I was to have Wednesday thru Sunday off for the Holidays when I recieved a call from a dad in need of a quickly arranged cake tasting. His daughter and her fiancee were going to fly in and would only be here thru Sunday. Could I please accommidate them(I am by appointment only). I agreed to arrange a tasting at the kitchens on Thursday morning at ten. Even though my own daughter flew in late Wednesday night( I didn't get home from the airport until 1:00 a.m.) I still got up early and prepared their choices. 10:10 came and still no people. 10:15 I call to talk to the mother to be told that the future bride and groom were too tired and the Dad was feeling ill and they would not be coming in!!! I couldn't believe it!! 
They could have called and cancelled! O well, they propabaly would have been a PINA any way, but really, how rude! Thanks for listening to my rant.
That's it then! No cake for them and definitely no rescheduling! You don't want them as customers.
signed,
The Grinch
I always consider those "rush" type, that have to have what they want RIGHT NOW a big red flag....People who do that are usually in a rush because they don't plan well....You can usually expect the rest of your relationship with this type of clients to go the same way. They are the type that MUST HAVE IT but are snails about paying for it, and quick to complain too. It's all about THEM.
wow, that is so sad, you would think that they would have called and let you know... I don't know why people think that we nothing better to do then wait around for them, but its o.k. if they don't show up because they have better excuses or things to do (ie. sleep, apparently we cakers are part of the undead and never need sleep!!! 
Jodi 
That does suck.
Maybe you already did this but if I did something like that I inform the client in a diplomatic way that I am jumping through hoops to accomodate them and etc. So they get an understanding of what's at stake for me that I'm glad to do it but...
So the chance of getting screwed is less and they hopefully will have the grace to call if it falls through since I schooled them to call if something came up for them.
You can even prep them for an 8AM confirmation phone call or you will not be there at 10. Just like the pizza places--you don't answer, you cancelled the pizza/appointment.
Just some thoughts for going forward.
When I read your post I just could envision zombie cake bakers armed with cakes 
you made my day!!!
I believe I would have simply told him that, "sorry, I am currently on Christmas Break with my family, and he would have to schedule at another time." Anyone who would expect you to change your Christmas plans to accomodate them is not someone you want as a customer. I mean it is one thing to bend your schedule to fit a clients needs...it is totally another to disrupt your whole holiday break. I think this falls under the heading, "Just say no". I'm so sorry this happened to you. Some people can be total jerks sometimes. I think this is one of the reasons why I will never do this professionally, as much as I love doing it...people.
Man, I would not have been polite. I would have told her that I was DANG tired too after picking up my family at the airport that came HOME FOR THE HOLIDAY, and not getting to bed until 1am, then getting back up at the crack of DAWN to specially prepare the delicious treats they BEGGED me to provide, which I did out of the kindness of my heart because I was in the HOLIDAY spirit. (Not so much now, thanks to your inconsiderate family, btw)
Yah, I would've been a beeyotch, there is NO doubt about it. If they were too tired to eat a piece of cake, they'd have a piece of my mind instead. And maybe a foot broken off in their @ss... 
I was really tempted to let fly and I did in my mind, but they would be the types that would hurt my business by spreading tales about the grumpy baker. I counted to five and just politely reminded her I was by appoinment only and it would have been better to have cancelled before the samples had been prepared. It left them politely and quietly embaressed about their manners. On a good note the wedding venue I partner with had scheduled a tour a little later in the morning so the propesctive bride and groom got a impromtu tasting surpise and were please with the product so it wasn't a total waste.
I was really tempted to let fly and I did in my mind, but they would be the types that would hurt my business by spreading tales about the grumpy baker. I counted to five and just politely reminded her I was by appoinment only and it would have been better to have cancelled before the samples had been prepared. It left them politely and quietly embaressed about their manners. On a good note the wedding venue I partner with had scheduled a tour a little later in the morning so the propesctive bride and groom got a impromtu tasting surpise and were please with the product so it wasn't a total waste.
How cool! Love a happy ending.
I think it is cathartic to mentally whoop a$$ when someone jerks you around--better that than let it all build up like a geyser and take it all out on someone else. I'm glad that worked out to your business advantage anyhow.
For those who choose to chose over a holiday, let me remind you that auto-response on emails and voicemail response on the phone are tools that help you.
A VM or auto-email-response that says, "Thanks for contacting blah-blah bakery. We are closed for the holiday, Dec 22 thru Jan 2 and are not taking any cake orders at this time. Emails and VM's will be answered on Jan 3. Have a happy holiday!"
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