I was contacted on a Wednesday by a local wedding planner and she asked me to do a wedding cake for a couple for the following Saturday, (3 days notice) She never did a tasting or anything, just said "I would like two tiers square - white cake - white fondant" You can see it in my pics "fresh flowers".
Well, she called me a few days later to tell me that the cake was aweful. =(
I've never had a bad comment before...it totally floored me.
She said that the decorating was beautiful "it was just like she would do it" but the cake was dry, the fondant was too hard, the fondant pulled away from the cake, the icing was aweful - I should have used real butter - the filling was horrible...and the list goes on.
Now mind you this woman usually works with a high-end cake decorator who has been in the business for 30 years and makes everything from scratch and charges $8 a slice - I've been doing this for about 2 years and still use cake mixes but they taste good to me!! I'm not her, yet she was continually comparing me to her.
She said that she wants to continue to use me for her small weddings, but that I have to work on my recipes and start making things from scratch, but if I start making things from scratch then my prices will go up and her "small, cheap weddings" won't be able to afford cakes from me.
She also said that I should come up with new recipes and bring them to her to try - all the way at the beach, that's like an hour drive, and sorry, I'm not so sure it's worth it to me to make something that she's going to tear apart and drive all that way to go have my cakes critiqued so negatively.
The thing is that if I do this for her (go down to the beach and she does like what I'm doing) then it would be a huge boost for my business, but I'm just not sure if it's worth it and I really need some advice.
Also, my most honest "taster" has always been my husband, if something doesn't turn out right, he's like...make it again, you'll be happier about it if it's right etc...he's always been honest about when things are dry etc...as well. He liked this cake, he liked this filling that I used - I liked the cake and filling too...
I don't know if this woman is just so used to the High-end ladies cakes and thinks that everyone should be the same or what...
Please help me get over this... =)
CakesByLJ Forum Fanatic
Joined: Dec 07, 2005
Posts: 1079
Location: Clarksville, TN
Tell this woman thank you but you don't think this arrangement is going to work out......and then forget about it. *whew!*
She is probably inflating your cake price to her clients and making bank on the arrangement and would like to tweak this profitable situation more to her liking. She has alot of........gall to outright order "cheap" cakes from you, complain biterly about the overall flavor and texture, give you a little lesson on what you can do to improve and then expect you to jump right on it and hand-deliver the "improved" product to her an hour away.
She is saying "JUMP" and you need to say "GET HOSED!"
I'm sorry this happened to you. If it were me, I would nip this in the bud A.S.A.P.
P.S. Did I mention I think she is marking up your cake??
soccermom17 Frequent Member
Joined: Nov 04, 2006
Posts: 293
Location: New Hartford, Iowa
Birthday: Aug 02
Posted:
Wed Aug 13, 2008 9:57 am
Ok, first of all, I"m sure your cake didn't taste terrible. Your husband would let you know if that recipe didn't work. Also, do not revamp the way you bake. I bake from scratch, some bake from a box. It doesn't matter. It's what you like to do. Also, I wouldn't test recipes on her. I think I would offer her a cake tasting of your flavors, fillings, in one fail swoop. I do my tastings in cupcakes, but frosting and fillings on the side so they can make their own combinations.
Maybe say to her, I'm sorry to hear you felt the cake was dry and you didn't care for the flavor. How did the bride and groom feel? (or can you call them direct?) Then offer her an afternoon where she can come to you or you can go to her with your portfolio and samples in tow. I hope this helps. I know, I was devastated the first time someone told me my white cake was dry. But, you get over it and continue on Fairycupcakes! Now I have to look at your picture.
-Michelle
SweetConfectionsChef Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 21, 2006
Posts: 986
Location: Texas
Posted:
Wed Aug 13, 2008 9:58 am
First of all she is wanting to use your services...if she doesn't like what you provide she needs to go elsewhere. I would never consider changing my recipes or ingredients because one person didn't like them. And I would be frank with her that if she wants to "test" what you have then she can come to you....she can take it or leave it. For some reason wedding planners think they have the upper hand and can dictate what you, as the cake provider, has to do to please them. I don't deal with wedding planners...I deal with brides and your circumstance is exactly why. Don't lower yourself to please a little heffer...send her packing. You probably wouldn't get as much business from her as she is trying to make you believe anyway...and if you did...then you'd just have to deal with her more. IMO you don't need her customers...you need your own!
Tootall Regular Member
Joined: Jun 01, 2007
Posts: 150
Location: Prattville, AL
Pssht! Why in the world would I want to improve my recipes that me and my family like/love to make some snob happy?! Tell her if she likes the other woman so much, she should just keep ON using her, or go to Walmart for her "cheap" weddings. Sheesh! I wouldn't want to have anything to do with her, personally. I am not doing cakes for a living, however, so maybe other pros will have a different opinion. She just seems too high maintenance for my taste.
lflowermoon Regular Member
Joined: Mar 30, 2007
Posts: 119
Location: Naples, Italy and St.Louis, Missouri
Posted:
Wed Aug 13, 2008 10:04 am
It seems just a tactic to make you feel bad and make money for herself...
Do you really believe even for a second that there was something wrong with the cake?
And she also wants to give you recipes???????????????????????????????????????????????????????
Please, next time tell her you just "adjusted" your prices ( at least 1$ more per slice!)
Oh and I totally forgot to comment on the flavor thing.....if you have a taste-testing husband like I do, he is super picky and nothing 'dry' or 'bad' would make it past him. He is so frickin' picky sometimes I want to tell him to give me a break! But this is a good thing, to have that extra set of taste buds....... *sigh*
I suspect she was tearing you down in order to defeat your confidence, thereby weakening you and making you feel more vulnerable so she could lay the groundwork for a "take over!". Ok, maybe that was a bit overboard but you get the idea.
