Here's an email I got today:

Good morning

I wonder if you could help me.

My daughter is getting married at the xxx on 16 June and they are unable to supply a cake as we are only going to have a small wedding.

My question is: We arrive in Hawaii on 12 June and if we came to your store do you already have a cake there suitable for a wedding or do we have to order them in advance. Probably now is a little late to request an order.

Hoping you are able to assist.

---Ummm, do I have a cake already in stock? Seriously? I need some help with a witty response CCers!

I think I would say, "if her wedding theme is Hannah Montana or Spongebob Squarepants I might be able to help you out, I have a couple of those in stock." LOL!

i think she thinks you run a full bakery, like she can come in and just buy a large white cake from the case. would you be able to make a simple cake by then. maybe tell her to pay pay you the money in advance since it's a last minute request?

I agree with Chonte, she probably just doesn't understand how it all works. I would go back and explain that you run a 'made to order' business and you would be happy to make a cake for the wedding but would require the full payment up front to confirm the order. So long as you aren't already fully booked I would think that this is enough notice to come up with something suitable for the couple.

I don't see a problem here. Just tell her you bake to order and make payment up front and a cake will be delivered. "Chef's choice."

Answer: "I'm sorry, all cakes have to be ordered in advance"

I guess I'm not understanding the "is she serious!" and "I need a witty response"

She's not in the business and doesn't understand how it works....so she asked. I don't think she's being difficult, nor do I think it's a stupid question. Just my opinion

I agree with Jason-Lisa....Some people don't know or understand...now is the time to politely teach/inform her...

I would get the order/plan it up front and ask for a deposit/payment in advance. It does seem she needs some education on the way it works. Good luck! :0)

If you aren't already booked, and can do the cake, you should be able to turn this into a nice order. And they'll be more than appreciative of someone who can help them on short notice.

Sounds like a perfectly reasonable request to me...a little shorter notice than usual but I certainly wouldn't write off this order if you can manage it.

I would accept the order and charge a "rush/last minute order charge" for the short notice. Unless you don't want to do it - in which case I wouldn't try to give them a "witty" response... if you are operating a business, I would keep it professional and simply tell them you would be unable to accommodate their request.

Honestly though, I don't see why it's too short of notice unless they want something really elaborate - and it doesn't seem like they do since she says it's a very small wedding.

Imagine how impressed and thrilled they'd be to be able to get a "custom", or not your run of the miller, cookie cut cake on short notice. I'll bet you could work out in less than an hour a beautiful cake design for them that would fit your schedule. Heck the swirled roses cake makes a beautiful wedding cake and won't take hardly any time at all to do.

I have to agree that I dont see a problem with her request.
She was polite and respectful, even stating she knew it was a last minute request.
IMHO she was just asking for help.
Obviously, she doesnt know you only do cakes to order, as opposed to a bakery, but I dont think her ignorance warrants a witty retort. I think a polite informative response is more in order.

I agree with most other people and don't see this as an off the wall inquiry... If you have the room in your schedule, you'll make someone very happy...

I think it's a very nicely worded request.

I require 2 weeks notice, so she's within my window as long as I have the date available. In this case, I'd also require payment in full.

There isn't much you can't pull together with 2 weeks notice, unless she's thinking that a "small" wedding cake serves 300 and is covered in handmade gumpaste flowers...................

Rae

Mostly kidding, thus the . This post came after 2 days of no sleep so I think I'm also kinda punchy. I still have to figure out if I can help her though since we leave to go out of town the day after the wedding and I really wouldn't want to just throw something together. I mean for weddings I'd like to spend some time on it...

Forgive the sleep-deprived posts. Must.Use.Forum.Filter.

I am not sure why it is so necessary to get so offended by a customer, who has no idea about the cake business or how it works. I think it was a very simple question that needed a simple yes or no. It did not need a witty response. My parents own several businesses, one being a wedding rental. I have worked for them my whole life and they will turn back flips for their customers. There is not a request that they aren't willing to do. Even if its last minute! So I just really assumed most other people were this way to. But the more I read the post on here the more I see that most cakers get pissed off if somebody ask them to do anything. I'm not being ugly by any means, but I just aim to treat my customers they way I would want to be treated.