I was asked to do a cake for work for a baby shower a few weeks ago. I agreed, and was told they would pay me something. So they asked me what I charge I told them...AND they gave me a deadline to let them know by. I beat the deadline long before it's due.
This morning I get an email from a coworker saying "we haven't collected enough money to afford a $25 cake or present. We need to look for something cheaper. I'll get back to you." The party is not until April 18. (while I am typing this) The email lady came into my office and asked me about the cake and why so much, I told her what the Mom wanted, so said "oh" and walked out. She said they had only collected 8.00 and she added some to that.
They want me to donate this cake AGAIN. They know the quality and taste but I bet they go to a Walmart or something to get a cake.
It bothers me that people don't realize the time and effert that goes into these things. GGGGRRRRRR.
Patricia
Many people just don't appreciate the time, effort and $$ that goes into a cake. I say that if they can only get $8 (even $25 is crazy - were they expecing to get a cake AND present for that??) - they can figure out a way to get a cake for that much.
You don't have to constantly donate. I know how hard it can be to say "no" but I am getting better at standing firm on my pricing. You deserve to be paid properly for your work! Hold your ground! 
Huh?? It seems like it wouldn't be much of a baby shower having only collected $8 for the whole thing. How many people are contributing, anyway? And are they just contributing a buck each? Why don't they just have everyone contribute $5 each- that way they can pay for the cake and some decorations or punch or something. And they're only planning on getting her one gift from the whole office worth $8? That's pretty crappy.
You know, it's ridiculous that they expect you to DONATE a $25 cake by yourself, while they don't plan on contributing $25 between all the rest of them. Maybe you should just suggest to them that if they can't get up enough cash to do this thing right, they just shouldn't do it at all...
$8?? Sometimes you just have to let the cheap ones walk....
There has been so much drama today, I could die.
My supervisior said, "They will get it someplace else", so I said, "cool, when I am asked if I did it, I can proudly said , Nope you can't blame me for this cake."
Too my knowledge, Walmarts and Krogers here don't do special flavors, I may be wrong but I thought they only did Choc, white and yellow. I know I am not doing what she asked for for free and they did offer to pay me something, shoot just get the ingredients. They don't even have enough for that.
Patricia
Whatta buncha boobs!"
LMAO!! indy have you been watching the disney channel? it reminds me of a show my kids watch. the little sister calls the brother's boobs.
I agree, don't do it. let them go find a different place for the price they are willing to pay. at that rate they'll just be able to get a slice of cake for the mom to be.
.....My supervisior said, "They will get it someplace else", so I said, "cool, when I am asked if I did it, I can proudly said , Nope you can't blame me for this cake."
CLASSIC!! An absolutely CLASSIC response!!! 
They can't even get a cake at Walmart for $8 though. Maybe if they go to the Sunbeam Surplus store they can get individual prepackaged apple pies that are about to expire. Don't go down on your prices.
I'm not really understanding though. How many people are in this office? They can't figure out how to collect more than $8 for a chick who is about to give birth? If I was the pregnant girl my feelings would be hurt and I'd tell the whole office to forget it.
...sheesh, sounds like the pregnant one doesnt have many friends...???? Only 8 bucks? Thats pathetic...
LMAO
who are you tellin??!! LOL -- $8! you've got to be kidding me! she either doesn't have many friends or has too many CHEAP friends! "Here's a nickel!" What did they do to collect the $8??? Couch change? Grab sticky pennies from the cup holder in the car???? 
OK- I know that I have not bought a cake from WalMart in a while, but I am sure they cost more than $8!!!!!!!!!!!!
They will have to come up with at least $20 for a cake at a grocery or walmart. Don't come down on your prices, and you deserve to get paid for your time. I think they thought if they told you they'd get the cake somewhere else that you might have donated it. Don't give in.
Ok, everybunny has made me laugh
They have been collecting for about 3 weeks and keep moving the date, the original date was this wednesday, then the 4th, now the 18.
AND she is having a baby shower that her family is throwing on the 31st and the gals in the office are expeded to attend and bring gifts to that.
I usually doing the collecting but a snoot in the office gave the job to another gal and she doesn't ask, she sends emails with the wrong info on them.
They are 22 people in this office, and now they have sent out a letter about solications. OMG, Now what's the standard for this?
I really feel sorry for the gal that's having the baby. Politics all politics.
