How do you turn a bride away?

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Mocha Rose

Mocha Rose

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Aug 1, 2006
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www.mocharose.com
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:help:I'm getting way too many red flags with this bride. I just reworked her quote for the fourth time in two weeks and still have not received a deposit. She just emailed me again asking me for the dimensions of every bouquet?! She cut everything down by half from the original quote, is now worried about size BUT still wants to know if she can decrease the price!

I don't feel like I can make a profit anymore when I consider the time I am spending on her and I feel like no matter what I do, she'll be unhappy.

How do I turn her away? This wedding is all silks so I can't say the date was taken. She is ready to send me a deposit (on her terms though- I require 75% upfront for silks and she wants to do payments).
 
Mocha Rose said:
How do I turn her away? This wedding is all silks so I can't say the date was taken. She is ready to send me a deposit (on her terms though- I require 75% upfront for silks and she wants to do payments).
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I'm sorry, but I do not think I can help you, based on your constraints. Perhaps you would be better off with another florist.
 
Dear Bride,
Thank you for offering us the opportunity to be your personal florist on your Great Day, however, during the time that you have been making changes, we have met with another couple that has signed their contract and have booked the day for our services. Unfortunately we will be unavailable for any other weddings that day due to the size of the event. It was a pleasure meeting with you and we wish you well.
Sincerely
etc etc

We have done this several times...what can they say...we feel or I feel that "leopards never change their spots" and if you get ucky vibes from the get-go...it is not going to get better.You do not have to offer her any other reasons as to why you will be unavailable..it is your business...whether it is silks or not....
Keep us posted.
Sher
 
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Mocha Rose said:
I don't feel like I can make a profit anymore when I consider the time I am spending on her and I feel like no matter what I do, she'll be unhappy.

How do I turn her away? This wedding is all silks so I can't say the date was taken.
Click to expand...

Sher said:
Dear Bride,
Thank you for offering us the opportunity to be your personal florist on your Great Day, however, during the time that you have been making changes, we have met with another couple that has signed their contract and have booked the day for our services. Unfortunately we will be unavailable for any other weddings that day due to the size of the event. It was a pleasure meeting with you and we wish you well.
Sincerely
etc etc

We have done this several times...what can they say...we feel or I feel that "leopards never change their spots" and if you get ucky vibes from the get-go...it is not going to get better.You do not have to offer her any other reasons as to why you will be unavailable..it is your business...whether it is silks or not....
Keep us posted.
Sher
Click to expand...

Sher great reponse!

There is one small problem here........

Since the wedding is all silk, the wedding flowers can be made up weeks or months in advance. The great thing about the silk wedding is that you can do it during slow times to fill out designers idle time.

Make one bouquet, have her sign off on it and no more changes. Tell her your policy is 75 pct ...... etc.

If you don't want to do the wedding, give her an honest reason.

It sounds like you are unsure that you will make this bride happy. If that is the case, tell her that.

If you are concerned that her constant changes will cause you to lose money, tell her that.

You have the right to turn a profit and operate your business on your terms not her terms.

HTH
joe
 
Sher's answer is fine, but if you really have not booked it for someone else,
and your not a good actor, then........?
I would bite the bullet and do exactly what BOSS suggested. Or, because she has not sent a deposit, let her know that you have now booked that date for a family "get-a-way". Just don't tell her that your trying to get away from her. heee heee
Just say no if your not feeling comfortable, you will be glad you did!!
:squish:
 
I actually did just book a large event on her date, so it is technically not a stretch of the truth. However, because it is silks I'm not sure how that would fly. As Joe said, I can do them during down times. With the her payment schedule though, I have a feeling that I won't receive the 75% payment until July which is my busiest month. There won't be any down time.

I do like Joe's response mixed with a little bit of Sher's. I think (hope) my honesty will be appreciated.
 
Just be Honest

This is what we do,,

When she calls again, you ask to meet with her, explain that you are a professional, that you will and would do the upmost to make her wedding day that of all dreams are made of, but at this time you feel <Truth> That you are not the match to do her wedding, that you do all events that are unique to each individual not cookie cutter, and with the design constraints put forth her wedding, be that of everyone else, The you feel it is best that she try to find someone else to work with her. This will make you look the best in her eyes, the honest approach is the way to go..SO that the wonderful lovely person will look as the pain in the arse that she is...LOL> I have had my share as well lately..
 
Just Say No....

One of the very few benefits that you have as an owner is to work with and for whom you choose.

As the former owner of a management consulting company, I made very few rules but I had three that I stuck by:

1. If I don't like you and totally trust you - you can't work here. No matter how smart, talented, etc. you are.

2. If I don't like a potential client - we don't work for them. No matter how much money they have.

3. If I don't believe a project or assignment will be successful, we don't get involved.

My recommendation: I would JUST SAY NO! but I like to think of myself as open-minded so below are some alteratives.

Alternative Suggestion 2: Don't let the door hit you where the good Lord split you.

Alternative Suggestion 3: "And the horse you rode in on"

Alterntive Suggestion 4: Yes, I'll do your wedding. Just make sure that you schedule me well in advance - like the day after H*LL Freezes Over.

