to refuse this sale?

[CharliesSister]

I run a small business making bridal hair accessories.
I've been contacted to create a headpiece that matches this woman's bouquet, and she needs it by next weekend. (Rush orders for weddings are astonishingly common, but thats a whole other thread!)

She asks for a quote, which I provide. In retrospect, I massively under-quoted as I wasn't thinking straight, but obviously can't go back on that now, but I'm already losing out when you factor in the time taken to make the piece (I quoted £21 and its at least 3 hours + work, I'm an idiot).

I set up a custom order for her (Etsy) but she's refusing the pay for the piece, or a deposit, until she's seen photos of the finished item, in case she doesn't like it. I can kind of see where she is coming from but I can't really afford to spend hours designing and making something without at least a deposit to barely cover the material costs.

AIBU?

She's getting very stressed as her wedding is next weekend and I feel really guilty as she's saying this is spoiling her big day.

It seems clear that she has found herself in this situation due to her outrageous behaviour. Probably hacked off loads of folk before you.

A short, but polite email explaining that you are clearly not able to meet her requirements, and wish her all the best.

I got married in 1989, fairly low key, non traditional and my hairpiece cost about £25, from a Clare's style place.

She would be I meant

"Dear Bridezilla, I'm dreadfully sorry but due to sudden and unforeseen circumstances I will not be able to make this order in the time specified. I will refund you immediately and wish you the best of luck for the future
Regards CharliesSister. "
And block her from making any further contact. She's a headcase. Pity the groom .

Send Mega's post while thinking grilled's.

She's a loon. No matter how purple your prose or good your excuse, she's going to be extremely pissed off and very probably leave a bad review anyway.
Tell her the order is cancelled and block her number. You've spent most of the day analysing it already. Let it go.

Gosh I don't think that my tiara from Debenhams was that cheap!!

Could you just tell her that you feel unable to accommodate her wishes in the timescale and think it better that she tries elsewhere?

Grilledaubergines, fabby ! 😂😂😂

Great post from MEGA !

Suggest she shaves her head?

Bridezilla won't need to shave her head.
She most probably ripped it all her hair out by the roots by niw

I kind of wish we could see some of these eighteen messages.

Any chance you could give us a carefully anonymised synopsis if them, OP? I sort of imagine them descending into screeching madness and gibbering and frothing threats of murdering your cats.

I sort of imagine them descending into screeching madness and gibbering and frothing threats of murdering your cats

No, that's probably reserved for her FB page

She's quite mad, OP, and I'm sure you know you're doing the right thing in binning her

If she's this deranged over a hair piece, imagine what an earful her poor nearest and dearest are getting, at the moment.

You did well to cancel.

I wonder if she's ordered her cake last minute, too.

It would be SO tempting to send

"Refund sent cos you're a fucking nightmare I pity your fiancé"

I think you should make her a headpiece that has a flashing diamanté sign 1' above her head saying bridezilla, see if she likes that. I'm sure we could have a mumsnet whip round to find it!

£21 should cover that, right?

As it's in the interest of the thread op, post a pic of the work you've done so far.
plenty of brides to be on MN

Return her deposit and tell her to wear a veil instead.

18 messages
Bonkers

Definitely refuse the sale. She won't be happy in any case!
I don't know what your products actually look like, or how long they take to make - but £21 sounds like it wouldn't even cover materials. I'd imagine a bespoke tiara should cost a couple hundred. Obviously, I'm just guessing here but still wanted to say that 'hobby' prices are extremely damaging to people who need to make a living doing similar things - please make sure you are pricing correctly, and including enough for your time, overheads, and a mark up for profit.

Refund!

I think Mega's post is a good matter of fact reply. This lady will leave a bad review anyway and you can always set out the facts if needed.

Don't waste any more time.

Adding my voice to the YANBU chorus.

How did you get on OP?

Just refuse the sale, not worth the hassle or risk for £21 (my friend has a headpiece made for her wedding and it was £200)

What have you decided to do OP? tbh this order does not seem worth the stress