Would any of you fabulous cake-decorators out there do a birthday cake with fondant for under $35? I have a customer who is starting to really drive me up the wall...........first she orders 2 birthday cakes from me (one Dora the other a 50th for her mother), one of which she cancelled 5 days before it was due (Dora). Before the Dora cake was cancelled we had e-mailed back and forth about 6 times regarding the design and she was to e-mail me photos of ones that she had seen and liked (reminding anyone else of a bride here, and not a birthday order?) So now I'm still to do this other birthday cake for her (to serve no more than ten people, so we're not talking a big cake here) in three weeks. I quoted her $35 because it's a small cake with buttercream in the shape of the '5' and the '0' for this 50th party. We met and discussed the 50th birthday cake , for like 45 minutes!! does that seem ridiculous to anyone else?...It's just a small birthday cake!! I was under the impression that we had the design all settled when we left this meeting. Well, yesterday I get an e-mail from her asking to let her know about what I've come up with for the design. I responded with the date and time she could pick up the cake. This morning I get another e-mail, saying the date & time is fine, see you then , and by the way, have you decided whether or not you'll use any fondant on the cake?!....WHAT!?! For $35!?! Am I being ridiculous here, or is she expecting a heck of a lot for a pretty cheap cake? It's not like it's a wedding cake or something, it's just a freaking birthday cake! $35 is my minimum, that's no fondant, and why is she thinking that I have time to continually discuss the details of this cake!?....FOR $35!!!!!! I need advice on how to deal with this customer, she's driving me nuts!!!

For some reason, my posts aren't showing up so maybe this bump will help?

I would respond to her email and tell her it will be done in buttercream for the cost quoted to her previously of $35. If she would like the cake to be in fondant, the cost would increase and let her make the decision of what she wants to do. You have to love people who don't have a clue how complicated they make our lives by changing their minds or telling you what they expect for what they want to pay!!

I would tell her "no" for $35 I will not be using fondant. If you want fondant on the cake, it will be ____ more..... and let her go from there. But also tell her that you will e-mail her the exact details of the cake and she needs to respond that she approves of them BEFORE you will start on the cake. Also tell her you MUST receive this e-mail or a phone call X amount of days before the cake is due so that you will have time to get started...... hopefully that will settle things! Good luck!

Oh! Lord!.... I feel sorry for you. I guess each one of us has one of those crazy clients every once in a while.
I will suggest to reply to her email with a stop sign.... just make a brief description of what she told you ... " you ordered a such and such cake decorated with BTC and ..... bla bla bla", that is $35.
If you've changed your mind and want fondant, then it will be $$$$ more....

She will stop.

Get a deposit!!! If she's cancelled on you once, she's likely to do it again. I wouldn't do the "5" and "0" in fondant anyway. It seems like it would be kind of tricky. I did an 8 in square with a fondant bow for $35 which was too cheap. It was supposed to only be a 6 in square, but it just seemed too small for $35. Get a deposit, though. At least what you'll be spending on it in case you get started and she bails on you.