Patricia
Well, they could go to the $1.00 store and get a gift, and then go buy a boxed cake, and make it. Then they would be spending their $8.00 wisely...
Okay, lets see.... $8-$1 + tax for Kentucky is .06. We have $6.94. Cake mix-.88, eggs-$1.89 carton, oil- $1.24, Diet Coke (because you've had to wait so long in the walmart line you're about to dehydrate) $1.25. That totals $5.26, plus the .31 tax, $5.57. You have $1.37 left over to pay someone for their time and effort and to buy a bottle of Sams Club soda. Folks will have to eat with their fingers and use paper towels from the office bathroom, but it can work.
Wow! I can't believe these people....$8 cakes, $1 store gifts, emails with wrong info.....Geesh!
So...here is the next big question...now that you are not doing the cake, are they going to ask YOU for a cash donation to get one from Wally World?!?!?!?!?!?!?
Good Luck...and let us know how the cake (DOESN'T) compare to the stuff you make!!!!!
Don't you feel bad for the pregnant woman?
They must not like her very much.
The least I would give is $5 and that would be if I didn't like the person.
Or it could be that the person organizing it is a ditz. I've seen Christmas parties and gift exchanges that I've opted out of because the person organizing it was making it harder than the signing of the World War 2 Peace Treaty. It just got to the point where I threw up my hands and said, "Leave me out of this mess....I want no part of it."
At another place I worked, mgmt got so involved in the "rules" of how money would be collected, that everyone got aggrevated with the whole thing and no one contributed toward the big major gift ...opting instead to get their own smaller gift. Which was bad for the shower recipient because they didn't get the traditional dept large gift that the receipients usually got.
Yes, I am expected to donate atleast 5-10.00 for the gift plus bring a pot luck item. Which thanks to Alice was going to be meatballs or something like that...no cake.
Little do they know I went out with the kids and bought items for the baby, they are in a gift bag by the door waiting to either attend the 31st shower or bring into work on whatever day some bozo picks.
Patricia
Patricia,
I totaly understand how you feel!!!!! Just because one doesn't have an actual BAKERY, they expect us to do it for free, when they want it, and how they want it. As others here have said, people do not realize the effort, time, money, gas and electricity that goes into making a cake. I get so peeved when I hear this!!! Our cakes are custom made, special, and with a touch of our creativity and style, and this goes even for the simplest cakes. I'm kind of new at cake decorating, but I am learning that if I don't give value to my hobbie, and my talents, no one else will. I was told that my hobbie would never get me ANYWHERE and that I was just wasting my time.... I do it because I enjoy it and it brings joy to people to have them. And guess what? I actually earn a few dollars extra from my firends and family because of this "useless hobby". Who's laughing now, huh???!!!! Ok, back from lala land: Bakeries can afford to charge a bit less because they have the capital, and buy everything in bulk and have enough business to make alot of profit (but never did I hear of a baby shower cake costing $8.....heck, no cake at all! Maybe 100 years ago.) I jump at the opportunity to make a cake, but under my conditions, lol. It is their loss, should they not exept it. I agree with the other fellow cake decorators, stand your ground and don't lower your price.
You know, it's ridiculous that they expect you to DONATE a $25 cake by yourself, while they don't plan on contributing $25 between all the rest of them. Maybe you should just suggest to them that if they can't get up enough cash to do this thing right, they just shouldn't do it at all...
AMEN to that! Why should you donate so much time and money when they can't even donate what a $1 each?? Those are some cheap people! You should bring in a cupcake.... or a 3-4 in cake and say "that's what you get for $8!" What on earth can you get at Wal-mart for $8? I know our grocery's mini cakes (like maybe 5-6 in) are more than that.......
Don't feel bad at all about it - you're not the cheapskate - they are!
Or it could be that the person organizing it is a ditz.
Amen!
This is usually the problem. You collect money for a gift by walking around and collecting it, not leave it to e-mail. You also need to do a bit of schmoozing. Some people are a bit loath to cough up the ready. Actually, you pick out the gift and find out how much the party supplies are going to cost including cake then you tell people how much you need to pay for the deal. It helps if you have an idea of what shower gifts and showers cost in the past so you don't over or under budget the event.
i think they r a buncha liars...haha...only $8...i think they have prolly collected more...but were lying so that you would go down on the price...but i'm glad you stood your ground...
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