Cheap Bride...this Is Ridiculous...what Would You Have Done?

Decorating By BakeLoveMom Updated 30 Jul 2009 , 12:03pm by indydebi

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Shelle_75 Posted 10 Mar 2009 , 5:59pm
post #61 of 146
Quote:
Originally Posted by chutzpah

Quote:
Originally Posted by momade

Ever since then I make sure to stay on the opposite side of the room if there are any kids at the chocolate fountain. LOL



Chocolate fountain or not, I am always on the oppsite side of the room when little kids are about! Blech!




You were once a little kid yourself.

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chutzpah Posted 10 Mar 2009 , 6:12pm
post #62 of 146

"You were once a little kid yourself."

On a scale of one to ten, how irrelevant is this statement? (with one being relevant and ten being irrelevant). I'd say about a ten.

Just because I was once a little kid doesn't necessarily mean I have to like all little kids, now does it?

I grew up in Michigan, must I like everyone from that state?
I live overseas... I guess now I'll have to totally befriend every ex-pat I meet.
I have a sister.... do I now have to be friends with anyone else who has a sister?
I used to bartend.... I guess now I'll be forced to like each and every bartender in the world.
I was a teenager for several years, so I guess now you'll be wanting me to be buddies with every teen I meet.

Just an aside, but why is the bunny in your avatar giving the Hitlergruß (Hitler salute)?

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sadsmile Posted 10 Mar 2009 , 6:22pm
post #63 of 146

I think there should be a serious discussion on cake prices for newbies(including myself) I have run into so many people just flattered that someone likes their cake and they are practically giving it away-some even cheeper then wally world prices! Now I know some of us aren't as good as others but there are some real talents up and coming that are really setting a dirt cheep rate on cake. We need to stop them somehow! have tallied up the supplies including cling wrap and toothpicks even and those prices just can not be met without loss. It's insane!

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Tita9499 Posted 10 Mar 2009 , 6:32pm
post #64 of 146

I think Alice came up with a mtrix a while back so you can figure out pricing. Don't have time to find the but you may want to do a search on it

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KathysCC Posted 10 Mar 2009 , 6:44pm
post #65 of 146
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tita9499


Let's start a revolution!!!! (or not, I'm just sayin')




I agree! REVOLUTION!

This happens to me ALL the time. Everyone is on a budget when it comes to cake. Like 2girliesmama, I live in the south. Is it worse here? They make me feel like they are doing me a favor by ordering a cake from me but a $5.00 profit for two days work is no favor to me.

I say that in a case like the OP mentioned, that when they come back, the price goes up, not down. Cake prices are non-negotiable.

I'd like to see a bride walk into Walmart (you know they do wedding cakes now) or any bakery and say,
"Well, I'm on a budget and I spent most of my money on the dress and flowers and I just bought a new car. So could you make my 3 tiered wedding cake to feed 150 people for just your cost?"

The Walmart baker would just stare in glassy-eyed disbelief. And yes, someone said this very thing to me.

Uhhh Tita??? How do we revolt??? icon_confused.gif

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Tita9499 Posted 10 Mar 2009 , 6:46pm
post #66 of 146

I'm still figuring that out Kathy...we need Melvira and Debi to come up with a plan. They've got pretty rebellious personalities so they'd be the perfect revolution starters.

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indydebi Posted 10 Mar 2009 , 6:51pm
post #67 of 146
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tita9499

I'm still figuring that out Kathy...we need Melvira and Debi to come up with a plan. They've got pretty rebellious personalities so they'd be the perfect revolution starters.




Um.... actually, I DID help organize a sit-in at my high school. icon_rolleyes.gif

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juleebug Posted 10 Mar 2009 , 6:58pm
post #68 of 146
Quote:
Quote:

Y'know what? I would not let my sketches nor any detail in the quote go out at all. Certainly not before money changed hands--just a thought for you.




