Some People Are Just....odd
Business By jillmakescakes Updated 30 Nov 2009 , 1:12pm by marmalade1687
I would NEVER criticize anyone for eating SIX cupcakes, because I'm the girl who ate the ENTIRE fruitcake by herself. It did take a week or so, but I ate it all. Every cherry, nut and crumb. It was all I ate, day in and day out. Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Fruitcake, fruitcake, fruitcake.
Six cupcakes? That's a snack, compared to my doorstop fruitcake!
That's a LOT of fiber.
LOL!! My husband will stand and eat the entire fruitcake in one afternoon!
I do have a little story though...I just got a call yesterday from an event planner asking if I made cake that was safe for dogs to eat - he was planning an event for 200 and needed dog cake!
After a pause, I asked if he knew that dogs shouldn't eat people food - after his pause, he said that he didn't know that!
Hi! Okay so I only decorate cakes as a hobby but I LOVE reading the business forum---it's my guilty pleasure. Anywho, I am a vet tech and people food is totally fine for dogs to eat (EXCEPT for the notorous chocolate, and less notorious onions, garlic, grapes, and raisins). Unless the dog is diabetic theres nothing wrong with a little cake (I would probably avoid a ton of frosting, though). While cake may not be something you'd give your dogs as part of a balanced diet, it's totally fine as a treat (I would not use the cake as a meal replacement, even if it was only one time). Just so you know, cuz that's a nice sized cake needed--probably not too much of a penny pincher either, given that he's have a dog party!
Dena 
See, I learn something on here all the time (okay, I didn't think it would be about the habits of dogs, but it was a new thing!). We had a dog when I was a child, and I was always told..."Don't feed the dog anything but it's own food!". We don't have animals now because of allergies in the house, so old habits are ingrained - when the event planner asked if I had recipes that were specially made/safe for dogs to eat, he stumped me (to be honest, it doesn't sound like he knew much about it either, now that I have the information from my CC cakers!)
I do have a little story though...I just got a call yesterday from an event planner asking if I made cake that was safe for dogs to eat - he was planning an event for 200 and needed dog cake!
After a pause, I asked if he knew that dogs shouldn't eat people food - after his pause, he said that he didn't know that!
Believe it or not, I had a call like this.........bride wanted cake for 300 and then said, oh could you make a smaller version of MY wedding cake for my dogs.......they're just as excited about my big day LOL
I actually did, it was a peanut butter cake that was made with all dog safe ingredients. I used mmf to cover it and informed her it was "safe" for the dogs but the high sugar content was terrible for them, she said oh...it the big day, they can have sugar!! lol
Here's a pic of the 2 cakes
And on a side note.........these stories about 2 tastings and tastings for 3 serving cakes is exactlly the reason why I started charging for my tastings...when you offer FREE tastings everyone wants a tasting and how do you differentiate between someone wanting a carved cake for 50 that's $300 and someone that wants a wedding cake for $75 that might only be $200 in sales??? I charge $20 for the tasting, they get 4 flavor choices (cake and filling, 4 total)in the form of cupcakes and 4 servings of each flavor and if they place an order totalling over $100.00 it gets applied to their final balance.
So you want a tasting for a 1/4 sheet cake ($20 cake) sure........it'll be $20.00...what flavors would you like??? It makes people a LOT less eager to taste flavors they know they already like!!
As for the lady that wanted a cake in the flavor she knew she liked and then wanted to taste 3 of the popular flavors.........I'm thinking that's because she knew what she liked, but at the same time was curious about your other flavors (maybe for a future order), but didn't want to risk ordering an unknown flavor just in case she didn't like it.
Well considering in dog food factories, they have human testers, if YOU wouldnt eat it why should the dog.
on that note ive never heard of a dog cake lol. wonder who came up with that lol
I received an inquiry about a cake for a lady's daughter's 4th birthday. She said she would send me a pic of the one she liked. It was from Pink Cake Box - 3 tiers, fondant covered with a cupcake on top and gumpaste number!
The next email comes:
"Oh yeah, and there will be 10-12 people and have about $35-45 to spend"
I always laugh at all the funny stories on here, but I don't normally have that many of my own. However, I had three odd stories from last week:
#1) Dad calls me on Wed. and wants a sheet-style cake for his DD's party on Fri. I wasn't overly booked, so I told him I could do it. He asked me about prices for a 1/2 and 1/4 sheet. When I told him, he said, "Oh, well your 1/4 sheet is more $ than Walmart's 1/2 sheet." My reply, "Good. It should be." He said he'd check with the wife and let me know. I guess they went to Walmart.
#2) Lady calls and wants a 3 tiered cake for her dd's 15th b-day...complete with fondant accents and a "15" topper. I asked her how many servings she needed...get this....about 12. When I told her the price for the smallest 3-tiered cake I can do, there was a brief pause. Then she said, "I'm on short time ya know." My reply, "Sounds like you need to order a smaller cake." She did.
