Do the poll first then answer the question in a post ok. This might be interesting. I have a question I've been wanting to ask for awhile. I finally remembered to ask. Here goes...
Have you ever made deals or traded anything with customers for the cost of the cake you made them???? Making deals or trading things instead of getting money? What are the deals or trades?
I asked this because I am the world's worst at making deals with people!! My hubby is ready to kill me! 
The last groom's cake I made (the tool one) I traded the cake for a solid wood roll top desk! The neighbor's weren't in any hurry to get the desk over to my house so I sent my boys over there 2 days ago & told them to tell the neighbors I was ready for the desk now! 
The boys even unloaded the desk & everything! I have my desk BUT now I'm having problems. The neighbors smoke & the desk was put in my bedroom! We have had to sleep with a fan blowing out of the bedroom door so we can breathe while we're sleeping!!!!! It's horrible smelling!! Does anyone know what will help absorb cigerate smoke from wood?
I also have gotten a beautiful floral arrangement out of a cake. My aunt didn't have the money to pay me but she bought a $40 arrangement for the rehearsal supper for her son. Well I saw it & told her I'd take that in place of the money. She agreed. That was a good deal. The arrangement is beautiful!
I have learned my lessson about trading cakes for things other then money!! The desk was my lesson! So learn from a turtle.. she's sometimes too nice!! GET MONEY!!!
tc,
Try putting some baking soda in a bowl and see if that will absorb the odor. Maybe some potpourri setting on the desk might help or some orange wood cleaner polish.
TC--
Have you tried wiping it down with lemon oil? When I worked for a quadreplegic, the house they lived in was previously occupied by a chain smoker and the walls were yellow with nicotine and the stench---
We scrubbed the walls with lemon oil and that took care of it. Plus it will sure put a nice finish on the desk. HTH--Pam
Mac, Oh gosh have I put lemon oil on it!! I have almost used a half bottle of the stuff! I do think it is beginning to work though because the smell isn't as strong, even though it is still driving me crazy!
Step, the baking soda is a good idea! Maybe I should put it away from the desk so it doesn't absorb all the lemon oil smell I've put on it~ LOL!!! I use baking soda all the time! That's the best thing ever made IMHO~
So no one has traded cakes for other things huh? I thought this might be a good topic. We'll see~
My husband started an the JPOA association at work and since they were new they didnt have much much money and he wanted to present something for a retirement so he asked if i could make a cake so his group could donate......
I told him I stil wanted to get paid .....So Instead of 50.00 I charged him 25.00 and he said he would make it up to me later ( the same husband that has a fit whenever i cut deals for anyone else) You could only imagine how he wanted to make it up to me...!!! I told him to wash the dishes and clean the yard instead.
I haven't but I would. It's probably just best to make a realistic assessment of what you would normally charge for the cake, and of whatever they have to offer. I once saw on craigslist a woman that needed a wedding cake done and was offering private cheerleading coaching. If I had a daughter that needed that, I would have considered it!
Ali
I have never traded a cake for anything yet but that isn't to say I wouldn't - it would depend on what I'm trading for.
My DH does this all the time, and it sure comes in handy as he knows heating/cooling people, electricians, contractors, etc. so I'm definitely open to the idea.
As for the smokey smell on the desk. What if you tried one of those airfreshner type things that are specifically made for smoke. I don't remember what they are called but they come in jar type containers that absorbs smoke, It might help draw some of the smell out, especially if its in your bedroom.
hello tc; can't say as I've bartered for anything yet. You might try putting small packages of charcoal briquets in each drawer of the desk, then possibly some cedar chips afterwards for a nice smell. (that is if you like the smell of cedar)
Most likely it's going to take some time for the smell to come out.
I inherited an antique dresser from folks who had smoked all the years they had it, 28 yrs, I understand the smell issue there!
I haven't ever got anything like furniture in a cake trade but my sweetie mom will buy me cake supplies and cake mixes and I do all her cakes for nothing. Which let me say she always says she wants to pay me and I tell her no, but if she insists on doing something..........just help me get supplies, which she does quite often! 
