So the last military cake I made for the CO's going away was just delivered this morning. I deliver it and the lady that orders the cakes asked if the Change of Command cake was going to have the brown "frame" around the pictures. I told her "NO"! She said "I don't care for the brown!" I hated the cake as soon as I made it but to have her tell me that is really a downer. Never mind that she asked for those pictures to be put on that size cake. I tried telling her that there won't be much room for design with that many on there. She is now getting to be too pushy as to how she wants the cakes designed. More than anyone should be. Maybe she should make the cakes huh!! Making these military cakes, there isn't a whole lot of imagination that can be used in the design especially when the person ordering tells you 'EXACTLY" what they want on it and flavor and fillings and what not. I know, I know, she is my customer but my gosh!!!!!!!!!!!! This isn't a cake for her imediate family. It's a cake for the entire hospital staff!

Next Wednesday I have the COC cake to do. It's going to be two 11x15", one chocolate and one white. Never mind the chocolate and white don't rise the same!!!!!!!!! I have the out going CO's pic and the incoming CO's pic to put on the cake along with the CO emblem! She also wants a rope and tassle like I did on a previous retirement cake. (Darn my DH for suggesting that ). She wants it gold and blue intertwined. I do want to make this a spectacular cake but I also don't want it to be as boring as previous cakes. I've been doing research but can't find anything that has a "WOW" factor! I need to charge her more money but I think it will be like wringing water out of a dry towel.



Ya'll, I just want to cry!!! One bad design and I feel like I am doomed!!!!!!!! How do I get back on track after today's disaster!?



Amy

Tell that lady to kiss it!!

If you need inspiration to get back on track, take a look at the cakes in your gallery! You are a very talented cake decorator and your work is gorgeous!

Working with customers is not always easy..they can be demanding, argumentative and just a general pain. Hey, if she doesn't like the brown, then let her decorate the cake...ohhh that's right - she can't!

Don't let it get you down...just move on to the next cake!


Lisa

not really sure what the problem is. She told you what fillings and cake she wants, she tells you the type of decorations she wants, tells you want she DOESN'T like. What's the problem? she's paying you - you're SUPPOSED to do it the way SHE wants.

Perhaps I'm not reading this correctly, but I don't see this as a disaster. She ordered the brown, she doesn't like the brown, end of story. I just ordered a bathing suit, OMG on the bathing suit, I'll not be doing that again. It's not the bathing suit people's fault, it's mine. She just wants to make sure to avoid something she thought was a good idea on a previous cake. You even agreed that it looked bad. She's still ordering from you, so I don't see the problem.

I agree with a previous poster that she is just telling you exactly what she wants, as any customer should. And with the tassles, she is letting you know what she felt looked good previously (it's a compliment in wanting the same thing again). I don't think she's being too pushy, I just think she accidentally hurt your feelings by making a comment about her own idea.

lol - i hera ya, but if we need "Freedom" then we should do that when someone else isn't paying for it, imho.

i understand that you want to "wow" these people and that you may be getting bored with the same design again and again, but those cakes are wonderful. obviously they like them or they would not keep ordering the same things, huh? i know how you feel, i make a ton of the SAME cake for the schools in my area and i don't want them to get bored but that is what they keep asking for.

I had a lady who wanted a cake and I made a few suggestions and she didn't want that, she wanted exactly what she said.... my husband and I agreed it was a very plain and not very pretty cake but my job is to do exactly what she asked and paid for so...hey as long as I get my money, I'm good!

You said "I need to charge her more money but I think it will be like wringing water out of a dry towel."
Could part of your problem with all of this be that you AREN'T charging enough? Edible images cost money; fondant costs money; dragees cost money; your time is certainly worth being paid for...

Let me start by saying I love your work. I think your photos are amazing, and I feel like you are depicting Navy images very well, be proud of that. My husband is retired Navy as of Aug 06, we spent years in WA, in fact it is where we met, I was onboard a carrier and he was at a local PSD. I remember all of the cakes they would do onboard the ships for COC's and you have blown those out of the water. I think I would just politely tell the lady that you enjoy doing what she likes, but that you want her to understand that there isn't much room to do all of the things she wants. If she likes your work, which it sounds like she does, she will understand.... don't let her get you down, you are amazing and it will be wonderful no matter what! Good luck with you cakes this week, please post a pic for us... and get through this deployment GO NAVY!!!!