I would be busy that day also. Sounds like the friend lied about getting a great deal and now wants to come to you. Which normally would be fine but seeing as these two are rude and have no class I would not want to deal with them.
Also, you should ALWAYS charge for a tasting and if they book with you then you can credit the money to the order. Otherwise people will come to you for free cake and not book.
Duff charges $100 for his tastes and doesn't even let them try them at his shop. He packs them up and send them home with them. If they book he will credit the $100 to the order.
So if he can do that why can't we????
Didi
Run girl RUN!!!
I've fallen into the trap with bridezilla's a few times, and I shoulda turned them away as soon as i had an inkling they were going to be trouble.
I had a couple come to see me for a tasting a while back, and got a few quotes. At the tasting they went from a two tier cake to a three tier cake, and when i sent them the quote she questioned why the cake was going to be $80 extra, she didnt expect it to be THAT MUCH more. I explained to her that she was asking for an extra 30 servings etc.
She told me she would let me know.
I didnt hear from her for weeks, then she gets back to me and asks for another tasting, she wants to try another cake. 
I told her that as I hadnt heard from her for weeks, I had assumed she no longer wanted the cake and had booked someone else for that date 
Of course i hadnt, but i could see trouble coming, and decided to run from it. She emailed me back telling me that she had trouble believing that i had booked someone else in such a short time. THE NERVE!!!
hahahahaha, luckily those ppl are few and far between 
Good luck, and keep us updated on what you decide to do
Cheers
Nati
Wait, according to Bridezilla #1's email, friend was getting married July 7. Now it's in May? Sounds to me like someone picked a popular wedding date (07/07/07) and doesn't want to pay a premium for ANYTHING. I bet she changed the date when she couldn't muscle over the reception hall, the DJ, or the "other" cake decorator, either.
This tells me only one thing. She's coming to you because you're the cheapest.
I don't sell cakes, but I do deal with customers at my 9-5 job. We had to go through a process where our company elimated business from the cheapskate customers. The fickle ones who nickle and dime you and the second that a competitor charges a penny less, they're outta there. Initially, there was lost business. Of course. But things quickly bounced back when customers realized that we were the BEST, and they were willing to pay for it. The cheapskate customers? Let the competitors have them. They're pains in the butt, and end up sucking up all your time and costing you profit just by having to spend time coddling them.
How much time have they cost you already? First one tasting, then the price quote, then the communications, now another tasting? The first time, they pulled a two-fer. Two brides, one tasting. If you charge for tastings, they ripped you off. So take all the time you've spent so far and double it. At my regular job, I make an hourly wage. If my employer started jerking me around, having me work for free, telling me that now my pay was cut because my wage was too much in his opinion... I would wash my hands of that job.
If you want to work for this lady, charge her a competitive price and let her come to you for your talent. Not for a bargain. But I've already quit a job because of a crazy boss on a power trip. It's not worth it, and in your case you'd be putting up with the headache for the opportunity to give HER a bargain. Phooey. There should be a beeeyotch surcharge.
You're smoking crack if you decide to do this cake. 
KIDDING! Don't do it (the cake or the crack.)
At my regular job, I make an hourly wage. If my employer started jerking me around, having me work for free, telling me that now my pay was cut because my wage was too much in his opinion... I would wash my hands of that job.
LittleMum
Off on a complete tangent from the subject - that is precisely what the National Health Service in the UK has been doing to many of its workers - cutting their pay because they think they're being paid too much! And we're not talking pennies either. It is totally disgraceful.
Re the bridezilla - avoid, avoid, avoid!
I think the writing is on the wall and obviously your instincts are pointing in the right direction just by posting this forum, so I say RUN RUN AS FAST AS YOU CAN AND DON'T LOOK BACK!
Have you ever heard this: "Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me"...............
I think you know the answer to your question, judging from your other post you are obviously a nice person and don't want to turn anyone away or hurt anyone's feelings, but think of it this way too, if you do the cake and I'm sure it will be perfect, 'zilla can now put a bad word out on your business, even if the cake is wonderful.
i agree with ..go with your gut...i dont believe i would do this.
you have been very accomidating and they were rude to you if you remember.
arent you booked up that day now......hint, hint.....we dont want to lie...but you WILL be booked up then...
i would worry about my reputation working with those 2, sounds like the type to bad mouth and never be happy.