AMEN TO THAT! She probably took them to the other baker who will now murder your designs in the process of baking her craptacular cake!

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Tita9499 Posted 10 Mar 2009 , 7:06pm
post #69 of 146

Oooooh, a sit in Debi? You're a regular Che Guevara...crap! Now the CIA is gonna be knocking on my door. It was nice knowing ya'll.

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tx_cupcake Posted 10 Mar 2009 , 7:09pm
post #70 of 146
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tita9499

Oooooh, a sit in Debi? You're a regular Che Guevara




icon_lol.gificon_lol.gificon_cry.gificon_lol.gificon_lol.gif

Oh, I think I peed a little... icon_redface.gificon_lol.gif

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Tita9499 Posted 10 Mar 2009 , 7:10pm
post #71 of 146

Send me your address. I got a coupon in the sunday paper for a $1 off of Depends.

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chutzpah Posted 10 Mar 2009 , 7:13pm
post #72 of 146

*puts hands in air and sways back-n-forth*

.......all we are saaaaaayin'....... is give peace a chance....

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Franluvsfrosting Posted 10 Mar 2009 , 7:14pm
post #73 of 146
Quote:
Originally Posted by juleebug



AMEN TO THAT! She probably took them to the other baker who will now murder your designs in the process of baking her craptacular cake!




ROFL!! Craptacular is my new favorite word and will be used anywhere I can work it in! icon_biggrin.gif

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tx_cupcake Posted 10 Mar 2009 , 7:26pm
post #74 of 146

Only a dollar? But I'm on a budget! icon_sad.gif

I guess I'll just have sit in the wet spot and deal.

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sadsmile Posted 10 Mar 2009 , 7:27pm
post #75 of 146

more like -.... all we are saying.... is give a piece of cake a price....
LOL


Quote:
Originally Posted by chutzpah

*puts hands in air and sways back-n-forth*

.......all we are saaaaaayin'....... is give peace a chance....


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Tita9499 Posted 10 Mar 2009 , 7:27pm
post #76 of 146
Quote:
Originally Posted by txcupcake

I guess I'll just have sit in the wet spot and deal.




Whoa! De ja vu, I think I've said that very same sentence before... icon_biggrin.gif

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indydebi Posted 10 Mar 2009 , 7:33pm
post #77 of 146

I'll go for the dollar. BUt all I have is a five. So I'll fax it to you and you can fax me back four ones.

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adonisthegreek1 Posted 10 Mar 2009 , 7:34pm
post #78 of 146
Quote:
Originally Posted by champagneibo

...
and this is what I sent back...Now I feel bad I sent it, but I was shocked and I wasn't sure if I should believe her or if she was just trying to get a better deal. Let me know what you would have done....




You said exactly the right thing. Don't second guess yourself. I would have wished her well as you did, but I would not have told her to contact me in the future.

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Tita9499 Posted 10 Mar 2009 , 7:39pm
post #79 of 146
Quote:
Originally Posted by indydebi

I'll go for the dollar. BUt all I have is a five. So I'll fax it to you and you can fax me back four ones.




Dead serious Debi, your posts should come with a warning:

***CAUTION, DO NOT READ WITH A MOUTH FULL OF LIQUID, WHILE EATING OR WITH A FULL BLADDER***

You're crazy! icon_lol.gif

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LSW Posted 10 Mar 2009 , 7:40pm
post #80 of 146

I think your response to her was fine, no way would I do a wedding cake for 100 people for $75.00! I would like to know though who gets cake and who uses the fountain. Are they going to draw names or flip a coin?

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cuteums Posted 10 Mar 2009 , 7:48pm
post #81 of 146

This is going to be long ladies & gents.

1. To get back to the original question, I think your reply was courteous, nice and professional. You told her why you couldn't match the price but didn't burn any bridges.

2. Chocolate fountains. They are great if they are in your home. At a large party? Eew. All those people dipping into it, etc. Yuck. And they certainly can't replace cake. At my wedding the catering hall offered to give me one for free due to a screw up and I was like thanks but no thanks.