To be honest, if she is a high-falutin' wedding coordinator and your cake was so bloody dry and terrible (I'm sure it was a delight, of course) why would she even bother to call you again? Let alone trying to set you up as her very own 'cheap wedding cake maker'.
I'm hearing echos of the whole 'Private Baker' thing again, lol. People are so bizarre, I swear. I think this all comes down to the almighty dollar and if she can work you over and get you to provide her cakes for dirt cheap, she can charge whatever she wants to for them and add another tidy profit to a (theoretically) thriving kick-back business.....JMHO, of course.
In reading your posting, you keep talking about the cakes from the high end bakeries she is use to using. You talk about them like they have a superior product than yours. 1st - they didn't start out as high-end. They probably started out just like you did. It takes time and much income to be seen as highend. And even then, some of these people don't have a product that is as good as a mom and pop type establishment that does everything with love. Don't compare yourself to any one else, because all that does is sale you short. I know, this is a hard lesson to live by, I struggle with it everyday in every aspect of my life. But, what I am extremely aware of is: when I start comparing my self and wishing I was more like the other guy, I walk away just a little less happy with who I am. It's even hard when I get on this site, because I am always saying, If only my cakes could make it to the top of the page, why didn't more people look out my cakes? But if I have learned anything from this site, I've learned we are all gifted in our own way, and the only way we can be successful for our self is be ourselves. So, I thnk a polite "thanks but no thanks, this is how we do things here." will suffice. And either she will keep using you or she wont. Because I am convinced that with all situations, even if you jump through every hoop someone puts in front of you, they are going to do what they want to, be it use your service or not! Now, I only need to take my own advice!
ccr03 Forum Fanatic
Joined: Sep 16, 2005
Posts: 1476
Location: Independence, MO
Birthday: Jan 31
Posted:
Wed Aug 13, 2008 10:20 am
Okay, I know this could be a boost to your business, but I would TOTALLY and COMPLETELY stay away from this lady!!
This is YOUR business NOT HERS!! What right does she have to tell you how to run your business. You didn't ask her for her advice or even to help line things up for you.
Dude, seriously she sounds like a major pill!
If you haven't gotten complaints, than keep doing what you are doing. You aren't going to make everyone happy and you know what - oh, well.
IF she calls you again, tell her, "Thank you for your feedback. I'll keep that in mind. And while I appreciate the opportunity, I don't think now if the best time."
I went to this bridal fair once and a lady came up to me and told me to check out the other cake lady who was there - to check out her designs, flavors, fillings EVERYTHING - and copy it. yeah, this lady wanted me to do this high-end cake at my lower prices.
pugmama1 Junior Member
Joined: Apr 07, 2008
Posts: 80
Posted:
Wed Aug 13, 2008 10:23 am
So, my understanding is this order came from the wedding planner 3 days before the wedding. That isn't any time at all and I commend you for being able to come through for them, or should I say, her. I would think a planner would have the cake ordered way before the week of the wedding and I think the most appropriate thing for her to have said to you was "THANKS!!!!! Thanks for helping this couple to have a nice wedding! Thanks for taking the order on such short notice! Thanks for being so cooperative!" Then, maybe, if she did have concerns about the cake, at a later time she could arrange to come to you and talk about them. It sounds like she wants to do business with you so it could not have been that bad. Go with your gut on this one- maybe see if she contacts you again and is less dictatorial. Remember, your are the baker and the cakemaker!!!
ccr03 Forum Fanatic
Joined: Sep 16, 2005
Posts: 1476
Location: Independence, MO
Birthday: Jan 31
Posted:
Wed Aug 13, 2008 10:31 am
oh, I just thought of something!
if she contacted you THREE DAYS before the wedding, she's not setting a very good first impression! Is that the type of person you really want to work with? Someone so irresponsible that they wait until the last minute to do a cake?
christeena Forum Addict
Joined: Jun 19, 2006
Posts: 861
Location: IN
Birthday: Jun 08
Posted:
Wed Aug 13, 2008 7:28 pm
RUN, FORREST, RUN!!
shorty56 Junior Member
Joined: Aug 24, 2007
Posts: 23
Posted:
Wed Aug 13, 2008 9:10 pm
i have a friend who is a wedding planner, and she does about 15 weddings a year. from what i understand, thats pretty common and most planners can only do 15-25 weddings a year because of how involved they are. so, she's prolly inflating how much business she would even be able to bring you! don't look at this as a ton of lost business if you don't work with her, there is no way i'd put up with that attitude for a measly 15-20 weddings a year!
if you like your cake, and your customers/brides have been happy then thats all that matters! word of mouth will be way more beneficial to you then this lady!
Thank you all soo much for all your input. You are all pretty much saying the same thing and that makes me feel confident that I'm getting good advice *wink*
***if she contacted you THREE DAYS before the wedding, she's not setting a very good first impression! Is that the type of person you really want to work with? Someone so irresponsible that they wait until the last minute to do a cake?***
Actually, she was so unorganized, that I had to wait around for someone to bring her the checkbook to pay me - she ended up having someone else pay me and she would just "pay them back" - AND...and this is a HUGE AND when she was on her way to the beach for the ceremony, she left the bride's boquet in the reception room!!! Along with all the corsages and whatnot, the ceremony was supposed to start at 6pm, it was 615 when she came back up to the reception room to pick all that up. Hmm, guess you are all right, she's useless to me, I have plenty of orcers without her help...
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but that's just me... 
Tell her if she likes the other woman so much, she should just keep ON using her, or go to Walmart for her "cheap" weddings. Sheesh! I wouldn't want to have anything to do with her, personally. I am not doing cakes for a living, however, so maybe other pros will have a different opinion. She just seems too high maintenance for my taste. 