I'll give a potential client one tasting on me.
If they request another the charge is $25 per person.
They know that up front so they take their time and taste each item. I give them a comment sheet..they can write down notes of what they tried. We each keep a copy of it. That way they can refresh their memories and I can do the same.
I don't have time to play around. My time is valuable.
Ok, I missed that previous thread, and just read over it. YOu are my new hero. What an obnoxious, pushy bunch of people who think they are owed something.
NEVER work for less than what you think you should. I would have charged 1200 for all of that work. 10 bucks a mini cake, 500 for the big one. Here is the new attitude: I'll work with you, here is my price, but I don't deviate. IF you want to change your flavors or design for a lesser cake, great. You can adjust your price that way, but this is what I charge, part time or not.
So meet with her, quote her a price, but don't haggle over it. If she pulls the same stunt, just say: That is my price. Let me know if you'd like to book. You can afford to pass her up too if she is the same way.
OMG (oh my god) is that an accronym yet!
I am so tired to people who want stuff so cheap just because they dont know what is involved in making the cake.
Part time or not, all of us have abilities that other dont. (Maybe of them would like to do it and they cant.) I am still learning and I get it right here and there. I know what is involved in making a cake and thank goodness I have been lucky enough so far to have people appreciate what I do and are proud of it.
I want to write up a price list with sizes and possible options and just leave it at that, it someone was to ask for a break in price, they better have a good reason. Why should I loose money on ingredients, tools, utilities, paper products, my time, and (my baby sitter's or DH's). You have to calculate all of that in your price somehow. I guess these bridezilla's dont get that you are a professional and you have expenses and it is expensive to make a cake, I know I calculate it to the tsp (I made a chart!) When you add it up. If These Brides and their mothers dont understand we need to be able to walk away and feel confident we have done the right thing. If they want Walmart prices, they have 2 choices, go to Walmart or they better be family or a very good friend who is getting the cake as a gift and that is all I have to say about it.
I am done venting wow, I feel better!
Good luck, I hope you run the other way for both!
I have some friends who are awesome parents. One of their very young kids was misbehaving at the dinner table and was put in time out, and every so often, mom or dad would look at him and say lovingly, "So sad for you." Now, when someone is being unreasonable with their expectations or even downright rude, I say (or think), lovingly...
"So sad for you."
Wait, according to Bridezilla #1's email, friend was getting married July 7. Now it's in May? Sounds to me like someone picked a popular wedding date (07/07/07) and doesn't want to pay a premium for ANYTHING. I bet she changed the date when she couldn't muscle over the reception hall, the DJ, or the "other" cake decorator, either.
This tells me only one thing. She's coming to you because you're the cheapest.
I don't sell cakes, but I do deal with customers at my 9-5 job. We had to go through a process where our company elimated business from the cheapskate customers. The fickle ones who nickle and dime you and the second that a competitor charges a penny less, they're outta there. Initially, there was lost business. Of course. But things quickly bounced back when customers realized that we were the BEST, and they were willing to pay for it. The cheapskate customers? Let the competitors have them. They're pains in the butt, and end up sucking up all your time and costing you profit just by having to spend time coddling them.
How much time have they cost you already? First one tasting, then the price quote, then the communications, now another tasting? The first time, they pulled a two-fer. Two brides, one tasting. If you charge for tastings, they ripped you off. So take all the time you've spent so far and double it. At my regular job, I make an hourly wage. If my employer started jerking me around, having me work for free, telling me that now my pay was cut because my wage was too much in his opinion... I would wash my hands of that job.
If you want to work for this lady, charge her a competitive price and let her come to you for your talent. Not for a bargain. But I've already quit a job because of a crazy boss on a power trip. It's not worth it, and in your case you'd be putting up with the headache for the opportunity to give HER a bargain. Phooey. There should be a beeeyotch surcharge.
GREAT POST!!!!
how old are these girls? They sound like they're 12.
They are in their early twenties. From what I gather when I talked to the mother of one of the girls is that they were friends since they were kids. I also get the vibe that since one decided to get married, everybody wants to get married too.
