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Gotta love family!!

post #1 of 25
7/10/12 at 1:27pm
Thread Starter 
I just got a message from my nephew's finance. She wants a cake for her brother's birthday (he's going to be 30), who is a baseball fan. She needs it to feed 25, wants it decorated with fondant and fondant decorations, and with a cream cheese filling...and she only wants to spend $50.00. I can tell you right now that there's not going to be a lot of detail happening at that price!
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post #2 of 25
7/10/12 at 1:32pm
My boyfriend's mom gave me offered me 10 dollars for a carrot cake with cream cheese icing for her daughter to feed the entire family. I said that I wouldn't charge her for it but that this would be my birthday gift since I am close with the family.

But a a cake for a nephew's fiancee's brother is pushing it. As the fiancee I'd ask how much for a cake and what it comes with and go from there. It bothers me when people just assume that the measly amount of money they are offering for what they want is ok. It's not just about paying for ingredients people!
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post #3 of 25
7/10/12 at 1:52pm
I'm glad someone brought up this subject, I've been toying with the idea of posting the question but haven't quite found the words, lol

My daughter called late last week. Her exacts words to start the conversation were " I called to put in an order " and actually it was 2 orders.

This is a normal thing for her to do. She dictacts what she wants, For the 1st cake she wants Dora the Explorer, flavor &.... do not use bc or fondant because they don't like it. Second cake, Meiter from the cars theme. of course no bc or fondant.

She does not offer to pay for it, she expects it to be given to her (or my grand & great grandchildren)

Before you all get any thoughts, I did teach my daughter to ask for things and say please and thank you, She teachs the same to hers and so on.

I thought I was the only person dealing with family demanding but feel better I'm not alone.
Virginia 323.253.8213
www.urbanainez.com
He is the man of my dreams, my prince; He gives me the desires of my heart, He completes me. His name is Jesus
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Virginia 323.253.8213
www.urbanainez.com
He is the man of my dreams, my prince; He gives me the desires of my heart, He completes me. His name is Jesus
Reply
post #4 of 25
7/10/12 at 3:22pm
Thread Starter 
Unless someone is actually there watching you create these cakes, I don't think they realize what goes into making one. My butter cream is homemade, as well as the fondant. Here's how I do it:

Go to the store and get any supplies I'll need to make the cake. I don't always have everything on hand I need.

If the cake calls for fondant details (like people, flowers, etc.) I do those ahead of time so they can dry. Those things don't make themselves, and take time to do.

Make the cake. Bake the cake. While the cake is baking, this is when I make the buttercream and fondant. I do those one batch at a time (buttercream I make in double batches), so if I need more than one batch...I'm doing it during this time. Once the cake is out and cooling, I clean any mess I've made and do the dishes I've dirtied. Once the cake is cool, I level it, then torte it.

Once that is done, I crumb coat it and put in the fridge to firm up some. While it's in the fridge, I get everything around that I need to decorate the cake. Then I decorate. I put care and detail into all the cakes I make, so I don't go really fast.

Once the cake is done, I box it. After that I once again clean the kitchen.

I think most people have the supermarket cake mentality. I think they think I go into my freezer and grab out a cake (I don't freeze my cakes ahead of time. I make them to order), grab a ginormous tub of pre-made buttercream, and open a package of fondant, and away I go.

It's really hard to educate people.
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post #5 of 25
7/10/12 at 3:27pm
..........daughter called...conversation ..." I called to put in an order " ......

An *ORDER* is a business deal.......seldom are they FREE.

Only YOU can prevent people from walking all over you. When they ask (as above) you reply with "that will be $XXX."
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post #6 of 25
7/10/12 at 3:43pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by kakeladi

..........daughter called...conversation ..." I called to put in an order " ......

An *ORDER* is a business deal.......seldom are they FREE.

Only YOU can prevent people from walking all over you. When they ask (as above) you reply with "that will be $XXX."



Agreed. Besides, I am more than sure that you have provided for your daughter when she was under your care. It is her turn to provide for her little ones.She should not assume that because your are her mom that they should be free.
I have my mom make stuff for me sometimes so I factor how long it takes her to do it, the ingredients she uses, and the complexity of something.I then proceed to pay her. She is using her time and resources for ME when she could be making money doing something for someone else.
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post #7 of 25
7/10/12 at 3:50pm
@ Kakeladi, I totally agree, rofl... What I told her first was to let me see what my schedule had and I'd get back to her in a couple of days. When I called her, I said "If someone gives me an order and tells me how they want it, that is a customer. They get what they want because they pay for my services and products, If someone ask me for a gift they can expect something nice BUT it will be bakers choice" Needless to say I haven't heard anymore about it.

