MemberI 100% agree with daniellemybelle!!!!
Bill them and offer a small discount. She should not be able to just use you. If she isnt holding up her end do exactly what was said lol
Membera verbal agreement is still an agreement. i would do exactly as daniellemybelle suggested- just take emotion out of it and act completely calm, because after all, she has reduced this to a business transaction. if she questions you at all, just react the same way you would as if a customer was not paying you. she’s going to feel sheepish when she gets hit with 2k instead of just loaning you her things- and maybe she will recognize how unbelievably generous your original offer was!
MemberTalk to your Fiance. Get his opinion of what you want to do. If you decide not to use them for the dishes, bill them your full amount and let it go from there. Call them and tell them that you understand their concern but due to the circumstances of the contract you discussed, you will now need to bill them the full cost of your time/work.
MemberI agree with MandaMack, I would send them a bill for the work you did. Stating for services rendered. They didn’t pay up with their barter, so they owe you money.
That’s crap. I’m sorry.
MemberI agree with some of the other girls, Bill them. You spent hours making sure their home looked beautiful and what did they do for you in return? Nothing…
MemberI know you guys are right and I should bill them, I just feel reeeeeeealllly awkward about it right now. I wish Fiance were home so I could talk this over with him. He gets back over the weekend, so this will have to wait to be sorted out until then unfortunately. It’s not even the money that gets to me, it’s the principle of the whole thing. Friends being friends, treating each other properly, helping out…. I mean jeez, if someone is going to raincheck on dinner, whatever, but this is my wedding. It’s just hurtful both for me and for Fiance. He’s fiercely loyal and would never have pulled this kind of stunt on them. I hate to see him hurt and let down. It’s going to be hard on him.
MemberActually, although it IS awkward, I think Danielle’s wording really makes it less so – it’s indirect, still a discount….etc.
MemberOh it’s absoultely rude of them. I think that’s more what the bill is about.. it was rude that you didn’t hold up your end of the bargain, here is a bill, and I read above. I really like danielle’s idea of even giving them a discount because of the misunderstanding.
Doing business with friends is sooo dangerous. It just really sucks that it burned you in the end.
And I understand not wanting to making it awkward, but you provided them with a service – it was a barter, not completely free. I think you have to treat it as a business deal gone bad, and seperate it from the friendship. Mabye even put a personal note with it, saying something like. Sorry to have to send you a bill, but because we are having to rent things last minute, we will need the money comparable to the time we spent working on your project. Don’t worry about getting us a gift.
Member@bakerella: yeah i would totally bill them for the work. especially since the agreement was flatware and dishes in exchange for design work – they didnt pay you, so they need to get a bill.
simple.
MemberI just priced it all out and I need about $1800 of rentals now. Awesome. Billing them is looking more and more likely…
Member
MemberOh Bakerella! How typical. Some people are so ridiculous. If she was uncomfortable with this in the first place, why did she let you make this deal and agree to her portion?
Bottom line is, this is a business deal- yes? So, I am afraid you may have to have a frank conversation-. (“friends and business truly don’t mix!) That goes something like this, “Well, if you are unable to honor our arrangment, I will have to bill you for the hours that I worked. I have to report my business transactions.” It could be that simple. If/ when she freaks, maybe add, “well, I may be able to offer you a discount. But I will need to report a proper transaction, either in terms of dollars or trade.” That is very sticky, and I am so sorry! You can do it though, when you are ready.
Bottom line- this is a business deal. So, either they honor their part- (nothing to do with a wedding gift, that is totally separate-) or, they need to be made aware that you will be billing them. Good luck!
MemberBill them, very very sweetly and make sure the price is extremly reasonable. Make sure the invoice is very detailed.
“Hi X, We’re so sorry our barter did not work out. Included please find the bill for the design work performed by me for my side of the barter”
“it looks like we’re going to be able to find the rentals short notice after all, which is a huge relief, so things have worked out!”
Please keep in mind that the work done was also done with a “friends discount” and I will not be able to offer that for any future projects. Mrs. X is lovely and I’m thrilled to work with her but she is rather demanding of my time, and I cannot afford future discounts.
MemberUggghhhh you guys are right. This is going to be sooooo terrible. I’m not sure why I’m the one feeling so bad right now though. They’re the jerks with the pretty house! LOL!
MemberMan that stinks but look at it this way, you can hire someone else to figure out how to transport them and clean them and return them. And if something did get broken who knows what would have resulted. I don’t know why people act the way they do. Good luck
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