My first customer reject. 
I had a customer call and ask how much my basic sheet cakes were. My first question in reply was 'How many are you wanting to feed?'. She said roughly about 50. I told her that she would want a 13x18 and it would be $44 and she gasped over the phone. She asked the price of a 'regular sheet cake' - I told her that I assume she's talking about a 9x13 and that would be $22 (she gasped yet again) but that would not give her the servings she's after. I told her my cakes are made from scratch both batter and icing. She still gasped at the price.
She said she'll have to talk it over with her husband as she's sure she can get it cheaper at the grocery store. *total eye rolling moment* She never called back. *sigh*
Funny part is that I went to the store today (the only grocery store in our small town) and a pre-fab 9x13 basic cake was $20.
I'm not too beat up about it (well I am, but I'm not at the same time). It won't be my last customer reject, but I'm sure going to remember the first. To top it off, she was family...my dad's cousin. 
Ugh.....family! Let her save the $2. Believe me, you don't want to deal with a customer like that, family or not.
HOWEVER, at the next event where you know she'll be there. bring a drop-dead beautiful cake, even it it's small!
OK--I'm bad, but what the heck!
Well there you go! That was a family member asking you your cake prices! Don't you know that family members get a 95% discount on all specialty cakes made for them, just because they may or may not have the same blood running through their veins??? And, really, since it is your third cousin twice removed calling, and it is a special occasion (the butchering of his favorite pig doesn't just happen every day, you know!), you really should offer to do a cake for 300 people for free. Didn't you know this???
Your time, talent and the cost of eggs, butter, etc. is not cheap, and it certainly is not free! What people don't understand is that if they could do it themselves, they wouldn't be calling you in the first place! Stick to you guns, friend!
<M>
Ugh.....family! Let her save the $2. Believe me, you don't want to deal with a customer like that, family or not!
Honestly...I'm seriously considering charging "family" an extra 20% 
You know they are often the most difficult to please...but then again maybe it's just MY family 
Honestly...I'm seriously considering charging "family" an extra 20% You know they are often the most difficult to please...but then again maybe it's just MY family
Oh no it's not just your family kjt. I totally agree with you! 
You are so right. It seems all sugar artists have that kind of family. And it will happen again. Chin up sweetie. And keep smiling.
All my family lives cross-country. They are just happy if I send the occasional box of cookies their way. 
I remember one time when I lived in SC though I had a lady who wanted a boatload of cupcakes, and stressed they were for some children's group at a hospital. I quoted I think $2/each at the time (maybe less, I wasn't charging much back then) and she was horrified that I would charge that much for a "children's group". I guess she figured since I was just a little home baker that she heard of via WOM that I would cut her a deal.
I just had one of my nieces asking me if i can make a free cake for mother day for free And I say sure, next weekend I am going to be very busy and I need someone to clean ALL the mess and if you help me to clean of course I give you the cake free she ask me for the price of the cake and said that she will pay me the cake by friday
I just had one of my nieces asking me if i can make a free cake for mother day for free
And I say sure, next weekend I am going to be very busy and I need someone to clean ALL the mess and if you help me to clean of course I give you the cake free she ask me for the price of the cake and said that she will pay me the cake by friday
....
HOWEVER, at the next event where you know she'll be there. bring a drop-dead beautiful cake, even it it's small!
OK--I'm bad, but what the heck!
I say you do that!
Jenna217,
It's probably harder for you to roll this one off, because it was a family reject. Someone you dont know might be easier.
I had a similar problem a few years ago, I offered to make cake for nothing, but they went to the store and bought one, because they could get a smash cake for nothing with it?? Duh??
I was going to make both the cakes for nothing! 
It's my godchild!
I made a small one and brought it anyway, mine was way nicer and tastier! 
Oh well, that's never happened again!
Good Luck
I give my sister a $5 discount or a special filling at no extra charge, but only because she sends me SOOOO much business from her work. And then, only if its just her paying for it. If the whole office is chipping in, its full price folks! My sister has been watching me do cakes for the past year and a half, and understands what goes into making one cake. She knows it ain't "a piece of cake to just whip one out"!
I guess i'm lucky in that respect, but I've had lots of friends who apparently think they're family and I've gotten the same reaction that you did. I think your cousin gasped because she was expecting that 95% family discount!
Good luck, and happy baking! 
Ugh, people just DO NOT get it.
I had my first semi-rejected order a couple of weeks ago, when someone wanted 100 cupcakes (fully decorated like monkey faces), with filling, for under $30. NOT ONE bakery in my town would do anything more than a happy face on a cupcake, so when I told her $1.00 per cupcake (I gave her a deal because it was my sister's friend) I thought it was reasonable. She then said, "Okay, I'm just going to take 2 sheet cakes for $40," which I never told her that price. Then she wanted egg replacer. I told her to go to COSTCO, and that I was busy.
People think, "Oh, it's just cake! It's not THAT expensive or hard to do!"
I feel like saying, "Oh yeah? Well, please...do it yourself then!"
Don't worry too much about the lady...people who know what they want will pay for it. People who want a deal can go to a cheaper bakery where they will get exactly what they pay for. Nothing more.
I just had one of my nieces asking me if i can make a free cake for mother day for free
And I say sure, next weekend I am going to be very busy and I need someone to clean ALL the mess and if you help me to clean of course I give you the cake free she ask me for the price of the cake and said that she will pay me the cake by friday
I love this.... since my family thinks i do cakes and cookies for free... the only time goodies come for free is if i am practicing!! and then its my choice on what to make!
People think, "Oh, it's just cake! It's not THAT expensive or hard to do!"
I feel like saying, "Oh yeah? Well, please...do it yourself then!"
