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Just another venting post (long oh so long)

post #1 of 32
6/13/08 at 6:52am
Thread Starter 
Ok here we go. My husband and I own a bakery (mainly a donut shop, but a ton of cakes go out of the shop). My husband does most of the bakery stuff because I am a nurse and have a full time job. I basically do the cakes and cheesecakes etc. (he couldn't decorate a cake if he had to). The problem being.... over a year ago a lady approached him about doing cakes for her daughters wedding. They wanted cakes for every table roughly 25 double layer cakes. My husband gave her some ridiculously low price, it could have been because we had not been open long or it could just be the fact that he is a moron icon_cry.gif . No other communication had been made with the lady until last month when she wanted to sit down to plan the cakes. In the meantime she had had some of my cheesecakes and wanted to add cheesecakes to the order, once again my husband cut her a deal-idiot. The order went as followed....

2 white cakes with strawberry filling
2 white cakes with lemon filling
2 chocolate cakes
2 carrot cakes with HOMEMADE cream cheese icing
2 blueberry swirl cheesecakes
2 strawberry swirl cheesecakes
2 raspberry swirl cheesecakes
2 turtle cheesecakes
1 german chocolate cake 10 in, 8 in, 6 in stacked cake for the bridal party.

Yes I know it was not the original 25 cakes but...............................
Ok are you ready for the grand total?? Drumroll please

$350

That price was increased because I went crazy with the original $250 that he quoted her. I didn't want to totally screw the lady because she went for an entire year thinking she was going to get roughly 25 double layer cakes for $250 and I didn't want to drop the ball 3 weeks before the wedding so I did it for the $350. Should I mention that for a 10 inch swirled cheesecake I charge $25.99, let's do the math....

Then my husband informed me that he told them that I would deliver and set up all the cakes hummmmmm icon_evil.gif

Does anyone know a good divorce attorney?????
Buck up and pull your big girl panties on...Everything will be A OK
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Buck up and pull your big girl panties on...Everything will be A OK
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post #2 of 32
6/13/08 at 7:07am
OMG,ARE YOU KIDDING?! ALL THAT FOR $350?! i'd be furious too! but maybe he was just trying to give her a good deal since at the time you hadn't been open long. thats too good of a deal though! good luck!!
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post #3 of 32
6/13/08 at 7:11am
Wow. I don't know a good divorce attorney (I got screwed) but I'm thinking a shotgun would work better...

Why does he think he can commit you to do these cheesecakes and set up? Is that part of your business deal? I suppose if you own the shop together then you should do the work together... but then again, you should also work out prices together, too...

That being said, you should sit down with him and explain your feelings as calmly as possible. If he wants to set ridiculously low prices, he should learn how to decorate cakes... I really hope he didn't promise any elaborate decorations on these cakes...

I'm sorry to hear about your dilema- hang in there, you'll get through this! >>hugs<<
Be mischievous and you will not be lonesome.
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Be mischievous and you will not be lonesome.
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post #4 of 32
6/13/08 at 7:23am
Thread Starter 
NO... that is not part of the business deal. He is supposed to call me and check before cake orders. He has taken some orders for some pretty elaborate cakes in the past. I got started decorating cakes because he started taking orders for birthday cakes and when I asked him who was going to decorate them he quickly said "you". I had never decorated a cake and quickly had to learn by using a Wilton book. My skills are NOT great by any means, I am self taught and have limitations. So he is supposed to check before orders are taken. As mentioned before I am a nurse and work 12 hour shifts, so cakes have to be made after I have pulled a 12. With the prices he is quoting I think I will keep my day job.

I wonder how he would feel if I sold a doz long johns for $1 hee hee.
Buck up and pull your big girl panties on...Everything will be A OK
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Buck up and pull your big girl panties on...Everything will be A OK
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post #5 of 32
6/13/08 at 7:38am
He made the deal and there's really no way out of it, but there is a way to make it easier on *you*. Give him the recipes for the cakes and all of the details, sizes, # of each layer, etc. Tell him what day/date they need to all be done by. Then give him the icing/filling recipes and tell him day/date needed and how much of each. Give him a list of all the rest of the supplies you'll need, boards, foil, bags, etc. ALL you're doing is assembling and decorating. Put all the rest of the work on him.

Then choose the day/time you'll be making cheesecakes WITH him and give him a list of all the ingredients and extras that he needs to have ready to go.

The only way you're going to get through to him and force him to see how much work this takes is to get him involved in the process. You can teach him a thing or two along the way. He can do all sorts of chores to make things easier on you, like assembly all of your tools onto your work space, washing tips, fetching things. Make him work for YOU!
"One of the sanest, surest, and most generous joys of life comes from being happy over the good fortune of others."
- Robert A. Heinlein
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"One of the sanest, surest, and most generous joys of life comes from being happy over the good fortune of others."
- Robert A. Heinlein
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post #6 of 32
6/13/08 at 7:41am
I realize this won't help the current situation, but when I was researching cake prices and options in our area, I visited several local bakeries (I always bought something and I also recommend them when I am booked or as options to customers).

While I was there, I'd ask about custom cakes too. I was always told, "Here's a photo book [or price sheet] to get you started, but our staff decorator will have to call you back."

