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Bride's Request, not sure how to answer! - Page 2

post #16 of 126
6/15/09 at 10:09am
Quote:
Originally Posted by cakes22


Cake supplies: $30.00
Time & effort: $370.00

Having a fabulous wedding cake: PRICELESS~~



Perfect! I love it!
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post #17 of 126
6/15/09 at 10:11am
Give her receipts? That's what you do when you are making a cake for free and want to be compensated for the ingredients. It sounds like you already gave her a regular price for the cake.

I would tell her that there is obviously a misunderstanding between you and she should probably find another place to purchase the cake.

I have found that people that only have a job mentality truly don't have a clue how business works. Unless you want to educate her about making a profit you may be better off to just cut her loose before things get really ugly.
When tempted to fight fire with fire, remember that the Fire Department usually uses water.
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When tempted to fight fire with fire, remember that the Fire Department usually uses water.
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post #18 of 126
6/15/09 at 10:13am
What you have is a contract price, already negotiated. There are no receipts given on a contract price. Tell her that now-and leave no room for discussion.
"Hobby baker only-I do not sell cakes. People would probably not pay what I think the hard work, and all the cleanup involved in cake making is worth!"
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"Hobby baker only-I do not sell cakes. People would probably not pay what I think the hard work, and all the cleanup involved in cake making is worth!"
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post #19 of 126
6/15/09 at 10:14am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Auryn

ok lets get some things in a row first

is she paying you for this cake?
if so how much is she paying per serving??

has she given you a deposit ??

If I were you I would tell her that because you buy your ingredients in bulk, you cannot give her an itemized supply list and anyway it is very much not the norm.

I can guarantee you she doesnt go out to eat and ask the waiter to bring her an ingredients cost sheet to make sure that what they are charging you is "fair". She is off her rocker. Shes probably thinking that since your 'friends' you shouldnt be making any money off of her.

This is when I would start trying to find the quickest most politically correct exit strategy



Yes she is paying me for the cake, yes she has already paid a deposit. As for pricing, I'm charging her $2 per serving for a 200 serving cake, 4 tiered, covered in fondant with branches and gum paste flowers all over one side from top to bottom. That is a lot of time and effort on the flowers alone. I know that I shouldn't have to justify my pricing as I'm giving her a deal anyway since she is a coworker, the biggest problem for me is how to tell her no, without causing a tense work environment.
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post #20 of 126
6/15/09 at 10:16am
Tell her to shop around for the exact same cake you are doing, then let you know if it is a fair price...............she will come back to you in a heartbeat (that is if you still want to do it)

deb
mom to Christine, John, Michele, Joseph & Peter......grandma to Zachary and Colette
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mom to Christine, John, Michele, Joseph & Peter......grandma to Zachary and Colette
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post #21 of 126
6/15/09 at 10:20am
Not sure where you are but $2.00 a serving seems way low to me. I start at $3.50 for fondant and that isn't including all the little extras, thats just base. She is getting a steal of a deal. Unfortunately, you may be in for a tense work environment anyway.
If she is concerned about the receipts, give her your list of ingredients and let her go shopping.
BAZINGA ~ Dr. Sheldon Cooper
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BAZINGA ~ Dr. Sheldon Cooper
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post #22 of 126
6/15/09 at 10:21am
I think I might say something like, "I can't provide receipts for every cost that goes into making a wedding cake. I am sorry, but if you need that to ensure fairness, you'll have to find someone else to make your cake. I would encourage you to call some other bakers and get pricing for the type of cake you're looking for. If you do that, I am sure you will discover that $2 a serving for a fondant covered cake with all of your details is WAY MORE than fair."

I have to be honest though. The statement from her leaves a bad taste in my mouth and I'm not sure I'd be as diplomatic as I've encouraged you to be. icon_lol.gif

Good luck and please keep us posted!
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post #23 of 126
6/15/09 at 10:23am
First, is she maybe under the impression that you are doing this for cost? It's crazy, but maybe she thinks that $400 is what a wedding cake costs to make and wants to make sure you come up with receipts for $400.

My other thought is that this is such a bizarre request that I can't help but wonder if perhaps she didn't communicate what she really wanted very well. Maybe she was letting you know that if you had any expenses, over and above the cake, like a fancy cake plate/base or something, she would reimburse you for that?

In either event, I would tell her that you can agree on a price for a cake. But once you agree on that price, that's what she will owe you, no matter what the flour and sugar cost. So receipts will really be irrelevant to her.
Housework makes you ugly.

It's marshmallow, not marshmellow! Aaargh, I have the strangest pet peeves!
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Housework makes you ugly.

