I am not "official" yet, just working out of home for now until I'm able to get licensed.
But my question is, how strict are you guys with your payment deadlines for wedding cakes?
I have this flighty customer whose deposit check bounced (her fiance wrote it out of a checkbook that had a closed acct, supposedly grabbed the wrong checkbook) but she overnighted a money order as soon as I complained, plus a bounce fee.
Now this past weekend I reminded her about her payment due date being Wednesday. She said she'd send it Monday. (She refuses to pay online). As of Wednesday I did not get payment so emailed her again. She wrote back saying she sent it from work FedEx and I should have gotten it today (Thurs)....well no payment. So I emailed her just now saying I didn't get it today and hope I do Friday.
Now if I don't get it Friday (tomorrow) I think I'm going to have to get tough. Maybe she thinks since I'm just a mom who does this on the side at home that its ok to not follow the contract we signed...I dunno, she says her wedding stress is getting to her. I already have all the supplies for her cake so prefer not to cancel or anything drastic but I'm thinking about adding a fee, but didn't know if that has to be spelled out in the original contract or what.
So how strict are you all?
Payment must be made 15 days before wedding... after that "cash only!"
People will scam you. If they try to get me they will definitely try to scam someone who does cakes from home. No money no cake.
mpc
Payment must be made 15 days before wedding... after that "cash only!"
People will scam you. If they try to get me they will definitely try to scam someone who does cakes from home. No money no cake.
mpc
That's a good idea, if I do not see the payment tomorrow I will definately require cash, and by Monday too.
Any other thoughts?
If she had sent it FedEx she should be easily able to provide a tracking number -- isn't that standard when you mail something overnight?
Ask for the tracking number -- if none is provided she was lying. Tell her you have to have cash by (whatever date you decide) or there will be no cake.
3 weeks before wedding - no exceptions! However - I state that in no uncertain terms in contract. I also have brides put a 25% nonrefundable deposit at the time of the contract. This will cover supplies I happen to buy before the date if anything happens. If they miss the deadline, I charge a fee and require that the cake be paid for in full with cash within 48 hours or the order/date in cancelled.
I would say that if you don't have cash in hand tomorrow - cancel.
I'm a stickler too, if they have not gotten a check to me by two weeks prior to wedding then I require cash, if there is no cash before I start baking I don't bake. I'm tired of people thinking this is just a craft and fun and games. I have a family and a life regardless of what they think. 
My policy is payment two weeks before the wedding, and I am pretty strict about it. I get the cheques deposited right away, so if there is a problem, two weeks gives me enough time to find out about it. My bank is really good about it - others may not be, so one month may be required.
When I was first starting out, my policy was one week, and I had a bride who sounds just like yours - wedding stress, 
! It was an excuse to not do things on time... 
Anyway, I had to tell her that if she didn't get me cash by noon the next day, there would be no cake at her wedding. The cash showed up via her flustered sister the next morning (plus cash for the damage deposit for my cake stands, which I was worried that I would never see again!).
I had to call, and call, and call for the cake stands (bought new for her wedding by the way - $300 
), and threaten to buy myself new stands with her damage deposit - finally the Mother of the Bride returned the stands (very put out) three weeks later. I should have just bought myself new stands, but I was being nice... 
This story is why I am so strict about payment up front - no money, no cake! I went through too much stress that time, and I won't do it again - fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me!
Thanks all!
I did ask for tracking and she sent it and it should come today so that is good. I just hope its a money order (as we discussed after her check bounced) rather than another check.
I don't know why brides think we have to follow our end of the deal (delivery on time, design just right) but its okay if they fudge on their end. 
re: getting checks cashed - all banks are subject to the same legal requirements regarding when they make funds available. see this link if you have questions about it: http://www.federalreserve.gov/Pubs/regcc/regcc.htm
you bank may choose to give you access earlier, but they can't do it later
Mine have to put down a non-refundable cake deposit of 25% the payment is due in full 2 week before the weding. I do send out e-mail/ phone reminders at the 3 week point. That way they have NO excuses!