I, of course, did not want to be a pain, so I'd say, "Ok, just looking."

Just a thought. In other words, having DH say "My specialist will have to call you back" can make a custom cake seem even MORE special. And your cakes are indeed quite special!
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post #7 of 32
6/13/08 at 7:41am
as if nursing wasnt stressful enough,then have to deal with this too?wow,i dont know how you do it. looking at your gallery, its no wonder why your husband doesnt think twice about asking you to decorate all of the cakes,you do a beautiful job!! if you decide to sell long johns at $1 a doz, let me know, i'll order some!!!lol icon_biggrin.gif
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post #8 of 32
6/13/08 at 7:49am
If it's not too late, could you gently remind her (and him) that food costs have greatly increased since last year?
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post #9 of 32
6/13/08 at 7:58am
Well....... icon_cry.gif
I would check your area for competitive pricing w/ other bakeries.....
and then make a "price list" for your husband.
That lady got a really GOOD deal......
Just my 2 cents worth
Life is too Short : Eat Dessert first
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Life is too Short : Eat Dessert first
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post #10 of 32
6/13/08 at 8:08am
Ooh! Yeah! I agree with that- make up a price list for him and post it in the store- in the front so customers can see it ahead of time... that way people will think there's something wrong if they're walking out with 5 $25 cheesecakes for $20!

Maybe once he sees how much money he's not making, he'll figure out that he shouldn't be undercharging so much. It's interesting how most husbands I've heard of are always complaining about how much everything costs and how much money they're not making but yours is the opposite!
Be mischievous and you will not be lonesome.
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Be mischievous and you will not be lonesome.
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post #11 of 32
6/13/08 at 8:23am
I like what moxey2000 suggested. The measuring, mixing, and baking are what is sooo time consuming... and less fun than the decorating part icon_biggrin.gif especially when you're doing a TON of it. Definitely what moxey2000 suggested. He'll understand the amount of work and time involved if he's directly involved in the making of the order. Time for him to learn some basic decorating skills and now is a good time!!
I'm a RN in an ICU and CAN'T imagine working on anything except going to sleep after my shifts... totally wiped out. I feel for you.

Melanie Mc.
Life is short... eat dessert first!
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Life is short... eat dessert first!
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post #12 of 32
6/13/08 at 8:32am
Quote:
Originally Posted by moxey2000

He made the deal and there's really no way out of it, but there is a way to make it easier on *you*. Give him the recipes for the cakes and all of the details, sizes, # of each layer, etc. Tell him what day/date they need to all be done by. Then give him the icing/filling recipes and tell him day/date needed and how much of each. Give him a list of all the rest of the supplies you'll need, boards, foil, bags, etc. ALL you're doing is assembling and decorating. Put all the rest of the work on him.

Then choose the day/time you'll be making cheesecakes WITH him and give him a list of all the ingredients and extras that he needs to have ready to go.

The only way you're going to get through to him and force him to see how much work this takes is to get him involved in the process. You can teach him a thing or two along the way. He can do all sorts of chores to make things easier on you, like assembly all of your tools onto your work space, washing tips, fetching things. Make him work for YOU!




hmmm....

a new kind of "nurse"

the cake nurse ---

similar to a scrub nurse who preps everything for the doctor and provides tools as needed (make him stand there and fill those bags, hand over the tools, change those tips!)
Keep on cakin'!
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Keep on cakin'!
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post #13 of 32
6/13/08 at 8:43am
I'm so sorry this happened to you, I was mad at my hubby for trying to get me to take on another cake this week after I said no. After reading this, I guess I will keep him around LOL.

I would make sure he helped you or hire someone to help. I couldn't imagine doing all that for so little. The customer really got a deal. Maybe she will give you a big tip. Hang in there, and talk tu hubby about not taking any orders until they speak with you.
MYW
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MYW
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post #14 of 32
6/13/08 at 8:53am
oh my goodness, husbands!

My husband thinks he can save the world by giving my cakes away for free.

everytime he starts a story by telling me about someone he met that has hardship I just wait with a smirk on my face for the part where he tells me that he promised them a cake for free.

Don't get me wrong I am sympathetic to people who have disabilities, deaths in their family, and financial hardship, that doesn't mean that I need to make them a free cake.

the funny thing is that when I make free cakes for publicity purposes he is all over me about how much $ I am just giving away.

never has anyone he has given free cake to ever placed another order, every single time I have given away a strategic donation I have got at least one fully paying order from it.

The bottom line is we have to get into thier heads and find out why they do what they do.

nmrunyon - I think youre husband was probably just excited to get such a big order for you and proud to come to you and say look what I did, in a good way.

I know my husband is proud of my cakes and wants everyone in Seattle to eat them, free or otherwise.

I agree with giving hm to tools he needs to manage the cake sales the way you would like. Perhaps he can just say my wife does all the wedding consulting, I will have her call you.

I hope you aren't swamped with a bunch of other wedding cakes for the same day as this one.
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post #15 of 32
6/13/08 at 9:22am
Quote:
Originally Posted by cheeseball

If it's not too late, could you gently remind her (and him) that food costs have greatly increased since last year?



You mean since last month ... I mean since last week ... oh wait, I mean since YESTERDAY!!! icon_surprised.gif
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