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Anyone turn down a cake ...

post #1 of 16
2/2/12 at 9:33am
Thread Starter 
... b/c you just don't feel like making it? Sometimes the clients want something on their cake that I think is dumb, or I can't do it, or I just don't want to do it! Like a cake with a figure of Harry Potter - easy enough, he is wearing a big cape thing, but while making this stupid thing I am cursing myself for agreeing to make the cake.

I would have turned it down, but I didn't know what to say? What do you say when you just don't want to make it?
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post #2 of 16
2/2/12 at 9:43am
Quote:
Originally Posted by erin2345

... but while making this stupid thing I am cursing myself for agreeing to make the cake.

icon_lol.gificon_lol.gif


People often come with the strangest ideas.

icon_eek.gificon_eek.gif price or booked
Paula
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Paula
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post #3 of 16
2/2/12 at 9:50am
I'll tell ya, there are definitly a few cakes I wish I would have said no to! I'm not so shy now. I either let them know that I'm already booked (if that's the case) or that I'm simply not available that particular day.

Also, price can be a factor. If your cakes are priced appropriately, you'll have several clients who simply won't be interested after you've given them an estimate. Few are willing to pay my $3.50 - $4.00 per serving for a 10-15 person birthday cake.
I shall pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer it or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again. ~Etienne de Grellet
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I shall pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer it or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again. ~Etienne de Grellet
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post #4 of 16
2/2/12 at 10:02am
Following copyright law will automatically weed out some of them...for example, since Harry Potter is owned by J.K. Rowling either you or the customer would need written permission from her company before you could legally use her character on the cake.
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Recent Articles: The Magic Pricing Formula • Copyright Law
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post #5 of 16
2/2/12 at 1:10pm
Price it to where it's worth doing. I don't like doing mini cakes. I price them high. I am now doing order an for them, but it's worth the money, so I don't mind. icon_wink.gif
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post #6 of 16
2/2/12 at 6:27pm
Just price it higher than you normally would. If she doesn't go for it then you're off the hook. If she does then at least you'll get paid for your pain.

the copyright excuse is good, too. icon_rolleyes.gif
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post #7 of 16
2/2/12 at 7:50pm
Cow chip cake......Hmmmm.....NO!!
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post #8 of 16
2/3/12 at 5:39am
I have a great bakery where I refer all cakes I either can't make or don't want to make.
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post #9 of 16
2/3/12 at 9:22am
Quote:
Quote:

Just price it higher than you normally would. If she doesn't go for it then you're off the hook. If she does then at least you'll get paid for your pain.



Ahh yes, the PITA fee.

Ha!

The Dude abides.

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The Dude abides.

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post #10 of 16
2/3/12 at 9:30am
Quote:
Originally Posted by jason_kraft

Following copyright law will automatically weed out some of them...for example, since Harry Potter is owned by J.K. Rowling either you or the customer would need written permission from her company before you could legally use her character on the cake.



I "get rid" of a LOT of orders this way. I try to look at it as having the other bakery pay my fine.
Fall down 7 times....get up 8
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Fall down 7 times....get up 8
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post #11 of 16
2/3/12 at 10:46am
Sorry..... I'm already fully booked that weekend. icon_wink.gif
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http://www.facebook.com/pages/Greensboro-NC/Amys-Cakes-Candies/291004254912?v=photos.
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post #12 of 16
2/3/12 at 11:01am
Quote:
Originally Posted by QTCakes1

Price it to where it's worth doing. I don't like doing mini cakes. I price them high. I am now doing order an for them, but it's worth the money, so I don't mind. icon_wink.gif



Sorry, I can't let this go by. I LOVE doing mini cakes so it's hard for me to comprehend. When you say you price them high, how high are they? And what size? Don't mean to seem nosey, but this blows my mind! icon_surprised.gif
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post #13 of 16
2/3/12 at 12:41pm
We also price mini cakes high, any cake smaller than an 8" round is priced the same as an 8" round (starting price $44).
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The Bakery Business Perspective
An experimental blog with new content every Tuesday!

Recent Articles: The Magic Pricing Formula • Copyright Law
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The Bakery Business Perspective
An experimental blog with new content every Tuesday!

Recent Articles: The Magic Pricing Formula • Copyright Law
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post #14 of 16
2/3/12 at 12:47pm
Holy Cow! I'll bet that does discourage them. I would have a hard time charging that for 2-3 servings, but then I enjoy doing the small ones.
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post #15 of 16
2/3/12 at 6:08pm
I turn down cakes for various reasons such as copyright issues, beyond my skill level, cake design too time consuming, fully booked with other orders, customer wants a lame/weird cake, or wants a flavor I don't offer( I like to fully test my recipes before offering them).
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