3. Extra desserts at a wedding. I don't see a problem with that because that is normal where I am. See I hail from the land of wedding snobbery - Long Island, NY where extremely expensive weddings are the norm. If there wasn't some supplementary form of dessert people would be wondering where it was. I'm not kidding. We had pastries and cookies on every table plus the wedding cake at my wedding. I didn't do the Viennese hour which has every dessert imaginable along with the wedding cake, but a lot of people do.

4. Who started this you don't need to have enough cake for everyone crap? Catering halls are now cutting slices so thin you can see through them because it is their job to give everyone a slice. I actually read a question on yahoo that said can I have 150 cupcakes if I have 200 guests. I was like and what do the other 50 people do drool? I would be so embarrassed if I didn't have enough food for everyone.

5. Charging prices. I think we all have it wrong. Instead of trying to lower our prices to try to get the business we should be raising them. It's the first rule of haggling. Do you think when you go buy a car they tell you the lowest available price first? No way. Why should it be any different with cake. You want $3.00 a slice? Tell 'em $4.00 a slice. Some may pay the $4 - bonus, some may talk you down to $3.50 or $3. They think they are getting a bargain and you are getting what you are worth.

That was my rant for the day. Thank you. Took my mind off of my terrible headache for a bit.

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Shelle_75 Posted 10 Mar 2009 , 8:35pm
post #82 of 146
Quote:
Originally Posted by chutzpah

"You were once a little kid yourself."

On a scale of one to ten, how irrelevant is this statement? (with one being relevant and ten being irrelevant). I'd say about a ten.

Just because I was once a little kid doesn't necessarily mean I have to like all little kids, now does it?

I grew up in Michigan, must I like everyone from that state?
I live overseas... I guess now I'll have to totally befriend every ex-pat I meet.
I have a sister.... do I now have to be friends with anyone else who has a sister?
I used to bartend.... I guess now I'll be forced to like each and every bartender in the world.
I was a teenager for several years, so I guess now you'll be wanting me to be buddies with every teen I meet.

Just an aside, but why is the bunny in your avatar giving the Hitlergruß (Hitler salute)?




I simply meant that, since you were once a child, maybe you could find it in your heart to be tolerant of children and not so hateful in regards to them, but I think you already knew that. Children are an easy target, and probably the only innocent, undeserving target at that. I'm sorry for whatever it is in your life that causes your need to purposely irritate people whenever you get the chance. I will never again waste my time responding to one of your digs. I hope you find whatever it is you need to be peaceful and happy, and I apologize for starting this.

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KHalstead Posted 10 Mar 2009 , 8:52pm
post #83 of 146

The only thing I'm confused about w/ your response email is why you didn't quote her a new price for 100 servings vs. the 200 servings you'd previously quoted?? That's why she sent the email right?? To see what YOU charge for 100 servings?

I do love your response though!!! I don't even think Wal-Mart would give her 100 servings of tiered cake for $75 though!!

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indydebi Posted 10 Mar 2009 , 8:55pm
post #84 of 146
Quote:
Originally Posted by cuteums

I was like and what do the other 50 people do drool?




icon_lol.gificon_lol.gificon_lol.gif Good one!!!!

I've shared this story before but I used to sell a wedding cake package that included cake, punch, plates, cups, the whole shebang. One bride asked if she could order the package for 100 and then just sheet cakes for 50.

I said, "Sure!! Just let me know which guests get their cake on a plate and get a cup of punch .... and which guests get their cake served directly on their hand and get to drink from the water fountain."

She said, "oh. I see."

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Rosie2 Posted 10 Mar 2009 , 9:13pm
post #85 of 146
Quote:
Originally Posted by indydebi


I said, "Sure!! Just let me know which guests get their cake on a plate and get a cup of punch .... and which guests get their cake served directly on their hand and get to drink from the water fountain."

