What Do You Think?

Business By AgentCakeBaker Updated 2 Sep 2006 , 7:01pm by SweetThistleCakes

sugarspice Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
sugarspice Posted 23 Aug 2006 , 1:37am
post #31 of 52

Wow, takes a lot of guts to try and threaten people you have never met into doing just what you want for pennies on the dollar. What a catch that poor husband has got! Imagine what will happen when he leaves his underwear on the bathroom floor! icon_eek.gif

CakeDiva73 Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
CakeDiva73 Posted 23 Aug 2006 , 1:40am
post #32 of 52

Oh, I can't stop laughing every time I read this thread... please oh please why could she not have contacted me? I would have had some FUN with her! icon_lol.gif

Chef_Stef Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
Chef_Stef Posted 23 Aug 2006 , 2:01am
post #33 of 52

First I'm laughing my head off at the nerve of this person.

I have so many comments I can't type them fast enough. Here are some thoughts and what I'd say if this was posted to me...

1. If it's "Just a cake" then yes, she has indeed come to the Wrong Place. The Right Place, for her, would definitely be Walmart, Costco, or her mom's kitchen.

2. If she "wants to have some money left after the wedding", she should have planned better and not invited 220 people to feed afterwards! Tell her to try taking them all out to her favorite restaurant after the wedding for dessert and SEE HOW MUCH THE BILL IS for 220 people!! Try finding a slice of cake anywhere for less than $3.00. Even at McDonald's, she'd spend at least 2 bucks for an ice cream cone for the lot of them!

3. She realizes our skills and time are worth something, but obviously not as much as, say, hers.....would she like to do her specialty (whatever that may be) for less than minimum wage, or maybe $2.00 an hour? hmm?

4. And she thinks she "will be in debt" because of a $660 wedding cake?? icon_eek.gif I don't know anyone, even my most shiftless unemployed relatives, who don't have a credit card SOMEwhere to charge $500 with. You're supposed to get married once (I seem to recall!). Spend the money or skip the reception. Better yet, a POTLUCK. Bring yer own dessert...We don't want to have a BILL from this shindig... tapedshut.gif

5. It's "just a cake"!!??? *SNORT* Well. It's Just a Wedding, too...people get married every day...tell her to take her coin bag down to the supermarket and spread her money out on the counter and say "How much can I get for this many moneys?"

I better stop.

Don't answer this ad--do not be available if you speak to her. You have a prior engagement that weekend (whichever weekend she mentions). You're washing your hair, painting your toes, having a root canal. You're BUSY.

In a way, it IS sort of nice that she helped you not have to try and figure out if this would be "good fit" for you, in terms of customer/decorator relationships...I'm very cautious who I'll work with, and I would not be available at all for someone with this attitude. Ever.

Stay away, stay far far away. She needs to have a well-meaning friend do it for cost; that's what she wants.

lionladydi Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
lionladydi Posted 23 Aug 2006 , 2:13am
post #34 of 52

I have been thinking about this ad all day. I assume you didn't answer it but I think curiosity would have made me answer it just to find out what she was expecting for nothing. icon_lol.gif

Diane

Les Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
Les Posted 23 Aug 2006 , 2:37am
post #35 of 52

I think you OUGHT to respond:

Dear Bridzilla,........then add what leta said

[when you ask someone for a special favor or you want something from someone, the best way to approach them is:

to declare you may or may not have known they existed on the planet,

imply that they are perhaps not "classy" and are most likely "boring"

accuse them of trying to rip you off,

insult them in every direction

give an ultimatum that no matter how great their service of product they provide--you will never give them what they are worth.

and finally,

explain to them how this arrangement would be so advantageous to yourself and that they are less than compassionate if they don't totally agree.

That oughta work!]

Hmm.......I wonder what her dress is gonna look like. AND maube this IS the bridzilla from the other post that thinks she can make her cake herself. icon_wink.gificon_lol.gif

imartsy Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
imartsy Posted 23 Aug 2006 , 2:47am
post #36 of 52

LOL that is too funny - that it could be the bride from the other post who was "making her own cake" OH my gosh I'm just laughing so hard.......... wouldn't THAT be a story icon_smile.gificon_lol.gif

lionladydi Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
lionladydi Posted 23 Aug 2006 , 2:52am
post #37 of 52
Quote:
Originally Posted by imartsy

LOL that is too funny - that it could be the bride from the other post who was "making her own cake" OH my gosh I'm just laughing so hard.......... wouldn't THAT be a story icon_smile.gificon_lol.gif




Needless to say, the gal from the other post didn't answer my email I sent. We will never know what happened to that Bridezilla.