I agree with this completely. If people think they can do it just as easily... fly at 'er.
I just started baking cakes and I have brought to the plate a WHOLE new appreciation of this art.
I wouldn't feel too bad about this "rejection" at all.
She should have been gasping that the price was too low!!! Some people. I got jipped on a family cake this weekend. (MIL's cousin's daughter's son...so distant to say the least) Clearly remember telling her $45, but I never count money in front of anyone (not sure why) but later I when I did, it was only $40! Of course I bit my tongue on it since 5 bucks isn't worth the crap it would stir up. I didn't, however, continue to feel bad about not having time to stop and grab a present. Actually that was the second cake this weekend that I got shorted on...guess I'll have to stop feeling it's rude and count away....
I am getting so that I start to dread family, in laws or friends wanting cakes, because they are always wanting special treatment. They are ALWAYS more trouble than customers that I don't know.
If it's not change this or change that, it's well I can't pick it up during your collection hours, I'll have to get it in the afternoon instead.
I really prefer other customers and really wish I could say no to these requests. I will have to get harder and just treat them like anyone else and say no changes and these are the weekend pickup times so if you can't then, then come on Friday! 
Jenna217- let it go.... This may be the first but I am sure it won't be the last. I had one lady call me for a wedding cake quote and she explained to me it was a very simple white cake with fondant. She emailed the picture to me and it had so many bows and swags on it, to say the least she thought it was simple but it wasn't. The cake had to feed 150 and I gave her my quote and never heard another word from her. I didn't feel bad at all. It will get easier..
Lilytexas-I will have to use that one the next time family members come to me for free cakes. I know the answer already..
Posts like this are what make me think I shouldn't start selling cakes ever 
Until I can go legal I just do free cakes for practice but I see so many posts like this its sad Why do people think that we shouldn't make any money at what we do? I am sorry this happened to you, especially from family
I am getting so that I start to dread family, in laws or friends wanting cakes, because they are always wanting special treatment. They are ALWAYS more trouble than customers that I don't know.
If it's not change this or change that, it's well I can't pick it up during your collection hours, I'll have to get it in the afternoon instead.
I really prefer other customers and really wish I could say no to these requests. I will have to get harder and just treat them like anyone else and say no changes and these are the weekend pickup times so if you can't then, then come on Friday!
I think pickup times are the worst anyway! Everyone has a different time they can pickup and its especially annoying when people are a half hour or more late. They should realize I'm not a shop that has open hours and that I have a life too! Sometimes its that they get lost but some of them just end up late.
However Sunday morning I had a "too early"! Sunday pickups are hard because I have church and so if someone wants a Sunday cake they have to come in the early morning, or then afternoon. I told this family 9:15am because before that I am getting myself and my boys ready for church. I get a call at 8:30 that the guy is almost here...and I'm sitting in my bathrobe!!! (I had emailed several times trying to confirm pickup time that week too, with no response). Luckily my husband was able to come home (church is on the same property) and hand off the cake because I was NOT able to get ready in time.
And that's not even family! (My family, even if they lived local, would not put me out like that.... my family is the type that offers to pay for my trouble... my grandma wanted me to print out edible images for her to use of her grandkids and insisted she pay, and I told her no...and she still sent me a little money for the shipping costs).
Thanks, everyone! I just get so frustrated when people think they should only have to pay for the store bought 99 cent cake mix but nothing else. I figured out with all the ingredient costs (and on the rise!!), packaging (flats and boxes), and electricity costs to run the oven and mixer. I'm not getting paid a dime for my time or artistry, only cost reimbursement for the cake ingridients itself. So why should I (or anyone else) charge less for a cake, family or not??
If I did, it would be like me paying them to make the cake they ordered!
Now I got myself all riled again!
Yeah and I keep in mind that if Walmart happens to not have the .99 DH in stock (which between our four Walmarts we are usually okay there!) then the grocery stores sell them for $2/box or more!!!!
So if you were to charge family $1/box of mix but then get stuck buying them at a grocery store price, then you are still in trouble.
I don't understand why people get so up in arms over family wanting a discount. That's what families are there for, right?
I would never dream of charging my friends/family anything more than cost. I have had my family do things for me (oil changes, engine repairs, babysitting, etc.) - I just make sure they know the value of what they are getting (mentioning they are getting a $100 cake makes them that much more appreciative).
I think if there was someone who blatantly abused the favor, I might become upset - but otherwise, I would never expect to make a profit off of those close to me.
I have a neighbor who has taken my children to school for me when they missed the bus and I was already at work... it certainly cost her money in gas (as well as her time), but she never asked me for a dime. Of course I thanked her with something sweet.
Thanks, everyone! I just get so frustrated when people think they should only have to pay for the store bought 99 cent cake mix but nothing else. I figured out with all the ingredient costs (and on the rise!!), packaging (flats and boxes), and electricity costs to run the oven and mixer. I'm not getting paid a dime for my time or artistry, only cost reimbursement for the cake ingridients itself. So why should I (or anyone else) charge less for a cake, family or not??
If I did, it would be like me paying them to make the cake they ordered!
Now I got myself all riled again!
I remember the day I finally figured that one out! I was so disappointed. I realized I was making like 5 or 10 bucks for hours of work. I immediately stopped feeling bad about asking more for my cakes. And I've gradually gone up, up, up from there. Don't get yourself riled though, anytime someone has a problem with cost, I just tell myself that they're the one missing out. And stand firm on it too, hun, cuz if ya budge even a little, they'll always want you to. And I'm totally with bringing a beautiful tasty cake to the next family function (have done that one before too). Then everyone see's what they're missing. I've even brought a small cake as a "present" before. Guess it's mean to be so spiteful, but sometimes, we gotta do what we gotta do!
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