I have a couple of friends that sell scrapbooking and stamping supplies and trade out with them quite often too!!
Hi, I haven't made an exchange/trade for a cake, but I might consider it depending on the trade. Your deal sounds pretty good. We live in a smoke free home now. Years ago when my husband stopped smoking I found that with plenty of cleaning and time the odor does go away.
Bonnie
I trade cake for haidresser services all the time 
If the desk has drawers you might try sitting them outside on a good sunny day.. might help dispel the smoke odor. Also (if you want to do a little work on it) you could wash the desk down in a solution of TSP (my DH used this all the time on kitchen cabinets) but you would have to re-varnish or poly the desk afterward. TSP takes off all the dirt/gunk etc and the finish 
But it might help to really get rid of the smoke smell.
I trade haircuts from my friend for birthday cakes for her kids.She has a small home business and doesn't charge me for my hair if I do a cake for her kid's cake.She is the only one I do this with...every other customer pays for their cakes.
I've traded a cake for makeup once! I had ordered some Mary Kay from a friend of my babysitter and when it came in, my babysitter paid for mine and asked if I would make a cake for her daughter's birthday. The price I would have charged her was the same as the makeup, so we just called it even!
I don't know about getting the smoky smell out. You've gotten some good suggestions, though. Hope something works for you!
Tina, I'd wash the desk down with something with orange or lemon oil in it, tho not sure what right off hand, to get the stinky smokers grime off. Then if that took off or dimmed the finish put on a coat of polyurathane. For the inside there are products in jars that will absorb odors like you're dealing with.
As far as trading cakes for things other than moola I haven't done that yet either. I work for massage therapists and they do it all the time for all kinds of things. Since I may not have that job much longer I may get the chance to try out the trade thing for cakes lol.
tcturtleshell I think the best way to get the smoke smell out of it is to send it up to either me or Squirrelly this winter and let us leave it out in -40 weather.. That takes the smell out of everything.. LOL.
If that is a bit extreme , I think maybe wash it down with murphys oil soap and maybe leave it out in an open area for a few days. I'd take it out of the bedroom for now.. I think the smell should go away after awhile , if not you may be refinishing it..LOL
And as far as trading things for cakes.. I have only had one paying customer so far.. All the other cakes I've made have been freebies so see I am worse than you I don't even get smelly desks for my cakes..
Liz
I agree with Crimson. Try the Murphys or Felsnaptha soap. I buy a product at Sam's called OdoBan. I am not sure how or if you could use on the desk but it might be worth the try if the washing doesn't work.
As for the trading thing . . . my husband does it all the time. I would be open to it if I ever got any "real" customers. The only thing is to make sure that the costs are the same. Trade even for even. My husband learned the hard way on that. Know what you are trading for. If it is a product, make sure you see it before making the deal. If it is a service, make sure you know the cost and quality of the service first.
When the DIVA was nothing more but a starving single mommy and make her first cake 27 years ago I started to trade cake...lol
As soon as my family saw the Holly Hobby cake I made for my daughter's first birthday 27 year ago it started. At first, I'd get those "tentative" calls...asking me if I thought I could make so and so's cake and by the way ...this is the theme...
Well, it started to hurt my pocket book so I started to ask for the ingredients. Then I wised up as those character pans were still pretty dear in the pocket book...so I would agree to do the cakes if they got me the ingredients and the cake pan...
Then I found myself pretty busy with orders, I decided to "weed" out my customers ( family and friends..lol) by saying..sure, buy me the cake pan, give me the ingredients oh and by the way....I need $5.00 bucks...
And that's the story how I became ....THE DIVA!
lol
I have traded cake for advertising and promotion ALL the time.
A well decorated and good tasting cake is the best advertising EVER. My cakes have gotten me on TV! True that it's only been on local cable television...but...Hey...I can say...I've been on TV..lol
Sooooo...when you make those "trades" always try to trade up...lol
Do the poll first then answer the question in a post ok. This might be interesting. I have a question I've been wanting to ask for awhile. I finally remembered to ask. Here goes...