#3) Lady emails that she needs a cake for her dd's 3rd b-day. She sent me a picture of a 5 or 6 tiered cake and asked me if I could do that on a much smaller scale. I asked her how many servings she'd need...are you ready...."just for six 3-year-olds." I guess each one will get their own tier?? 
Ah I needed a good dose of stupid this morning! I swear some ppl are out of their minds!
My husband's and 16 yr old's favorite place on Saturday is SAM'S. You can have a light afternoon lunch in that place.
I did a teapot cake for this lady about 3 weeks ago. She sent me pictures from Pink Cake Box. She tells me she needs the cake plus 2 DZ cupcakes BUT she doesnt want to spend allot because her daughter is only turning 1. She wanted fondant decorations on every cupcake and MMF for the cake. 
But you dont want to spend allot...okay 
........never heard of a dog cake lol wonder who came up with that......
I can't believe you have never heard of dog bakeries
There is one in my little town. They make what looks like a 4" single layer cake. I've not talked to them so don't know for sure what they do, but one could make it using a 'dog bone' recipe (easily obtained on the internet) and 'ice' it w/mashed potatoes or cottage cheese (blended).
I saw a post online one time where a lady made her dog a cake and she made basicaly a meat loaf in a round cake pan and put mashed potatoes in between the two layers and iced it in mashed potatoes.......and I kid you not..I thought that sounded like an awesome idea for dinner!!! lol
I made my reg. meatloaf recipe in 2 separate pans and did it and it was awesome!!!!
KHalstead, this is what was going through my mind when he called! And I have to clarify...the event was for 200 dogs...not for 200 people with a small dog cake on the side! If asked if I deliver? Only if the 200 guests of honour are not present - I'm not going to be stampeded for dog cake!
And BTW...that cake is gorgeous!
I once had a lady call to order a single serving cake. When I informed her that I don't do that, but if she was in a bind I could use a bit of batter from another order to make her cake, she was happy. I told her the price, and she said if it was going to be that much she wanted a tasting! Some people. (I think I quoted her only $12 or so....the cake wasn't actually going to be small enough for just 1 human...would have served about 3 or 4 actually, but was intended for one little girl.)
I saw a post online one time where a lady made her dog a cake and she made basicaly a meat loaf in a round cake pan and put mashed potatoes in between the two layers and iced it in mashed potatoes.......and I kid you not..I thought that sounded like an awesome idea for dinner!!! lol
I made my reg. meatloaf recipe in 2 separate pans and did it and it was awesome!!!!
OK, off-topic, but I did that with a cupcake pan. Made meatloaf cupcakes and piped mashed potato "icing" on top and sprinkled some dried parsley on for decoration. Kids loved them!
Khalstead, I think cakes for dogs are about the dumbest thing I've ever heard of, but your pic is so darn cute, I may have to put my opinion on the back burner!
And I have to clarify...the event was for 200 dogs...not for 200 people with a small dog cake on the side!
I'd love to comment on this but I am speechless. Abso-freakin-lutely speechless.
I told her the price, and she said if it was going to be that much she wanted a tasting! Some people. (I think I quoted her only $12 or so....
"Hello, Pizza Hut......? I want to buy 1 slice of pizza. But I want an appt to sample, first. I'd like a slice of 3 different pizzas so I can decide. What? It will cost you more for the sampling than I'd spend on my slice? How is that MY problem?"
Yeah, THAT'LL work!
Forrest Gump's mama had to be the smartest woman in the world. It's so true that "Stupid is as Stupid does".
...........OK, off-topic, but I did that with a cupcake pan. Made meatloaf cupcakes and piped mashed potato "icing" on top and sprinkled some dried parsley on for decoration..........
I have an old recipe that uses meatloaf in muffin pan formed into a 'bowl' (hole in the middle) that is filled w/baked beans. Kids love those too.
actually I think I charged her MORE per serving. Her main cake was like $2.50/serv. ( I know shoot me lol) and the dog cake was a single layer 4", 3",2" square and I charged her like $30.00 or something. I'm guessing in human terms it was only about 4 servings or so. She had 3 little miniature pinchers so it was enough for them. Initially they just wanted the cake in a box to be taken to their dogs later on, but then when the bride saw it she said it HAD to be displayed...she said when she ordered a "exact replica" of HER cake only tiny and 3 tiers, she had no idea that she would actually GET what she ordered LOL
Why did you order it then? lol people are crazy
Oh and indydebi, I'm so honored to have maybe swayed you on dog cakes LOL
The dog cake was completely human edible, and actually I tasted a piece because I was soooooooooooo curious (gross huh?). Basically it was a peanut butter cake but with no sugar...which I thought would be gross but it wasn't so bad actually, the peanut butter sweetened it enough.
