A few weeks ago a friend asked if I could design her a Toy Story themed birthday cake for her sons birthday party. She needed it in less than 24 hours for the next day! I've been friends with her all my life so I actually considered rushing it and doing it for her. I was attending the birthday party so I could just bring it with me when I went...even though she decided to have the party 2 hours from where we both live! I told her it was short notice but that I would do it and just do it for cost. I quoted her $20 for a 3 tier 2 layer cake covered in fondant. I told her she could even choose 3 flavors for all 3 of the tiers. I let her know that it would actually end up costing me more than $20 but I'd cover the rest. When I quoted her the price she agreed to $20 but requested to see the store receipt for the ingredients I had to buy. I couldn't believe she actually had the nerve to ask to see a receipt even after I told her it would cost me more than $20. Secretly I was offended and I ended up just telling her it was too short of notice and that I couldn't do it. This has left me feeling like wow, really?

So to sum it up, less than 24 hour notice, 3 different tiers of flavors, tons of work, hand sculpted characters, 2 hour delivery to ensure it makes it...and she asks for a store recipt to make sure it all added up? Would this offend you or is it just me?

Asking for the receipt does seem like an odd request but, perhaps she wanted to pay you more than $20?

Nope, not just you, I would be totally peeved! That is extremely rude of her, especially considering how much you were willing to do for her for practically nothing!

This is a "friend"??? Unbelievable!! She was crazy to think she would get a 3 tier specialty themed cake for $20. not to mention for less than $20.!!! Good for you for turning it down.

I'm with you ~ I would have felt insulted.

The way she said it I could tell she didnt want to pay more than $20 even if it cost me more. I ended up telling her she could get a store bought cake for less than $20 and she went with that. She actually ended up having buttercream cupcakes from a grocery store with no Toy Story theme.

Wow! I am amazed. I have had "friends" ask me to bring cakes... and assume they will be a gift. That is offensive enough, but for someone to want a receipt for "ingredients" with no thought to your time, skill or generosity is beyond me!! Again, Wow!

I would be offended at myself for doing so much work for such crap pay. You get what you ask for I guess.

I was wondering if she expected it to be a gift and then I broke it to her that I'd do it for cost lol. If it was a really close friend, or any of my family I would do it for them no problem and not accept a penny for it. However this case was different.

Congrats for turning her down

She was nervy and classless for asking to see the receipt after your very generous offer. I'm so glad that you didn't validate her stupid request.

Rae

Some people just don't "get" it - those are the ones that buy a cake at (I won't mention the store names) that feeds 60 people for $15.

People are just stupid sometimes. And some, most of the time

Same here - if you could tell that it was cos she was thinking you were ripping her off then she is one dillusional chick!

These are the kind of "friends" that I want to make a video for: planning the cake, researching the cake, buying the ingredients, prepping the pans and work area, mixing the cake, baking the cake, cooling the cake, wrapping the cake and placing in the freezer. Pulling said cake out of freezer, thawing, prepping the layers, filling the cake, waiting for it to settle, making the icing, icing the cake or prepping fondant and covering with that. Making decorations and placing on cake, boxing up the cake and finally waiting for pick up or making the delivery yourself! Geesh, no wonder I'm tired!!

Cake muggles just don't get it and I would have been offended and directed her elsewhere!
Good for you for standing up to her!!

Oh, I would have shown her the receipt all right. I would have written a statement attached to it describing exactly what christeena mentioned above, plus: 1,000 of hours working on my craft to make it so that you child would have had his/her eyes illuminate with wonder when s/he saw the cake: priceless!

I wish I could say that she probably regretted this because she realized what she lost, but I doubt it. If somebody is so classless to do that, then they are not smart enough to realize how stupid they are. Taking away her child's wonder, you were better off not doing it for her. She would not have appreciated it! And next time, please give yourself your just due and CHARGE WHAT YOU ARE WORTH!

Most everyone that I do cakes for "at cost" give me extras for doing the cakes, especially when they see how much it costs. But I do think that it is extremely rude to ask. She obviously doesn't know what all goes into the cake!

Good for you to turn it down. I know that must have been difficult.

Stephanie

[quote="afunk"]

Thats what my Mom said before the whole receipt thing even happened! She said she wasn't the type to appreciate it and she could even see her not showing the cake to the guests before cutting it. There are people out there Id love to make one for because of their situation in life and would make one just to see a smile on their face. I guess she wasnt one of them lol

People have NO clue what is involved with making a cake, they seem to think it's like making a sandwich and should cost about as much. It's funny that customers paying seem to appreciate the workmanship more I've had much nicer reactions from strangers than my own family.

Tell her to call Carlos Bakery in Hobokin NJ and ask Buddy for all the recipts for what goes into his cakes......

what an ignoramus she must be lol

Just out of curiosity, how is your friendship faring now? Does she still talk to you after all of this? If she was so shallow as to not think of your time and what effort goes into a cake of that magnitude, not to mention waiting until the absolute last minute to try and order a cake for her own child at such a late hour, then I would think that she would be blaming you for the party being a "bust" due to not having a themed cake.... If that IS the case, my suggestion would be that the next time you have a cake to make for an event, make sure you keep all of the receipts for ingredients(as well as price out what you already have on hand- ya know, 90 cents for a tsp of extract, etc.- and show it to her) THEN add in the hours of prep work, baking, cooling, torting, etc. and SHOW her THAT so that she gets a clear picture of what it was that she was asking of you, and what type of challenge that you ACCEPTED because you care about her as a friend. Then, maybe next time, she wont be as self absorbed as to EVER make a request like that to ANYONE, not to mention you...

I can't believe you could do a 3 tier cake for 20.00! What a NICE friend you were to offer that to begin with!!! You could be my friend! LOL

ahhhhh thats a horrobil thing to to do!! and even if she wanted to pay more.. she could have just payed more without asking for a reciept that is totally rude!!

She is not a friend. She was just using you. Cross her off your list and don't waste your valuable time with people like that. Definitely not worth even stressing out over it. She's definitely the loser not you. I'm glad you didn't make that cake. Your efforts should be placed on others who recognize your talents and your friendship.

This so called friend, would not be a friend anymore because a real friend knows what it takes for one of the cakes we all do. I'm just saying!

an attempt to know what you made your cake from. Ive had a customer (family) call and say I'll go buy the stuff if you give me a list of what you need.
She's wanted my recipe for years.
Yeah right.

Well I just think your friend is a moron. I do not wish to be rude but WTH. And honestly IMO if she really wanted to pay you more she could have probably said something like

"20.00 dollars no, are you seriouse. Just let me see your receipt to go halfs on the cake"

But anyhow its funny how we get low blows from people that are the closest to us.