not being mean...I just think this one has bridezilla written all over it! She is expecting everything for nothing, ya know...
Keep your guard up!!! 
Cambo,
I'm sorry this happened to you. What a pain. Since I have nevered done a tasting before take my advise with a grain of salt. What about having her pick up the samples tonight and take them home to sample them (if you are too busy to have the tasting tonight) that way you could still use the stuff you made for last night's tasting. I know it doesn't excuse what she did but a least you don't have to bake a whole new tasting for her.
Cambo,
I'm sorry this happened to you. What a pain. Since I have nevered done a tasting before take my advise with a grain of salt. What about having her pick up the samples tonight and take them home to sample them (if you are too busy to have the tasting tonight) that way you could still use the stuff you made for last night's tasting. I know it doesn't excuse what she did but a least you don't have to bake a whole new tasting for her.
Yes, last night I told her if she will need to p/u the samples are my convenience. It's my anniversary tomorrow, so I will NOT be entertaining a second "make-up" tasting. She has ruined it for everyone, I'm no longer going to offer tastings. If they want to try something, they can pay it.
I knew she was going with me a couple of months ago....she didn't want to go with anyone else since she's seen my cakes and tasted them. This is fine, but doesn't give her the right, 6 weeks before the wedding, to inconvenience me when I'm helping her out. I'll get over this, but am changing my rules!
Happy Anniversary (early)!!!
Enjoy your day tomorrow!
DH and I get to have a date night tomorrow ( 
gasp) the shock of it all!
What you can do in the future is charge for the tasting. I'd charge x amount for two cake flavors, y amount for three and so on. I'd probably alsp limit the number of flavors and fillings since that is alot of work.
Have them pay when they make the date for the tasting and let them know if they decide to go with you then you will take the money from the tasting and subtract that from the wedding cake cost. I'd also have a no refund policy on the tasting fee.
If they skip out you still get paid for the hard work you went through, and if they go with you, then they get a little discount from the wedding cake, and who doesn't like a discount right?
Of course you can always adjust your prices so the 'discount' is worked in and you still make the same. 
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