How Many Free Tastings Will You Do For The Same Bride?
Decorating By DesignerCakes Updated 2 Jul 2007 , 10:54pm by peacockplace
A few months ago, my SIL's boss called to say she was getting married and wanted a tasting. She chose three different flavors. I drove them to her place of business about 40 minutes drive each way. I had another tasting that same day, so I made three six inch rounds in different flavors, each covered in either vanilla or chocolate fondant . I cut each six inch round in half and each bride got one half of each flavor.
The one bride booked me but my SIL's boss never called me back. I ran into her one afternoon about a month later and she said they had loved the cakes but wanted to try yet another flavor - something with white chocolate. I agreed to do the white chocolate and let her know when I'd bring it to her, but I did not commit to a date. For some reason this annoyed me. She told me she was in no rush, although her wedding is the first week in September. I sent her an email a few nights ago to ask her what her exact wedding date was, and whether she was planning on ordering from me. She said she was still interested in booking me, but wanted to make sure her and her fiance could both agree on a flavor.
I was curious if you charge your brides for additional tastings, and what you would do in a similar situation. I think three (half) six inch rounds in different flavors is pretty generous. For one of the samples, she had requested fresh strawberries, among other things. She said they liked all the cakes but they could not agree on a specific flavor. BTW, her mother who is an award winning baker (but not doing her daugther's cake) told my SIL a few days after the tasting that my cakes were very delicious and well made and wanted to know if I also made pastries.
What do you do in a situation like this? And what if they don't agree on the white chocolate either?
I do one tasting up to 3 flavors free of charge. I have not had this situation come up again for another tasting yet. But good grief I would tell her you could bring her the flavor for xxxxxxxxx amount of dollars. Good luck let us know how it goes.
you have been generous to give her what you have, and to have delivered it out of your way. i think that if she wants another cake, fine...but give here a price. if she books the date (with a deposit) you can take it off the price of the wedding cake, but if she doesnt you havent spent more of your time and money giving something away for nothing.
It has been said on this site several times that if a bride likes your sample cakes (in this case 3) she should like all your cakes.
I think you have done above and beyond the free tastings...no more freebies. What if she they can't decide with this one either? Will you do another?
If you happen to have a cake in the flavor she chooses, perhaps a small sample, but other than that, no. Explain to her that each cake is made fresh and you don't just have cakes laying around if she pushes it more.
I like the charge now and take it off the cake price if she books idea.
I had a bride write to me and ask to taste several more flavors after her initial tasting. I wrote back and (nicely!) said I could do another tasting for $30. I never heard another word about it and she did book with me. One complimentary tasting is plenty.
If I were in your shoes, I'd probably go ahead and do anther one for her at no charge, but strongly yet nicely tell her I normally charge for additional tastings. That way she thinks you're giving her special treatment. If she wants yet another tasting you can say that will be XXXX amount of dollars and she won't be surprised because you've already said you normally charge. If she likes this cake and the other 3 you've made she should like any of your cakes. Suggest to her maybe doing the cake in a couple of different flavors, that way she and her fiance are both happy. Good Luck!!
Carrie
P.S. In the future, I'm with the other CC members, charge for any tastings after the 1st one!! You should be paid for your time and talent!!
well, brides come to ME for tastings. you can't drive all over town meeting multiple brides on the same day for free tastings. book them all on the same day, make lots of cake all the same flavors and have them come to you. you'll be much happier that way, and it'll save your time and money. now to your question, i would never do an additional tasting for free. let her know that if she likes those flavors of yours she will love the other flavor. or if she's skeptical she can pay you for a 6 inch round no deco and she can come pick it up from you. (don't deliver these little cakes!)
I would polietly tell her due to time constraits you can't do another freebie it will cost whatever you normally charge for a 6" cake... As previously stated if she liked the other ones she'll like them all. Her and her fiance need to come to an agreement on flavor... ok well why didn't they ask for samples of all the ones they were interested in before???
