What's wrong with people?

cbratthauer

So I have recently started my own baking business. A good friend from work ordered a birthday cake for his mom a few weeks ago. He was the first person who actually talked to me when I started working here over 2 years ago and we have become pretty good friends. I know that due to some personal issues he doesn't really have a lot of money. When he asked me to make the cake, he asked what I would charge for the size and type of cake he was looking for. I told him the amount, $50. He asked if he could pay me $25 the day he picked it up, and $25 today, which is our next payday after he picked up the cake. For people I don't know, I wouldn't have done this. But since we're friends and I know he's in a tough financial situation, I told him as long as he had the full $50 to me by today that would be fine. He promised he would. So he picks the cake up and says he didn't stop to get cash and doesn't have a checkbook, can he pay me Monday at work? I say sure, Monday rolls around and he gives me $10. Today rolls around and he tells me he doesn't have the other $40 for the cake. It's really frustrating because this happens to me with people too much! That is why when I started this business I decided to stick to my prices even if it were friends ordering, because I am trying to run a successful business. When I first started, my fiance's sister thought I'd be making things for her kids birthdays and school functions for free all of the time. I know it's only $40, but to my fiance and I right now $40 is a lot. We are getting married in 22 days and could use that money towards wedding related things. We also live paycheck to paycheck and this baking thing on the side helps to cover wedding costs. When I asked the guy at work about it he laughed it off and said I didn't think you were serious about that much money come on we're friends isn't $10 enough? Seriously? I'm so frustrated I could just scream!

hjfischer

I would tell him that you gave him a fair price and you are also living paycheck to paycheck and planning a wedding, so every dollar is needed. Plus, he should understand that since he is your good friend. It is hard, but he needs to pay you the difference. Sorry, good luck.

ctroendle

It sounds like your 'friend' just wants to stiff you; it seemed pretty clear that they understood they'd be paying the full amount if they stated they'd give half now half later.

Maybe they're embarrassed about not being able to afford it, but they were not obligated to go through with the order after you told them the price. It's your call whether you want to get the money or keep the 'friendship,' but if they support you they wouldn't try selfish things like that.

jamie1888

How rude! Exactly why you have to stick to your pricing and policies of payment with EVERYONE! No exceptions! That way, there can be no problems like this.

crystalmichelle82

that is so BS! People shouldnt take advantage of you. I know how it feels too b/c I run a business myself and i have a friend that ordered something on home direct and she doesnt have a checking account so she asked if i could do it through mine and she would pay me. Well I agreed to it because i really want to help her a lot. I want her to benefit from this product she is purchasing because she has health issues and this will help her with her weight. Anyway... she asked me last month if she could pay me in installments weekly on the total because she doesnt have it at once plus her husband is being resistant to the idea. I went to buy a phone from them for my husband's bday and thought she might give me a cut because she owed me money and that didnt happen. I paid the full price she was asking for it. She still owes me money, needless to say..

aa1440

He is not a friend. He has taken advantage of your good nature.

If he only had $25 to spend he should have bought a $25 cake.

I would let it go. It's only a small amount of money. He knows what he did to you. He will probably never ask you for another cake.

SimplyDeLish

You may want to think about half down when they order, then the other half on pickup. That should solve most of the issues. If they don't want to pay the deposit you don't waste your time or ingredients!

Good luck with your new business!

koosdel

Did you learn your lesson?

HollyLLillis

Sad but true, people are like that and I hate to say it but friends and family (at least for me) can be the worst. It's happened to me before too.. I'd ask for the money first then they get the product....

CountryDevil

Having a small photography business, simply put, business is business and payment is due at time of the transaction. Now, being your friend, you could of given him a discount, but payment would still be due at time of transaction.

I have done exactly what you have in the past and it has bitten me more than once. From experience, it is best to keep friendship and business practices separate and treat everyone equally.

Hope this helps.

kellieprindle

People suck!! They will gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today!!





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Egger29

I believe Ann Landers used to say time and time again: "No one can take advantage of you unless you Let them"

Consider it a lesson learned for future reference.

Dragonwolf

Unfortunately, people do that a lot. If you want to really see how bad it can get, check out web design forums (a lot of people seem to think that because it's not a tangible object they can pick up and hold, then it's not worth anything or didn't take any work). It's sad that people do that, but it's reality.

