Real-Life Decision Making -- Solution
You confess your errors to the client.
This was the real-life decision made by Mitchell Mock, a caterer in Tucson, Arizona. Mock immediately went to the hosts and explained his mistake.
The clients laughed about it. Just their luck that they get double the bread and someone else gets double the cookies, they said.
The hosts were very understanding about the situation. Mock explained the options they had, one of which would be to refund a portion of the catering fee. The clients agreed that they should just pick something simple up at the supermarket. The guests understood that the cookies which eventually showed up on the table weren't from the caterer.
Everything worked out fine, although it's always embarrassing to admit a mistake. Nevertheless, Mock knows it's well worth it.
"Word of mouth is the best advertising," says Mock. "And in a small town, word gets around fast. Besides, I just feel better when I'm on honest terms with my clients."