I was genuinely excited to work with She Fancy Catering. We were referred by a trusted client and were looking forward to building a long-term relationship for future events, including ones with our own clients.
Unfortunately, our experience took a surprising turn.
On the day our final invoice was due, I emailed simply asking for a quick call the next morning to clarify one detail about a potential venue change. There was no refusal to pay -- just a request for a five-minute conversation to make sure everything aligned before sending the final balance.
Instead of a call or even a brief clarification, I received a message stating that if payment wasn't made within four hours (on a Saturday night), our event would be canceled and our deposit forfeited. At midnight on the dot, I received an email confirming that the date was released and our $600 deposit was kept.
I fully respect policies and deadlines -- I run a company myself. But I've never encountered a small business so unwilling to offer a simple phone call or even a short grace period to discuss a logistical question. A quick conversation could have resolved everything.
The experience left us feeling rushed, dismissed, and ultimately penalized for asking for clarification. It's unfortunate, because we were genuinely excited about this partnership and potentially involving them in much larger future events.
I hope sharing this helps other busy professionals understand the level of communication and flexibility they may encounter. read more