Diane

leepat Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
leepat Posted 23 Aug 2006 , 12:53pm
post #38 of 52

Please let us know if you get any reaction or comments from her.

melodyscakes Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
melodyscakes Posted 24 Aug 2006 , 12:39am
post #39 of 52

okay, i tried this brides technique with my hair dresser.
this is the results: Image

melodyscakes Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
melodyscakes Posted 24 Aug 2006 , 1:02am
post #40 of 52

hahaha

Spoondog Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
Spoondog Posted 24 Aug 2006 , 1:05am
post #41 of 52

You could always send her the link to Sandra Lee's web site!

donnajf Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
donnajf Posted 24 Aug 2006 , 1:10am
post #42 of 52

AgentCakeBaker, If you respond to those RIDICULOUS demands - YOU WILL REGRET ITTTTTT!
That IDIOT is NUTS! she will be complaining from the word JUMP!

I can also see her RUINING YOUR BUSINESS AND REPUTATION overnight because who is to say that if she was not happy with your work (which you KNOW she will NOT be ) would not take out another ad regarding your services etc...

RUN RUN the other way!

DON'T DO IT thumbsdown.gifthumbsdown.gifthumbsdown.gifthumbsdown.gifthumbsdown.gif

I remember this freak from an earlier thread -DON'T DO IT you hacve work too hard...DON'T DO IT

subaru Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
subaru Posted 24 Aug 2006 , 1:27am
post #43 of 52

I'd tell that crazy, obnoxious girl to go buy a case of Twinkies and a cake stand!

AgentCakeBaker Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
AgentCakeBaker Posted 27 Aug 2006 , 8:20pm
post #44 of 52

Ok, I just had to respond to this lady. I wasn't at first but I really wanted her to know what it takes to make a wedding cake for 220 guests. Here's what I wrote back:

Thank you for your inquiry. I do understand your concern for not paying a high price for wedding cake. However, you must also understand that making a wedding cake is not very easy, especially with the shape you are requesting and the number of guests. I currently charge $2.00 per slice for wedding cake. Sculputured groom's cakes are priced based on style and design, in which your case is the Xbox hand control.


Now since you are serving 220 guests, your based price of the wedding cake alone will be about $440. This does not include setup & delivery and the rental fee for the stands or pillars needed to complete cake construction. Also, the ingredients are not cheap either. 99.9% of cake bakers/decorators use real butter and if you shop at the grocery store you know that butter isn't cheap. Neither are the flavorings, sugar, flour, milk, etc. You are not only paying for ingredients but you are paying for someone's time to shop for the ingredients, the cake supplies, and the time to actually bake and decorate the cake. Baking and decorating will take several hours to complete a wedding cake. I'm sure you wouldn't dare go to a dentist and tell them that you don't want to pay $2000 just to have your wisdom teeth pulled. Or you wouldn't go to a auto mechanic to tell them that you won't pay for the cost of a tune up. Or if you visited a bakery today you would pay at least $2.00 for a slice of cake. If you want services, you must pay for them. I'm sure that no cake decorator in the Atlanta area wants to pay your cake for you (by charging you less); therefore, you must pay for what you are asking for. I know the cost of dinner or even a buffet for 220 guests, wedding dress, bride's maids' dresses, flowers, etc and these items are not cheap either. These are the items that will most likely cause you to go into debt (per your words). No one is trying to get all of your money but if you are having a huge wedding with 220 guests then that's the choice that you have to pay for. Honestly, how would you feel if someone said that they were going to only pay you a minimum wage of $2 per hour?


If you are looking for a cheap wedding cake then my suggestions would be to visit Publix, Sam's or Costco. Again, thanks for your inquiry and good luck in finding your wedding cake.


If she responds back I'll let you know. Hopefully she'll get the picture after this and I'm still not interested in making a cake for her.

LNW Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
LNW Posted 27 Aug 2006 , 8:57pm
post #45 of 52

Oh that's a great response!!! I hope she gets the hint.

lionladydi Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
lionladydi Posted 27 Aug 2006 , 10:06pm
post #46 of 52

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, do not do us like the gal in the other forum who has never let us know about the gal who was going to make her own cake.

We will all be waiting to hear from you as to whether she answers your response. I think you stated everything very well, by the way.

Diane

Aztec9206 Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
Aztec9206 Posted 27 Aug 2006 , 10:28pm
post #47 of 52

Yes girl !! Please do tell!!!

Chef_Stef Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
Chef_Stef Posted 28 Aug 2006 , 10:40pm
post #48 of 52

That is too funny; great response too. I probably couldn't have resisted zinging her back, either...lol

I want to hear every word if she writes back...heh heh

AgentCakeBaker Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
AgentCakeBaker Posted 29 Aug 2006 , 11:55pm
post #49 of 52

Ok, here's what she wrote back.

#1) I personally didn't need you're explanation on how much goes into
making
a cake & it's cost. I'm very well aware of the time, effort, & costs. A
simple no would have been fine or better yet a "no reponse" would have
been
even better.

