Ugh, Stupid Magazine

Business By costumeczar Updated 28 Jan 2010 , 6:12am by jenmat

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costumeczar Posted 22 Jan 2010 , 10:14pm
post #1 of 23

There's a local "magazine," one of those that get given out free on newstands, you know the type. Anyway, they're always harassing me to advertise in their bridal issue, and I always say no.

I just got the issue that has the bridal section in it, and guess what the first piece of wisdom under the "how to save money" section is? Yes, it's "get the smaller wedding cake and sheet cakes" garbage.

Now why would I want to advertise in any publication that's going to tell people not to buy a decent wedding cake? Regardless of whether the sheet cake thing is right or wrong, do they really think that printing that kind of stuff will attract advertisers? If they call me again I'll tell them that, too. In fact, I think I'll write them right now! icon_mad.gif

22 replies
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this-mama-rocks Posted 22 Jan 2010 , 10:26pm
post #2 of 23

Do it! I am anxious to hear their non-answer!

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LaBellaFlor Posted 22 Jan 2010 , 10:31pm
post #3 of 23

LOLOLOL!!! You gotta admit, the irony is kinda funny. So when are you advertising? icon_razz.gif

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costumeczar Posted 22 Jan 2010 , 10:37pm
post #4 of 23
Quote:
Originally Posted by LaBellaFlor

LOLOLOL!!! You gotta admit, the irony is kinda funny. So when are you advertising? icon_razz.gif




Ha ha, I wrote to them and added a trackable link to my blog entry on why sheet cakes aren't necessarily cheaper, so I'll be able to tell if they actually looked at it or not. I'mnot holding my breath.

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kathy164 Posted 22 Jan 2010 , 10:45pm
post #5 of 23

that is funny, I am in Oregon and our paper had a little Insert about weddings and it said the same thing. Do a smaller cake, have sheet cakes cut in the back. etc, I had thought they must have gotten the advice off a national paper or something that deals perhaps with larger cities. Our area will just laugh at that,. I am in a small town and pretty much, the weddings around here are all about the cake. LOL!!

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Deb_ Posted 22 Jan 2010 , 10:59pm
post #6 of 23

Maybe the geniuses that write these articles should call a few baker's and ask them the price difference if any.



Edit to add.......did I actually spell write as right? UGHHH it's that damn mix thread it's driving me NUTS....can't even spell now!

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costumeczar Posted 22 Jan 2010 , 11:04pm
post #7 of 23
Quote:
Originally Posted by dkelly

Maybe the geniuses that right these articles should call a few baker's and ask them the price difference if any.




Ha, that's basically what I said in my letter to the editor icon_lol.gif

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Melvira Posted 22 Jan 2010 , 11:23pm
post #8 of 23

Now see, if you had bought that half page ad, they'd have never said something like that! icon_lol.gificon_cry.gif Jerks.

But you know, this information comes from somewhere. Whether they did local research or not, some places ARE cheaper to do sheetcakes. Sure, it's not as attractive unless you're doing torted sheets, but then they SHOULDN'T be cheaper. But seriously, buying a beautiful wedding cake from me IS going to cost more than three Sam's club sheet cakes. I can't fault that information! icon_rolleyes.gif

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Deb_ Posted 23 Jan 2010 , 12:40am
post #9 of 23

That's true Mel, so maybe in these articles they should state that.

Problem is brides read these articles and think they can still go to a high end cake designer and expect to save big $$$$.

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Melvira Posted 23 Jan 2010 , 12:45am
post #10 of 23

Well sure, I mean, once you hear that they're on a *budget* don't you stop overinflating your prices and give them a fair deal? You know, cake for 500 for $99.95. I mean, that's how I do it...

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CelebrationsbyLori Posted 23 Jan 2010 , 12:50am
post #11 of 23

I like the articles that tell the brides to never accept the first price, and ask if you can give them a deal if they put out your business cards, etc. Like it's a flea market! They put in their heads that we are out to get them just because it's for a wedding. I don't know about you guys, but if I put it the work of an intricately designed tiered cake it's the same price whether it's for a wedding or a birthday party! It can be frustrating!
Lori

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Deb_ Posted 23 Jan 2010 , 12:53am
post #12 of 23
Quote:
Originally Posted by Melvira

Well sure, I mean, once you hear that they're on a *budget* don't you stop overinflating your prices and give them a fair deal? You know, cake for 500 for $99.95. I mean, that's how I do it...




Well of course! My 3 fav words at a tasting are "on a budget"....I just love it when they say that, don't you?

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Melvira Posted 23 Jan 2010 , 1:03am
post #13 of 23

Oh, no doubt. I really like it when they're right up front and tell me how much cheaper they could get it at *insert store name here*.