I had something similar happen last week. Lady calls up, wants 30 cupcakes and a smash cake for her daughter's 1st birthday. Rush order. I quoted her the price for the cuppies and told her $15 for the smash cake because it was going to be a decent order with the cupcakes. Quoted her $85.00 total. She pauses, uh can I get the cupcakes for cheaper? I say that's the cheapest price I do for cupcakes. Okay, she says she'll check with her husband and call me back. I figure they were not going to call, and I was fine with that. So they call me back and say "we decided to get a cake and cupcakes somewhere else, but we do want the smash cake, so we'll be by Friday to pick that up. Make sure it has a big 1 on it. That was $15 right?" I was totally caught off guard. You want me to do a single 4-inch smash cake....and that's IT? Ugh. I was completely unprepared and agreed to do it before I realized how stupid it was to even go through the trouble of making a single 4-inch cake. Anway, I was irritated, but lesson learned and that night I immediately added a minimum order of $100 requirement in big bold letters on my website. I'm not turning on my oven and making batter and icicg for a measly $15.
I'm not turning on my oven and making batter and icicg for a measly $15.
On a caterer's website that I'm on, a caterer said that people don't understand catering pricing, and I think it applies to this type of cake situation, too. He said people have the fast food mentality: Meal #2 is $5 and it feeds one. So it will cost $10 to feed two, $15 to feed 3. It's a straight multiplier.
Catering isn't like that. He gave the example of it costs him $1000 to feed 50, and costs $1500 to feed 100. It's NOT a straight multiplier because of the overhead costs (it costs me the same money to rent a tablecloth, no matter if there is food for 50 or food for 100 sitting on top of it; it costs the same amount of gas to deliver, no matter if it's food/cake for 50 or food/cake for 100 in the van).
That's kinda what we have with cakes. It costs the same amount of electricity to run the oven, no matter if there is a single 4" cake in there or a single 4" cake AND 2 doz cupcakes. When food/cakes are quoted as a package, it's a PACKAGE price. In the above catering example, food for 100 breaks down to $15/person, but if you only want food for 50, then you're paying $20/person.
I know the feeling when you're on the spot and your brain is out on a coffee break. 
I had one bride contact me this summer for a tasting. Always have cupcakes in the 4 popular flavors of WASC, French Vanilla, Pink Champagne and Vanilla Kahlua (if they are also having a groom's cake, I will sub one with Chocolate Fudge). Went over the other flavors I do....Red Velvet, Coconut, Strawberry, Carrot, Pecan Pie cake with Pecan Pie filling, etc....
Bride has not booked with me, yet. Calls me in October and wants another tasting to sample Pecan Pie cake with Pecan Pie filling. UMMMM...I only do one free tasting. And the recipe makes a full cake. It is too expensive in ingredients to make that cake for a "free' tasting (I would make it if I had several tastings in one day).
I had one bride contact me this summer for a tasting. Always have cupcakes in the 4 popular flavors of WASC, French Vanilla, Pink Champagne and Vanilla Kahlua (if they are also having a groom's cake, I will sub one with Chocolate Fudge). Went over the other flavors I do....Red Velvet, Coconut, Strawberry, Carrot, Pecan Pie cake with Pecan Pie filling, etc....
Bride has not booked with me, yet. Calls me in October and wants another tasting to sample Pecan Pie cake with Pecan Pie filling. UMMMM...I only do one free tasting. And the recipe makes a full cake. It is too expensive in ingredients to make that cake for a "free' tasting (I would make it if I had several tastings in one day).
Yep, had that too - surprising how many times too. I limit it to three choices, and I get "well, I may be ordering a 4-tier cake, so I want 4 choices." Or, they want a second (free) tasting because they can't make up their mind. Unreal.
Well, I normally do three flavors but take the French Vanilla and pour some Kahlua in it, if I have enough batter left over.
Hello??? You want 4 different flavors for a 4-tier cake but you have only sampled three? Did you like what you tried so far? So, you can tell that the cakes I make have great flavor and are moist...just pick another flavor. ***I only say this in my head!
I limit it to three choices, and I get "well, I may be ordering a 4-tier cake, so I want 4 choices." Or, they want a second (free) tasting because they can't make up their mind. Unreal.
This is what just blows me away about perceptions about samplings.
I view a sampling as the opportunity to see if you like my style of cooking/baking. It is NOT when you get to eat everything on my menu so you can decide what you want. It doesn't work when you go to pizza hut ... it doesn't work when you come to my shop.
here you go!!!
I went ahead and started the worst stories thread:
http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-660960.html
I limit it to three choices, and I get "well, I may be ordering a 4-tier cake, so I want 4 choices." Or, they want a second (free) tasting because they can't make up their mind. Unreal.
This is what just blows me away about perceptions about samplings.
I view a sampling as the opportunity to see if you like my style of cooking/baking. It is NOT when you get to eat everything on my menu so you can decide what you want. It doesn't work when you go to pizza hut ... it doesn't work when you come to my shop.
Debi, I have used your exact words to justify why they are not getting free cake, or extra samples to try. Had one girl want a full cake tasting PARTY for her FULL BRIDAL PARTY at MY house free of charge. When I asked (seething with sarcasm) "would you like me to wear my maid uniform too?", she replied, "oh, you would do that?" That's when I hung up the phone. 
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