If you need other ideas .....just let me know.

All the best!
 
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Queen of Weddings said:
This is what we do,,

When she calls again, you ask to meet with her, explain that you are a professional, that you will and would do the upmost to make her wedding day that of all dreams are made of, but at this time you feel <Truth> That you are not the match to do her wedding, that you do all events that are unique to each individual not cookie cutter, and with the design constraints put forth her wedding, be that of everyone else, The you feel it is best that she try to find someone else to work with her. This will make you look the best in her eyes, the honest approach is the way to go..SO that the wonderful lovely person will look as the pain in the arse that she is...LOL> I have had my share as well lately..
Click to expand...

This is the best approach. Knowing my competitors abilities and methods, sometimes I even make recommendations. I've even refunded large deposits based on the truth that we are not the best match for what the bride is looking for.
I
 
TexasFlowerGuy said:
One of the very few benefits that you have as an owner is to work with and for whom you choose.

As the former owner of a management consulting company, I made very few rules but I had three that I stuck by:

1. If I don't like you and totally trust you - you can't work here. No matter how smart, talented, etc. you are.

2. If I don't like a potential client - we don't work for them. No matter how much money they have.

3. If I don't believe a project or assignment will be successful, we don't get involved.

My recommendation: I would JUST SAY NO! but I like to think of myself as open-minded so below are some alteratives.

Alternative Suggestion 2: Don't let the door hit you where the good Lord split you.

Alternative Suggestion 3: "And the horse you rode in on"

Alterntive Suggestion 4: Yes, I'll do your wedding. Just make sure that you schedule me well in advance - like the day after H*LL Freezes Over.

If you need other ideas .....just let me know.

All the best!
Click to expand...

Please tell me you offering training courses. I'll be the first to sign up. :)
 
Sher said:
Dear Bride,
Thank you for offering us the opportunity to be your personal florist on your Great Day, however, during the time that you have been making changes, we have met with another couple that has signed their contract and have booked the day for our services. Unfortunately we will be unavailable for any other weddings that day due to the size of the event. It was a pleasure meeting with you and we wish you well.
Sincerely
etc etc

We have done this several times...what can they say...we feel or I feel that "leopards never change their spots" and if you get ucky vibes from the get-go...it is not going to get better.You do not have to offer her any other reasons as to why you will be unavailable..it is your business...whether it is silks or not....
Keep us posted.
Sher
Click to expand...

TexasFlowerGuy said:
One of the very few benefits that you have as an owner is to work with and for whom you choose.

As the former owner of a management consulting company, I made very few rules but I had three that I stuck by:

1. If I don't like you and totally trust you - you can't work here. No matter how smart, talented, etc. you are.

2. If I don't like a potential client - we don't work for them. No matter how much money they have.

3. If I don't believe a project or assignment will be successful, we don't get involved.

My recommendation: I would JUST SAY NO! but I like to think of myself as open-minded so below are some alteratives.

Alternative Suggestion 2: Don't let the door hit you where the good Lord split you.

Alternative Suggestion 3: "And the horse you rode in on"

Alterntive Suggestion 4: Yes, I'll do your wedding. Just make sure that you schedule me well in advance - like the day after H*LL Freezes Over.

If you need other ideas .....just let me know.

All the best!
Click to expand...

Can I somehow combine Alternative Suggestions 2-4? Too funny!
 
It's probably a little wordy, but here is my response (to the 4th email sent today). Hopefully this was a peaceful break up.

"Since our meeting, another couple has sent a deposit in for your wedding date. I am hesitant to agree to another wedding so I can be sure that I maintain superior service on the day of the wedding to each bride. I am nearing booked status for April-August so I'm not sure I will be able to complete your flowers during that time period. I cannot order any flowers for your event until I receive 75% down, so I'm just a little worried that I won't be able to allocate the proper attention to your flowers after the beginning of March.

(.... part deleted for confidentiality...) I may not be the best choice as your florist.

I hope that this does not come across the wrong way. I really enjoyed meeting with you and your mother. I just have to know my limits when it comes to wedding season.

Thank you,"

THANK YOU FC's for all of the great advice! (I did give her the option to get the 75% by early March and I will still do her flowers. I cannot let this drag on until September though!)
 
It's tough, but sometimes you have to do it

After 4 or 5 quote revisions for bridal party flowers, my bride for this weekend emails me and says, (no down payment, as it was last minute consult):

To save money my friends are going to purchase grocery store flowers to make the bouquets, and I want to order only the bout's and corsages from you.

I cringed, but sent her a nice note back that it would be most economical for her friends to also make the bout's and corsages.

She then sent me a note to say she wanted all silk and where was the cheapest to buy them?

I think it was Connie that mentioned a while back...you can't lose money on jobs you don't get.

Sher, loved your reply, wish I had seen it earlier!
 
No.NO. Dear, you tell her very sweetly what % of wedding has to be paid and when, unless she is a close friend or something, she has (sounds like ) used the free stuff up. You're letting her run the show.Unless bride has money in hand at this point, let her walk,( I know it's hard)
 
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