It's marshmallow, not marshmellow! Aaargh, I have the strangest pet peeves!
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post #24 of 126
6/15/09 at 10:23am
Quote:
Originally Posted by pouchet82

Make sure to attach your electricity bill on there!


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Hope, Love, Laugh! Live for today! You never know what tomorrow might bring!
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Hope, Love, Laugh! Live for today! You never know what tomorrow might bring!
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post #25 of 126
6/15/09 at 10:27am
How about ask her simply...

"To ensure it's fair? To who?"

That's your price so it must be fair to you, right? Maybe suggest giving her back her deposit until she's been able to gather more quotes from other bakers...
"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
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post #26 of 126
6/15/09 at 10:28am
I understand you have to work with her so just be honest. Maybe something like-

"If you are uncomfortable with the price I quoted you I am willing to let you out of the contract due to our work relationship. I am sure you can understand that due to this being a business transaction I cannot give out receipts"

or just

"I am not comfortable giving that information."

or

"If you have a lower quote on the cake I will understand if you want to get your cake from them"


Something along those lines, said really sweetly but firmly with a smile (even though you are stewing inside) and leaving no room for discussion about the receipts. She may not like it but if you are not nasty that's about the best you can do.

This could be touchy either way. Good luck with it!
The older I get the smarter my mother gets!
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The older I get the smarter my mother gets!
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post #27 of 126
6/15/09 at 10:30am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ravnmommy

Yes she is paying me for the cake, yes she has already paid a deposit. As for pricing, I'm charging her $2 per serving for a 200 serving cake, 4 tiered, covered in fondant with branches and gum paste flowers all over one side from top to bottom. That is a lot of time and effort on the flowers alone. I know that I shouldn't have to justify my pricing as I'm giving her a deal anyway since she is a coworker, the biggest problem for me is how to tell her no, without causing a tense work environment.



Well, I'm impressed that you got all the ingredients for this cake for $30!!! I need to get better at my shopping I guess!!!

I agree with everyone else--a lot more money goes into making these cakes then just the ingredients--electricity, gas, cost of pans, etc., etc....
I think until you do it yourself you just can't comprehend whta goes into these cakes!!
Why do people say, "You can't have your cake and eat it too?" WHY would someone get cake if they can't eat it?!
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Why do people say, "You can't have your cake and eat it too?" WHY would someone get cake if they can't eat it?!
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post #28 of 126
6/15/09 at 10:32am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ravnmommy



Yes she is paying me for the cake, yes she has already paid a deposit. As for pricing, I'm charging her $2 per serving for a 200 serving cake, 4 tiered, covered in fondant with branches and gum paste flowers all over one side from top to bottom. That is a lot of time and effort on the flowers alone. I know that I shouldn't have to justify my pricing as I'm giving her a deal anyway since she is a coworker, the biggest problem for me is how to tell her no, without causing a tense work environment.



Hmmm, first I was pissed at her & her attitude, now I'm also mad (in the kindest way!) at you for giving her this cake, because at $2 per serving, that's what you are doing girl! For a start, I really think you need to go back and do the math on your ingredients. Even if you were making this cake with just box mixes and cheap crisco frosting, it would cost you more than $30 for a cake for 200 icon_eek.gif ! The fondant to cover this cake is probably going to cost you more than that alone! Now factor in the cake ingredients, frosting ingredients, boards, boxes, utilities, gas, consumables etc, etc, and I would put a price tag for your 'supplies' as being nearer the $150 mark! If she bought this cake from me, she would be paying at least $6.50 per slice for the design you have described - $1300 PLUS delivery. Tell her to put that in her pipe & smoke it - geez! icon_confused.gif
AKA: bonjovibabe
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AKA: bonjovibabe
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post #29 of 126
6/15/09 at 10:37am
She's getting a wedding cake for $2 per slice AND flowers? She's getting a bargain. I would just tell her I don't operate that way, and not show her anything. Tell her to check other bakeries and see what they charge. I would be insulted by this request.

But that's how it goes when we deal with friends. We try to give them a break and they want FREE.
MYW
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MYW
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post #30 of 126
6/15/09 at 10:38am
How about:

I was trying to come up with receipts for you but I have a problem. I buy most of my ingredients in bulk because lots of my specialty ingredients have to be bought online. Most of the ingredients that are going into your cake are things that I have already purchased and have no way to break down the pricing because I don't save receipts. I did however check with XYZ Bakery and found out that they would charge you $X for this same cake so you could see that I was charging you fairly and even giving you a discount. *I understand if you want to go with another bakery and I will have no hard feelings if you do.

*You can edit this out if you want to.

Hope that helps! icon_smile.gif
"It never ends! It never ends that way too." ~Hammy
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"It never ends! It never ends that way too." ~Hammy
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