@ debidehm, There's not much difference in my business either. I just buy larger quantities and try to keep what I use most in stock. I am not a retail bakery I am a commercial bakery.
Virginia 323.253.8213
www.urbanainez.com
He is the man of my dreams, my prince; He gives me the desires of my heart, He completes me. His name is Jesus
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Virginia 323.253.8213
www.urbanainez.com
He is the man of my dreams, my prince; He gives me the desires of my heart, He completes me. His name is Jesus
Reply
post #8 of 25
7/10/12 at 6:42pm
It always makes me uncomfortable to deal w family and friends. They ask to place an order but then expect you to do it for practically nothing. I want to bake for family & friends because they're my biggest fans but at the end of the day it's a business and it's not gonna stay open by giving out free "orders"
Piece of Cake Bakery
www.MyCakeBakery.com
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Piece of Cake Bakery
www.MyCakeBakery.com
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post #9 of 25
7/10/12 at 6:43pm
It always makes me uncomfortable to deal w family and friends. They ask to place an order but then expect you to do it for practically nothing. I want to bake for family & friends because they're my biggest fans but at the end of the day it's a business and it's not gonna stay open by giving out free "orders"
Piece of Cake Bakery
www.MyCakeBakery.com
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Piece of Cake Bakery
www.MyCakeBakery.com
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post #10 of 25
7/10/12 at 6:59pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by auntginn

I'm glad someone brought up this subject, I've been toying with the idea of posting the question but haven't quite found the words, lol

My daughter called late last week. Her exacts words to start the conversation were " I called to put in an order " and actually it was 2 orders.

This is a normal thing for her to do. She dictacts what she wants, For the 1st cake she wants Dora the Explorer, flavor &.... do not use bc or fondant because they don't like it. Second cake, Meiter from the cars theme. of course no bc or fondant.

She does not offer to pay for it, she expects it to be given to her (or my grand & great grandchildren)



Your daughter talks like a little kid who was taught to say please but who never heard the word "no". Seems to me that she totally missed the adult lesson about respecting other peoples work.

Maybe you can say "I'll confirm your order by email, dear" and then your emailed response should be, "for orders I charge minimum wage plus ingredients". Followed by a list of hours to do the work and the total ingredient cost.
You might also say "when I give my grandchildren a gift, I will choose it myself".

And tell us please, when they don't want buttercream or fondant, what do you ice the cake with? and what on earth do you use to decorate it? Fairy dust?
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post #11 of 25
7/10/12 at 7:19pm
[quote="BakingIrene]
And tell us please, when they don't want buttercream or fondant, what do you ice the cake with? and what on earth do you use to decorate it? Fairy dust?[/quote]

This is what I want to know....that puzzled me. icon_confused.gif
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post #12 of 25
7/10/12 at 7:24pm
Can,t please family and friends. I just run the other way.
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post #13 of 25
7/10/12 at 7:31pm
Hahaha fairy dust I was laughing so hard I had to stop crying to type
Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming. What do we do? We swim, swim, swim.
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Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming. What do we do? We swim, swim, swim.
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post #14 of 25
7/10/12 at 8:06pm
When I first started making cakes and still in many communities the cakes are iced with that imitation whip topping called Pastry Pride. It is good for a few desserts but you don't get much design with it.

I enjoy making 3D cakes and being creative. The Only thing I use Pastry Pride on are the iced coffee drinks nowadays.

If anybody can tell me where to get fairy dust, please point me in the right direction, rofl....
Virginia 323.253.8213
www.urbanainez.com
He is the man of my dreams, my prince; He gives me the desires of my heart, He completes me. His name is Jesus
Reply
Virginia 323.253.8213
www.urbanainez.com
He is the man of my dreams, my prince; He gives me the desires of my heart, He completes me. His name is Jesus
Reply
post #15 of 25
7/10/12 at 8:53pm
My brother in law asked for a birthday cake for my sister in law. I was fine with that, he didn't specify any details. I made a small cake, as they are a family of 5. He had asked for it to be done this past Sunday. My husband called his brother & asked him when he would be coming to pick it up. He said, oh I forgot to tell you I didn't need the cake this weekend after all. Uh too bad, your going to drive over here and get it & maybe next time I'm going to be too busy to make that cake.
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