The language that guy used in his emails makes me suspicious that he isn't another decorator. I don't why, just some of what he says. Call me crazy...but have you spoken to this man or seen his phone number on your caller id?
So i wasn't crazy when i showed my bestie the email and told her i think its a competitor! She told me to take a brake from making 10 batches of fondant lol! Assuming i was loosing it.
The language that guy used in his emails makes me suspicious that he isn't another decorator. I don't why, just some of what he says. Call me crazy...but have you spoken to this man or seen his phone number on your caller id?
To answer your question no.. Hmm makes me wonder now..
yeah most people are like i need a cake
and you gotta pull the information out of them
when you ask how many servings they look at you like you just shot their puppy
they're thinking 'hrhuh, i gotta make a decison?'
and he's sizing up the cake for yah?
I mean, not to be ***ist, but this guy is pretty versed in serving sizes/setups, etc. Seriously not trying to be ***ist, cause I've handled a few weddings that the groom basically did all the work regarding the cake. But they didn't know much.
I'm investigating *Googles his email addresses* 
AThe customer has probably talked to other bakers already, and it's not a big leap to figure out that a cake needs to be delivered and set up. Nor is it unusual to know your number of servings or how big you want the top tier to be (usually because a topper has already been picked out).
When I price checked competitors I didn't go into that much detail. I certainly didn't say I was on a tight budget (or worse, offer a budget) or continue following up and asking for a consult. In terms of judging local market conditions, information from competitors is more valuable if there aren't artificial restrictions.
yeah most people are like i need a cake
and you gotta pull the information out of them
when you ask how many servings they look at you like you just shot their puppy
they're thinking 'hrhuh, i gotta make a decison?'
and he's sizing up the cake for yah?
TRUE DAT! I love CC members...... most
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Original message sent by LovelyCakes4Us
I'm investigating *Googles his email addresses*
If he is a competitor and used an email address that could be connected to his business you probably don't have much to worry about.
I donot know anything about pricing any cake, but as I look at that picture,I know that will require a lot of flour, sugar, eggs etc. not to forget the time you put in to bake the cakes, and then washing the utensils afterwards, that alone I will charge $500.00!
, huh!!!, oh I'm getting a headache, I'll DROP him
I donot know anything about pricing any cake, but as I look at that picture,I know that will require a lot of flour, sugar, eggs etc. not to forget the time you put in to bake the cakes, and then washing the utensils afterwards, that alone I will charge $500.00!, huh!!!, oh I'm getting a headache, I'll DROP him
BAM! 
Oh my God...I didn't even read the responses to this because when I saw "250 guests" and "$500" I would have responded "I'm sorry, I can't do the cake for that amount, so I can't help you." No more correspondence necessary. And if you're on a tight budget YOU DO NOT INVITE 250 GUESTS TO YOUR WEDDING!!!!
And if you're on a tight budget YOU DO NOT INVITE 250 GUESTS TO YOUR WEDDING!!!!
What is that about anyways?!?! Tight budget? You gather your closest friends and family and you have a quiet modest ceremony, and maybe go out for dinner afterwards, where everyone pays their own way. Don't want miss out on getting 5 toasters? Then save your money.
Oh my God...I didn't even read the responses to this because when I saw "250 guests" and "$500" I would have responded "I'm sorry, I can't do the cake for that amount, so I can't help you." No more correspondence necessary. And if you're on a tight budget YOU DO NOT INVITE 250 GUESTS TO YOUR WEDDING!!!!
That was the detail I couldn't get past.
AWe were on a right budget. We got married, had hotdogs, & went back to work.
I didn't expect people to give me a free or discounted wedding. We couldn't afford one...we didn't have one. No sympathy from me!
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Original message sent by DeliciousDesserts
I didn't expect people to give me a free or discounted wedding. We couldn't afford one...we didn't have one. No sympathy from me!
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Original message sent by LovelyCakes4Us
Sadly i go a client with 300 guest with a budget of 150.00
Is there a common denominator among these low-end customers? Where are they being referred from?
If you keep getting these kinds of inquiries you may want to add starting prices to your web site, if starting prices are already listed make them more prominent.
The groom sounded suspicious to me too, but what would he gain to get you to agree to his budget if he's just checking the going price for the benefit of his own business?
OP: You said you don't have time... why bother taking time out to vent to strangers on a forum, if you were clearly sure you were not going to take this order?
You took time to answers Jason's request for the breakdown. You listed 35 lbs. x2! It's true, your numbers don't add up and your explanations don't make sense (you should NEVER pay out of your own pocket -- don't know what you're referring to by "the balance".)