I've heard that some people offer tasting samples as cupcakes instead of cakes... maybe that's an option??? I've never heard of covering a cupcake in fondant but I'm sure it can be done lol.... Or maybe just do what others do... bake a few different cakes and cut them into cubes, bite size cubes, and package them in packets with packets of icings and in this case she wants fondant so I'd take and make smaller portions then the 6" round and cover it in the fondant she wants but only for a charge.... I don't deal w/fondant but I know it's not cheap.... I'd charge her at least time and gas and mileage....
you have been generous to give her what you have, and to have delivered it out of your way. i think that if she wants another cake, fine...but give here a price. if she books the date (with a deposit) you can take it off the price of the wedding cake, but if she doesnt you havent spent more of your time and money giving something away for nothing.
I agree.
Beccakelly is right .... they want to taste your cakes, they meet you at your place. You do NOT drive all over he**'s half acre for it. The florist isn't driving a sample bouquet to them.... the dress shop isn't bringing samples to her home or office .... the band isn't setting up in her backyard to play a sample set for her.
That crap only happens in the movies from the '40's and only for the people who lived in penthouses .... and I'll bet my bottom dollar the stores who brought the dresses to THEM don't do it for free either!
I've only done a duplicate sampling once and it was a very unique circumstance. Other than that, I've never even been ASKED for a second sampling! I would wonder what kind of subliminal message is being sent that makes a bride think cake decorators will "Hop skip and jump" and do anything and everything for free to get this business from her?
A sampling is free. Any other questions and you can place an order for a 6" cake, which is $25.
Ditto, they come taste at your place, unless you are charging for time, gas & traveling??
(A sampling is free. Any other questions and you can place an order for a 6" cake, which is $25)
Is the 25 dollar charge becasue she's being a pain? I charge 25 for a 8" and a 9X13...
Kat
....Is the 25 dollar charge becasue she's being a pain? I charge 25 for a 8" and a 9X13...
Kat
yes. yes, it is! 
Actually, it's because I just don't do many small cakes. My smallest sheet cake I do is 11x15 and even that is very very rare.
Whew...thank you, and thanks for answering so fast!! 
Kat
Since I agreed to do the white chocolate, I will go ahead and do that at no cost, but I will do a little 4" round, and only one layer- no fondant, just icing. I will wait to take it to her since I have to go down that way anyway to return some books to a nearby library. But that's that. I will definitely let her know that there will be a charge for any other tastings after that -$25, and she has to come to me.
The only reason why I delivered it was because I was going to go there anyhow. I took advantage and dropped of the other samples for the other bride because she was nearby. She has a crazy schedule, so it was convenient for her. She booked right away, without even looking at my work (she was familiar with it though, from a wedding she had attended).
I can usually sense early on when brides are either full blown bridezillas, or bridezillas in the making. I suspect this gal may be the latter. I can just feel it. That is why I have been hesitant to follow up, and follow through.
I'll keep you all posted. Thank you for your input and feedback.
Ginger
Q: does anyone charge for the 1st tasting and then apply that amount to the cake cost if bride books?
I don't. To me (and as has been stated by other CC'ers, too) it's a sales call. I haven't run into anyone who is just cruising for free cake, though. I HAVE changed my introductory email to indicate they can bring no more than a total of 4 people to the tasting. I mean, come on.... it does not take 6 or 7 people to choose between choc and white cake .... between chicken or meatballs.
I have heard of one caterer in town who charges $300 for a sampling. 
PART of that can be applied to your order if you book with them.
I don't charge anything for a tasting. I make up 2-3 different flavors depending on what the bride wants and I provide coke, diet coke, sprite or bottled water. I always put a fondant daisy on top of the cupcakes that way they can try fondant and see if they want that on their cake. The bride is not obligated to go with me but I have never had someone come for a tasting and not book their cake the same day. It's always alot of fun especially if the bride brings a few friends with her. I consider it an easy way to book a wedding cake and have a little fun at the same time.
I do not charge for the tastings, but they must come to me...I do not go to them. I also, go over the contract at that time too. And in the contract, we fill out the flavors. Now if they want a second tasting that is gonna cost them, and I do not deliver those....
For my tastings I use the mini ball pans and make 6 or so tiny cakes and with BC. I have different types of fondant on hand if thay want to try that and I also make 5-6 fillings for them to mix and match with the cakes...
