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Didn't you know everyone decorates???

post #1 of 68
7/23/08 at 7:21am
Thread Starter 
So I got a call from a potential client. She says "I need a wedding cake for 450 people", icon_eek.gif , "and I was thinking a 5 tier what do you think?" I replied with yeah at least. We then go on to schedule a tasting and consultation before arrangements are made. We get to the day and I have designed several different sketches all based on what she said she wanted. Everything is going smoothly until we get to pricing.

Now I am a very reserved person, and I believe everyone should get what they want at an affordable price. I tell her ok .... $545.00, for a 5 tier, filled, with draggees, the diamond press, scrolls, ribbon, and delivery/setup. She then stands up and says are you kidding me I can decorate one myself for a 1/4 of that price, anyone could!!!

I was fumming just with the standing up. I said well thats my price for that particular cake. She says no its not you would charge 1/2 that for a birthday cake. I said no no actually I wouldn't and I proceed to show her my per servings clause in the contract.

She grabbed up all her stuff and walked out and said I don't know how you stay in business.

Needless to say I lost that "fine" customer, however I did hear from another baker on the other side of town that she did it to him to!!!

The nerve of some people!!! Thanks for listening!!!
You gotta have faith!!!
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You gotta have faith!!!
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post #2 of 68
7/23/08 at 7:30am
I hope I can see this cake she's going to "decorate". What a tapedshut.gif
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post #3 of 68
7/23/08 at 7:32am
i'm sorry, i'm feeling your pain, i promise, but i am having a belly laugh at this one!!!!!!!!! that is indeed how people seem to feel...and it makes you wonder why the hell they're coming to you then. has she never heard of the convenience factor? you do it yourself, you have stress and costs...you pay me more to do it, but you enjoy your day. (not to mention that the cake will actually look like it's supposed to!!!!!!!)

i don't see this woman ever eating humble pie...the unfortunate thing is that she probably has that attitude with everything in life., and then considers everyone around her idiots.
the early bird may get the worm, indeed, but the second mouse is the one who gets the cheese!
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the early bird may get the worm, indeed, but the second mouse is the one who gets the cheese!
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post #4 of 68
7/23/08 at 7:33am
Ha, she will probably end up getting her wedding cake from Wal-mart.
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post #5 of 68
7/23/08 at 7:33am
and I can fix my own plumbing, and drill my own teeth, and mow my own lawn. <sigh>. Contract for services and PAY for it.

I just hope YOU charge a tasting fee to at least slightly compensate you for your time and effort wasted on an ignorant customer....
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post #6 of 68
7/23/08 at 7:34am
Quote:
Quote:

I can decorate one myself for a 1/4 of that price, anyone could!!!



She'll be in her kitchen as I type then ...getting on with it.

Quote:
Quote:

She says no its not you would charge 1/2 that for a birthday cake



Who does she think she is, telling you what you would charge?
People never cease to amaze me.

However...spare a thought for the poor guy who is marrying her icon_eek.gificon_eek.gificon_lol.gif

AnneMarie
AnneMarie


...and on the seventh day God created CAKES, ...he tasted them...and they were good!
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dgjqsjjc_0ct6gq9fg
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dgjqsjjc_2hhxzqgdv
http://www.duskyroseveiners.co.uk/page_396959.html
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AnneMarie


...and on the seventh day God created CAKES, ...he tasted them...and they were good!
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dgjqsjjc_0ct6gq9fg
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dgjqsjjc_2hhxzqgdv
http://www.duskyroseveiners.co.uk/page_396959.html
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post #7 of 68
7/23/08 at 7:35am
Hi,
Don't feel bad about such people. I don't do this for a living. I just started learning it couple of months back so that I could do my kids' birthday cakes. One of my colleague asked if I could make his son's birthday cake. I told him on the face that he would be better off buying it from sams (that's where he buys his cakes). He went on insisting that he would pay and I told him if I made the cake, it'll be my gift, so no money. Then he goes on he wants a strawberry cake and spiderman picture on the top. I had never done FBCT and I did it for the first time on this cake. 24 serving cake and spent 4 hours on it total. Everyone loved the cake and all, but next day he calls me and says that cake is worth 20 bucks. I was fuming it is not even minimum wage for how many hours I spent on the cake and I have a masters in engineering and make lot more money working at a desk. People just don't think how much of work is involved.

