Would You Do This Cake?

Business By bobwonderbuns Updated 22 Jun 2009 , 4:32am by littlecake

bobwonderbuns Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
bobwonderbuns Posted 11 Mar 2009 , 2:45am
post #1 of 22

This is really more of an ethical dilemma, but I would very much like some input here. A new customer contacts me late last Fall wanting a grooms cake for her wedding this October. She tells me the cake will be served at the rehearsal dinner where no other cakes will be. Fine I tell her, I'll do it. Fast forward to about a month ago, she tells me that she wants the grooms cake to be served at the wedding icon_eek.gif even though the caterer is supplying the wedding cake to be served at the same time. I tell her it's a professional courtesy in the cake business that decorators extend to each other by not supplying cakes where another is doing the wedding cake. She said she would ask the caterer, she does then tells me they have no problem with it. I'm still not sure what to think so I ask if I could talk to the caterer. So far I haven't received a straight answer from her on who that is. I don't think she's being devious or anything like that, she just wants both cakes and to eat them too. Sooooo, what would y'all do? Would you do the cake as she asked, to be served at the wedding?

21 replies
indydebi Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
indydebi Posted 11 Mar 2009 , 3:06am
post #2 of 22

As a caterer, who also makes cakes (a rare combination - is her caterer a cake maker also?), I am ok with another licensed baker providing a groom's cake, if it's a cake I can't do. But I require that it be discussed ahead of time and I alter the contract specifically spelling out this ONE exception is ok and why.

If it's a cake I can't do, I think it's unfair to tell the bride she can't have anyone else make it either. However, if it's a cake I can do, then my standard contract applies .... no other cakes.

What makes this suspect is her unwillingness to give you the name of the caterer. Sounds like she's trying to slip some grocery store cakes in there and doesn't want you to find out from the caterer that they are not providing the wedding cake either.

Can you call the venue and ask who the caterer is? "Hello, venue? I need to ask the caterer a question and I just can't find my note with his number. I can't get ahold of the bride today ... keep getting voicemail. Do you have in your record who the contact person is? Thanks!"

beck30 Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
beck30 Posted 11 Mar 2009 , 5:26am
post #3 of 22

Im not sure that I would unless I got a straight answer from her.

cakesdivine Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
cakesdivine Posted 11 Mar 2009 , 7:10am
post #4 of 22

Oooh Debi, you are a devious one...ROFL!

leah_s Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
leah_s Posted 11 Mar 2009 , 11:01am
post #5 of 22

I've done exactly what Debi suggests. And no, if it's a cake I can do, then I don't play second fiddle err groom's cake to anyone else.

alvarezmom Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
alvarezmom Posted 11 Mar 2009 , 4:52pm
post #6 of 22

I dont have my own business like most of the other poster's...but I cant see what the problem would be..I mean if the bride wants a cake from some one else then it should be her right to get 2,3,4 cakes from who ever she wants!

I wouldnt call the venue and ask for the other caterer's info...that's a little High School for me. If you really are unsure then let her know you need to know the name and number of the caterer--OR just forget the cake altogether.

bobwonderbuns Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
bobwonderbuns Posted 11 Mar 2009 , 5:12pm
post #7 of 22

I'm still giving it some thought as to what I should do. She lives out of state and I'll be meeting with her in June. We talk all the time by email though. I'll explain it to her again and one last time at the tasting in June but I'm inclined to press the issue of speaking to the caterer and making sure this bride understands that my cake may cost her $$$ for contract violation.

indydebi Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
indydebi Posted 11 Mar 2009 , 6:41pm
post #8 of 22
Quote:
Originally Posted by alvarezmom

I dont have my own business like most of the other poster's...but I cant see what the problem would be..I mean if the bride wants a cake from some one else then it should be her right to get 2,3,4 cakes from who ever she wants!




It has to do with reputation protection and liability issues. What if they got the cake from a non-licensed baker who didn't practice good food safety habits and someone found a cat hair in their cake? You know who they're gonna sue? ME! Because they'd ask "who made the wedding cake?" "Debi made the wedding cake." "Great....I'll have my lawyer contact her lawyer then!"

This IS a legit business concern ... one my attorney spent some time discussing with me when we set up the LLC.

leah_s Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
leah_s Posted 11 Mar 2009 , 8:37pm
post #9 of 22

[quote="alvarezmom"]I dont have my own business like most of the other poster's...but I cant see what the problem would be..I mean if the bride wants a cake from some one else then it should be her right to get 2,3,4 cakes from who ever she wants!
quote]

It IS TOTALLY a problem. When they serve the dry crappy chemicaly tasting cake from the big box store that they purchased on the cheap and every asks, where'd the cake come from and if my name gets mentioned, my reputation is ruined.