She said, "oh. I see."



icon_lol.gificon_lol.gificon_lol.gificon_lol.gificon_lol.gificon_lol.gificon_lol.gificon_lol.gif Indy, you're brilliant!!

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iluvjay829 Posted 10 Mar 2009 , 9:15pm
post #86 of 146

Ok...this made me laugh until I cried. Ya'll are so crazy! Reasonably priced bakers must band together!!!

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BakeLoveMom Posted 11 Mar 2009 , 1:01am
post #87 of 146

Thanks for the tip about the sketches, you are so right. Also, as far as answering her question about how much it would cost for 100 people, I had already in the 4 page info packet I sent her and in and e-mail...I had quoted her $3.50/per guest, that was a flat rate including the cakes, fillings, buttercreams, fondant, gumpaste flowers (all homemade), plus the Cake display board, support system, delivery and set up....I am sure I am forgeting something, but you get the idea. I guess I just figured she could do math...silly me.

Thanks guys,

Sarah

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CeeTee Posted 11 Mar 2009 , 1:09am
post #88 of 146
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tita9499

Quote:
Originally Posted by chutzpah

Quote:
Originally Posted by momade

Ever since then I make sure to stay on the opposite side of the room if there are any kids at the chocolate fountain. LOL



Chocolate fountain or not, I am always on the oppsite side of the rpoom when little kids are about! Blech!



Wow! That's deep.




I was thinking "That's Safe!"

I love little kids, and I know little kids are messy by default. Even the well behaved ones will sometimes forget and cover their mouth with their hand when they sneeze...and then immediately grab a marshmallow and stick it into the chocolate fountain, getting their fingers covered in the process because they think it's fun and a way to get more chocolate to lick. Meanwhile, the rest of the party gets to enjoy chocolate newly flavored with kid spittle and snot icon_lol.gif

As for the OT: I think the response was great! Brusque, but effective. icon_biggrin.gif

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mcook1670 Posted 11 Mar 2009 , 1:23am
post #89 of 146

Don't feel bad I work at a grocery store bakery and had a lady wanting a cake to order a wedding cake for 300 people. A four tiered cake 14-12-10-6 fondant, plus 2 full sheet cakes, for a grand total of $450! Clear I don't set the prices someone in corporate that no nothing about cake pricing do it. Our full sheet cakes are 37.99, our nearest anywhere else it's about 75.00. That's why it's so hard to compete with grocery stores we charge next to nothing, and people want high end cakes for low end prices.

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newmansmom2004 Posted 11 Mar 2009 , 1:29am
post #90 of 146
Quote:
Originally Posted by bethola

Just what you did! If she can get a cake for 100 people for 75 bucks! GO FOR IT GIRL!!

Having said that....my DISTANT cousin asked me to do her daughter's wedding cake. I was already helping with the catering so I declined. But, here is a little of the conversation "Do you know how to do a fondant bow?" "Yes, I can do fondant" "Are you SURE? Because I cater and I know everyone can't do fondant" "Yes, I'm quite SURE I can do fondant" "Well, I'll send you a picture and see if you think you can do the cake" At that point I told her that I would be unable to do the cake.

Fast Forward 2 weeks (now is 3 weeks until the wedding) "My baker CANCELLED ON ME!" I'm thinking....DUH! Would you PLEASE PLEASE do the cake? I'll pay you double! Yeah, like I wanted THAT headache. Stuck to my guns. She did find someone that told her it would be no problem.

The wedding and groom's cakes were HORRIBLE! She was very upset with them and didn't even want to pay. See? Dodged THAT bullet, didn't I? LOL The cake tasted good, but, the decorator needed much more practice before she did this type of cake. I'm SURE she did her best, but needed MUCH practice.

Bottom line: She got what she paid for!

Lesson Learned.




Bethola, you're my new hero! icon_lol.gif Good for you for not giving in!

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