I have a request from a friend to make her wedding cake. It's going to be three-tier cake with all buttercream and fake flower accents. She wants me to give her a "grocery list" so she can purchase the ingredients. Is this standard? Have you ever let someone do that and then just charged them for your time?
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is this standard?
post #2 of 11
4/29/12 at 5:06pm
- cubbycakes
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Seems strange. I would think if you are just having her pay for cost of ingredients and she cant take your word for what she owes you then you would be better off going and getting what you need yourself, incase they don't have exactly what you need and you can figure out substitutes etc. Then you can just give her all the receipts when your done with a total.
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"Birthdays are just natures way of telling you to eat more cake!"
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"Birthdays are just natures way of telling you to eat more cake!"
"Birthdays are just natures way of telling you to eat more cake!"
post #3 of 11
4/29/12 at 5:37pm
post #4 of 11
4/29/12 at 11:48pm
post #5 of 11
4/29/12 at 11:48pm
post #6 of 11
4/30/12 at 4:59am
- akaivyleaf
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I wouldn't be interested in doing this... For starters, my recipes (and ingredients) are proprietary. Secondly I buy most of my ingredients in bulk. Other items, I only buy certain brands etc. Too much work for someone who isn't in the industry, and understands about these things, to do. If she didn't like my polite decline of her suggestion, I'd invite her to find a different baker.
post #7 of 11
4/30/12 at 12:51pm
"Well, you know I'm on a budget so I have to be careful that you don't add anything to the cart at the checkout. Oh, and I couldn' t find baking powder so I just got baking soda instead. That's ok, isn't it? I mean, they're practically the same thing. And I found these big plastic mums on sale. Since my colors are mint green and strawberry, I figured the orange and puce would go with them."

If anything, let her go with you to buy the ingredients and decorating supplies, just so she can write the check. Do NOT turn her loose with a list.
If anything, let her go with you to buy the ingredients and decorating supplies, just so she can write the check. Do NOT turn her loose with a list.
post #8 of 11
5/2/12 at 9:39am
Friend may be genuinely trying to help (doing the shopping for you)... I get that... BUT...
Probably, "friend" is no "friend" at all and is worried you might keep an extra egg or part of the flour? Sounds like she doesn't believe what products actually go it there. I would say, "Products cost me about $XXX and it will take me XX hours, and I will get $xxx for labor, applying the "friends discount of $XXX. (This details ONLY for friends...). If that is not in your budget, I understand...."
Then RUN, RUN, RUN... I don't really believe it will end well... sorry
Probably, "friend" is no "friend" at all and is worried you might keep an extra egg or part of the flour? Sounds like she doesn't believe what products actually go it there. I would say, "Products cost me about $XXX and it will take me XX hours, and I will get $xxx for labor, applying the "friends discount of $XXX. (This details ONLY for friends...). If that is not in your budget, I understand...."
Then RUN, RUN, RUN... I don't really believe it will end well... sorry
post #9 of 11
5/2/12 at 11:12am
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post #10 of 11
5/7/12 at 6:37am
- Denise
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oohhhhh jeeeeezzzz ..... I like to get my own ingredients and would politely decline or just tell her you already have everything on hand to make said cake. She may just be trying to help as others have said or she may be a total control freak and we all know folks like that!
If you are uncomfortable with her purchasing anything simply say so. IF she is uncomfortable with your uncomfortableness...she can get another baker.
If you are uncomfortable with her purchasing anything simply say so. IF she is uncomfortable with your uncomfortableness...she can get another baker.
Sugar Artist in Progress
Sugar Artist in Progress
post #11 of 11
5/7/12 at 8:47pm
- indydebi
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If that is the payment agreement you have with her, then this method has been often recommended on this site: Give them the list and let them do all of the legwork, use THEIR gas and their time. But ......!
if you go that route, be sure you emphasize "NO SUBSTITUTIONS" on the list. Give them the name of the store where they will find things and NO SUBSTITUTIONS. If they walk in with, using the example above, "I couldn't find baking powder but here's baking soda......." Just hand her the soda and say, "Well, here your soda and when you bring me the b.powder, I'll be able to do your cake. Until then ........?"
But if you said nothing to her about "you buy the stuff and I'll make it", then that needs cleared up right away and up front.
if you go that route, be sure you emphasize "NO SUBSTITUTIONS" on the list. Give them the name of the store where they will find things and NO SUBSTITUTIONS. If they walk in with, using the example above, "I couldn't find baking powder but here's baking soda......." Just hand her the soda and say, "Well, here your soda and when you bring me the b.powder, I'll be able to do your cake. Until then ........?"
But if you said nothing to her about "you buy the stuff and I'll make it", then that needs cleared up right away and up front.
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