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Giving away instructions? - Page 2

post #16 of 143
10/20/09 at 9:28am
Quote:
Originally Posted by CakeMommyTX

What do you do if someone emails you requesting instructions on how to make one of your cakes because they don't want to pay your prices but want one of your cakes?



Lol....tell them to Google it! icon_lol.gif
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post #17 of 143
10/20/09 at 9:29am
Oh it's like the Vendor Client Relationship video on YouTube. The customers at the steak house agree to pay the price of their meal, but instruct the chef to tell them how they can do it themselves at home from now on. Give me a break!
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post #18 of 143
10/20/09 at 9:31am
I'll say it again in case anyone missed it....

Google. GOOOOOOOO-gull.


icon_lol.gificon_cool.gif
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post #19 of 143
10/20/09 at 9:37am
What a lot of people fail to realize is that a lot of the things we know as cakers go into the"how to" of making a cake. Even of you gave them some instructions, if they don't have basic knowledge of how to do cakes it likely wouldn't turn out well.
You have to have a basis to start from. A lot of us went through a bunch of trial and error to figure out what works for us and pretty much anyone would have to do the same.

I had a lady stop me Sunday and ask me for a recipe she had at a recent wedding. Now, granted it wasn't something complicated but that's not the point. She couldn't bother to look it up herself. I know she didn't mean any harm but it is annoying. It's like they don't get it, these are recipes I use for my business. If she asks again I'll just tell her I won't give it out.

I know it may seem hard nosed to some but I see nothing wrong with protecting your investment and knowledge.
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 #20 of 143
10/20/09 at 9:55am
Another way to put it into prospective - how much do we pay to take classes with Collette Peters, Bronwen Weber and so forth? I know I just spent a pretty penny to learn new gelatin techniques and carving procedures. I did not get them for free!

Either tell her you don't do classes or give away instructions, but if she really wants to learn recommend classes with the above mentioned people, Wilton and good online sources. Then thank her for her interest.

And yes, it is different from giving advice to a fellow cake person and a cake civilian. Cake people know it's a lot of work and at least, for the most part, have some sense of foundation. Cake civilians don't. For example, I'll tell my family members how to do some stuff sometimes, but it's lost on them. My brother once helped with his 18th birthday cake - SIMPLE piping. Yeah, at like two seconds he said - whoa, this is harder than I thought. icon_smile.gif
Cake decorating ROCKS!!
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Cake decorating ROCKS!!
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post #21 of 143
10/20/09 at 9:55am
Don't give out your recipes to anyone that is local. I gave my recipe of Tres Leches to a friend because they were going thru a difficult time and could not afford the price. Lord and behold 6 months later I find out they had opened a bakery business and the best selling dessert is my tres leches. Now they have employees and 3 delivery vans!!!
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post #22 of 143
10/20/09 at 10:01am
Quote:
Originally Posted by asanchez

Don't give out your recipes to anyone that is local. I gave my recipe of Tres Leches to a friend because they were going thru a difficult time and could not afford the price. Lord and behold 6 months later I find out they had opened a bakery business and the best selling dessert is my tres leches. Now they have employees and 3 delivery vans!!!



thumbsdown.gif Your "friend" s#cks!
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post #23 of 143
10/20/09 at 10:08am
Quote:
Originally Posted by LaBellaFlor

Quote:
Originally Posted by asanchez

Don't give out your recipes to anyone that is local. I gave my recipe of Tres Leches to a friend because they were going thru a difficult time and could not afford the price. Lord and behold 6 months later I find out they had opened a bakery business and the best selling dessert is my tres leches. Now they have employees and 3 delivery vans!!!



thumbsdown.gif Your "friend" s#cks!



