I can't believe she would COMPLAIN! (warning - long rant) - Page 2

I am under the impression that your friend is familiar with your work. She obviously knows she is getting a superior product. IMHO she is trying to take advantage. I would make out a check in the amount of her deposit and keep it in my purse. The next time she makes a snide remark about the cost of anything wedding related, I would tell her to go to the local bakery and hand the check to her and be done with the whole thing. She will never truly appreciate what you are doing for her and that the cakes would be one of the most enjoyable parts of the wedding. People like that just tick me off

I don't know about you ladies/guys, but I spend hours and hours decorating my cakes, which I'm sure a lot of you do too... and this woman is just flat out taking advantage of your kind spirit edencakes... the same was about to happen to my sister ... a co-worker approached her about doing a wedding cake for her... she told her she no longer did them because she has carpal tunnel too bad and it just causes her so much pain .. so she told her that I would do the cake... well her "daddy", who I may add is a physician in an nearby town, has her on a budget.. well she thought she'd get the cake for free from my sister, I know what this girl was thinking .. but my sister, who was quick with thinking, knew this girl could afford to pay someone and she knew she just couldn't do it with her hands... so she gave her my telephone number... well, when in a store together with my sister, we met this lady .. let me say that the engagement ring she wears is HUGE!!! as in I don't know how she keeps her hand held up w/it .. like you said KayDay, they want to spend money on a horse/carriage, dresses, nice decor, but they feel charges for catering and cakes is too high??? I was told she went to local chain grocery store and is having them do her cake .. it will cost her $200 .. can't me much of a cake in my book for that price ... now if you're going to pay all this money to "Put on the show", why not get the cake to go with it??? Am I wrong with my thinking? Why do people gasp when we give them, what I feel, are very fair prices? If they only had an idea of how many hours we put into these cakes .. I really don't think they have a clue though ..

ok, I'm done w/my ranting

edencakes, in the future, I'd tell anyone, co-worker or not, the price of my cakes are non-negotiable... it's not fair of people to take advantage of or kind heartedness and we really shouldn't let them either.. I'm as guilty of this as you have been too .. I need to work on myself in that area

I just love you guys. You are all so professional, and it's nice that you can rant and get full understanding from everybody on this site. I'm still very much a novice, but getting in plenty of practice with birthday cakes, etc. I'll probably faint if somebody asks me to do a wedding cake - then I'll be looking to you all for your wonderful advice and support.
luv'n'stuff, Barb

edencakes, I'm going to have to agree with everyone else... sounds like she's trying to pull a fast one on you. I have a friend that I worked with at my old job that is planning her wedding and I told her I'd do it at a reduced rate, also for experience. She emails me this morning that (another) friend of her's parent's do cakes and they are willing to do it for FREE!!! as a wedding gift to her! Well I don't know about you, but I know my friends parents wouldn't do a free wedding cake for me OR give me a gift that is worth several hundred dollars! I said hey, if they are willing to do that, then go for it! You can't pass up free. But I am a bit miffed about it. She didn't put a deposit down or anything (wedding date has been changed about 12 times and she just changed it again) but she's a friend and it hurt my feelings a bit. I explained to her the ONLY person I'd do a free cake for is my sister and I have to be reimbursed for at least the ingredients and some of my time. I guess I have to go with the thought that it just wasn't meant to be... maybe something better will come my way for that day... Maybe someone who will actually PAY for a cake... lol!

you guys are the bomb!!!!
I too am a novice, but I put alot of work and time into my cakes, and i'm proud of them, but all my family members want all of their kids birthday cakes done for free, I think since I started making cakes over 2 years ago i've made 20.00, and i'm not lying....sad, but true
Friends and family think they should have their cake for free...and eat it too..and from me, they do, I don't know where to start with pricing, I have no idea, if you guys could give me some advice that would be great.
Thanks!
Angela33

I too am glad we have each other to rant to...I don't mean to sound money hungry ..I would do this even if it were only a hobby...but if you devote lots of time effort and money into developing a skill...I dont see why we shouldnt expect to get paid for it! A lady I know looked at my tea party cake and said..OMG!!! I cannot believe thats all edible...you are amazing !!!! Thats wonderful!!! What an artist you are! How much would you charge for something like that? And when I said...Oh...about 350.00 her mouth fell open!

