People not getting back to you

[Crazygirl79]

Recently my cousin's wife started a cake making business and on behalf of the local adult Asperger Syndrome support group I asked her if she could make a cake for the open day of the new Asperger Centre in September (which we would all contribute to paying for) and she was all positive at that time so I thought we were ok for the cake.

Last week I was asked by T's mum to get the exact price so we could start fundraising for it and I have not had a response which I shouldn't have been surprised about really considering how my family tend to treat me in general but still I was anxious and slightly annoyed as was T who threatened to call her and have words with her about not getting back to me but I told him to leave it for now and I said to him if we don't hear back from her by the end of this week we'll still raise the funds but take the business somewhere else.

T's mum says that we have plenty of time but thats not the point, I was asked to get the exact price of this cake, I did that and I have not recieved a f**king response, it doesn't take anymore than a few minutes to respond to a short message even if it's to say she can't make the cake or whatever.

I am just so sick of this family and their sh*t, I have put up with it most of my life, I have been polite to them for the most part, I have accepted them for who they are and yet they don't seem to have any regard about letting people down or stuffing them around..

This is f**king not only annoying but painful as well...it shouldn't be painful now but it is, you'll say it's just a cake..yeah I know it's just a f**king cake but I was trying to do the right thing and it backfired yet again..I can't play this game anymore I really can't

Selena

[Fuzzy12]

That sucks Selena. I hate it when people aren't reliable, especially when it concerns their profession (though I'm often guilty of not getting back to people myself )

I know it's not just about the cake, but could you call your cousin's wife and ask her for a quote right there and then on the phone? And if she can't give you one, then cancel the order.

[sarahsweets]

Oh selena ((hugs)) it sucks when family treats you like this...you know what i would say,(

Maybe just call and say this is what it is how much or screw off? youre hearts is in the right place as always...

[Crazygirl79]

I'm too angry to speak with her at the moment so I might get T or someone else to do it but I will ensure that he is not rude to her or anything like that but if she stuffs us around we won't bother proceeding with the order as I've said before..

I am already looking at other options.

Selena

[stef]

Are you sure she actually received or saw the email? you just never know sometimes! Try resending it; copy in T's Mom and say "WE would really like to know.....etc etc". be totally neutral. Provide more information about the fundraising event.

sorry you have to deal with this kind of thing!

[BR549]

Selena, as lousy as this situation is, at least you will know how to proceed at the end of the week.

If she does get back to you this week, you'll at least know, should you ever decide to refer someone or ask for a quote, etc., not to expect prompt responses or action on her part. If she doesn't get back to you, then you'll know you shouldn't ever ask her to make anything for you.

It's always hard working with or for family and sometimes, friends. Sometimes, people don't always view relatives or friends as customers/clients. For some reason, their projects and work are pushed aside or moved to the back burner. Those particular projects or work are not a priority. Even if the work is not done for free.

Over the years, I've learned not to approach certain family members about things like this. The bad side of that is, these same people who put off work or did things at the last minute, get mad if I go elsewhere. It's a lose-lose situation. I finally just made it known up front that I didn't want to cause any strife or put anyone in an uncomfortable situation by working with/for friends/family. It's even harder when your familial situation has been or is, less than ideal.

I'm sorry that your having to deal with this right now. You're probably better off finding someone else anyway.

[RedHairedWitch]

The trouble of working with family is that they tend to prioritize you lower. It's just like how we take out our bad day on our loved ones. We know they will be more forgiving and such, so it gets put on the back burner.

That's just people. And that's why family and business don't mix.

If you want something done efficiently and professionally, hire someone you aren't related to. If you want something done nice, cheap and don't have a deadline, ask family.

[Crazygirl79]

Stef: I sent a private message to her on Facebook and she definitely got it as the day, date and time of that message is on there and it also indicates that it's been seen, what has annoyed me is that she has been on there since but has not bothered to respond. It will be a week tomorrow since I sent that message (It will be Wednesday in Australia)

BR594: I know exactly what you're talking about and if she doesn't get back to me by the end of the week I certainly won't be calling on her for services again nor will I be recommending her to anyone else but at the same time I not make it my mission to badmouth her to everyone and anyone who'll listen or do anything else to ruin her business, she had better not get the sh*ts if I go elsewhere because I'll have no qualms in putting her in her place and telling her straight that she should have thought about it before stuffing me around, I don't give a flying f**k if she's married to my cousin or not a business arrangement is a business arrangement pure and simple and if she can't do the right thing and fufill her part then it would show that she lacks the proper business skills and should consider learning a thing or two about how to run a business properly from an expert and I would have no qualms in telling her this either if it came down to it!!

As the saying goes...The customer is always right!!

Selena