I've decided to give bridezilla's friend another chance for tasting. She wanted to try the another flavour that she is considering for her wedding cake. But I am charging her $30 for it, take it or leave it. I was almost disappointed when she was okay with it. I told myself that if I even hear one peep out of her, I'll jump on my cake mobile and drive far, far away. Yes, this might bite me in the butt, we'll see where this one's going to take me.
Let us know how it all goes! I think the girl realizes the mistake of her friend. She is a different person. I'm glad you are giving her a chance, but also charging appropriately.
By the way, I thought I was the only one with a cake mobile (my 1994 Buick Century Station Wagon 
) Glad to see I"m not the only one!
how old are these girls? They sound like they're 12.
They are in their early twenties. From what I gather when I talked to the mother of one of the girls is that they were friends since they were kids. I also get the vibe that since one decided to get married, everybody wants to get married too.
I've decided to give bridezilla's friend another chance for tasting. She wanted to try the another flavour that she is considering for her wedding cake. But I am charging her $30 for it, take it or leave it. I was almost disappointed when she was okay with it. I told myself that if I even hear one peep out of her, I'll jump on my cake mobile and drive far, far away.
Yes, this might bite me in the butt, we'll see where this one's going to take me.
Good for you Didi!! Who knows, she may have had enough experience with what goes into a cake with her friend's wedding and may be more reasonable. You can always tell her to take a walk if she's more trouble than she's worth... 
Let's hope this works out better than the last one! 
I'm glad to know you're going to give her a chance. It'd take courage to come back to you after the way the friend acted. I bet she had to get up her nerve to even call you. Hopefully this girl respects your talent and will be able to deal with planning her wedding better than her friend.
Although i'm new to the site, I have been doing cakes for 20 years now. If you feel you must give her a second chance, advise her that you will have to charge her $50.00 for the second tasting (due before her tasting) and that since your last meeting prices for your cakes have gone up by 25%.
We all want each cake we make to be our best cake ever, and we all try so very hard to keep our reputation in tact, and we all know that all it takes is one spoiled little piece of work to mess that up. It is a lot easier to blow her off than to try to do years of damage control due to her whinning. You know that no matter how good her wedding cake will be, she'll complain about it, and how you messed it up and overcharged her, for years to come. NOTHING IS WORTH ALL THAT.
You'll get two more orders in place of hers. If not you'll get a good nights sleep. LET IT GO GIRLFRIEND!!!!!
Although i'm new to the site, I have been doing cakes for 20 years now. If you feel you must give her a second chance, advise her that you will have to charge her $50.00 for the second tasting (due before her tasting) and that since your last meeting prices for your cakes have gone up by 25%.
We all want each cake we make to be our best cake ever, and we all try so very hard to keep our reputation in tact, and we all know that all it takes is one spoiled little piece of work to mess that up. It is a lot easier to blow her off than to try to do years of damage control due to her whinning. You know that no matter how good her wedding cake will be, she'll complain about it, and how you messed it up and overcharged her, for years to come. NOTHING IS WORTH ALL THAT.
You'll get two more orders in place of hers. If not you'll get a good nights sleep. LET IT GO GIRLFRIEND!!!!!
Best wishes on working with the new bride. It has been in my experience when two girls get together and one is more bossy and dominant the other will follow like a dog. She may have called you back without her friend's pressureor influence and be serious. Good Luck!
Best wishes on working with the new bride. It has been in my experience when two girls get together and one is more bossy and dominant the other will follow like a dog. She may have called you back without her friend's pressureor influence and be serious. Good Luck!
I was thinking the same thing. Or she may have seen how her friend treated everyone and is embarrassed by the whole deal so is now working solo on her own wedding rather than have the friend ruin everything for HER wedding. Please keep us posted.
You are a brave person!!! I don't know if I would do it. I would also make sure that it is just her and not her friend along since they did that to you once already. I would definately charge her for the tasting and don't back down on your price. What you set is it and I would not change anything price wise. Good luck!!!
I just finished my consultation with bridezilla's friend. She came with her fiancé and her mom. It went pretty smoothly, it was actually pleasant. They were worried about their budget but we were able to work it out. At least this one knows how to compromise, and in the end everybody was happy. I'm glad I gave her a chance. 
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