I always have a fear of this happening. I recently got a request for a wedding cake that had a small, hard to see picture attached of a buttercream cake that looked like it had basket weave around it, orange flowers on top that looked like wild flowers, and multicolored dots all over the sides of the cake.
But the cake request said they wanted a fondant covered cake with pink polka dots and roses on top.....just like the picture. Yeah that would have looked like a completely different. And maybe they knew that, but I still fear people's stupidity.
In my opinion, when someone askes for a cheap cake, that sets off a light in my head to beware of this person.
Why would you be suspicious of somebody for wanting to save money? People dont need to be rich to be good people and its comments like these that lead to discrimination. 
for this comment
In my opinion, when someone askes for a cheap cake, that sets off a light in my head to beware of this person.
Why would you be suspicious of somebody for wanting to save money? People dont need to be rich to be good people and its comments like these that lead to discrimination.
for this comment
When someone asks first about the cost of a cake then they probably are not the type of customer that will eventually buy my cake. so in the sense of business acumen it's a give away that this person is likely not in my market.
Has nothing to do with class envy.
Really? See I would think that a person who inquires about the price is likely somebody who is not used to buying cakes and is interested in exploring the idea of having a professional cake made for them - thus a potential customer who if impressed could become a repeat customer. I would also think that if I disregarded them based on the fact that they were on a budget, then they would definatly not become a customer.
Ok I hope you don't mind but... indydebi I just had to give you the poster. I changed some images. I had to use a wedding cake to go with the sylvia - afterall you might get "well that's a birthday cake not a wedding cake so of course they are different". LOL. And I wanted a paint by numbers to match the famous painting. Hope you enjoy....
Judi
Well....never did hear from the little bride. BUT>>>>> she actually filed a complaint with the BBB. I am in the strong mindset to take a hit if they side with her. There was nothing wrong with her cake and I feel that I don't owe her anything. Will keep you posted. I tried again to post the pic but can't get it to upload. I keep getting an error message.
Oh that totally sucks! I think if you respond properly to the BBB you'll be ok. Just make sure you have all of your paperwork in order and submit everything to them proving that she requested certain changes, etc.
Good Luck!
Well....never did hear from the little bride. BUT>>>>> she actually filed a complaint with the BBB. I am in the strong mindset to take a hit if they side with her. There was nothing wrong with her cake and I feel that I don't owe her anything. Will keep you posted. I tried again to post the pic but can't get it to upload. I keep getting an error message.
The BBB doesn't take sides. All you have to do is respond to stay in their good graces. They record complaints and responses. So long as you clear every complaint with a reply (and they document all this) then you should be fine. Especially mention that she avoided your attempt at communication and did not respond to you. "So how could any reasonable merchant ever expect to meet Ms. Bride's expectations if she will not communicate?"
You'll be fine.
Really? See I would think that a person who inquires about the price is likely somebody who is not used to buying cakes and is interested in exploring the idea of having a professional cake made for them - thus a potential customer who if impressed could become a repeat customer. I would also think that if I disregarded them based on the fact that they were on a budget, then they would definatly not become a customer.
Y'know hopefully that would be the case and that they are going to order. But you get a feel for these certain kinds of calls that lead with the 'how much is it' question.
It's not that I would disregard them at all. It's that there's a flag on the play, a light comes on, or goes out. It's generally but not always a signal that this person is like me economically and can't afford my services.
I had a lady call who's decorater moved away. She wanted a half sheet cake with special decor for $20. Agh, no.
I had a bride request pricing on a cake for 100 people. I gave her my price she said her budget was less than that could I work with her. I said yes I can make a cake for 75 people for that amount of money.
So yah gotta take it with a crystal of sugar.
Picture of the ugliest cake in the world (butter knife iced, grocery store candy letters) .... picture of a Sylvia Weinstock cake. Sub heading? "both made from the same ingredients."
Headline at the top of the page? "YES .... THERE IS A DIFFERENCE!"
Apologize in advance if someone else has already pointed this out...BUT
DEBI! Why use a SW cake pic when yours are so phenominal! It would make a bigger impact to your customer and have direct relevance if you use one of your cake pics!
You rock btw!
I would tear her points apart one by one.
"As we discussed in our emails dated 5-15, 5-26 and 6-2, a cake to serve 40 cannot be made as a 4-tier cake, which is why it was agreed yours would be 2-tier. The original 4 tier cake in the photo serves about 175 people. Another of the differences you point out is your cake has no bows. In your 7-1-08 email, paragraph 2, you directed me to leave off the bows. Another difference you point out is no pearls. In your 7-4-08 email, paragraph 1, sentence 3, you directed me to not put on any pearls. We had a number of email exchanges where I informed you that fondant and BC do NOT look the same ... see our emails dated 6-25-08, 7-2-08 and 7-12-08."
Etc.
LOLOLOLOL 
My words exactly! If people change it too much, I usually find a picture of a cake closer to what they're REALLY describing and say, "You mean like this??" LOL
[quote="cakesdivine"]
DEBI! Why use a SW cake pic when yours are so phenominal! It would make a bigger impact to your customer and have direct relevance if you use one of your cake pics!
You rock btw!
While I think we all agree on how AWESOME Debi is, if she were to use her own picture, would someone assume she was full of herself comparing her cake with such great works of art. I would think Sylvia was just as "big-headed" if she were to use her own picture in this situation as well.