Whoa! icon_eek.gif
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post #24 of 143
10/20/09 at 10:08am
That was really wrong! I am so sorry they did that to you.
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 #25 of 143
10/20/09 at 10:08am
Quote:
Originally Posted by LaBellaFlor

Quote:
Originally Posted by asanchez

Don't give out your recipes to anyone that is local. I gave my recipe of Tres Leches to a friend because they were going thru a difficult time and could not afford the price. Lord and behold 6 months later I find out they had opened a bakery business and the best selling dessert is my tres leches. Now they have employees and 3 delivery vans!!!



thumbsdown.gif Your "friend" s#cks!



I second the sucky friend thought!
http://www.acaketorememberva.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/acaketoremember
http://www.youtube.com/karabuntin
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http://www.acaketorememberva.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/acaketoremember
http://www.youtube.com/karabuntin
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post #26 of 143
10/20/09 at 10:11am
O.k... if you say "Thanks for the inquiry, that cake is a gourmet fondant base coat with a little sculpting work, airbrushed edible dusting, the detailing takes approximately 30-40 hours for your planning purposes. If you'd like to learn more about this method, I would recommend joining your local ICES chapter or classes at the local cake decorating supply store. Best of luck!"

Heck, giving them the steps just not the right order LOL... It also keeps CC as our own hidden gem hideaway to "secretly" talk about them icon_lol.gificon_lol.gif That way you also don't come off as looking like a j... b... a... pick your least favorite describer word... It also makes it so once they realize the level of work and cost involved of specialty supplies to pull it off they'll still be willing to come back to you to do it when they realize they can't afford to DIY it...
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post #27 of 143
10/20/09 at 10:12am
Quote:
Originally Posted by costumeczar

Quote:
Originally Posted by LaBellaFlor

Quote:
Originally Posted by asanchez

Don't give out your recipes to anyone that is local. I gave my recipe of Tres Leches to a friend because they were going thru a difficult time and could not afford the price. Lord and behold 6 months later I find out they had opened a bakery business and the best selling dessert is my tres leches. Now they have employees and 3 delivery vans!!!



thumbsdown.gif Your "friend" s#cks!



I second the sucky friend thought!



I third and fourth it! thumbsdown.gif
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post #28 of 143
10/20/09 at 10:21am
Gee Whiz.....That is almost as bad as Mom's at the school asking me to borrow my cakepans and colors to make their kids cakes because they don't want to pay my prices.... icon_mad.gif

Next...... icon_wink.gif
Busy Bakin Kakes For Kids!!!

Mom to Mitchell 11 yrs and Delaney 9 yrs
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Busy Bakin Kakes For Kids!!!

Mom to Mitchell 11 yrs and Delaney 9 yrs
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post #29 of 143
10/20/09 at 10:31am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kiddiekakes

Gee Whiz.....That is almost as bad as Mom's at the school asking me to borrow my cakepans and colors to make their kids cakes because they don't want to pay my prices.... icon_mad.gif

Next...... icon_wink.gif



icon_eek.gif Speechless...almost... icon_razz.gif
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post #30 of 143
10/20/09 at 10:35am
I can see it to a point. If it is someone that you know won't be able to pull it off, give them the basics. Let them fail. Then they do call you when they want something because you did try to "help them". You actuallly look like the good guy.

I had an experience a few weeks ago that fits this.....I am a home baker, I have an acquaintance that actually owns a store front. (BUT neither she nor her decorator really have much experience) They took an order for a fondant covered wedding cake that was going to a very nice venue. She called asking me for help. I told her I would come and show her how I do it for $25./hour - she agreed. I showed them how to do it, and I now have an offer of a commercial kitchen use if I ever need it and a person who will be forever grateful for what I shared. The business is about 10 miles from me - could I possibly loose orders to them? Maybe, but doubtful. We are in two different arenas - they HAVE to sell cakes, they cannot be picky, whereas, I can be. At first I kind of struggled with it, but then I thought of how I would feel if put in that same predicament - I would hope that someone would be willing to help me out.
Knowledge is a candle that when shared, doubles the light, but the insecure person believes knowledge is a candle that is diminished when it is split between two wicks.
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Knowledge is a candle that when shared, doubles the light, but the insecure person believes knowledge is a candle that is diminished when it is split between two wicks.
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