Need Help Dealing W/a "customer"interfering With M
Business By kathik Updated 18 Aug 2007 , 4:22am by KittyPTerror
I'm very angry right now and 1- I don't know if I should be, and 2- I'm not sure how to handle this situation.
History:
I have been negotiating with the local preschool's board to sell Rosh Hashanah cookies as a fundraiser for them. I would sell them to them at a discounted rate, I advised them what I thought they could sell them for, and they would keep the profit. So I made samples last week of each design, 3 in total, and brought them to the school. The board president put them in the office until last night's board meeting.
In the meantime, I also was/am in process of negotiating sale of these same cookies to a local kosher store. They were very interested and we were/are still working out details.
So tonight, I get an email from the preschool's board president that the new director came in yesterday and began reorganizing the office, and she threw out my cookies! They were carefully packaged and I had even had a few emails with her about the possible fundraiser. So I'm really mad that she threw my cookies out! 
So the board never even got to see them.
Additionally, she was at the kosher store today and asked them if they would sell the cookies as part of the fundraiser! I don't want it to work this way! I give the preschool a substantial discount, much more than I give the store. I feel so frustrated! Why does she think she has the right to do that?? I am already working hard to be a vendor for this store, and she's cutting into my profit this way!
Am I right to be mad? What do I do?
Kathi
She can't sell your cookies through the Kosher store if she's thrown your samples out and you don't make her any more! She's within her rights to ask whoever she likes to sell your biscuits once she's bought them from you - presumably the fundraising thing would be only a short term thing?
I do understand why this would grate!
I'd continue negotiations with the kosher store - they're your best bet for profit now.
I would imagine that could be done. I mean, stuff comes in packages all the time that says, "not intended for individual/retail sale."
The other thing is, I'll bet if you talked to the board about it, they would understand that you're essentially operating at a loss to sell your cookies to them so cheaply, and you can't do that in the quantity it would be necessary to sell them to the store. I'm sure the store would also understand that your discount on the cookies is essentially a donation to the school, so they shouldn't expect the same discount.
I'd be furious, too, but since I'm sitting on the outside, it sounds like that woman had no idea what she was doing. Maybe she thought the cookies had been in the office for a few days and weren't eaten (rather than that someone was saving them) so she thought she'd toss them, and she probably didn't see anything wrong with asking the store to sell them for the school. I think most people aren't cruel, but a lot of them are thoughtless.
I think you need to make it clear to the shop that you had offered to do a donation of cookies just covering your costs but that offer stands for them alone as it's your kids' school, and that you WON"T do them at that cheap rate for the shop.
You also should tell the new director that it is a conflict of your interests if she wants you to donate and your other venue (the shop) to sell them at a profit that you don't get.
You can always back out entirely and tell her offer revoked since the conditions didn't fit your business plan. 
I guess I'm mad because I put a lot of work into these cookies, they were freshly made, and it was her first day on the job. The board president has been working out of that office for the last year+ and she didn't even ask her about anything, but instead came in and just starting tossing things, including my samples. Also, as I said before, she knew I was working with the president on this fundraiser idea and that I would be making samples for the board to see. She could have asked before throwing them out!
Also, she didn't even have the courtesy to speak with me and confirm whether or not we were set to do this, yet she goes out and starts trying to get the only kosher store to sell them for the school. I'm very close to just saying forget it, if you want my cookies, go to my website!
Kathi
Kathi, I would tell them exactly that.. go to my website.
They are not treating you as a proper business, so they have lost any donation of effort that you were doing.
Also, since your deal wasn't with her..deal over. sorry!
You need people to respect you as a business, not just a mum doing cookies. She sounds like a twit anyway.
How does this sound?
Dear (Director),
I just received an email from (board president) regarding the cookie fundraiser proposal. I hope that you had the opportunity to look at the cookies prior to discarding them in your cleaning work. My understanding was that (board president) was going to leave them in a safe place so they could be presented to the board Tuesday night.
Also, (board president) mentioned that you spoke with (owner) at (name) Kosher store regarding selling these cookies in support of (school name). Im sorry that I must tell you that I have been working on my Rosh Hashanah plans with (store owner) all summer. I will be one of her vendors, so they will already be selling my cookies. When I spoke with (store owner) this morning she said that she did not realize you were asking her to sell Parve Pleasures cookies, instead she thought you meant cookies the children were making. (Store name) will not be able to sell these in support of (school name) because that violates our prior arrangement.
