I can't believe she would COMPLAIN! (warning - long rant)

It sounds to me like she is trying to take advantage of you. You already knocked off $150.00 and she is still complaining?? Sounds like she is wanting something for nothing.

For what she wants I don't see you're pricing out of line. Even at $600 that is still only $2 per person. That sounds like a good deal to me, if she doesn't want to pay that much maybe offer to make a smaller cake and sheet cakes for the side to serve-less pressure on you and cheaper for her. But from the sounds of it, that won't satisfy her either.

Good luck with this one. I can't wait to see the pictures, the rubix cube sounds like a neat one!

She is trying to take advantage of you. I would have charged her much more friend or not, I am doing this to make money. My starting price is 2.00 a serving, that does not include filling, the charge for the cake stand, delivery, etc.......

You know, I think most people have no idea how much a cakes costs. They choke when you tell them and say things like" that much money for just a cake." I wish people would go shop at speciatly bakeries and see how much these things can cost before choking over something reasonable!

Forget the cake part for a second...this woman is having a wedding for 300 people?? Anyone who invites that many guests KNOWS that everything is going to be expensive! Like my 5 year old would say---DUH!
Any woman getting married does enough research the first week or so of planning a wedding figures out that MONEY is the biggest issue and the first thing that you don't do is invite that many people if you're on a budget. This woman is nuts...she's a BRIDEZILLA!
I would not let this bother you one more minute---that's crazy, especially a speciality grooms cake. Let her go out and shop around and then come back to you.
Or is there a possibility that she knows it's going to cost a bunch and she's trying to take advantage of you b/c you are friends?? Sorry, I have to be synical.
Good luck with this mess!

I would be all like pfffffffffffffffttttttttttttttttttt

hahaha.. And ask her if she has BUMPED her HEAD lately???? It really sounds like she is trying her best to take advantage of your friendship. I wouldn't move one cent under that price. if she changes her mind so be it. Your orignal price was Excellent. I really hate that friends expect to get things for "Free" & I think Most of us know that feeling really well. I think that most people don't even understand the cost,time and effort that we put into Cakes and Decorating. I hope you can get over being upset and not let this spoil your friendship but she needs to understand that she is PUSHING IT! hahaha..

Good Luck Eden

~Sweet~

Checked out your website. Love the way you use accessories to contrast against the white cakes. When you are working out of your home, people will always expect to pay you less. I would have told the friend no simply because you're having to take off from work. It kinda ruins the whole extra income if you're taking off from you're day job.

I'd be sure to get a deposit from her. Sounds like she hasn't planned on the costs for a wedding that large.

Tell her that if she complains one more time she can get it made somewhere else! Have her check the local bakery and see what a wedding cake costs - then she'll see what a real bargain she's getting!

Debbie

OK warning all....I am gonna go off on a tangent here! I not only wind up underpricing my cakes etc...but I also do it on other things! I also cater decorate and provide wedding equipment and flowers. I worked my butt off all week on a wedding last week that was held this past Sun. And I wind up doing stupid things ( even though it is for people who dont want to pay the cost of a coordinator...which I also do for a small fee...but they always feel that Aunt June or cousin Cletus can do that just fine for free then the music isnt started on time etc) like staying up all night searching for and burning music onto a disc for a wedding when @ the last minute they inform me they havent made arrangements for music. I was guilty of driving 30 miles to the wedding then ( after being told the historic home the wedding was in provided tablecloths) driving back home at no extra cost (in a storm)to get my table skirtings because the so called tablecloths were wrinkled and shabby. Our work if presented poorly doesnt do us justice also...since I do so many aspects of the event I know people who ask who did the catering etc...will thing those wrinkled things are my doing!
This wedding was for a lady who is wealthy enough to pay well for whatever she wants...but haggled with me over prices. Then I saw the huge mansion they were married in and watched a trailer pull in with a white coach and clydesdales to pull it for them to get in at the end of the driveway just to make it look like a fairytale...PFFT...I KNOW that guy charged @ least 1000.00 for loading those big horses and driving to the next town and unloading and assembling that carriage and driving them aropund for a few minutes then giving the kids carriage rides after the ceremony and then having to load them back up go home unload and clean his trailer etc.
I am not belittling his work...but I know I was worth fully as much! I had to pay a helper..work all week on their cakes and mints made punch provided servingware...decorated...cleaned up after...brought punch fountains and bowls etc...and had to reload and go home and clean it up...childcare cost etc..scurried around lighting candles and arranging flowers making her bouquet and dashing to the store in the rain for ice...(sigh) I guess I am trying to say...I have long heard how caterers.. specialty bakeshops etc. charge an arm and a leg...well my GOSH...they NEED TO!! Not to mention ..I have the cost of a shop with utilities and lawncare...and taxes etc....I have GOT to refigure what my labor is worth!

Kay I know what you mean about doing more and underpricing! I've been guilty of both before too. I think it's because we don't look at our cakes as a "job" sometimes, we just want to be proud of our work! And if that means doing extra things, well, that's understandable.
What I don't understand is when we severely undercharge someone and they still complain?!?

You know, I recall paying $375.00 for my wedding cake, which was for 100 people. Back then, I almost choked over the price (1992 prices), but it was well worth the price. Today $600.00 wouldn't even phase me, especially if it was for a cake that was not 'standard'.
I'm sorry, edencakes, you called this Bridezilla a friend.... No she isn't! She's a bloodsucking leach who only wants what she wants and nobody else matters! And you are even taking time off of work to make this cake? You are LOSING money regardless of your charges! She has time to find another baker/decorator, I suggest you make her use her time wisely, friend or not!

debbi

Mamafrog I dont get it either! A lady once told me who wanted me to cater a gathering @ her house...when I priced it @ 12.00 per person that she could take the bunch to Ryans for that...and I said.. I am sure you can...but can they bring ryans to YOU for that? And serve it in silver chafers and wearing a black tie and do it @ your leisure at home? She also was vegan and wanted all these special dishes prepared and when I quoted her prices she thought that it should be MUCH cheaper because they didnt include meat! Have you priced fresh asparagus lately?!? LOL....well it wound up that we sat down and I explained that we operate on a smaller scale than the big restaurants and dont keep the inventory they do or buy in the bulk that they do ...ergo...we cant do their buffet prices...I also explained that it is a lot less lucrative for us to set up a buffet as we dont have 500 people coming in and out buying it...it is exclusively for HER crowd. End of story she was one of the FEW I have met that once she was told what went INTO the job has no problem with paying the cost... and is now a regular customer and at the time that I told her I was so angry I was shaking...I tried to remain calm..but knew I would never see her again..lol...I was wrong that time!

Most people don't have a clue as to what goes into a cake or any food preparation outside of fixing dinner for the family. Especially when it comes to taking it somewhere and setting it up and still having it fresh and hot. I can't even get a good pizza or sub delivered without it being soggy or cold!

Debbie

AMEN debbie...lol...I didnt even include that in my rant! I also have cambro warmers and special equipment costs as well as sterno..etc...people really dont get it!