Ok I am so mad, I even slept on it and I am still mad. My friend (we used to be good friends) asked me to make her a birthday cake. She said she wanted it for 20 people. (I made a 8,6 and 4 inch) I am still kind of new so it took me lots of work and time. I was very proud of it. I brought it over to her house about 1/2 an hour before the party. My husband dropped me off because I was going to stay for a little bit of the party. Neither of them where ready for the party so she asked if I could help her get other things ready. I said sure. She went to get dressed and left me in the kitchen doing all this work. She finally comes down as her guests are ariving and says to her friends "This is Shira, the cake lady and my personal chef tonight. Ha ha". So one lady says oh can you make me a drink? I said no I am the cake lady but was also invited a s aguest, She was just joking. I wanted to leave but I had no car or cell phone. Then everyone loved the cake thought it was great. My husband came to get me so she took me upstairs to pay me and said "I htought the cake was going to be biger so I am only paying you $70" (I told her $80) I was really mad and told her that the size is based on how many people and if she wanted a big cake she should have told me. She refused to budge. Ok its only $10 and I have 3 more orders from the party but that is not nice. Ok this is long sorry.....
here's the cake.
i love the cake, it think it's awesome!
for a 3 tier cake, she only wants to pay you $70?! beyond the materials price of the cake, what is your time (as a cake decorator) worth?! and how BIG of a cake did she want for 20 people?!
i'd be pretty mad too... can't blame you there! definitely think twice about making a cake for this lady ever again!
WOW - with friends like that...
Anyway the cake is great - it got you orders and it is a very nice addition to your cake photos!
Now get yourself some new friends!!! Happy New Year!!
You are right..it is not nice what your friend did to you..you agreed upon a certain price. I know you are upset but I would try and talk with her again about this and tell her how you are feeling...if she is a good friend, better to get things out in the open rather than let them fester...she might have thought things over..
....but on the upside, your cake is just lovely!!!! Obviously it went over really well due to the 3 new orders 
Oh yeah...point out that there was enough cake for everyone so it was indeed big enough!!!
Good Luck and lovely cake!!! 
Jane
I had the same thing happen to be with a cousin of mine. Catered a BBQ at cost (well less than) and was introduced as the catered as the cousin "did not have the time to be bothered". I was steaming. 
I did set her straight outside of any of the guests earshot - something like, if I am the hired caterer then you owe me considerably more - if you want the right to make statements like that you have to pay for them.
Sorry this occurred - as others have said, a deposit or full pay is required with a signed contract no matter who the cake is for, and the understanding with friend clients that once the cake is delivered you have done your job and its personal time.
Sorry again and don't sweat it, some people talk without thinking... but I would be careful in the future...
Great job on the cake...
I would've given her a 6" for twenty people. . .
Oh My GOSH!!! A 2 tier cake for only 20 people and she wanted bigger???
Sounds like she's just a big show off or a big cheapskate!
Your cake looks fantastic!!
Next time make sure you tell her she owes $80 for a $70 cake. This way you'll either get your money back or get what you rightfully deserve if she tries this again!!
Wow people can be so rude. I would call her and tell her she was very rude and you feel upset that she was so insulting to your hard work. I would tell her you would have never treated her that way after she worked so hard for you.
Make her feel bad. But even if she pays the money I wouldn't ever make her another cake. I believe that if people don't appreciate your hard work then they don't deserve it. No matter how much they pay.
If someone puts my cakes down (and so far it's only been one of my sisters) I will NEVER give them a chance again. I don't care if I know them or not. Paid or free, if a person can't be happy, nice and polite then I'm not taking my time to make their party/day special.
[quote="maryak"]Oh My GOSH!!! A 2 tier cake for only 20 people and she wanted bigger???
Sounds like she's just a big show off or a big cheapskate!
Your cake looks fantastic!!
[quote]
I agree!
as a friend, she should've paid you not only what she owed you but tipped you as well.
I make very simple cakes for the girls at the spa and charge them very little...and even THEY tip me like 5 bucks at a time!!!
But, please don't dwell on this anymore...You're only as big as the little things that bother you...
Make AMAZING cakes for the 3 new orders and charge accordingly...and give your EX best friend...a culinary RASPBERRY 
It will drive her nuts that someone else got a 'better' cake...and that will be your payback!
Oh my word! That is just downright rude and disrespecful! She really shows her stinginess and poorness of spirit.
I don't think you can actually count this one among your friends any longer. My friends are the ones who always slip an extra 5 or 10 in the check!