Frankly-I would do a sketch of the cakes and take them to bakeries to find out how much they would charge-I wouldn't say I did cakes just shopping around. Then I would present the PRESENT to her and give her the choice-and after one more comment it would be MY choice to give her the list of bakeries to choose from-you don't need the headaches-she is walking on you because of the employment issue. These are 2 seperate situations and you are getting shafted!

Hey edencakes--

Check out these websites for a good laugh. Kind of lengthy.

www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A62612-2004Jun22.html

www.freenewmexican.com/news/29324.html

Tell her Wal-mart will give her a good deal on a wedding cake--who cares that it came in frozen and has been in that freezer for how long??? Of course, SHE will have to be responsible for seeing that it is picked (and all the supplies are there) and delivered without a hitch.

My friend thought she wanted to go into the coordinating business and her first customer (I was doing the cake) came and sampled some food selections and told us she would get back with her. Exactly one week before the wedding, she called and told us, she had decided to "let" us do her wedding. Talk about a headache--scrambling headache. Then we went the night before to decorate the reception area (as told by bride), only to find out that was where they were having the rehearsal dinner and we had to wait until they finished eating. Then, of course, there are those stragglers who stand around to talk. We had to ask them several times to move. Didn't get home until 11:00, and still had the cake to finish decorating plus the appetizers to fix. Needless to say, I am chopping fruit all through the reception saying "NEVER AGAIN!!!"
Oh and we did find out, that the bride had made everybody mad (family) that was going to do this job and they quit!!! That was why she called at the last week.

Hubbies are great for venting-as long as it's not the same theme-customers, cakes, etc....it's OK for them to vent about the car, wait in line, etc...but that's what makes them hubbies-gotta love them. It's easier for someone who has been there or in the same playground to understand and give you our opinion-that's what we are here for!!

edencakes....I think you should not go out of your way with doing any difficult or extravagant fillings. I think she is getting a steal! That is a very large wedding and I am sure a lot of time and effort will go into both cakes. I also think if she makes another comment about how expensive the cost is...then I would give her the deposit back and tell her to go somewhere else. You should not be treated that way when you are going out of your way to be nice! Good Luck!
traci

Edencakes--Any way you can get your hands on the Brides Receptions special issue from this summer? (I don't think it's still in the newstands, but maybe you could find it online). It's full of wedding cake pictures and in the resource guide in the back, the prices for almost all the cakes are listed. We're talking $12-15 a serving for most of them! Your "friend" is getting a bargain and she needs to show a little gratitude.

Here's what I would do if I were you. I'd call several bakeries (nicer ones that would do the quality of work you do) and get some quotes on cakes the same size as the one you're doing. If you could get the magazine I mentioned, that would help too. Then sit down with this lady for a serious talk. Be calm and friendly, but firm. Tell her that the issue of the price of her wedding cake seems to be a problem, and you want to resolve it so there are no hard feelings or misunderstandings between you. Give her the price quotes from the other bakeries. She needs to know that you are not outrageously expensive. Explain to her, too, how much the ingredients and materials for those cakes will cost and how many hours it will take you to make them. If she is still ornery and unreasonable, that may be your cue to tell her she needs to go elsewhere. You don't need that kind of grief!

Good luck and let us know what happens!

Holly

Hi

Just wanted to post a little something in response to Kayday's story of the "rich" couple.......the rich are rich because they don't spend their money........this is something I have noticed in every day life! (of course this doesn't mean every well off person) it seems they always want a bargain or something for nothing.....very frustrating when you know they have the money to pay for it! Must be how they got to be well off....maybe I should try it lol.

As for the co-worker....you are a business and she should understand that and be VERY grateful you gave her such a BIG discount.....that was very generous of you and I'm with everyone else, if she's not happy I would ask her to go somewhere else......she sounds like a handful!

Just thought I'd put in my two cents!

I agree with everyone else. She is looking for a free cake.

We have to stick to our guns. If we keep dropping our prices, we might as well do everything for free. I can not believe a bride thinks that she is going to pay anything less the $500 for anything that is feeding at least 150 people much less to 300.

Money is spent on everything and the cake should be in the top five of most important things at the wedding.


Keeping the check in your pocket book is a great idea. Any remark made she would have her money back