My advice for you is to require no less than half up front, before you start any kind of work, no matter who it is. If they don't like it, politely explain to them that it's your policy for everyone and that it helps cover the costs of the supplies (or whatever reasoning you want to use). If necessary, also don't turn over the product until you've received the other half of your payment (though this might not work as well for you as it does in my field, since your product has a shelf life, but it might serve as incentive to your customers to pay you promptly).

In my experience, this is standard policy for freelancers in general, because that way, the risk is split between the buyer and the seller - you have a guaranteed half of your money in your hand when you start work, so if the person skips out on paying you, you haven't lost completely; it also mitigates some of the risk the customer takes on (from hiring you as a service provider), because if you were to skip out and not deliver the product, they've only lost half of what they would have had they paid you in full (it's really not as cynical as it might sound).

jimswife1

If he couldn't afford the cost, he should have baked a cake at home. People need to stop attempting to live beyond their means, especially when it affects your bottom line. Some things you just can't purchase on credit!

You need to stick with your bottom line, point blank. Now if at some time you want to give price breaks, do something for repeat customers, like after so many purchases, give a price break of 5-10$. I'm sorry you were taken adavantage of. Many friendships have ended over money. You provided a service and deserve to be paid.

pilotgirl2007

You have to stick to your guns no matter who the person is. No special treatment even for friends. This is a lesson my boyfriend has experienced in his own business as well. He works on cars for people and this one guy seems to think that he is over charging him and tries to bargain with him! Finally the guy called to get a quote and it was more than double what my boyfriend was charging him!

People seem to think that they can take advantage because they know you. You need to tell that guy that you did him a favor and you were promised payment by the time he recieved the product and he didn't follow through and that he needs to make it right.

JENIFER_AZ

He is not a friend. He has taken advantage of your good nature.

If he only had $25 to spend he should have bought a $25 cake.

I would let it go. It's only a small amount of money. He knows what he did to you. He will probably never ask you for another cake.

I agree with you 100%!!!

leomom72

ugh..thats all i can say without totally ranting FOR you..im sorry you had to deal with that, my family has dealt with many " friends" like that..the disadvantage of having a kind heart. we once gave our "friends" about $300 worth of money and items when they were about to be evicted from their apartment, and the minute i needed $5 from them for gas, i got called a *****, and the door slammed in my face..on top of that, after we moved out, we had to leave our truck at the apartments filled with stuff from christmas, mostly my kids toys, and they broke into our truck and took it all for their bratty kids..that was 6 years ago, but i am still pissed off about it..unfortunately it happens, and there is really nothing you can do about it..good luck

jtbaddison

You've learned that under no circumstances can you trust this person, and that information only cost you $40. Some people pay more dearly for that info. If you can "write it off" and erase the debt from your mind, you won't have to bother about shaking him down for money, which I assure you he has no intention of paying.

cbratthauer

I have decided that from now on, half down is due at the time the order is placed, the other half at the time of pick up. If they don't have the other half when they pick the cake up, they don't get to take the cake with them.

Just1forMe

You may want to think about half down when they order, then the other half on pickup. That should solve most of the issues. If they don't want to pay the deposit you don't waste your time or ingredients!

Good luck with your new business!

Absolutely! In fact, I would insist on 75% down, 25% before you hand over the cake. If anyone balks, tell the story you just told here and tell them it's happened several times. They will then understand. Stick to your guns...friends and family too! This is a BUSINESS, not a charity, right?

leomom72

I have decided that from now on, half down is due at the time the order is placed, the other half at the time of pick up. If they don't have the other half when they pick the cake up, they don't get to take the cake with them.

good for you..i hope you have better luck

MrsSorenson

Wow that is totally rude. I hope you have better luck next time! Stick to your guns!

auntiebabs

Tell him...

"I Yeah, but I have overhead* to cover. ...
need $25 to cover my overhead and break even PLUS I had to turn down another job to get this too you on time. So I've lost $15 bucks profit from the cake I turned down $15 profit from your cake and I'm in the hole another $15 for my overhead costs that I haven't recoup from your cake. So this "favor" I did you cost me $45."