When you have time to do your research, you'll find many ways to lower your costs. When you're serious about running a profitable business, you'll find the appropriate industry suppliers. (For example: If dowels cost you $15.00 -- I don't know how many you'll get, but for $13.50 -- I'd get 2,000 4.5" lengths... that's .00675 each! The supply would last years -- not for only one cake.)
Own your mistakes, learn from them, and continue to learn from the resources you have available. Much luck moving forward.
To be fair, OP did originally agree to work with the customer to put together a cake that met the customer's requirements within the stated budget. It is entirely possible that the local market is such that $1-2/serving is actually realistic due to market forces and/or mispricing.
While that may be the case, Jason, certainly NOT for the cake that was originally pictured :-) maybe a kitchen cake for $500. 
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Original message sent by Laurelj
While that may be the case, Jason, certainly NOT for the cake that was originally pictured :-) maybe a kitchen cake for $500. :)
What still amazes me is, if OP was going by her stated calculation of $475 cost, and accepted to create the 4 tier wedding cake for $500.00, she essentially planned to make $25 to cover labor and mark up. Really? Wow.
Btw OP, when you buy a large quantity of an ingredient like the 35lb of sugar and only use 10 cups as in your example, the rest of the sugar is not 'out of pocket' for you. It's an asset that gets used up as you make more cakes, so each customer is paying for a share of that sugar if you will. The first customer should not 'carry the weight' of all the sugar, and neither should you.
It is not the clients job to know how you price a custom made cake. It's fine to be annoyed (I get annoyed too sometimes), but to post a lenghty rant and to post the clients emails on a public forum is just unprofessional and totally uncalled for. It is your responsibility to say NO, when the dreams do not match the budget. If they are rude or continue to harrass you, then you get to complain. This string of email is nothing out of the ordinary, and does not warrant a public mocking, in my opinion.
If I were the groom and found this thread, I would be really pissed off.
It is not the clients job to know how you price a custom made cake. It's fine to be annoyed (I get annoyed too sometimes), but to post a lenghty rant and to post the clients emails on a public forum is just unprofessional and totally uncalled for. It is your responsibility to say NO, when the dreams do not match the budget. If they are rude or continue to harrass you, then you get to complain. This string of email is nothing out of the ordinary, and does not warrant a public mocking, in my opinion.
If I were the groom and found this thread, I would be really pissed off.
I agree!
Again, I didn't read the other responses except the ones since my last post because I couldn't take it., so this might be a repeat of what someone else said, but why bother with this any longer? Just tell him you can't work with that cake, that budget and that guest count. If it's unrealistic for you you're just wasting his time and your time.
Plus, the title of the thread is misleading. He's not a client until you have a deposit from him. Until he signs a contract and you have the deposit he's NOT YOUR CLIENT. I think that people think they have to take every job that comes along, but not everyone is your client. If this guy's budget doesn't work for your pricing structure the world will not stop spinning, he'll just have to go somewhere else like Walmart. I can't tell you how many inquiries I turn down every week either because of budget or the date being taken, and I don't fall all over myself apologizing and explaining. I just say "I'm sorry, but I can't do a cake for that number of guests for the budget that you have allotted, so I'm afraid I can't help you." Hit send and it's done. It saves a lot of aggravation.
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Original message sent by Laurelj
While that may be the case, Jason, certainly NOT for the cake that was originally pictured :-) maybe a kitchen cake for $500. :)
Yes it would have been a kitchen cake. :) Maybe some simple decorated cupcakes for bridal party is what I would have sent him pics of.
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Original message sent by LovelyCakes4Us
Yes it would have been a kitchen cake. :) Maybe some simple decorated cupcakes for bridal party is what I would have sent him pics of.
That is way different than hat you presented is. That's a whole other ball of gum paste!
ASeriously, I am so confused. The way this was presented, you were going to give him a discount and a modified design. So really confused & bewildered!
It is not the clients job to know how you price a custom made cake. It's fine to be annoyed (I get annoyed too sometimes), but to post a lenghty rant and to post the clients emails on a public forum is just unprofessional and totally uncalled for. It is your responsibility to say NO, when the dreams do not match the budget. If they are rude or continue to harrass you, then you get to complain. This string of email is nothing out of the ordinary, and does not warrant a public mocking, in my opinion.
If I were the groom and found this thread, I would be really pissed off.
I find this to be a safe place to rant and let off some steam, and I appreciate getting all the different points of view on how to handle the various situations we all encounter. There is also good info about pricing and stock so, I say give the OP some slack.
I also say that the potential client needs a reality check. Just cuz you want something doesn't mean you can get it. It's not wrong to try, but there is just too much work in a cake like that to let it go with no profit.
For the record (is there a record?) my cake was $250 20 years ago (dear lord). It served 50. We had a small wedding and a flipping fantastic cake! Otherwise, what's the point?
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