First off, I have to say that I love this thread!  I'm a very, very new baker just laying the ground work for a cake business and it's so beneficial to see what kind of customers I'll potentially be dealing with.  I sell furniture as a day job so I'm no stranger to silly/absurd questions, (my favorite is when people are looking for picture frames that "go the other way."  It's like... Just rest it on the other side!) but that aside I do have one story to share with you guys!

 

I was doing a dessert bar and wedding cake for a very good friend/coworker of mine (I was a bridesmaid in the wedding).  The full spread was a three tiered cake (it's the white and blue one in my pictures), mini cupcakes, cheesecake filled strawberries, and chocolate truffles.  Half of the truffles I dipped in chocolate in corresponding colors to the theme and the other half I just rolled in cocoa powder, which to my knowledge is pretty common practice.

 

Now at the wedding and I was getting a lot of awesome feedback (the bride told me later that the dessert table was the most talked about part of the wedding).  I went outside to get some fresh air and these two women were smoking outside and talking about the wedding.  

 

One of them notices me and asks, "Oh, you're the baker right?"

I answer, "Yes!  Are you enjoying the desserts?"

 

And then proceeded to tell me about how she loved everything but that she had to spit out the truffles because they were "SO TERRIBLY AWFUL!!!"  All while laughing hysterically like it was the funniest thing on earth.  

 

I tried to laugh it off but I was definitely offended.  Other guests told me the truffles were their favorite part!  I think that maybe the cocoa powder was just too bitter for her, maybe she's just used to the super sweet milk chocolate that permeates all candies and desserts.  Or maybe I took it to heart cause I just spent three days straight baking for the dessert bar (as well as another wedding cake the day before) and was pretty darn pooped.

 

Either way, lesson learned!  Some people will never like what you put out!

mccaulir, my comment was not aimed at you posting the article because I agree with you but at the comment;

 

(Complete with pictures of the devastated little "princess" when she sees her wreck of a cake.)

 

That was what got my goat up.

Ah, I took that more as, 'What kind of wreck would you get with that advice?' and less as, 'Ha! A little girl would cry!'

Kate, was that on Facebook? What an a$$hole.

AGeez - what is wrong with people?

Even if I did have that opinion about someone I would never write it!

if this industry were limited to people without mental issues, who would make all the cakes???

 

 

@Shona-Kay what a horrible story. I can't even believe you accommodated her once, not to mention twice. you are a dedicated soul!

The same could be said for my own profession (software).

I just got off the phone with someone who wants an "over the hill cake" for SATURDAY, in the shape of a HILL, as in OVER THE HILL. 

 

He wants it filled with Brazillian Cream,  but he's not really sure what that is, and they are still inviting guests to the party for SATURDAY, so they don't have a number.

 

He doesn't like buttercream OR chocolate. 

 

and already having an emotional "crisis" because it took me an hour to renew my drivers license online and when i went to my bank website I had to reenter all new security info, for some reason, so i'm teeth-clenching-bug-eyed frustrated right now. 

 

I should have said, yeah, there' s no way I can make a cake for Saturday, when you don't even know how many guests you are having, but he was referred by a very good client, so,  I explained to him that buttercream was necessary to hold his damned MOUNTAIN together, and that Brazillian custard, whatever that is, is not going to be enough to hold his damned MOUNTAIN together.

 

So he says all PO'd, "have you ever MADE an over-the-hill cake before?" As if I'm the one who needs the education. 

 

That's when he asked me what makes my cakes so special, ANYWAY.

 

I wish I had said, "well you'll never find out, so don't worry about it..."

 

Then he tells me he'll call me back, because they are at lunch. Uhm you called ME, dude!

 

I wish i had a face to rip off right now...

We should start a new thread entitled what NOT to TELL your baker.  Awww, the heck with it, I'll start it.

A

I understand that a lot of people can't afford custom cakes. But at the same time there are many of us on here that only do custom cakes and clients are well aware of that. They see the custom cakes, want the custom cakes and know their budget is for a standard grocery shop cake. To suggest that we have forgotten about people's financial constrains is absurd as we are reminded not only in the costing of our work but also by our own humanity. I think it is the opposite that is often the case. People want what they can't afford at times and are mad and even rude at your suggestion that their wants do not fit within the budget. As someone said kool aud budget but with champagne taste. That's from the Baker side This is a medium that I've grown quite fond of because in our daily lives hardly anyone understands why we get upset when asked our told certain things. We do that here. Nowhere else but here. This is not the place for casting judgement on people for being Upset about something. (From the home side) Additionally the two girls I live with are fully understanding of life and being quite Frank they would greatly be disappointed if they got a regular cake or one that is poorly done like what the article would lead to. The appeal of custom cakes is individualistic and not based on age group it is about preference whether you are a child or not. I personally feel that if someone wants to save money then get the children involved. My nieces gladly assist and think up their own concept for their cake several months in advance and help with the work too. But if the bake it by themselves and it looks like crap, being Baker we are going to have a whale of a time poking fun at it (in our heads of course) nutn wrong with that. It's like living to yourself that you don't find cake wrecks funny regardless of people's values. I'm cracking up jus remembering the last home made princess cake

I think my favorite is " How much do you charge for a standard wedding cake?" 

No other info such as .... how many people are we serving? What type of a cake etc.....

 

:)

A

Lol me too...I had one to write me on my Facebook page yesterday, and all it said was "How much do you charge". Not saying for a birthday, wedding, or what...and no mention of size, type desired or anything...I just laughed and wrote back a casual "It depends on what you had in mind...cake, cupcakes, or cookies and how much, and how intricate". That has pretty much become my standard reply to the "how much" question when no details are provided.

What's really priceless is when they just send you a picture of the cake they want - multiple tiers but no measurements, flavors, how many it needs to feed, etc.  Then they ask you if you can make a cake just like the picture and how much! 

AOk so I just got one and I am still scratching my head...I was nice with my reply but I really was speechless to this one. I have been talking with a woman about doing a cake for her son. We had already discussed price and she had finally decided on a date. I then told her "Great! I will write your date down, and now I just need to get a $25 non refundable deposit and you cab either bring it to me, mail it, etc... This was her response: [IMG ALT=""]http://cakecentral.com/content/type/61/id/3192695/width/350/height/700[/IMG]

A

That is almost word for word what my husband said. What is a tactful way of saying " I don't want to make your cake because obviously you have issues" lol ;)

Wonder if her legal troubles have anything to do with fraud. 

A

Kind makes you wonder, doesn't it.

I agree 100%

My thoughts exactly.

She seemed very normal just like any other customer up until this point...and as soon as she knew a deposit was required she flipped a switch. And if it were me and I was having all the troubles she is, I wouldn't have come out saying something like that to someone I don't really know. I almost wonder if her plan was to have me make the cake then write a bad check or something...you just never know I guess when dealing with people.

my brother will say outrageous things like that to 'encourage' the caller to close the phone call--something like if a telemarketer calls you say, "oh good it's you, i thought you were my bankruptcy lawyer"

 

but i mean if the state has her kids how is she able to celebrate her son's birthday? sounds like she mighta just been being outrageous 'cause she didn't want to do the deposit?

 

idk--that's a wad of information to drop in a text to a stranger--

A

Lol!

Then how did she intend to pay for the cake?

...lol....my favorite post...too funny!