Your cake was beautiful! Sarah
Sometimes our friends are not as nice as we think they are. I think your cake looks really nice, and she should have offered a tip because as your friend she should have known about the work that goes into designing and making such a cake. The reality was she wanted a bargain, and used you to get one. You may be able to get past it, and remain friends, but if you ever make another cake for her I would suggest you stick with the best cake rule of all! Money comes before cake!!!
First your cake is way cute. Secoundly money before cake is a must and especially with friends and family. Just because it gets sticky there. No special considerations or last minute changes of mind. It keeps your sanity and feeling protected and protects them too. But I wouldn't let this one incident bother you too much. Chock it up to experience and make fabulous cakes for all your other customers and just stand back and gleam knowing you did your best and it shows on those happy people's faces when they see their cake.
I am amazed at the nerve some people have. You're friend should've paid you the agreed amount, plus a tip for doing all the extra setting up work at the party. True friends don't treat their friends like that. She used you and apparently was comfortable with it. It's up to you to decide if you want to continue that friendship. Also, you did a marvelous job on the cake, be proud of that.
Emi
If your friend was trying to compliment you by introducing you as the caterer jokingly that would be one thing, but obviously she was not. I would not count her as one of your friends anymore. No friend should treat another like that. Your cake was great and you deserve a better friend!
I agree w/ everyone here - your cake is so cute! I think you went above and beyond for a friend. Her withholding the $10 just shows that you are more of a friend to her than she is to you, so no great loss there!
Too bad from now on, whenever she needs/wants a cake from you, you'll be booked..... 
Wow...some friend 
I'm sorry that you had to deal with that!
On the other hand, that's great that you got some new customers!! And that cake is awesome!!
How about sending her an e-mail, calming telling her how unfair it was of her to shortchange you. Give her the details of the cake project: cost of materials, hours to complete etc. Add a link to a page on Wilton's website that lists servings for various sizes of cakes to show that your cake did indeed meet her requirements for serving 20 people (and then some!).
I see that you're in Baltimore. There are bound to be many cake decorators and nice bakeries there. How about giving one of them a quick call and getting a rough estimate for the size cake you made (without taking up too much of their time, of course), and adding that info in the e-mail. too. I betcha they'll quote more than $70!
I think putting grievances in writing can be so much more effective than talking face to face in cases like these. You can think things through before writing and she won't have a chance to interupt you the way she would if you talked to her in person. You can be civil and logical--she's more likely to see the error of her ways that way.
You'll probably never see the $10, but it might make you feel better, and if she has any conscience at all, she might feel a twinge of remorse.
Good luck!
Your cake looks wonderful, by the way. Great design.
Your cake looks great! I'm sorry you got short changed. I have a family for which I do all the birthday and special occasion cakes. They are wonderful people and very good friends. So, of course, I try to give them a great cake for a cheap price! It's now a game: something like this:
Jo Ann says "How much for the cake?"
I reply "Twenty Five Dollars"
She says "Okay.....here thirty-five"
I say "I don't WANT thirty-five"
She replies "Then I don't want the cake"
Then we both laugh!!
SHE'S my FRIEND!
Betn in KY
I have a SIL who asked me to do her son's cake. I said sure. He's my nephew, of course! Now, for immediate family, I only ask for cost of supplies. When I told her what the supplies cost (after the cake was done), she was mad at me for asking her to pay! 
She never did pay me. This is the SIL who wants to charge everyone mileage if we go anywhere and she drives or if she picks someone up from the airport when we go to visit. And she can't pay me $8 to do her son's fancy cake. "But it's only a 9x13, it's not like you did a nice cake." Excuse me?!?! Never again for her! Her kids have asked why I don't do their cakes anymore, and she just says because it's more special if Mommy does them. Sure.
Anyway, you don't need to put up with ungrateful people. Just make a point to be busy next time she wants you to do a cake for her.
Your cake is awesome!.But I agree that even with family or friends you need to ask for a deposit at least.And dont worry about the $10,those three new costumers are worth more than that.Believe me,one day in the future shes going to need your help and your delicious cakes.I believe in Karma...
I agree with hollypj. I think it's a great idea to back up your claim with real quotes and numbers. You don't have to be pushy. Just let her know that what she did was wrong.
don't let it get you down. you did a good job and your cake was what she asked for. let her be petty and know that you learned from this experience.
your cake is too cute and congrats on getting more orders! i keep doing my cakes as 'favors' for family. i really shouldn't.
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