I tell them I buy supplies at the 2 week mark, so if the 44 is not here I will have NO SUPPLIES, therefoer NO CAKE WILL BE made.
Time is money...
Still didn't get payment...she sent the tracking number but it just says "data transmitted" but nothing ever received or transported.
I wrote her a note basically saying I didn't know what was up with FedEx but that I needed the money in cash on Monday by noon or no cake (cake is Saturday, I start baking Monday and have several weekend projects to work on).
She got angry and said she sent the package (um AFTER the due date I must add) in her work drop box and she can't help it and if the money order isn't good enough for me that I can send it back and she'll buy a sheet cake. 
I just told her she didn't need to get so angry because its not my fault that the due date came and went with empty promises before we ever had the issue with the Fed Ex drop box. I told her I would stand by my Monday date however would accept the late FedEx money order OR cash whichever came first.
....She got angry and said she sent the package (um AFTER the due date I must add) in her work drop box and she can't help it and if the money order isn't good enough for me that I can send it back and she'll buy a sheet cake.
The one and only problem I ever had with a bounced check sounds just like this! Check written on closed account by accident. Bride says she mailed a money order from work. It never showed up. My husband spent 25 years in banking and said it's an old story.... he heard it all the time when he worked in collections .... money orders cannot be traced or stop-payment'd. How convenient! oh and she didnt' mail it with any kind of tracking number either. Double-convenient.
I told this bride that ".... I don't know how you deal with a missing money order. You can call me with a credit card number and if the money order shows up, I will return it to you. I've been more than patient and we need to get this cleared up." 2 more emails plus one from my husband (*) and she gave me a credit card. (BTW, the money order NEVER showed up.)
(*) Husband is my "office manager" who handles any problems that can't be taken care of in an email or two. Once it gets to that point, he has more time to take care of it than I do.
Well she wrote back angry and cancelled her order (even though she still has until Monday to get payment to me). She says my "tone" was just as "angry" as hers (it wasn't angry, just factual, pointing out that there's no reason for her to be upset since the FedEx problem didn't arise until AFTER the due date, anyhow, so its still her fault, and she had several months to make this payment). I gave her until Monday so technically she still has the entire weekend to make the payment, AND I even told her I'd accept the FedEx money order if it came by Monday as well, instead of cash.
Soooo she provided an address in which I can send back the money order "when I get it". Whenever that is. According to the tracking number "data transmitted" but that's it. I wouldn't be surprised if she sends another one just to prove a point and that she never really sent the first one but who knows. Anyone who will cancel a wedding cake a week in advance over a late payment probably has serious issues.
I hate it, this is my first wedding cancellation (not to mention I have boxes and boxes of sugar tulips now but the deposit covered them I think) because of anger and I don't like it but oh well. She lives down the road from me too so hope she doesn't spread dirt.
Just checked FedEx tracking and the package was picked up this afternoon at like 4:30 and will arrive Monday.
So I have no clue if the issue was really with her office FedEx drop box or if the issue was that she sent it late.
No matter.... she cancelled on me anyway. 
It doesn't matter if she gets "angry"....... it was HER fault, and you did the right thing..... you HAVE to stick to your guns..... she probably will bad mouth your though....... she will have to say SOMETHING if she just has a sheet cake at the wedding..... So sorry you had this happen..... BRIDEZILLAS ARE MEAN !!
Why on earth would she bother FedExing a payment to you if she lives right down the road??? If she was on the up and up - and the bounced check was really an accident... you would think she would stop by as soon as possible with the money order. Then her payment would have been to you in plenty of time and she wouldn't have had to pay FedEx charges.
check the date on the money order when it gets there.
I will!
Also my husband said that this one does not live "down the road" (my bad!) rather about 20 minutes away. Still not too far to just bring me a payment if she really wanted the cake.
The payment should reach me by Monday which was my "grace period" so evidently there's something else wrong why she would rather just dump the cake and "buy a sheet cake".
