I received an email from the contact form on my website.
It read:
"I was looking at your cakes and they are amazing!!!.
I really like the "Cake" one with the candles.
I was wondering if you could email me detailed instructions, a list of ingredients and supplies, where I can buy the supplies and recipes so I can make it myself for my daughters birthday?"

Is it just me or would that completely defeat the purpose of me having a custom cake business?

unbelievable gall to ask that. I would say, I offer classes at $xx an hour.

ooooookkkkkkk..... I double that

that's one of those crazy e-mails that don't even deserve a response! geesh!

Just ignore that email...

All I can say is "WOW".

There really are not words for that. I am not sure I would respond at all truthfully.

They get funnier all the time.

Treat this one like a drug

Just say "No."

That's it. The entire reply should be one word.

"No."

Theresa

That's not too much to ask, it's not like she said "Can you come over and show me how to make it too?"




j/k of course

Alternately -

You can tell her that you will ship one to her - if the price is right.

Theresa

Tell her if she can go to KFC and get them to give her specific instructions about how to make their secret recipe chicken to have for dinner before the cake, then you'll consider her request.

Laura -

Now, that's a good one!

Theresa

At first, I laughed a hearty laugh. Then, I thought, well...maybe she's out of the area of your bakery and would possibly, maybe...order one if she were closer but she's found THE CAKE she just has to have and and and ...

maybe?

I don't think I would ignore the email. Maybe a tactful reply. "I am unable to share this information with you due to proprietary(?) reasons. If you are in the ..... area, you are more than welcomed to place an order for the cake..." OSLT

Some of us don't realize that this is an unreasonable request.

and no, I didn't make the request...lol

"I sell custom cakes and unfortunately do not offer classes or sell supplies. My recipes are my personal trade secret. I am sorry I can't be of more help."

Yeah, at first I was kind-of like okay....

1. Who asked for detailed instructions for something like that!?

2. Maybe she is a competitor scooping out the competition and/or got an order FOR your cake but doesn't know to do it!

3. Maybe she genuinely is a mom wanting to try to make a cake for her daughter but doesn't have the $$

4. On the flip side, I know I've seen on here where people will get a request for a famous decorator's style cake but don't know how to do it and others have suggested contacting the original decorator asking for him.

5. I would respond - I hate rude people in whatever form that comes - and simply tell her, "I apologize but I am unable to provide you with that detailed information. If you are a beginner decorator, I recommend taking Wilton Cake Decorating classes at your local craft store.

6. Maybe I'm bored at work and let my mind wonder to all the possiblities.

PS. Your cakes ARE amazing....

I agree, a No would suffice and probably make them feel like the idiot that they kind of are. But it would be tempting to say "Seriously? What are you thinking?"

That takes a lot of guts. Or crazy.

I had a similar request about a year ago. A lady (in my town, so no, not far away) called and left a message on my voicemail. She asked if I could tell her how to make, decorate, etc., and new large Wilton cupcake and regular sized matching cupcakes. I was shocked!!!!! Then later that day when I checked my email, she had sent an email asking the same thing. I simply emailed her back and said something like "I would be happy to have you place an order for this cake if you would like to have it for your daughter's birthday; however, at this time, I am not able to offer detailed instructions. Thank you for your interest and best of luck with your daughter's party."

Holy cow.......now that takes some....spheres! orbs? pelotas?

balldinos, cojones....

You mean to say that if I call Colette Peters, Sylvia Weinstock, Ron Ben Isreal, Margaret Braun, Bronwen Weber, and Mike's Amazing to tell me step by step how they make their cakes, I would get a NO for an answer ?? REALLY ??? Is that too much to ask ?? considering that I am a retard ??

I don't know how someone could be serious asking something like that. Maybe it's someone playing a joke on you or maybe she just wants to see what you'll say. I agree that you should respond with a brief email saying "thanks for your interest but I don't think so." Lol. (and maybe put the lol in too haha)

Before a few weeks ago, I would have been as shocked as the rest of you are, but today I'm not.

Some people honestly think you should just tell them everything. It's not cake related, but I work at a non profit agency and made a certain publication. Well another non profit (not competition, they just serve a different area than we do) called me and asked me how I made the publication. I was nice enough to give some details so she could do it on her own. Well then her boss calls me the next day and says "well I firmly believe if someone has something and knows how to do it, they should share that with other people." She literally wanted me to send the electronic version of the publication so she could downright copy it!!!!! Just take our name and information off and put hers on. It's nice to know I do such great work, but don't be lazy and flat out copy someone. Make it your own!!

Direct her to cake central. Tell her that if she is really interested in learning to decorate cakes then this is a wonderful resource.People like me have learnt cake decorating here with the help of all you guys and this wonderful forum with no other help.

Wow...Qué cojones!

I refuse to believe there are some people out there with absolutely no
common senseâ¦whatsoever.

The only answer I could think of is: âare you kidding me?â otherwise I would just delete the email.

I would respond that the cost of those instructions would be the same as what you would charge for that particular cake!

Hey earn money without doing all the hard work and clean-up! Finally getting paid for what we are really worth -- TALENT!

I guess, depending on how much business you get from selling that cake, you could tell her 'yes, please send me a check for $(insert whatever outrageous amount you desire) and I'd be happy for supply you with the information." Just kidding, I'd ignore it. Most likely someone decided they had nothing to lose by asking.

Unbelievable!

Try this:

Detailed instructions $200, Supply list $75, Recipes $150.........

This did give me good laugh, though! The nerve!

OMG Tell her you charge X for the cake. The instructions on how to do the cake are XXX.

Mike

You know...if you can't make a cake with out specific instructions from recipe to decorations & supplies...you shouldn't do it lol. Not to mention if she doesn't have the supplies it would cost her more than to just order the cake....silly lady. This is a wonderful site for learning and sharing trade secrets, but I'm pretty sure nobody will truly give out their big secrets for free....What's the point in running a business if you're going to tell everybody how to do it themselves? I think a tactful reply is necessary as you don't want word to get around that you are rude and don't return emails, but let her know that she is more than welcome to purchase the cake, but you can't supply the instructions.

I'd tell her that "I 'm running a business NOT a school. Contact your local craft store and take a class if your needing instructions."
I am not surprised by this at all! I actually KNOW people like this who ask gall-shattering requests all the time! At least their lack of the "common sense" chip provides good stories on our end.