Im Mad Upset And Laughing All At The Same Time!!!
Decorating By wgoat5 Updated 22 Aug 2007 , 1:25am by kjgjam22
Wanna have a good roll, or maybe laugh and be ticked off all the same time...well have a day like mine...I get called a couple hours ago from a lady who wanted me to do her brothers wedding reception cake...but this is no ordinary cake she says...they already got married and we want to have a reception here locally so our friends and family can come...not serving anything but cake and punch for them. She asks me to come by her work and to bring my portfolio (which I did), she asks me UP FRONT mind you how much I charge...I tell her minimum charge of 2.50 per serving and that isn't including any kind of fondant or chocolate work (which I just started saying this)...she doesn't say a thing just says see ya in a while...so I get there to the bank...go into their meeting room with her and show her my portfolio....and this is what I get...."Well you know, I do love all your cakes but really we JUST WANTED A SHEET CAKE" plain basic no frills ...Just maybe a couple to feed 150 people.....I say ok well JUST a SHEET cake still runs 2.50 a serving. her response "Oh really? Hmmmm...well can you do 2 for UNDER 70?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? THIS IS WHEN I DIED............ WHAT????? 2 FULL sheet cakes for under 70???????????????????????????? Ok...I get up...close my book and told her...No...I can't. Sorry, nice to meet you...and oh by the way...You knew my price why did you have me drive all the way here?????
Her answer
" Well I thought since my family and your family grew up together......(you get the picture dont ya?) You could maybe do it REALLY cheap....like for ingredients..."
My answer
"Look my Dad might have known your family when he was alive..but I lady most certainly do not...I have 3 growing children to feed...and I will not lower a already low price, Have a good day."
See...it just never ends....the humor in people really get my GOAT LMAO lol
I applaud you for your reaction to this lady!! Hooray for Christi!!
Deanna
Good for you! I do believe she asked but am still shocked that people try to take advantage of us talented bakers.
good for you for standing your ground and not even trying to negotiate with her. I am still finding that people I know expect so much from me and are shocked when I expect something in return
Hey, I hate when that happens!! The other day a lady from my kids school calls and asks if I can make her a 'simple' cake for her son's birthday, when i tell her that my base price is 2.50 p/p she goes "WHAT?????. I thought it was gong to be around 25 bucks max", so I asked her how many people did she invite and she says that there are only 85 people coming...
I said I'm sorry, maybe you should go to Costco, but i will not work for less than 2.50 per slice.
Oh well, I guess these people are everywhere!! 
I can't believe her! And I give you a standing ovation! for what you did! 
Not many of us (at least from what I've read) would've had the balls to stand up slap that book shut and stand up to her like that 
Good girl!!!! You owe yourself a huge pat on the back! Let her go to walmart or wherever and get her two sheet cakes for under $70.~ it'll taste and look like what it is
After having a couple of experiences like this, I changed the way I do things. If someone calls me to inquire about my cakes, I email them a PowerPoint presentation that has photos of my cakes and the pricing information. I check back with them in a couple of days if I don't hear from them. This saves me...and them...a lot of time and gas. If they still want to talk with me about their cake, I make an appt. to meet in person. It's been working so far!
Hey maybe they are sisters....and EVEN Wal-Mart 1/4 sheet cakes are almost 24.00 so ....go figure...they can have it..
Im tired of spending my time...precious as it is to me and my children on UNGRATEFUL people.....I wrote this ladies name down...I also wrote down next to it ....CHEAPSKATE don't do cakes for...she probably would of found something wrong with it and wanted her money back!
Hey maybe they are sisters....and EVEN Wal-Mart 1/4 sheet cakes are almost 24.00 so ....go figure...they can have it..
Im tired of spending my time...precious as it is to me and my children on UNGRATEFUL people.....I wrote this ladies name down...I also wrote down next to it ....CHEAPSKATE don't do cakes for...she probably would of found something wrong with it and wanted her money back!
If your families grew up together she should be more than happy to pay your price and help support what you do!