Anybody want several boxes of purple and white tulips?
Thanks! Yeah I dunno why she canceled like that, she has $75 invested in the cake ($50 deposit, $25 bounced check fee) and she acted like it was no big deal to throw a fit and cancel on me.
Its ok I have another big project next week so although its less money, its also less hassle and more sleep...which at this point, I'm willing to take. haha.
Bear with me but I want to copy our msgs here real quick and can you guys tell me if I had a rude or angry or unfair tone? Let me know what I could do differently for next time. Thanks!
(From me on 6/9) Hope all is going well with your wedding plans. Time is flying fast!
Just wanted to remind you about your final payment due date,
this Wednesday the 13th. For your convenience you can pay online on my payment page on my site if you like. The balance is $250.
(From her on 6/9) Hello!
I will mail the payment overnight on monday from work. I will
email you when I do =)
(From me on 6/13) Hi again!
Not sure if you remembered that your payment is due today. You
can make the payment online on my website to make sure I get it today. It takes debit or credit cards either one.
Thanks!
(From her on 6/14) Hey suzy, that should be there this afternoon, via fed-ex. I sent it yesterday from work. Sorry about the delay, wedding stress is seriously getting to me. Please let me know when you get it. Thank you!
(From me on 6/15) Hey when I looked up the tracking number it says the package data was transmitted but it does not say they have the package, and I did not receive it by the date/time it says I was supposed to have it. Are you sure the package got to FedEx?
So.... I"m not sure what's going on with the Fed Ex thing but I need to
have $250 in cash (not money order or check) in my hand by Monday at noon or I won't be able to do your cake. I know that you want me to hold up my end of the contract by making your cake just like you wanted it and getting it to the wedding on time, but I also needed you to hold up your end as well by paying on the date you signed for on the contract.
Thanks alot
(From her, 6/15)It was sent, via fedex, by my office. I have the confirmation email telling me that it was shipped, so I'm not sure why it's not coming up for you. I sent a money order, but if that's not good enough, when you do receive it you are more than welcome to send the money order back and I will go buy a sheet cake. It should have been there already, and as I said, I have the conformation email of the shipment. I'm not sure what else to tell you, but the fedex drop box is 3 floors down from my office, and it was taken there. If there is a mix-up with fedex, and they didn't pick up the packages at the times posted on the drop box, then I don't know what to do.
As I said, you should have it, but if when you do get it, a money order
is not acceptable, please just mail me back the money order and I will get
my cake elsewhere.
Thanks.
(From me, 6/15) I'm sorry, you do not have to get so upset. The contract stated the money was due Wednesday. You promised to send it Monday, but did not. Then you said you sent it Wednesday, but the online thing says you sent it Thursday. It is not my fault that you had several months to get the money to me yet the due date came and went, and that was even before we had any issues with FedEx.
I've never had to cancel a cake order before and would never want to do it, but I will have to stand by my date of Monday as a deadline. I will accept either the money order sent yesterday through FedEx or cash.
Sorry for the trouble, I'm always pretty easy to work with but there's a reason I put a due date on my wedding cake contracts and its not something I put in there to cause trouble or arguments, its just something I have to do to make it work, to make sure everything is right.
(From her, 6/15)>I did not get "so upset". My email was in the same tone that yours
was, so maybe you should check your tone as well. At this point, I would rather not have you make the cake. If you could
please send me back my money order when you get it, that would be
great.
Thank you.
(From me, 6/15) I am very sorry to hear this. I've tried to be professional and fair...I'm
sure you understand I have to protect myself as well...I start working on
wedding cakes ahead of time to make sure they are perfect which is why I
have to ask that payment be made on time.
However I will respect your wishes and cancel your order and send back the
money order when it arrives.
Thanks,
She then sent a note saying "Thanks". Incidentally the Fed Ex shipment said it was "picked up" on the afternoon of Friday the 15th when all our main correspondance took place. It will arrive Monday which would have been passable had she not cancelled.