My daughter had two cake tastings with two different bakers. One charged $20.00 for two 4" cakes and the other charged $15.00 for two four inch cakes.
We were happy to pay for their time and effort. We really liked one of the people and the other we didn't care for - but at least they were paid.
Your time and effort are worth something!!!! It is very nice to do for free if you can, but in my opinion - and I am a customer - I was happy to pay!
The tasting fees were deducted from the cake price when the cake is booked.
so Florimbio, how many flavors will you provide? Do you provide just plain cake and bowls of filling and icing and let them put it together?
I had a bride want me to make 12 8" cakes all different flavors so that her WHOLE WEDDING PARTY could come and sample. I charged her $100. It seriously took me all day to make that many cakes. They were put together with filling and icing, but were undecorated. She even provided me with 2 of the recipies that she wanted to have me make. Those two did not work out. The ones I told her were good before she even had this party were the ones she went with.
She sent me flowers the next day after her mom told her how long it must have taken me to make those cakes.
I do the mini ball pan cakes...all different flavored cakes, about 6 of them... But whenever I have extra batter I just make them and freeze them. I have them allready in my big freezer. So all I do is pop them out and ice them in BC...I cover them in different buttercreams, so they can taste the difference. The ball pans are 3-4 inches, and I slice the cakes like you would any regular cake, but I do thin slices. I put my fillings in piping bags and just squeeze a bit out on the plate so they can taiste cream cheese mousse with a stawberry cake and a choc. cake...I used to fill them, but I had a bunch of couples say, I wish I could have ____ filling with ____ cake. So I stoped filling them. It works well, cause Like I said you can mix and match them up...
Free tastings = 1.
Brides come to me, and on days when I'm seeing brides, I have them scheduled every 1.5 hours.
The number of free tasting cakes they get depends on how big the potential order is. When they call for an appointment, I get some basic info including how many are expected at the reception. Under 100 guests and they get 2 tasting cakes. 150-300guests they get three. Over 300 guests they get four.
Flavors for tasting cakes are limited to the following: white, almond white, strawberry, lemon, orange, chocolate, chocolate almond and chocolate raspberry. These are the only flavors I do for tastings because I can make them from ONLY TWO BATTERS. The first five all start out as white cake. The last three all start out as chocolate cake. I add flavorings and icing fruit to make the other flavors.
A tasting isa 4 inch cake, one layer torted, iced in bc--never fondant. I will give them a spoonfill of fondant and a spoonfull of fillings while they'e here.
Works for me.
Good luck, I hope everything works out for you!
Kat
I do one free tasting, 3 flavors of cake, filling, and icing. I choose the flavors (it would be to time consuming and expensive to let clients pick flavors unless I already have them made).
A second tasting, if needed, is $30 which is applied to the final balance.
I also provide 1 tasting of three flavors and they come to me! I found a great way to do them was with cupcakes. I baked one weekend, tons of cupcakes in every "basic" flavor of cake I offer. Then I froze four at a time in freezer bags! When I have a tasting, I pull the flavors out of the freezer, cut them in half and fill with assorted fillings and use my 1M tip to add the buttercream to the top! I had to find a better way to do them instead of baking cakes and cutting them...too much waste!
Cambo, i was running that through my head this morning wondering why you couldn't do cup cakes for tesing instead of th 6 inch cake. when I have left over batter Good idea 
Otherwise don't you end up throwing a lot away?
Kat
Cambo, i was running that through my head this morning wondering why you couldn't do cup cakes for tesing instead of th 6 inch cake. when I have left over batter Good idea
Otherwise don't you end up throwing a lot away?Kat
Absolutely! Whenever I have left over batter, I make cupcakes to use at tastings! They really do work perfectly!
I do miniature loafs and I put the icing and fillings in little plastic cups with plastic lids that I got from restaurant supply (like your dressing would come in from a restaurant with a to-go order). They can pick two cake flavors, two icing flavors, and two filling flavors. With them separate, they can mix and match to find what they like. I package it all together in a cute little gable box.
I also do not charge for my tastings, but I have never had anyone not book after the tasting -- though I have had several that I hoped through the entire tasting "Please don't pick me!!!!!" -- because I could just tell they were going to be bridezillas!!!!
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