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 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?
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!"
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.
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.
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.
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.
[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.
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!
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... That's why I'm insisting on speaking to the caterer directly.
So your the cake mistress! Shame on you! LOL
Well I'm trying NOT to be!
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"!!
So your the cake mistress! Shame on you! LOL
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"!!
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!
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!)
I heard this expression awhile back.
"Be Betty with your friends and Veronica with the boys".....or is that the other way around???
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!
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"!!
Oh the funny thoughts that come to mind - unfortunately, this is a "G" rated website! LOL!
Well, yeah I was wondering about this thanks for the update wonderbuns. Glad that all ended well.
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