That's a good one too.  So....people are always writing what these customers say to them...but you don't always write what your REAL response to them was at the time.  We know what you WANT to say, but what did you REALLY say?

What about, "Oh, I would love to make cakes like yours but I don't have the patience....".  Yeah, cos that's all it takes - no skill, no talent, no hours and hours of practicing, just patience.......

Patience is a prerequisite for "hours and hours of practicing" at anything, whether it's cake decorating, or playing a musical instrument, or setting type.

And hours of practice are, in the absence of an extraordinary amount of talent, a prerequisite for developing skills.

The more patience you have, the less talent you need. And vice versa.

Ok thank you James - that put my in my place didn't it.  My first ever attempt to join in a forum and I get slapped down. Nice.  All I know is that I always feel slightly offended when people say they haven't got the patience - it feels to me like they are saying they haven't got the time to waste on such things as mere cake.

Incidentally, regarding "emarcomd's list," church organists get similar bovine scat all the time. Most of them make a substantial portion of their (typically middle-class) incomes from wedding fees, funeral fees, bar-mitzvah fees (if they also have a synagogue gig), and so forth, and people are constantly trying to weasel out of those fees, by various tactics.

A

and you have mentioned before that your customers can also view everyone's comments posted on CC.com.

AWell said, Mimi. You put into words exactly what I was wanting to convey. After a period of time one gets to know the personalities of various members and can see where no offense is intended. Yes, Julia, please feel welcome to this squirrel cage. Yours, and others contributions make this forum wonderessly diverse.

AWithout patience, all you've got is however much -- or little -- raw talent you've got. In its raw state. Patience is what gets you through the practice needed both to learn skills and to develop your talent. And in my case, it's not just my own patience, it's the patience of those around me: those paid to teach me, and those who simply have to put up with me.

A far more clever wag than I once remarked that the two things a new physician needs the most are (1) patience with patients, and (2) patients with patience. (Or was it the other way around?)

And thanks, "MimiFix," for reminding me: welcome to the squirrel-cage, Ms. Hardy, and look out for the nuts.

I've stood at a lot of farmers markets and food fairs and the most annoying things I hear is somebody saying loudly to their friend 'Ohh I could easily do that' and 'I'm not spending £1.20 on a cupcake, I could buy a packet in tescos for less'. The general public can be rather rude and annoying. lol 

Julia, meet James, one of our many squirrels.  

Actually, no, I'm one of the nuts.

AHaven't been here in a while but happy to stop by today just to read "emarcomd" comment. Can't stop laughing!!!!! Thank you!!!!

Sometimes it feels like I am the only one that has to deal with this occasional kind of client then I come here to get some sanity back by realizing other cake designers go through this too.... My latest: client calls with a request, fondant cake with 3D fondant figurines. I quote her cake, she asks for a discount because she already bought a cake before (1 yr ago!!!!). After a long conversation she finally says how much she wants to spend on this cake for which my reply is that all I can do for her budget is a simply decorated buttercream cake. She insists I add the fondant figures just because I am so "nice". I suggest she goes elsewhere... yes I am sending her to my competitors!!! She then says that my cakes taste better.... then she accepts the simple buttercream cake I offered. When my hubby delivers the cake it is the client's mother who receives it and complains in a rude manner saying that this "kind" of cake her own daughter could have made, that she orders from me expecting a more elaborate fondant cake. My hubby (who is not shy) says... "and you would get it if you paid accordingly.... !!!!!!!" This is probably not relevant but this is a wealthy family in the community and their friends order fancy cakes from me regularly... so they probably have seen and tasted my cakes a few times.

AIt's relevant in that it means she can afford your product. Apparently she just can't wrap her brain around paying for it. Sometimes rich people are terrified you're taking advantage of them, but she sounded like she was doing her utmost to take advantage of you.

AI have friends that would find it funny, not a personal page....As for marketing I need to start doing some of that...better yet I actually need to use the business page lol. Sweet zippy read what your husband said dwl lol... Felt like a brick wall. Mine is fiesty too but probably wouldn't say anything

Ugh - I just got this:

Can we do d bottom n d two tone purple wo d smaller box? This s her colors

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Ugh. It's like reading hieroglyphics.

I know, right? And I have to assume she meant to write a 2 instead of two, but even her subconscious thought some clarity was needed,  I just want to run away screaming.

I just got sent a photo of a 2 tier castle cake with 3 turrets and 4 princesses on top with a message "I'd like to order this cake but can only pay 50€" Honestly, I just despair.

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