Have you ever made deals or traded anything with customers for the cost of the cake you made them???? Making deals or trading things instead of getting money? What are the deals or trades?
I asked this because I am the world's worst at making deals with people!! My hubby is ready to kill me!
The last groom's cake I made (the tool one) I traded the cake for a solid wood roll top desk! The neighbor's weren't in any hurry to get the desk over to my house so I sent my boys over there 2 days ago & told them to tell the neighbors I was ready for the desk now! The boys even unloaded the desk & everything! I have my desk BUT now I'm having problems. The neighbors smoke & the desk was put in my bedroom! We have had to sleep with a fan blowing out of the bedroom door so we can breathe while we're sleeping!!!!! It's horrible smelling!! Does anyone know what will help absorb cigerate smoke from wood? I also have gotten a beautiful floral arrangement out of a cake. My aunt didn't have the money to pay me but she bought a $40 arrangement for the rehearsal supper for her son. Well I saw it & told her I'd take that in place of the money. She agreed. That was a good deal. The arrangement is beautiful!
I have learned my lessson about trading cakes for things other then money!! The desk was my lesson! So learn from a turtle.. she's sometimes too nice!! GET MONEY!!!
Well, to get the smoke smell off, you really have to get the nicotine off of the desk.
Wood should be cleaned with a damp cloth, a cloth dampened with water. The nicotine needs to be removed from the wood before you start applying lemon oil or polish. You actually have a brownish coating of nicotine on your desk. So since you already applied the polish, when you use the dampened cloth on it, you will likely get white areas from the water mixing with the oil. Be patient, this will go away. Lemon oil or polish do not remove this brown nicotine coating and that is the smell you are getting.
Actually all wood should be cleaned with a slightly dampened with water cloth on a regular basis. The lemon oil should be applied periodically. But actually better than lemon oil is a good paste furniture wax which only needs to be applied once or twice a year. In between use a dampened cloth and dry with a soft cloth. You don't want water sitting for long because you will get white spots.
Part of the smell may also be from the age of the desk, as some woods do get a bit of a musty smell as they age.
Haha, I refinish antiques and restore furniture so I have dealt with this a lot.
Hugs Squirrelly
I traded a cake for a shirt. One of my co-workers and I went into the Macy*s and there was this shirt that we both wanted bu there was only one left in our size. She brought it and we later traded for a cake. That was the only time. I will only trade if it is something i really want. Other than that SHOW ME THE MONEY.
well so far I have not traded yet but I might if it was the right deal. As far as the smoke smell the best thing that I found is something called liquid gold. Both me and DH smoke. last year we had to move my FIL in because of his health but he is allergic to smoke. before we moved him in we had to was down everything to get the smell out of the house. The room that was his bedroom had paneling on the walls so that had to be washed real good. I remember growing up that my mom used liquid gold on the paneling at home and on the wood floors we had and it worked great. It pulled all the nicotine off of everything and everyone who walked in our home said they would have never known that we smoked in here.
well so far I have not traded yet but I might if it was the right deal. As far as the smoke smell the best thing that I found is something called liquid gold. Both me and DH smoke. last year we had to move my FIL in because of his health but he is allergic to smoke. before we moved him in we had to was down everything to get the smell out of the house. The room that was his bedroom had paneling on the walls so that had to be washed real good. I remember growing up that my mom used liquid gold on the paneling at home and on the wood floors we had and it worked great. It pulled all the nicotine off of everything and everyone who walked in our home said they would have never known that we smoked in here.
Well, Liquid Gold will not remove layers of furniture polish, that is part of the problem. The furniture polish and lemon oil and such, trap the nicotine and smoke residue. But if wood has not had polishes applied, it works not too badly. I find it works best when you wash down the surface first using a damp cloth. I tried it here on kitchen cabinets on its own and on some cupboards where a damp cloth was used first. I found I removed a lot more smoke and nicotine with the damp cloth first. But I agree for cupboards and panelling it is a good product.