#2) My theory is, along with other brides/people in general, is if we
as a
society can make a dea/offerl on buying a car (used or new) then it
couldn't
hurt to try to make a deal/offer for our selected wedding services. It
is
our money, therefore we have control over how we spend it. Just as you
have
control over who you do business with.

#3) You can't tell ne in you entire life you haven't tried to get a
better
deal on something. Even the most minute things. If you say you haven't
then
you're not being honest.

#4) I don't recall stating that I didn't expect to pay a certain amount
per
slice, as a matter of fact I don't recall mentioning a price at all.
I
just merely made an iquiry to establishments about specials they may be
running.

#5) I have a funny feeling that if a rich & famous individual wanted to
make
a deal with as far as your services you would becuase you know word of
mouth
is a very poowerful thing. As a matter of fact they are quicker asking
for
deals then the "average joe" They too like to get deals.

#6) I don't have to go to Publix, Sam's, o rCostco in order to get the
kind
of cake that I want for the price I want. I'm not knocking thost
establishments, but I've found a reputable bakery (seen on
www.wedding.com &
www.theknot.com) that is has no problem with offering me a deal that
includes my wedding & groom's cake (the way I want).

So as see you may not be willing to give me a deal, but another
REPUTABLE
establishment will.

P.S. As for the comment/question " Honestly, how would you feel if
someone
said that they were going to only pay you a minimum wage of $2 per
hour?"
....sometimes you have to start at the bottom & humble yourself. Not
everyone
can start off in life making $18 or more/hr, you work your way up. In
fact
there are people who have had to go backwards...hence lay offs and/or
budget
cuts.

So you have a wonderful day & I hope your business continues to strive
in
the direction you want it to. I know my wedding plans will.



So then I write back to here once more to make her understand that her entire approach was wrong. This is what I replied back with:

1. I know you didn't need an explanation but your entire message came off kind of strong as if you were telling the vendors what you will and will not pay for. You as well could have said what you were looking for without the long spill of "I'm not or will not spend an outrageous amount of money on these cakes."

2. True, it doesn't hurt to make a deal but there's a better way to approach someone when trying to make a deal. You work with a person to get the deal you are looking for instead of demanding. You will get better responses from those who are interested in supplying you with their service.

3. I have gotten and looked for better deals but in no way, form or fashion would I just immediately start barking about what I am not going to do. Again, you approach someone in a subtle way and they will do everything in the power to make the deal or do what's best for you.

4. I know you didn't mention a specific price. That's where you should have asked before you said you weren't going to pay an outrageous amount.

5. If someone with alot of money (rich or not) wanted my service I would work with them if they approached my in the appropriate manner. Your manner was inappropriate. A nice little message such as "I'm getting married in 2007 and I am looking for a wedding cake within my budget. Please contact me so we can discuss prices so I can determine if your prices fall within the range I'm looking for." That's all you had to say as well.

6. I'm glad you found someone who is willing to work with you. My entire email and point was that there is a better way to handle a situation than the way you initially did. I let other cake vendors read your message and they all thought you were coming off a little strong. They wouldn't have taken your order either.

If you found a REPUTABLE establishment, then good for. Just remember that in the future, you can't always approach people in this manner.

P.S. I know we all have to start somewhere but my point again was to let you know that there's a better way to approach vendors when you are requesting their services. And no we don't all have to start at the bottom. If we have proved worthy of ourselves and our skills, we make it happen regardless if you have to start over or not.

In closing, be mindful of the message you send to others especially to those you want to do business with.

Any future emails from you will be blocked so no need to reply.



Whether she understood or not, I blocked her email from my account so we wouldn't keep going back and forth. I just hope she understands.

Now this ends the soap opera titled "Demands of a Bridezilla". icon_lol.gif

mookey Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
mookey Posted 30 Aug 2006 , 3:29am
post #50 of 52

This lady is nuts! i am glad that you wrote to her and tried to explain everything to her. i cant believe she came back with that kind of response. ill bet she did end up having to go to sams and realized that she couldnt get a cake from anyone who had read that email-because noone wanted to do buisness with her. i feel sorry for the people she did get the cake from.....

aliekitn99 Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
aliekitn99 Posted 1 Sep 2006 , 12:12pm
post #51 of 52

That was very tactful, diplomatic and nicely explained.

Very classy response IMHO.

aliekitn99

SweetThistleCakes Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
SweetThistleCakes Posted 2 Sep 2006 , 7:01pm
post #52 of 52

Unfrickingbelievable. I really like how she tried to make you seem like the bad guy. What a (insert offensive slang for female anatomy here.) icon_evil.gif

Quote by @%username% on %date%

%body%