If I baked the cake but it wasn't ready until the next day would you have thought it was fair for me to charge you full price? But you expect me to cover your costs for something that you had agreed to? That doesn't seem fair to me"

(*Remember that overhead includes not only the ingredients, but electricity that you used for baking, a portion of your housing costs for storage space that you use for keeping supplies on hand, and electricity used for the fridge to make sure those supplies are fresh AND YOUR TIME, because if your company grows and you need to hire help THEIR TIME becomes part of your overhead.)

I don't know what your real costs are but you can figure them out. I'm sure their must me a calculator for this that you can google to find out.

Quiltmania

Why is it when "friends" find out your have a particular skill they think you should give it away? I've had a friend ask me to make a quilt for her daughter and offered me a whopping $25! Excuse me, $25 wouldn't even buy the fabric. I guess I'd be a squeaky wheel about it -- I'd ask him for the money every payday until he got so sick of my asking that he'd pay up.

DebsFernandez

I have decided that from now on, half down is due at the time the order is placed, the other half at the time of pick up. If they don't have the other half when they pick the cake up, they don't get to take the cake with them.

Yup. My boyfriend was doing something similar in baked goods. People (and by people, family and friends) would place orders and then say if they can pay him later. I kinda of told him that he is to take payment otherwise how is he to buy ingredients? We too are living paycheck to paycheck and it sucks. Then to get stiffed like that in the end of you working so hard to make something beautiful or whatever custom thing they got! No, that's just not right. And these slow times don't help either. I'm really sorry that that happened to you.

And I really wish you good luck on it. I hope your business turns into something everyone knows

boopiejones

this is why friends and family don't mix with business. you need to treat a business like a business 100% of the time. never front more money than you can stand to lose, because eventually someone WILL take advantage of you.

half upfront and half when the cake is delivered is a good approach. you can justify the first half upfront because you need to buy supplies... and worst case you only get 50% and get to keep the cake! or better yet, slam it on the ground right at their feet. bet they'll never try to screw someone like that again...

Learnin2LuvMe

Thats not cool..He should see that you are trying to run a buisness and support that. My brother does this with me,he will ask me to borrow money and 90% of the time he will not pay me back.Then when the time comes to pay me,he won't txt me for wks. Ill end up inviting him somewhere n he will say hes broke,n ill tell him its ok,dont worry.But now I don't let him borrow nething.Ive learned my lesson.If he asks again,i just am honest with him,n tell him that I can't.Of course hes my brother and I feel bad,but not to be taken advantage of. So I hope everything turns out ok with you and your friend:)

christalouigi

If he thought you were kidding about the price, he should have laughed and said, "Nice one" or something at the time of the negotiation, not agreed to an actual payment plan. People don't realize how much time is involved in making a cake and how expensive supplies can be. I took cake decorating classes last year and then I totally got why cakes, especially ones for weddings or others that look really fancy, cost so much. It is extremely time consuming. $50 is a good price for a nice, skillfully decorated cake, friend or no friend. It is particularly hard making cakes for friends and giving them a price for your time and product. I made two nice cakes for a friend who was having a joint birthday party for her two kids, and I probably could have charged like $100 for both of them together, but I think she gave me $35 and a few of her own character cake pans because I hadn't actually set a price for her up front. That was the hardest thing for me when I was doing cakes, setting a price for people I know. Good luck in the future with your business and I hope that guy coughs up what he owes you!!

TripleJ3

This is a hard lesson I had to learn. People will take advantage of you. People who you would have gone to the grave swearing they would never do that, just might especially when money is involved.

Majority of people are out for themselves first, so you have to have that attitude also when it comes to your business. I'd have people pay up front. I run a daycare in my home, and have learned many a hard lessons. A lot of times I have to be a person I don't like to be, but if I don't people will try to rip you apart.
I may sound cynical but when you have dealt with people and money for so long, you learn how to protect yourself. Especially when it comes to family and friends.

laurielie

If he couldn't afford the cost, he should have baked a cake at home. People need to stop attempting to live beyond their means, especially when it affects your bottom line. Some things you just can't purchase on credit!

You need to stick with your bottom line, point blank. Now if at some time you want to give price breaks, do something for repeat customers, like after so many purchases, give a price break of 5-10$. I'm sorry you were taken adavantage of. Many friendships have ended over money. You provided a service and deserve to be paid.

laurielie

I AGREE!!!