Oh, he says you must've spent 5 dollars for the supplies, ya right it was iced with all butter butter cream with real strawberries in the cake.

Bottom line, I am never going to make a cake if he asks me again. So, think like good riddance and be happy.

Sorry if too long of a vent. It happened yesterday, so I am still not over with it.
Champa.
You can download the cupcake recipes from
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dtxcrsv_94f2877ghh
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Champa.
You can download the cupcake recipes from
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dtxcrsv_94f2877ghh
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post #8 of 68
7/23/08 at 7:35am
Wow, I'm sorry you had to deal with that. I don't think a lot of people realize what goes into decorating. I'd love to see her attempt it! icon_twisted.gif

Some people you're just better off not dealing with...
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post #9 of 68
7/23/08 at 7:35am
I'm glad you stood your ground thumbs_up.gif , I too would like to see this cake she thinks she could decorate!!!!
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post #10 of 68
7/23/08 at 7:38am
Thank goodness you lost that one! I wish I could see what happens when she tries to decorate it herself or try find someone who can decorate for less than a $1 per serving.

You should definitely charge more. At least $2.50 per serving in order to make any profit. One advantage to charging adequately is it keeps the customer reined in. I learned that if I charged a super low price then they would order double the servings just to make sure they had enough. Then complain when they had too much cake. icon_rolleyes.gif Once the customer realizes how much 400 servings of cake is they may start to whittle down their guest list making our job a bit more manageable.
Stop prescription drug abuse-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYygjK9A5CM
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Stop prescription drug abuse-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYygjK9A5CM
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post #11 of 68
7/23/08 at 7:40am
Everybody wants something for nothing. If she did the same thing with another baker, she's likely to try again with someone else. I think Wal-Mart is her best option. No one needs a client who expects a steak on a chicken leg budget. She would have only given you more problems down the road.
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post #12 of 68
7/23/08 at 7:44am
Too funny! I mean, I feel bad for you that you had to go through that but, Oh...My...Goodness!!! You gave her an amazing price and she thinks that it is too much! Wish her the best of luck and send her on her "decorating" way!
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post #13 of 68
7/23/08 at 7:47am
Oh my goodness! I'd say that was a VERY fair price!!! It's at times like these that I hear my hubby say "People like that just want cake...they don't care about the looks or the taste, they just want plain old cake." I'd love to be a fly on the wall while she works on putting that puppy together!!!
Amy
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Amy
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post #14 of 68
7/23/08 at 7:56am
BTW - not that I need to tell you - but I'd definately refuse to ever do a cake order for her....
I had a lady call me about a cake for Memorial Day, and right off the bat she's asking me what cake mix I use (SHE always used Duncan Hines) and how she just LOVES Jenny Lee's icing (my thot - go get it from Jenny Lee!). So we proceed to talk and and she asked how much - it was going to be $20 for a 7x11 cake. She was shocked! Then we talk about delivery and I told her I'd have no problem meeting her somewhere and she said "No, I think I'd have you bring it right to my door." So I quipped - "That'll be $5 extra." She couldn't believe it! She asked what an 8" would be and I told her the same price - plus the extra $5. Her decision?? She was going to have to think about it - and I never heard back from her. My daughter laughed at me when I did my little "rant" to let off some steam. Tell a grocery store to deliver it to your door and see what they tell you!
Needless to say - this lady is on my naughty list....
Amy
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Amy
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post #15 of 68
7/23/08 at 8:01am
She ain't gonna be able to get a cake for 450 servings at WM for 545 either.

I don't know about ya'll's WM, but the one near me does 12", 10" and 6" combinations....I reckon, one could get several of them and place them together. For real, aaaaaaaaaaaand, they aren't exactly cheap either. MOF, the local bakery , baked fresh--almost to order---is cheaper than our WM when it comes to decorated cakes.
"Be the change you want to see in the world."- Mahatma Gandhi

miniature cake tutorial

http://www.youtube.com/user/MyNewSneakers?feature=mhsn
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"Be the change you want to see in the world."- Mahatma Gandhi

miniature cake tutorial

http://www.youtube.com/user/MyNewSneakers?feature=mhsn
Reply
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