There are other products available for removing layers of polish and wax and such too. They can be found in paint stores that sell antique refinishing supplies. Circa 1860 has such a product.
I am wondering if this desk is oak. Oak, ash and pine tend to pick up a musty odour with time. Also if this is an antique, the finishing products used get strange odours over time, particularly when kept in damp surroundings.
But smoke odour isn't a permanent condition by any means.
Hugs Squirrelly
I love to trade!!! When I first opened my shop, I found out one of my regular customers was a hair dresser. I approached her about trading coffee, cakes, etc. for highlights. She loved the idea and we've been doing it ever since. I also trade with a really nice restaurant in my area. They carry my cheesecakes and I run a tab for dinners & gift certificates. I would only suggest trading if its fair for you and the person on the other end of the trade.
My goodness do I have some helpful things to try!! Ya'll are good!!
Gosh, we should start a new forum... Helpful Hints for around the home & in the kitchen! I love reading all these posts!
The desk is Oak Squirrelly. The smell has actually gotten better. I think airing it out like I've been doing has helped a lot! It is able to breathe & so are we! The desk is in real good condition so I don't want to re-do it. The only problem is that their puppy chewed on one of the corners but you can't see it. I think I will put some air freshener in it. When JScakes mentioned the charcoal I was like DA! Charcoal is the best thing to get rid of smells!
I forgot to mention that I traded a bday cake for a pair of blue jeans. It wasn't a good deal for me because I was only able to wear the blue jeans for about an hour before they were falling off of me. Too big! So I gave them to my sister (she's bigger then me 
)
I've had good deal & bad deals. One of my best deals has been fountains for cakes. I've got 2 fountains plus $150 for 2 diferent cakes. Also a set of roman pillars. I didn't have any of these things & the bride/groom wanted fountains. So I told them to buy me the stuff & give it to me & I'd take that off the price of the cake. I got my monies worth & they got what they wanted. Now I have a color flo fountain & the fountain that's right under the color flo... can't remember the name. So I figure I got a good deal!
Well, I really like the idea of bartering, plus it is tax-free! Sounds like you do make good trades kiddo!
That product I was talking about doesn't strip the finish, it just strips off the layers of dirt and polishing products that people have used over the years. It kind of dissolves them in a way.
Hugs Squirrelly
I like to barter and I think I have gotten some pretty good deals. My sister is a hairdresser so I trade her for haircuts. I have made various trades over the years but my 2 favorites are #1 I did a wedding cake for a friend who does interior decorating and she painted, stenciled and put up wall paper border in a bedroom for me, she thinks she got the better end of the deal and I definitely think I got the better end of the deal, so we were both happy! #2 I just did a couple of weeks ago, I made a wedding cake on the floating tier stand with a carrot cake sheet cake and traded for a hugh neon sign of my husbands favorite sports team that the groom made himself. He makes neon signs for a living. He also attached neon under the top and middle cakes on the floating tier stand that shown down on the cake below, it was pretty cool.
~luraleigh~
I like to barter and I think I have gotten some pretty good deals. My sister is a hairdresser so I trade her for haircuts. I have made various trades over the years but my 2 favorites are #1 I did a wedding cake for a friend who does interior decorating and she painted, stenciled and put up wall paper border in a bedroom for me, she thinks she got the better end of the deal and I definitely think I got the better end of the deal, so we were both happy! #2 I just did a couple of weeks ago, I made a wedding cake on the floating tier stand with a carrot cake sheet cake and traded for a hugh neon sign of my husbands favorite sports team that the groom made himself. He makes neon signs for a living. He also attached neon under the top and middle cakes on the floating tier stand that shown down on the cake below, it was pretty cool.
~luraleigh~
Sounds like you did get great trades Luraleigh! Nice job!! I wish I knew someone that did home decorating!! I want my livingrm, diningrm & bedroom painted so bad but I don't want to do it!! That would be awesome!
Thanks for sharing your story!
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