Got an email today from an old friend of mine who is getting married in 18 days. She wants to know if I can do cookies for her. Not only is it coming up fast but I also have a cake and 6 dzn cookies to do for someone else at the same time but my friend's cookies will need to be ready sooner because her future MIL is flying out for the wedding (MIL and I are on a different island than the bride,) and needs to take them with her.
Why would she wait so long? We discussed it almost 2 months ago and she said she would get back to me. Do some people think all we do is sit around all day waiting for them to get back to us and we take no other jobs in the meantime?
Sorry, rant over. 
Got an email today from an old friend of mine who is getting married in 18 days. She wants to know if I can do cookies for her. Not only is it coming up fast but I also have a cake and 6 dzn cookies to do for someone else at the same time but my friend's cookies will need to be ready sooner because her future MIL is flying out for the wedding (MIL and I are on a different island than the bride,) and needs to take them with her.
Why would she wait so long?
Because she is precious
We discussed it almost 2 months ago and she said she would get back to me.
And she has - in her own good time - sorry that should read - in her own precious time -
Do some people think all we do is sit around all day waiting for them to get back to us and we take no other jobs in the meantime?
Yes, thats how they think - they are the only bride in the whole wide world getting married this month - no other bride to be exists.
Sorry, rant over.
Rant away - helps get it out of the blood stream
frustrating for you - isn't it?
Make a descion now as to whether you are going to do them or not - and just stick to your guns.
We all know she is prescious - but so is your time.
Bluehue.
It's happened to me three times in the past two weeks. They've been asking a day or two before the event and I tell them "I'm sorry, I won't be able to make that for you. I prefer an order to be placed at least two weeks before the event."...or something like that.
... and I'm really cutting it close with the drying time.
When I would tell poeple it takes 24 hours for the icing to set before I can add the SECOND color, they'd be astonished and say "You mean the cookies are TWO DAYS OLD?????"
Folding my arms and adopting my "you're such a stupid f*cking moron" look (hubby says this looks even scares HIM!), I ask, "And HOW old are those OReos in your cabinet?" 
... and I'm really cutting it close with the drying time.
When I would tell poeple it takes 24 hours for the icing to set before I can add the SECOND color, they'd be astonished and say "You mean the cookies are TWO DAYS OLD?????"
Folding my arms and adopting my "you're such a stupid f*cking moron" look (hubby says this looks even scares HIM!), I ask, "And HOW old are those OReos in your cabinet?"
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!! Oreos!! ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!! Yep, I'm definitely going to use that one!! (Leave it to Indy to put it all in perspective for us!) 
I was reading some comments someone had left on a web site concerning a local bakery. They were fuming that their cake wasn't "fresh" and were recommending to everyone to wait to place an order until the day before they wanted a cake. Right. And if the bakery is busy and doesn't have time to do your cake? Once sealed with icing, that cake isn't going to go stale in just two days! Same with cookies. But I think people are so hung up on "FRESH". They haven't a clue that it's better to give the decorator time to create something special than to have it baked that morning!
Indy: I almost dropped a lung, I was laughing so hard!! You rock! And you're right!
Got an email today from an old friend of mine who is getting married in 18 days. She wants to know if I can do cookies for her. Not only is it coming up fast but I also have a cake and 6 dzn cookies to do for someone else at the same time but my friend's cookies will need to be ready sooner because her future MIL is flying out for the wedding (MIL and I are on a different island than the bride,) and needs to take them with her.
Why would she wait so long? We discussed it almost 2 months ago and she said she would get back to me. Do some people think all we do is sit around all day waiting for them to get back to us and we take no other jobs in the meantime?
Sorry, rant over.
I hope you told her that because she waited so long you're now booked???
I actually think the cookie taste better a couple of days later. The flavors seem to come together. That's what I tell them and I truly believe it.
YOu know, I think you're right. I remember a batch I made for a client/friend. I tasted one of them right after I finished it (it was a simple design, so I was able to get it done in one day) and I thought they tasted awful! I worried about it ..... one friend suggested I do a Do-Over. I decided to use them, under the thinking of "we're our own worst critic". So the next day, as I'm putting the bouquet together, I ate one of the extras and couldn't believe the difference! Cookie was softer, flavors....as you said ..... had really come together.
Like marinades and cheeseballs, it just needs time for the flavors to meld.
indy, you always crack me up!! Thanks for the laugh.
And, that's exactly why i don't tell people how long it takes to prepare their order. When i'm asked why i need advanced notice, i simply say that i have many other orders to fill and i need to schedule my time appropriately. This not only tells them that i'm busy, but i don't even have to go into when i'd start on their order.