Well ask me why am I not surprised...because I get people like this all the time! Even the ones who don't know you from paint still try to get something for nothing. It really baffles me. I had a lady last week tell me that she thought since I was just starting out that it would be cheaper to get her wedding cake from me. But that my prices are about the same as others in the area. Well, I'm thinking, the nerve of her. Just because I'm new at it doesn't mean that my cakes aren't good and that it won't take me just as long as anybody else to make the cake look like she wants it! And just because I'm new doesn't mean that my cakes are worse than other people's or something. My response to her "Being that I started out as a wedding planner before I started making cakes, I've thoroughly researched the wedding cake prices in the area and..." then I went on to tell her who charges what, etc. People will try anything to get over on you. Good for you for standing up to her! I hope I learn to do the same all the time.
Humm.. pulling at the family ties eh?
Well, she works at a bank! Maybe because she's Billy Bob's cousin twice removed on her father's side she can get you a two-fer on $20 bills!
Hey.. would it hurt to ask?? I mean.. she's related, right?!?
Oh I forgot she did say this...
"I called my mom and told her the price per serving...she said she could do it" <----why didn't she just let mommy do it then????????????? Geesh....I think I am fuming....WHO cares...even if I did know this lady...who SAYS she is a friend of the family...I would still charge her the same..it's my time, my expenses and MY family has to eat....I am going to take some advice though....I know this is what I am going to run into...I knew it before I started advertising....that these people are NOT going to be like my regulars and there will be some major jerks...so I have to learn how to keep my cool and just deal with them...walk away...I will not sell myself short...I will not give my time away...
I had a guy at work order a cheesecake for a family party. I charge $25. Now, I should have known better. I didn't get my money up front! He didn't have any change, and neither did I. The Monday after the party he claimed that the cheesecake was full of hair and that he couldn't serve it. I'm like WHAT!? No way. He didn't bring it back, nor did he pay me.
We all know what happened, and I no longer do business with him....burn me once, as the saying goes! Believe me...I feel your pain!
I think you handled this very professionally. I'm not sure I could have kept my cool. I am on full time disability so I am home most of the time. I think people expect me to do cakes for nothing because "I have so much time on my hands." 
I belong to several volunteer organizations and I have 6 grandkids that I babysit. How much time do you reckon I have on my hands?????
Once you cut someone a deal on a cake they expect it every time. Then they tell their friends or family that you gave them a deal and they expect it also. There is no drawing the line, I have discovered.
Diane
People are to funny. My hubby manages a restaurant, the owner lives nearby and his family is well known in area. People come in all the time and drop his name looking for a deal or special service. It is sooooo annoying.
The best was this family asked if the owner was in, asked for him by name, the server is like, yah he is hold on. Went and got him, and he had NO CLUE who the people were. They were so embarrased, it was hilarious. It was obvious they just knew the name and were looking for something out of it.
I give you kudo's Christi as well! If you had done what they wanted, it could of reflected on what your talents are. You are way to talented for $70.00 sheet cakes. Great business decision my dear!
wgoat5
Hmm, my first thought was, what are you doing going to her work and giving away your time and giving away your gas to boot????????? Now I don't want to give you grief on an already bad situation, but want to know if you are trolling for customers like so many other professions are doing these days, because if you are the rest of my information will not matter.
I prefer to operate like the wedding dress designer or florist, they must have an appointment and they must come to me.
Time is money. Determine the cost of a consultation. Have them meet you in your shop and tell them, There is a $?? fee for this meeting. The fee includes a one hour consultation and a sample cake in the flavor of your choice. (If you don't need a sample cake, the fee is only $??) The consultation fee is non-refundable but will be deducted from your cake cost when you place your order. You can have a low consultation fee, but when people think your time is for "free" they look for discounted prices also.
This will help keep away the tire kickers and window shoppers and let people know you are a professional and that they better be serious when booking the appointment!
I don't know whether to be
or 
on your behalf.What a bl**dy cheek!
So on this I was like what the heck word did they bleep out!!??? Then I noticed where you are from! Its that multi cultural thing--gets me every time!
I've got a guy I work with that regularly tells me he wouldn't pay for one of my cakes which I think is fair and fine but why he tells me several times a week is beyond me...he says that they make wonderful cakes at Dairy Queen for $25 or something similar..(I usually zone out when I start getting the speech)
I think if you are on a budget then fine, but they come looking for the designer type cakes with a very small budget...
this is true ....When she first contacted me Tiptop there was already a bad clue...the wedding reception was for labor day weekend....that Sunday..I should of knew better then....I know now that there will be no more going and meeting with them because it is convienient for THEM....it has to be on MY time at their cost....I understand exactly what you are saying...Completely!!!
Quote by @%username% on %date%
%body%