[/quote]While I think we all agree on how AWESOME Debi is, if she were to use her own picture, would someone assume she was full of herself comparing her cake with such great works of art. I would think Sylvia was just as "big-headed" if she were to use her own picture in this situation as well.[/quote]
Not at all. She is showing and comparing her work to a piece of crap work, showing that there is a difference. Most lay people don't even know who the heck SW is anyway. It's about showing the difference between an ordinary item and a work of art. Indydebi should use her photos! I don't think it is arrogant at all, especially with the message she is trying to get across to the customer.
The way i handle this is i say ok first off i cannot duplicate another cake decoraters cake, for legal reasons, Gets me off the hook evertime. i can be close but no cigar. and i have all im doing down in writing so she knows what shes getting
I have to side with the bride on this one. Even though it's buttercream, the icing looks very splotchy and uneven. It even looks like you can see cake coming through in parts. I would be upset if this cake was served at my wedding.
BTW - just because someone has a 'shotgun' wedding doesn't mean they deserve a sub par cake. I've seen better decorated wedding cakes at supermarkets. Sorry.
I don't think she posted a picture of the cake. The picture of the crappy cake on that poster is a joke.. it's to show that an amazingly decorated cake comes from the same ingredients as horribly decorated cake.. and that the expensive cake price is coming from the time spent on the cake as well as the decorators skills.
I don't think she posted a picture of the cake. The picture of the crappy cake on that poster is a joke.. it's to show that an amazingly decorated cake comes from the same ingredients as horribly decorated cake.. and that the expensive cake price is coming from the time spent on the cake as well as the decorators skills.
Let's not forget that someone made that "crappy...horribly decorated cake" in the poster and might be quite proud of it. That might have been the best they could do. Unless you made that cake and you want to make fun of it then I think it might be best to remove it.
I understand your point but I'm just saying if that was my cake and I saw it on this thread with those comments I would be devastated.
Back to topic, it sounds like the bride got what she asked for even if maybe it wasn't what she wanted or thought she would get. The fact that she went to the BBB is pretty crazy considering you have all the emails where you told her in what ways it wasn't going to look like the picture. Getting a wedding cake that feeds 50 people for $100 is a great deal.
Keep us posted on the outcome.
Unfortunately, we all have those kind of customers. Right now I work at a grocery store doing cakes until I can go out on my own. It's tough but I manage. I think working in a grocery store, you get more of those kind of people more often. Usually the manager handles the complaints...sometimes fairly to me, sometimes not. However, if I had my own shop, and the woman did that to me, 1. I would have contacted the BBB when I learned she had filed a complaint and sent in all paperwork, keeping a copy for myself, and I would have also sent her a copy. I would also not take any orders from her again. Not that she would order again lol. But you would be surprised. I have had this one lady order maybe three times a year from me. And every time, she complains. Once it wasn't girlie enough. Another time the icing was wrong...when that is what she ordered. Finally the manager told her to order her cakes elsewhere. I realize working in a grocery store and owning your own business is quite different, and getting a complaint is like a punch in the gut, but hang in there. Yesterday my supervisor told me that there are people like that. I'm sorry that this happened to you, but it's bound to get better!
Let's not forget that someone made that "crappy...horribly decorated cake" in the poster and might be quite proud of it.
I seem to remember that cake coming from an on-line article on how to DIY your wedding cake. There was a thread on it and we were all making fun of this article that taught you to make a cake that looked that bad for your wedding.
Let's not forget that someone made that "crappy...horribly decorated cake" in the poster and might be quite proud of it.
I seem to remember that cake coming from an on-line article on how to DIY your wedding cake. There was a thread on it and we were all making fun of this article that taught you to make a cake that looked that bad for your wedding.
Yikes, I missed that one.
Just wanted to be mindful that there are many different levels of expertise on CC and trying not to hurt someone's feelings. Glad to hear that wasn't the case.
You know, hubby is a pro photographer.
If anyone wants a serious poster like this for their shop, we could probably do something. He could take pro photos of all the comparisons (so no copyright issues, and will look more coherent), and I could whip up a really sloppy cake for the 1st cake photo.
Maybe do a template so the better cake is individual to the business? Maybe a logo?
Just a thought.
I made a 3 tiered Quinceanera cake last november , is in my pics. it was a square 6' 10' 14', buttercream, fondant/gumpaste bows and little flowers, the lady also got a picture but changed some things, like she did not want regular borders, she wanted the little flowers instead, and she wanted scrollls on on tier with dragees, etc. Obviously that changed the price and she happily agreed and gave me a deposit and paid in full a week before. My first time doing that, 
When I proudly showed the pic. to my SIL she asked me how much I charged and I told her: $385.00 including the base rental, I made the mistake of not charging her for delivery when I took the order, I have not experience on delivering cakes, so I didn't want to charge her later, she gave me an extra $15.00 anyway. Happy with that and I learned. Back to my SIL she was shocked! She even asked me: How many boxes of cake mix did you use? Thats when my DH got into action and explained to her is not the ingredients that cost that much, is the time spent on doing everything, plus you have to make extra things in case of breakage. She still does not understand and I think she never will People like that lurk in every corner 
I confess it bothers me when they ask that. The good thing is the quinceanera girl and her family and a lot of people were very impressed when I set up the cake. The party was at a house. BTW, I LOVE the poster, can I print a copy?
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