Coworker Issue?

So I work in an Accounting/Admin role and report to the controller. There is a department (Customer Service) who has quite a few people in there who do nothing but ask for favors (order Splenda instead of sugar, special kind of coffee, birthday cake for only certain people in their dept, etc).

They ask me to do these things in which case I always run it by my boss. Well recently I was asked to order a cakes for 3 people's birthdays (we have so many sweets here in the office). We havent done this in the past and its unfair unless we do it for everyone. My boss told me not to do it and I told them that my boss didn't give a go on it and that they could ask to her about it.

Now two people from that department are super rude and mean to me. I am just doing my job and running it by my boss since she is in charge of money at the company.

Any advice/suggestions? Did I do the right thing? If in my shoes what would you have done?

Problem when working with people, unless you specify in a nice way that it's not your idea (don't kill the messenger), they will take it personally. The next time, it wouldn't hurt to use some people skill by saying "I know you'd like to have the cakes for your party, but unfortunately, I do have to run it by my boss, and there is a good likelihood that you may not get it, but I'll request it if you still want me to." This implies that if they don't get what they want, it would not be because of you. Also, you are merely doing your job, but you cannot be a machine about it. People do have feelings. If you tell them no, say it in a way that's not abrupt: "We can't do it now, but maybe later in the year. You can ask again then." It creates a possible hope whereas your answer, even though true, does not give any.

Have your boss deal with it. Or write a memo signed by
your boss and distribute it and keep one displayed at your
desk at all times. Otherwise Customer Service can take
care of their own ordering if they don't need your boss
to approve it.

Hi,

You are right, you are doing your job and you have no control over what the company will pay for. It sounds like you did the right thing in the situation, however maybe the customer service dept. should be asking your manager for these money favours rather than yourself? It puts you in a difficult situation and the fact that they are being rude to you shows that they are not grateful for all the favours that you have done for them in the past.