Freebies Are Starting To Be Contaigious
Decorating By StCakes Updated 24 Feb 2007 , 1:36am by 2xMiMi
I make cakes for friends and family mostly because I can't get business because I am not a "real cake store" and in my small town, people wont pay for the good stuff. So MIL asks me to make her cake that she can take to work to share with her coworkers because they are always pestering her to bring in one. So I agree and make her a whimsical, one layer cake with fondant accents, luster dust, the whole nine yards as I dont get a chance to make very many cakes so when I do I like to kick it up a notch. Well, word got to me that the cake was eaten in about a half hour. Everyone ranted and raved about it, couldnt believe that it was 'that good", and one coworker decided that she wanted one, asked could I make the same exact cake for to take to her hubby. Being that I'm a domestic engineer and have the time I agreed, told her it would be $25. I dont hear back from her, but MIL says, yes, please make it. So I go out to the local grocery, pick up the ingredients and start baking. I get a phone call that the lady has now decided that she doesnt want it. So I'm left with this cake and MIL says she will pay for the ingredients, not my time and effort. 
Apparentely, the co worker wanted it until she heard I was going to charge her for it. 
It was said that things tend to taste better when they are free. Isnt my bloody time with ANYTHING??? Who has ones made of that much brass that they would say something like that?
Sorry to hear this... I went through a similar thing... my sister thought I should have made all of her family cakes for free, though I didn't mind for my nieces, but for her birthday and her DH, every little party they had throughout the year, you name it... I even said I woud do them for supply cost but she got angry about it.... I though... hmmmm gotta make free cakes and buy presents.. didn't seem right to me.. so I told her on the last time, this is the last one for free... I do the same for my brother's kids partie, just supplies... and he is a lot worse off financially than my sister could ever dream of because she married money.... so... just remember next time that your MIL asks.... tell her you will do it for this and if her "friend" doesn't pay you would like her to pay for it... maybe she will think before she gives your cake to everyone 
Good luck, hope you find paying people that give you credit for your time and effort!
she can't get a cake free from anywhere.Unless she makes it and then she still has to buy ingredients.I would not do any cake for free.The only time I don't charge is if I offer up front for family or a close friend.And when I do that the cake is the gift for the occasion.(birthday,ann.,etc.)
Emily
Let me get this straight, a complete stranger thought you were going to make her a cake for free? Some people really do have have brass ba**s. I'm sure she doesn't work free, why would she expect you too. Next time MIL asked for a cake to take to work it wouldn't be free either. Why would she expect you to pay for the ingredients to feed her coworkers? I just don't understand people (scratching my head).
A friend of mine asked me to make a cake for her son. At first it was easy and then got more difficult. Heaven forbid they tell him no so he dreams up this crazy cake. She asks if I could still make it, I tell her yes and then she wants me to deliver it. Fine. I deliver it to her and thought she would at least OFFER to pay me. Nope. I didn't know what to say, it was my fault really that I didn't specify up front but I thought that since I didn't OFFER to make the cake, that she had come to me, she would pay for it. THEN, I offered to make the cake for a shower for her and when everyone at the party was raving about my cakes she was telling all of them that I don't charge for them. Um, hello? Yes, I most certainly do charge for them.
Anyway, I think those that don't make cakes don't know how much time, effort and supplies go into making one. There will always be those taking advantage.
Yes, freebies taste GOOD!!! 
and yes, your MIL was trying to score points, and also make you look well!!! Yes, you should charge enough to cover expenses and a little for you time towards anyone that is not a gift from you. It should also be explained up front and agreed too, before any cake is even considered being made. Tell your MIL how you feel, don't have to be hard about it, she should not be letting anyone think you make them for free. She should have said something when the girl told her she wanted one just like it. She should have told her right then and there, the freebie would cost if she wanted one.
Wow, I'm continuously suprised at how thoughtless and greedy some people are. I'm sorry she wasted your time. And just because you're a domestic goddess (am I too!) doesn't mean your time isn't worth anything.
And just because you're a domestic goddess (am I too!) doesn't mean your time isn't worth anything.
Domestic goddess!! I have never heard of that one before!! I'm gonna try that one out. Usually people ask what a domestic engineer is and I get a smile or a chuckle out of it. Thanks for the laugh, I needed one
imtrying, I cant believe that your friend was telling everyone that you didn't charge for the cakes!!!!!! I dont think that she would make any cakes for other people and not charge for them. 
.... your MIL was trying to score points......
My mom was famous for doing this LONG before I started doing cakes. I recall one in particular in which she told a relative, "Oh sure! Debi and (her sister) will be HAPPY to throw your daughter a baby shower!" We found out about it when the daughter called us with her guest list!!
My mom did it so she would look good to the relative. "See how helpful I am? See how I'm helping you with this? But please don't notice that I'M not the one doing the work. Oh no! DEBI will be doing the work! But I'M the one who gets to reassure you and tell you it's ALL taken care of! I'm the one who gets to look good and take the credit."
There's a reason I live 75 miles away from my family!
My rule is if you ask me for a cake you pay for it. Not just the ingredients but for my time as well.
If I offer to do a cake then it is free.
Next time MIL asks you to do a cake tell her the price upfront. If she doesn't want to pay it, then she doesn't get a cake. I know there are times when we just want to make a cake, we have something we want to try or what not, but in the end sometimes giving a free cake to someone that doesn't really appreciate it isn't really worth it.
This reminds me of a lady who had me out for a wedding consultation last Fall -- and wanted a six foot (yes, 6 foot!! ) tall wedding cake FOR FREE. ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!! AS IF!!! I told her I appreciated her honesty but she was going to have to pay for a wedding cake where ever she went. 
[Postscript -- I got a call from her some months later and now she's getting a fabulous cake from me (for a fabulous price I might add... 
)] Aren't people something?? 
In order to get practice I will make a cake and take to work but no one has even ask if I do this as a business. I still consider myself a beginner but would like to some how get started. Unfortunately in my area you can't do the home thing without a separate kitchen, etc. so can't even do advertising. My family can only eat so much cake and besides working full time I also bowl twice a week so my practice time is limited.
Any suggestions? 
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