Anyone in New Jersey interested in making a cake for me?

::snickers:: This is going to be good...

I would love to do it for you.

Jasmine-RUN- don't walk- away from this one!

Is this a joke? I understand budgets, but if you can afford to throw a large kids party, you can't be that badly off. I find this request quite insulting - it's like calling everyone on here a big bunch of amateurs who don't deserve to be compensated for their time or talents. Just my 2cts - can you tell I'm in a bad mood today lol?!

Many people on here are amateurs - I certainly am. I don't think this person meant to be insulting.

Riiiiggghhhtttt, make me a last-minute huge fantastic cake on the cheap! I can understand not being able to afford Duff, but surely she has a reasonably-priced bakery in her area. She's not doing anyone any favors by giving them a cake to do for practice.

I'm sure she didn't, but she is clearly looking for professional standards for little recompense, not on IMO!

Oh my goodness. Step away from the keyboards and take a breath.

To me it seems like someone who doesn't have experience making cakes, has a budget but would like something special. She didn't mention fleecing anyone and the post didn't say she wanted a cake gilded in gold for free. There is a certain price that comes with the cache of having the "well-established" bakers do a cake and she's trying to find a smaller baker. Nothing that she said was denigrating to those without the big name.

If I had a business and wanted to build my portfolio, this is exactly what I'd be looking for. Someone to bargain with a bit - I can do X, y and Z for what you've budgeted or I could do A, B and C (which I've been dying to try) for the same amount. I'd get the experience and fair compensation, she'd get a cute cake within her budget at my prices but not at Colette Peters or Duff Goldman prices. I'm not losing money and she's not making a poor financial decision buying more than she can afford. (Weren't a whole lot of people here railing yesterday about parenting/mini-coopers/etc. and raising kids beyond financial means? Here's someone trying to do it right and the hackles are still raised.)

There's sort of a damned if you do, damned if you don't attitude towards people wanting to buy a cake around here lately. They are always in the wrong, the decorator is always in the right.

Way to go, CranberryClo!

Thanks for helping everyone see that not everyone is out to get something for nothing. The original request was likely posted by someone who was looking to create a win-win for both sides. She probably knows that many of the CCers do not have the overhead of the well-known decorators, yet do incredible work. I think its a compliment to the members of CC that this poster came to this decorators "think tank"!

Well, I am in NJ, but I can't do it as I've other committments, but I did want to add, just in case someone doesn't know:

Just FYI, Duff's staff has been known to visit here on occasion. Hmmm, wonder if any of them would find this one offensive. Just wondering.

CranberryClo, I see your point and indeed agree with it to a large degree. But why post it in the business forum? I'm sure many a hobby baker would love the opportunity to do this and would not necessarily mind about the money, but those of us in business do (or should if they want to be in business for more than 5 minutes), care about being paid properly, not Duff or Colette money maybe, but enough for us to survive - that's why it's a business.

I'm shutting up now, guess I'm just tired of this attitude from too many of my potential customers!

With today's economy, I'm getting these I'm-doing- you-a-favor-by-ordering-now-give-me-a-discount-attitudes more and more from customers ~ and I'm tired of it. This lady is clearly looking for a bargain, and I hope no one here is desperate enough to give it to her for less than grocery store prices.

The great thing is that there ARE places for people who are on a tight budget - Walmart, grocery stores, etc. Or Mom can buy box mix and make at home herself relatively cheaply.

Another alternative would be to <gasp> not have quite such a big party.

I love Nordstrom's clothes, but since I'm in college full time, Fashion Bug fits my budget better. I don't go pester Nordie's to see if they'll sell me clothes for MY budget.

This request was posted by someone who has never posted on this board before-it is their first post and there's no identifying information in their profile.

Any one who responds to this post needs to exercise caution and needs to do their baking in a inspected facility as per NJ laws, which are very strict.

Agreed that no one should get in a tizzy over this-but those with more experience should share and advise with those with "those starting out" .