I keep the Preschool fundraiser sales completely separate from my regular sales because I basically give the school these products at cost. They are intended to serve two purposes, one, to support Jewish education, and two, to serve as advertisement for my business. This fundraiser was originally presented to (board president) as a gift idea for the children to give to family members or friends. I am a single individual running a very small, start-up business. I cannot afford to operate at a loss on the number of orders that might be generated through fundraising outside the (school) circle. If we choose to go forward with this fundraiser, I will have to ask that the board (or School representative) sign a contract agreeing that sales will be limited to (school) families, in accordance with the original proposal. Please let me know if you would like to go forward with the fundraiser under the above conditions. It is important that I have a decision by Wednesday, August 22nd so I may either create a flyer for (school) or add these to my Rosh Hashanah direct sales offerings.
Thank you,
Kathi Kreider
Let me know how this comeas across.
Kathi
Well written! I think your letter sounds very professional.
I, too, think that the letter is very well written. I can see, though, how someone could take from it a - um, bitchy - tone. Knowing myself when I get angry or frustrated, there were a few little jabs in there that I could hear myself saying - and the TONE I would have said them in. I know you're upset, but you may want to take those "jabs" out. JMHO.
Go for it! The letter explicitly explains your reasons and plans and lays out what and why you've done things a certain way! Now the ball's in their court, so to speak. You've done this all in good faith and have now given them the chance to either accept or deny your offer.
I know the first paragraph comes off "bxtchy" and you are right I should probably take that out, but I really want to let her know someone that this frustrated me. I made these cookies 4 times until I thought they were "perfect" and they were gorgeous, in my not so humble opinion, and she tossed them out like they were nothing!
What other things come across as "jabs" ?
By the way here's a link to the cookies in question:
http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-photo_862803.html
http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-photo_862813.html
Kathi
Your cookies are so beautiful! I don't know how anyone could have thrown them away! Are you sure she didn't decide to eat them, and then just say she threw them out 
So, first of all, your cookies are awesome. I don't have any idea how you did the beehive colors (the lines and edges). Nice, nice.
Okay, so I took the liberty to edit your letter below, just to offer some suggestions on how it could come across a little nicer. Some of it may be a little too sugary for you, but I was trying to keep in mind the preservation of your relationship with these folks and the advertising you will benefit from if this goes forward.
Just my opinion, nothing more : )
Best of luck!!
Cathy
Dear (Director),
Congratulations on your new position! It sounds like you're settling in well.
I have just received an email from (board president) regarding the cookie fundraiser proposal. I was sorry to hear that the sample cookies I dropped off were accidentally discarded before the board had a chance to view them; did you get the opportunity to look them over?
Also, (board president) mentioned that you spoke with (owner) at (name) Kosher store regarding selling these cookies in support of (school name). Im sorry that I must tell you that I have been working on my Rosh Hashanah plans with (store owner) all summer. I will be one of her vendors, so they will already be selling my cookies. When I spoke with (store owner) this morning she said that she did not realize you were asking her to sell Parve Pleasures cookies, instead she thought you meant cookies the children were making. (Store name) will not be able to sell these in support of (school name) because that violates our prior arrangement.
Supporting Jewish education is important to me. For this reason, I offer my products to the school at cost and keep the Preschool fundraiser sales completely separate from my regular sales. However, I am a single individual running a very small, start-up business and, unfortunately, cannot afford to operate at a loss on the number of orders that might be generated through fundraising outside the (school) circle.
This fundraiser was originally presented to (board president) as a gift idea for the children to give to family members or friends; I wish I could allow the expansion of it, but it just doesn't make financial sense for me to do so at this time. I certainly hope you understand.
If we choose to go forward with this fundraiser, I will have to ask that the board (or School representative) sign a contract agreeing that sales will be limited to (school) families, in accordance with the original proposal. Please let me know if you would like to proceed under the above conditions; I think this is a great opportunity for the Preschool and for me, so it is my hope that we can come to agreement.
It is important that I have a decision by Wednesday, August 22nd so I may either create a flyer for (school) or add these to my Rosh Hashanah direct sales offerings.
Thank you,
Kathi Kreider
Kathi[/quote]
Cathy,
Yes, your letter is more tactful and probably more professional. I appreciate the changes and they are not "too sugary" for me. I have sent it with your changes.
I think the hardest thing for me in business is that I find it hard not to take these things personally. 
I put so much time and effort into my work and especially the religiously themed items. I obviously need to work on this issue.
I appreciate the opportunity to vent (as I still can't believe she threw out my beautiful cookies without asking anyone!), the positive feedback on my cookies, and the help with the letter. I'm so grateful for the CakeCentral community! 
Kathi
Well done Kathi! You are standing up for yourself and your business!
I am so proud of you!!
Oh my gosh! Those cookies are beautiful and I can't imagine (to spite my previous, uninformed post where I suggested just this) that she "accidentally" threw them out! Best of luck with working this all out!
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