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costumeczar Posted 23 Jan 2010 , 1:30pm
post #14 of 23
Quote:
Originally Posted by Melvira

Oh, no doubt. I really like it when they're right up front and tell me how much cheaper they could get it at *insert store name here*.




Ha ha, then they should get it there!

The negotiating thing was mentioned, too. It said that you can save UP TO 50% if you just ask! Wow, I never knew it was that easy! I'm going to try that the next time I go to the grocery store. Forget coupons, asking is much easier.

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cylstrial Posted 23 Jan 2010 , 2:06pm
post #15 of 23
Quote:
Originally Posted by costumeczar

Quote:
Originally Posted by Melvira

Oh, no doubt. I really like it when they're right up front and tell me how much cheaper they could get it at *insert store name here*.



Ha ha, then they should get it there!

The negotiating thing was mentioned, too. It said that you can save UP TO 50% if you just ask! Wow, I never knew it was that easy! I'm going to try that the next time I go to the grocery store. Forget coupons, asking is much easier.




I want my 50% off my new treadmill! (Hmmm...I don't think it's going to happen).

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Melvira Posted 23 Jan 2010 , 4:24pm
post #16 of 23
Quote:
Originally Posted by cylstrial

I want my 50% off my new treadmill! (Hmmm...I don't think it's going to happen).




It's all in how you ask... "Give me my treadmill at half price or I WILL SIT ON YOU!!! icon_lol.gificon_cry.gif

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kiki07 Posted 23 Jan 2010 , 5:03pm
post #17 of 23

You know, the reason people think it is true that a smaller cake with sheet cakes is cheaper is because some bakers do charge less for them. The place that did my brother-in-law's wedding did. And this guy is a very experienced pastry chef. The cake with sheet cakes came out to $500 while the same # of servings in a bigger cake was $700.

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costumeczar Posted 23 Jan 2010 , 5:59pm
post #18 of 23
Quote:
Originally Posted by kiki07

You know, the reason people think it is true that a smaller cake with sheet cakes is cheaper is because some bakers do charge less for them. The place that did my brother-in-law's wedding did. And this guy is a very experienced pastry chef. The cake with sheet cakes came out to $500 while the same # of servings in a bigger cake was $700.




It depends on the baker, definitely. If you have a huge guest list and there's a difference in price between the sheets and the wedding cake it can make a difference, but not much if you have a normal-sized guest list. I just get tired of magazines telling people that it will be cheaper every time. I get people who have 80 people coming to their reception asking me about it because they've read it so many times.

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CakeForte Posted 23 Jan 2010 , 8:22pm
post #19 of 23

Yeah, I had to start saying "this option is only relevant if you have more than 250 guests in attendance."
Most of my weddings are 150....so they don't really ask anymore.

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prterrell Posted 23 Jan 2010 , 10:00pm
post #20 of 23

Geesh. EVERY bride is on a budget, whether it be $100 or a $100,000.

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Melvira Posted 23 Jan 2010 , 11:09pm
post #21 of 23
Quote:
Originally Posted by CakeForte

Yeah, I had to start saying "this option is only relevant if you have more than 250 guests in attendance."
Most of my weddings are 150....so they don't really ask anymore.




This makes me chuckle because this week one of my customers told me she wanted a FIVE tier cake for 150 ppl, and was willing to supplement with sheet cakes to get 'up to that'. Now, I'm not mocking because if you don't know, you don't know, but it made me laugh. So I worked with her on which tiers she wanted to be fake! thumbs_up.gif I'm sure she's thinking she'd need five tiers, and then four sheet cakes or something. If you have NO knowledge about something, you can come up with some funny ideas!

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cylstrial Posted 27 Jan 2010 , 2:02pm
post #22 of 23
Quote:
Originally Posted by Melvira

Quote:
Originally Posted by cylstrial

I want my 50% off my new treadmill! (Hmmm...I don't think it's going to happen).



It's all in how you ask... "Give me my treadmill at half price or I WILL SIT ON YOU!!! icon_lol.gificon_cry.gif




LOL! You're hilarious! It sounds like I might be sitting on a lot of people!
icon_lol.gificon_lol.gificon_biggrin.gif

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jenmat Posted 28 Jan 2010 , 6:12am
post #23 of 23

I do a lot of sheet cakes with my wedding cakes because average wedding sizes are 300 ish people around here (big farm families).
But if anyone ever asked me to knock 50% off their cake price, I'd tell them "sure I can, I'll just have to knock 50% off the serving count."
Dumba$$e$. Let's insult the bakers before you even meet them.

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