So, I Finally Got One!!! (Kinda Vent) Lol :d
Decorating By step0nmi Updated 14 Jun 2007 , 1:18pm by step0nmi
Well, I've heard all the stories here on CC about getting that problem customer but, I don't think mine is THAT bad! I just wanted to share. This is just one of those women that don't get it!
This women I know (my Mom's Realtor) wants a cake. Now, I spoke to her about having a cake made this summer back in April and told her what I was all about and what I can do. Then, I saw her about a month ago in a grocery store and we were talking and she said "yah, I am gonna want a cake this summer, probably...mid July" She wasn't too sure but I said "yah, let me know about 3 weeks ahead of time so I can plan things out since I am going to be working at a new job and need more time to plan and such. Sooo...I just saw her today in my drive thru window at work and she's like "hey! I need that cake like next Saturday." What!! I was like "OH!" I thought it was later??"
Well, I know that things happen...And she is about to have a baby soon and her son wanted to have the party before the baby. I understand all this! But....I already have a cake to make for that very next day and I might possibly get a cake, today, for that same day and with working and all there is not much time to plan!
So, I'm thinking let's see what she wants and for how many. When we talked before she had told me her son would like something dealing with drag racing. Now, I haven't done anything like this before so I am thinking like a dragstrip on the top of the cake with little cars and a checkered sides of the cake...you know, the usual. But, when I call her she wants this 1/4 sheet cake to be made into a dragster car for like 8 people!!! Now, I know that some of you may be mad at me for this but....I don't know how to create this CAR and I am not going to do it for 8 people on this short of notice!! So, I am telling her very nicely that that is a lot of work for such a short time and then I tell her the idea I was thinking and she was like "Well, I would need you to draw it cause it just doesn't sound like anything". What!!! I am trying to tell her very nicely that this is sculpting a cake that I have not done this kind before (just tried it with my mom and my tree stump cake) and she is just telling me how to construct it by cutting the thing and putting some wheels on the back and the front. What! I know what I can do and I would need to come up with how to do the wing in the back of the car and make this thing look like an actually drag racer and I KNOW for myself this would be a lot of work. And then on top of working at my job, another cake.... I just don't think I am going to be able to do it!
I guess what I am worried about is that when I was first talking to her about my cakes (back in April) I was in desperate need of practice and I would do anything to do a cake....even if it meant free. Well, that is not the case now. So, I feel bad. Because she may still be thinking it's free and I just don't have the money to do a cake like this, for free. And then I am kind of insulted cause she doesn't like my idea and wants me to draw this out and I just don't have time for that! So, she says she is going to talk to her son about my idea or she is going to go decide if she likes my idea...or whatever!
But, how do I break it to her that I can't do it for free??? I don't know how to say these things all the time so I am a little stumped on this part.
Thanks for letting me vent!!! 
Stephanie G.
Ahhhh, the joys of unreasonable requests!
If you decide to offer her something, first come up with exactly what you're willing to do...I'm thinking minimum effort since you have so many other things going.
I'd scrap the carved idea...she's obviously been watching food network and thinks it's as easy as they make it look! Check into using one of the character pans shaped like a race car. You could do the colors she wants and just star the thing to make it easy. Tell her your character/shaped cakes start at $30 and you'll need payment when she decides to for sure place the order....also mention you usually need 3 weeks notice.
Just MHO...good luck!
Stephanie..I TRULY know your feelings over this. I too would sometimes do cakes for free - almost free when I was learning.....and you have to be sure to let people know that it's kinda like the cosmetology class where you get a cheap haircut when you are learning...as well as other things along those lines...if you are talented and get good at it ( as you are and did) then your prices are gonna go UP. If you do too many at those low prices you become known as that awesome lady who makes the great cakes for less than WAL-MART.lol.
When I first started making cakes, I had a similar experience. I was in no way going to make the cake for free, but I welcomed the chance to make a cake & show off my newly learned skills. The compromise was that I told the client all of the ingredients (for both the cake & the frosting,plus cake boards etc) that I would need to make the cake. She delivered them two weeks prior to the cake being needed & I just charged a nominal fee to make the cake. She was happy, I got to make a cake plus it was a learning experience for me. No more free cakes. Before charging, I always call two local bakeries and ask for a quote to make sure that I am not charging too little or too much. The client, if she does not want to pay my price, of course has the option to purchase the cake elsewhere.
Well, I actually don't think I am doing her cake now! (Darn! LOL) I think I convinced her it was too hard cause she hasn't called me back! But, I did try to pass her off to my mother! I just haven't heard what she is going to do yet!
So, I don't know what her plan is but, I don't have to worry about making a free cake anymore. Besides, I received another order that very same day so I am going to be making $80 that weekend instead of only $30! Waahoo!
Thanks for all the support and input!
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