... and I'm really cutting it close with the drying time.
When I would tell poeple it takes 24 hours for the icing to set before I can add the SECOND color, they'd be astonished and say "You mean the cookies are TWO DAYS OLD?????"
Folding my arms and adopting my "you're such a stupid f*cking moron" look (hubby says this looks even scares HIM!), I ask, "And HOW old are those OReos in your cabinet?"
HAHAHAHAHAHA
I feel the same way!
ugh. I had a lady call me yesterday for a 3D Camera cake for her daughter's graduation on June 5. I told her, "I'm sorry, I'm already booked that weekend." Her response, " Does that mean YOU don't have time to make ME a cake?" 
I said, "Yes, that is exactly what that means" I could tell by her voice she wouldn't want to pay what I would have charged anyways
I must learn not to be drinking a drink when I read Indydebi's responses!!! You crack me up!!!! Now I have to clean Diet Mt. Dew off of my computer screen!!!
I feel your frustrations. I had 3 people ask me on Thursday to make3D cakes for them....I said "sure...when do you need them??" They said Saturday morning! I had to hold back the laughter when I said "you want what??? when???". I already had 5 booked.....had to say "sorry....I require at least a 3 week notice." Maybe when they get tired of eating "grocery store" cake they will get the hint!!
[quote="mrsc808"] Do some people think all we do is sit around all day waiting for them to get back to us and we take no other jobs in the meantime?
[quote]
This thought goes through my mind all the time. I sometimes honestly think that some people think I am sitting at home waiting for their order and NOTHING is further than the truth!
The biggest problem is that since i'm just starting out, it's not a great idea for me to decline jobs because that is my advertisement (dont have money to advertise the conventional ways) as well. One job begets another, kwim? So it drives me even crazier that people will wait till the last minute and i have to find ways to fill their order in order not to lose out on a customers and word of mouth.
indydebi . . . you're my hero! I have the same type of attitude towards people . . . when people e.g. acquaintences, non-immediate family members say things like,
"I want you to bake my cookies and decorate them an hour before my reception/shower/event because they'll taste fresher And by the way, you need to sculpt individual cookies to look like the person we're honoring AND don't expect to get anymore than $1.50 per cookie because that's all I'm going to pay you"
well! I have to do everything in my power not to say,
"Really? And on what F#%KING planet are you smoking F@*KING crack. And while you're there, why don't you bake your own cookies and shove 'em up your a$$ then remember that just because you know me, don't think you can F@$K me over. And btw, try that on another professional that doesn't know you and see how far that'll take you!"
However, decorum sets in and I smile and say, "gee it's just not financially feasible and anyway, I'm all booked up, gosh darn!"
I had two phone calls this week that I didn't bother returning....one wanted a wedding cake for next weekend and one wanted a cake delivered to a hotel by tomorrow (well would have been today).
Some phone calls aren't worth the time it takes to call back....
Some phone calls aren't worth the time it takes to call back....
Ditto! I don't even waste time with stupid people! 
The biggest problem is that since i'm just starting out, it's not a great idea for me to decline jobs because that is my advertisement (dont have money to advertise the conventional ways) as well. One job begets another, kwim? So it drives me even crazier that people will wait till the last minute and i have to find ways to fill their order in order not to lose out on a customers and word of mouth.
Aren't you teaching them that not only can they do this to you, but their friends can, too? I can see if this was a friend and you made them swear to tell everyone to "make sure you call her at least a month before you need them as she books up quickly," but not for people you don't know personally.
First off let me say,, i would be booked, sorry friend, you fell asleep at the alter and misssed the cake boat.
With that said..let me get my soapbox down...stepping up on it...
I believe the problem is all the cake shows!! It would be so much easier if they would take 10 seconds out of the show and display a message from the participating caker that says..
This cake would cost this much money.
It would take this many days to complete.
It would also take this many people to complete it.
The order for this cake would have had to have been placed 2 months in advance.
Instead they get.. sometimes.. a fabulous cake and it only took 8 hours.. so the public thinks all bakers only take 8 hours or less.. because their cake is "simple" not like the cakes that take 8 hours on the boobtube!!
thank you for listening.. stepping down off the soap box.. putting it away..for now 
I had a guy write me last year asking for a super elaborate cake THREE DAYS before his wedding -- the same wedding which he admitted him and his bride to be had planned for "well over a year." 
Yeah, and they just now thought about the cake??? Needless to say, I was already booked!
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