How do I send a NO instead of a quotaion to a potential client
Hi guys:
I was asked on 22 June to provide a quotation for a 23rd July wedding. I did just that. I heard no word from the guy (apparent wedding coordinator of sorts). On thrusday he calls and asks for the quotation (yes I was stunned). I informed him that it is in his inbox. He then asked for samples and queried the cost telling me that the bride's budget is $JA40,000 and that is the include travelling. I quoted JA$52,000.
I told him that if she wants to stick with her budget then she should reduce the the sizes and number of cakes as well as go easy with the detailing.
On Friday her cousin calls asking if this is Teneisha. When i identified myself she said i am so and so and you are doing a cake for my cousin. I advised her that i am not doing a cake for her (no confirmation nor deposit received) but that i provided a quotation. She asked if she could see me today which I agreed to.
When they came they wanted this and that and I was royally annoyed. Anyhow I remained professional. The bride lives in the US and the wedding is in Jamaica, 2 hrs away from my home. They eventually put her on speaker, and I'm sure she said everything better goes as she expects it to otherwise she is going to sue all who don't deliver as she expects. HOLD UP!!!! Is she serious. She is half of a million over budget and wants to go cheap on my cake then sue me if the cake has a crack after driving with it for 2hrs.
So after I finished the orders I had for today...I reflected and said to self you will not be making that cake...did I tell you all that it will be my birthday...o yes...stress myself to do a wedding cake on my bday and then get sued!!!!
They are expecting a revised quotation...how do I nicely tell them that I will not be able to do the cake?
Looking forward to your responses :)
Regards,
Teneisha Williams
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Stampinsher on
-
Triple the price of the cake!
Triple the delivery of gas and time!
Make is so outrageous that she has no choice but not to pick you.
If she said, but that was not your quote previously, say that is not the same cake as your wedding planner told me before.
One change and the price goes up and late notice without having any responses back to me for my time and effort I'm rearranging my schedule (you don't need to mention it is your birthday) has my schedule very tight that weekend.
That is my advice, but I am NOT a Professional Cake person with a business - so hopefully someone out there will give you good advice who is a PROFESSIONAL in the Cake Business.
I wish you luck!
-
Permalink Reply by Leah Carpenter on
-
I am an amateur cake decorator but it doesn't matter what business you are in - you have to trust your gut feelings!! If you aren't happy with the job - will you do a good job?? These people sound horrid!! I wouldn't be concerned about telling them where to go... :)
-
Permalink Reply by Wendy Wegener on
-
2 things: You can tell them that you have already booked other clients cakes for that day, because they never came back to you. First come first serve.
Or you can tell them that it is your birthday and that your husband or family has surprised you with a weekend away vacation and unfortunately as there was no confirmation or deposit, you have every right to decline customers.
I have stopped making large wedding cakes (now only 1 or 2 tiers) because of people like this.
Leah is right, you already have animosity towards this cake and if you came it, the animosity will come out.
-
Permalink Reply by Deah on
-
Teneisha, try this one - "At this time I am unable to accept your wedding order." Wish her luck and be done! You do not owe her an explanation. Sounds like a royal bridezilla nightmare!
-
Permalink Reply by Kathy Kmonk on
-
I agree with Deah, you do not owe her an explanation of any kind.
-
-
I agree with Deah!
This is probably why I'm not ever going to be a professional or sell my stuff. Deah, said it nice and professional.
Deah said:Teneisha, try this one - "At this time I am unable to accept your wedding order." Wish her luck and be done! You do not owe her an explanation. Sounds like a royal bridezilla nightmare!
-
Permalink Reply by Teneisha Williams on
-
Thank you all for your comments...Deah I'm running with yours...lol...straight to the point...I'm free to say yes or no without worry....if she really wanted a wedding cake she would have hired someone already...oh well
-
Permalink Reply by Christina's Novelty Cakes on
-
Teneisha,
You would be setting yourself up for problems if you took the order. Just tell them unfortunately you are unable to take their order as you are fully booked. It's short notice and then she is going to come with her demands. RUN GIRL........ NOTHING BUT TROUBLE in this one.
Do not feel guilty and do not make a compromise either no matter how much they want to offer you. Trust me peace of mind is so much more than money. I just hate those last minute brides. You bend over backward then they are over budget and they will find all kinds of faults just to avoid paying you your money.
It blows my mind all the time why people wait until last minute to order their wedding cake and then come with demands. Well, you might not believe this one but here's what happened to me several years ago. A lady calls me and says she wants to get a cake for some friends for a wedding. So I got her email address and sent her some pictures and asked a few questions. I did not get a response. As the date was approaching I paid her a courtesy call, no response. I left a message and sent another email. NO RESPONSE. The wedding day is here and you would not believe what happened. They are at the reception waiting on me with the wedding cake. I was like excuse me???? Which wedding cake??? You made an inquiry but no order was placed, flavor, color, design, nor did you sign a contract etc. The lady was totally pissed off with me and so was her friends but I made it clear its your fault not mind. Yeap!! this is how crazy people are.
-
-
Thanks Kscakes and Christina....
I sent the NO...lol....told them I am unavailable for that date, and I did rub in in their faces that had they responded to me from June then the order could have been accommodated. Told them as Deah suggested "All the best".
This is what I think happened, since she had a budget in mind, when I sent my original quote they went shopping around to see if they could get it cheaper. Oh well, she's now going to have to pay more for it. Not to be evil but I hope they run some increases...that should be a lesson learnt...hehehe
-
Permalink Reply by JJ Becker on
-
We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone for any reason.
I've even refused to sell a customer their cake when they cake to pick it up even though I had filled the order and the cake was done and ready for them because of remarks they made leading me to believe there might be trouble later.
-
-
I'm learning that JJ. And you are one serious/tough cookie...lol
The more I think about it the more annoyed I get...but for me it's over and done. They tried calling me last night after I sent the e-mail...I didn't bother to answer...it was near my bedtime...lol
Today is a new day let's see what happens...:)
Popular Cake Searches
© 2024 Created by Theresa Happe.
Powered by