Thanks for any input on what I did right or wrong.
You did nothing wrong. Look, there is no way that this woman is doing this to her caterer, her florist, her dj, her dress store, etc. If she were buying her cake from one of the 'big guys' (we both live in the same region, so you know the places I'm thinking of), there is no way she would be giving them the same lines.
I have absolutely no sympathy for missed payment deadlines. Two parties enter an agreement. She failed to abide by the terms to which she agreed. She is fortunate that you didn't cancel the order from the first missed deadline. FedEx is her problem. From now on, I would insist on payment in person or certified mail with return receipt.
I got married too ( AS MANY PEOPLE DO) so I know that things get hectic in the weeks leading up to the event. That does not lift your accountability to contracts, written or verbal.
You did the right thing, don't worry!
You did nothing wrong. Look, there is no way that this woman is doing this to her caterer, her florist, her dj, her dress store, etc. If she were buying her cake from one of the 'big guys' (we both live in the same region, so you know the places I'm thinking of), there is no way she would be giving them the same lines.
I have absolutely no sympathy for missed payment deadlines. Two parties enter an agreement. She failed to abide by the terms to which she agreed. She is fortunate that you didn't cancel the order from the first missed deadline. FedEx is her problem. From now on, I would insist on payment in person or certified mail with return receipt.
I got married too ( AS MANY PEOPLE DO) so I know that things get hectic in the weeks leading up to the event. That does not lift your accountability to contracts, written or verbal.
You did the right thing, don't worry!
Thanks!
I kept asking for online payment actually and she refused, she has this thing about FedEx and money orders for some reason. Which is fine, but if she can come to my house for a tasting she can come to pay me. (Which she did get a nice tasting cake complete with fondant and some simple gold decorations so she could understand fondant better because she was unsure about what it was.)
kitagrl, I think you handled it very well. You were far more tolerant than I could ever be.
I've decided I don't want to deal with any more people who seem to be nice....it's just a FACADE!
Let them be bi+@4h$ from the get go. I can't handle the exorcist syndrome when they get a friendly reminder.
At least when they are horrid from the start, I don't feel so bad treating them like shekaka and I know what to expect.
It's the (in a sweet, timid tone)"Oh, sure, I understand completely...Oh, yesssssss, It must be difficult for you to manage so many weddings and occasions in such a short time...You won't have to worry about a thing, I'll make sure that money gets to you as promised" then the reminder call comes...Linda Blair images are filling your mind...waiting for the split pea soup..."AAAAAAAAAAARGH! ALRIGHT ALREADY! I'LL GET YOUR MONEY TO YOU JUST GIVE ME SOME TIME!!!!(under her breath you could swear she said "money hungry bit***)
no no....I don't call 'em. That's what I'm saying, you were far more tolerant of her than I would've been. I got kids, a grandbaby, hubby and waaaaaaaaay too much shtuff to deal with to be coddling a grown woman through a self created crisis.
brb...Food Lion is on the phone reminding me I need to go grocery shopping...
no no....I don't call 'em. That's what I'm saying, you were far more tolerant of her than I would've been. I got kids, a grandbaby, hubby and waaaaaaaaay too much shtuff to deal with to be coddling a grown woman through a self created crisis.
brb...Food Lion is on the phone reminding me I need to go grocery shopping...
ROFL!!!!! You are so funny!
Yeah that's why I'm kinda glad she cancelled. With three boys and boy number four on the way, I've had a crazy cake week this past week and a large project next week, and I was starting to think I'd gladly give up the $250 to have less stress and one less project to worry about.
Its just so funny...after two months, its all FedEx's fault for not picking things up on the time listed on the drop box.
Okay I'm over it...that is, until I get the package Monday and the money order date proves some lies...haha then I'll come back and start up the rant again.
Guess I'm a newbie at the bridezilla thing...maybe you all are just used to it by now! I work p/t for a high end catering company and they tell me that they even have trouble getting money out of their brides too.
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