I've only just started selling my cakes, so am not quite as savvy as i need to be. Today i got screwed!

I delivered a cake today. All fine, client very pleased. She handed me a fold of cash and i, STUPIDLY, said thanks and put it in my pocket. I saw a few £20s and a £10 and thought that's nice, she's given me a £5 tip.

NOPE. when i checked when i was back in my car, she'd only given me £90 instead of £105! I'm absolutely sure she didn't deliberately short change me, I know her well and she's lovely. She'd be mortified if she realised. I'm just gutted that i worked really hard on a cake on the hottest day of the year and got paid £15 less than i should have on a cake i'd already discounted!

So, Next time, I'm printing out a receipt and saying, That's £XXX to pay.

Still made money on it, but gutted i was so silly!

ANyway just need to share my stupidity with people who might understand! Cake below.
http://cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1722588

Cute cake. A lot of people require full payment BEFORE they turn the oven on to bake the cake. If you did that you'd be certain that this would never happen again. ...sorry that this happened to you...did you not say anything to the customer about there not being enough money?

I usually get a decent deposit and get final payment in advance. But I know her well, so didn't. Will every time from now on!

Need to be more confident about the money side and check how much i'm given rather than worrying about looking mercenary! Need to remind myself it's a business now, not doing people favours...!

You know, I have the same sort of feeling like you seem to. I don't like to count in front of people when they pay me in cash because I feel like I'm saying I don't trust them to give me the right amount. I know that's not what it means, and it's only GOOD SENSE to count it right there in front of them, so I usually just quickly glance at it. But it still makes me feel weird. Something I have been working to get over.

That happened to me once, also with a good friend, because I also felt uncomfortable counting the cash in front of her. She'd underpaid me by about 40 or something on a total of about 200. I eventually sent her a quick email and told her exactly the notes she'd given me (I didn't want her to think I was lying). She was mortified as your friend might be, but she straight away asked for my bank account and did a transfer, so it was all sorted. But it was quite a horrible situation. I decided to do it because I didn't want to feel cheated out of my work, and I'm glad I did, and she was glad I did too! She has ordered from me since, so no hard feelings from either of us.

I always feel like I break even. How many times has an added tip been thrown in on other cake orders?
Which is more important? The cash or the friendship?

What really burns my buns is when I do a cake for free, as a gift, and don't even get a 'Thank You'.

That's just down right wrong.


Karma Baby!

thanks to year's working drug store deliver (where that money bag had to balance to the penny!)

and now many years as yearbook adviser

and church treasurer....

NO qualms about counting money in front of them and then marking invoice paid in full (or issuing a receipt)

It's PROPER business practice. And for many of us this IS a business.

Doug is right. It is proper business practice. It will make us appear more professional.

You're all absolutely right! I know I handled it wrong- at least I've learned my lesson. Could have been a much more expensive lesson! Friendship is more important than the money - have no intention of mentioning it. Just really annoyed at myself! Still has prompted me to sort out the paperwork side better!

Oh and when I said I made money, I mean I paid myself minimum wage or so! So much to learn in this business!!!

I'm sorry, but I don't understand WHY this has to be any sort of "lesson"

Why not call or e-mail this "lovely woman", whom you "know well" and explain what happened, asking when you can stop bye to pick up the remainder?????

If it was the honest mistake that you believe it was, then she'll apologize and gladly turn over the extra cash. I'd certainly want someone to tell ME if I did this..............

If it was a deliberate act, then she'll be angry, or at the very least doubtful, and who cares because who wants a customer who would do something like that, anyway

Had it been me--and I never count the $ in front of someone, either--when I checked in the car, I'd have walked back, showed the wad of money to her, and waited until she forked $ over.

Once, someone gave me too much cash---and I drove back (just a block) to return it to her................

I refuse to be ANYONE'S victim
Rae

why count in the car?

what delivery person does that?

you count in front of the customer -- just like in ANY store, in ANY BUSINESS transaction.

Nothing hidden!

Well, maybe it's just a "girl" thing.................or maybe it's my old waitressing days when we were NOT to count money at the table in front of the customer....errors were taken care of by the cashier, only.

I choose not to do it when I'm standing in someone's home making small talk with them. It "feels" rude and somewhat distrustful. Maybe that's "wrong", but for me, it's the way I prefer.

That said, I DO count it on the way to the car or as my DH drives off of the property and errors are rectified immediately.

Rae

Count. Always count. If you're undercut, you can correct it right there. If they've overpaid, you can offer change. How would you feel if you drove home and realised someone overpaid by $15.... Maybe they were expecting change and you just took the money and left and they felt awkward about asking you for their money back. Take away all the stress. Visualise the counter and till in front of you. Count the money, hand them their invoice and/or change and wish them a lovely party.

If you DON'T count in front of the customer, and they short-changed you, they could accuse you of stealing money or lying about the amount you received.

Since she didn't count in front of this customer whom she knows so well, I would let the difference slide. I would not ask for more, because I failed to count it on the spot. From now on though, I'd count on the spot.

Actually, the OP said she was shorted £15, which is about $22.50 USD.

I work at a bank and I'd say less than 5% of the people actually count the money I give them. I know it feels awkward because I feel the same way BUT I can tell you I have more respect for those customers that do count the money.

I like the idea about counting it then having them sign the delivery receipt...it does look more professional.

oh good grief.....they need a sale on big girl panties.

I work at a bank and I'd say less than 5% of the people actually count the money I give them. I know it feels awkward because I feel the same way BUT I can tell you I have more respect for those customers that do count the money.

I like the idea about counting it then having them sign the delivery receipt...it does look more professional.

Thanks for all the helpful replies. As i said in the original post, i'm very aware that i made a mistake.

I'm just jumping in to add that when I pay someone (for example, a landscaper who works on the yard, or the dump truck driver who delivers a load of stone), I state the amount I owe them and count the money out to them. This way the terms are stated verbally, and often accompanied by an invoice, and any miscommuncation can be discussed right then and there.

To lissyUK, I'm sorry this happened to you and I hope that you may be able to rectify it. If the person you made the cake for is someone you know well and the agreed upon price was £105, she'll probably trust that she did short you and want to make it right. Good luck!!! (And very cute cake, too!!!)