Plus the food safety issues that Debi raised.

Absolutely, totally a big deal.

alvarezmom Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
alvarezmom Posted 12 Mar 2009 , 1:18pm
post #10 of 22

I get what ya'll are saying. I guess I'm still one of the few ppl who would say oh the wedding cake is from Deby or leahs and the nasty crappy grooms cake is from another baker! LOL But that's just me.

LOL on another note I did find a hair in my cake once...pretty gross!

bobwonderbuns Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
bobwonderbuns Posted 12 Mar 2009 , 3:20pm
post #11 of 22

What I find so interesting about this particular situation is that in my wedding cake contract I have a "no other cakes allowed" clause -- and in this case ''I'm" the "other" cake... icon_confused.gif That's why I'm insisting on speaking to the caterer directly.

alvarezmom Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
alvarezmom Posted 12 Mar 2009 , 3:46pm
post #12 of 22

So your the cake mistress! Shame on you! LOL icon_cool.gif

bobwonderbuns Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
bobwonderbuns Posted 12 Mar 2009 , 4:06pm
post #13 of 22
Quote:
Originally Posted by alvarezmom

So your the cake mistress! Shame on you! LOL icon_cool.gif


icon_lol.gificon_lol.gif Well I'm trying NOT to be! icon_rolleyes.gificon_biggrin.gif

alvarezmom Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
alvarezmom Posted 12 Mar 2009 , 4:43pm
post #14 of 22

I still get a kick out of your screen name! I laugh every time I say "wonderbuns"!

bobwonderbuns Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
bobwonderbuns Posted 12 Mar 2009 , 9:38pm
post #15 of 22

You think that's bad -- the other day I was at the store buying hot dog buns -- imagine my surprise when I read the receipt -- "Wonderbuns $1.98"!! icon_lol.gif

snarkybaker Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
snarkybaker Posted 13 Mar 2009 , 12:51am
post #16 of 22
Quote:
Quote:

So your the cake mistress! Shame on you! LOL




Quote:
Originally Posted by bobwonderbuns

You think that's bad -- the other day I was at the store buying hot dog buns -- imagine my surprise when I read the receipt -- "Wonderbuns $1.98"!! icon_lol.gif




Well, Bob, I am going to give you the same advice my grandmother gave me, You can be cheap or you can be easy....but for God's sake don't be both!


icon_confused.gif

indydebi Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
indydebi Posted 13 Mar 2009 , 12:58am
post #17 of 22
Quote:
Originally Posted by snarkybaker

Well, Bob, I am going to give you the same advice my grandmother gave me, You can be cheap or you can be easy....but for God's sake don't be both!




My version is: Yes, I CAN be bought ... but most men can't afford me!

(Man! Where's that Mae West icon when you need it!)

alvarezmom Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
alvarezmom Posted 13 Mar 2009 , 1:25pm
post #18 of 22

I heard this expression awhile back.

"Be Betty with your friends and Veronica with the boys".....or is that the other way around???

bobwonderbuns Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
bobwonderbuns Posted 22 Jun 2009 , 12:09am
post #19 of 22

Well if anyone is interested in an update, the young lady wrote me an email the other day stating she couldn't afford to do the additional cake and wouldn't be needing my services. I'm breathing a BIG sigh of relief -- I really didn't want to do that cake for all the reasons mentioned. So alls well that ends well! icon_biggrin.gif

newmansmom2004 Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
newmansmom2004 Posted 22 Jun 2009 , 12:17am
post #20 of 22
Quote:
Originally Posted by bobwonderbuns

You think that's bad -- the other day I was at the store buying hot dog buns -- imagine my surprise when I read the receipt -- "Wonderbuns $1.98"!! icon_lol.gif




Oh the funny thoughts that come to mind - unfortunately, this is a "G" rated website! LOL! icon_lol.gificon_lol.gificon_lol.gif

sari66 Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
sari66 Posted 22 Jun 2009 , 3:32am
post #21 of 22

Well, yeah I was wondering about this thanks for the update wonderbuns. Glad that all ended well.

littlecake Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
littlecake Posted 22 Jun 2009 , 4:32am
post #22 of 22

i love it when things work themselves out.

Quote by @%username% on %date%

%body%