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I need to vent

post #1 of 10
8/27/12 at 8:28pm
Thread Starter 
I've agreed to make a 3D cake that resembles someone's home. It's a small cake that'll only need to feed 10-15 people... and I told the customer that I would get the cake to resemble the home... and gave them a quote they agreed to. In the last few days they have been blowing up my emails with additional pictures of this house and want almost an exact replica of it! They know I'm a home baker and they only gave me 4 days notice, which I could do but not if they want a replica of their house; which is why I told them I'd get it to resemble the house. :/ If they wanted all the details they're now telling me to add to the cake, I wish they would've said it up front and I would've charged more for the additional materials and time I'll need to spend. How do I tell them to either stick with the original plan or I'm going to up the price?

I'm actually thinking about quitting cake making. I seem to only get customers needing small birthday cakes which end up costing me more in time and $ than the business I get from them icon_sad.gif
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post #2 of 10
8/27/12 at 8:38pm
Just very nicely respond and say, "Yes, I can add that but it will be an additional $$. Would you like to pay that additional charge for this upgrade?"

In no other business could you call and ask for more product and expect not to pay so why think you could do that with a cake?

You were very nice to agree to do this in four days time. I would have said no as I require a longer notice and payment up front for cakes involving detail like that.
Creating works of art every chance I get! And yes, I am licensed, permitted, inspected and insured! Check out my website!
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Creating works of art every chance I get! And yes, I am licensed, permitted, inspected and insured! Check out my website!
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post #3 of 10
8/27/12 at 8:39pm
I would just send them a reply, saying that these additional features they wanted added are going to cost X more as they were not part of your original quote. Period. Don't work for nothing.
Live, Laugh, Love,
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Scrap it all!
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Live, Laugh, Love,
and
Scrap it all!
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post #4 of 10
8/27/12 at 8:48pm
Hi,

I have had customers that would do the same thing But, as soon as they would say "oh can you add this that and the other" My response is "sure thing but there will be an additional charge". Sometimes they agree and sometimes they stick to the original plans. I also give my customer a final date as to when they are not allowed to make any changes to the order, this helps me to keep from being frazzled with a cake order.
I can do ALL things Through Christ who strengthens ME!!!
CAKE IS MY LIFE!!!!
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I can do ALL things Through Christ who strengthens ME!!!
CAKE IS MY LIFE!!!!
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post #5 of 10
8/29/12 at 4:31pm
We really have to start charging extra, and not feeling guilty about it. If someone quote you a price for laminate counter tops, I doubt they would even consider doing granite for the same price...lol.
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post #6 of 10
8/29/12 at 5:12pm
I agree with the replies. You should let them know that you will need to charge for additional work. You should never feel like you weren't properly compensated for your time and work. Don't feel guilty about it! They'd never ask someone else to do extra work and not expect to pay for it.
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post #7 of 10
8/29/12 at 5:52pm
I recently had a customer that after we agreed on colors, tiers, design wanted to add some fondant figures. In my reply to her I simply stated, that will be fine, I'll let you know the price for the additional details. She replied that she had changed her mind and would go with what we had agreed upon.
Making life sweet!

Lindas Just Desserts

Inspected and licensed commercial kitchen
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Making life sweet!

Lindas Just Desserts

Inspected and licensed commercial kitchen
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post #8 of 10
8/29/12 at 6:11pm
I love this reply: I can do anything you're willing to pay for.
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post #9 of 10
8/31/12 at 10:18am
Good luck!

Get clients to sign the cake plan--at least for me, I then feel even more justified in telling them that a new cake cake plan means a new price.
Elise
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Elise
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post #10 of 10
9/2/12 at 11:08am
Oh good grief. You need to stop faffing about and take control of this situation. You make the decisions for your business instead of letting the customer dictate to you.

Hero of the month:   Amina Tyler

 

 

The Christian right is neither.

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Hero of the month:   Amina Tyler

 

 

The Christian right is neither.

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