I did a bay shower cake for a co-worker of my sisters and i delivered it to her and she looked at it kind of funny and asked if it was supposed to serve over 100? I only charged her $45 for it cuz my sis said they were short on money and they really wanted it. when i get there and look around, they went all out and had catering, table clothes and chair covers on all chairs and tables, and fresh flower on every table. Whats that about? And then they acted like the cake was too small. My sis attended this baby shower and told me they were confused about how much cake this would actually serve and in the end, they had over 100 guest and cut wedding size slices( like i told them to) and they had the Whole bottom cake left over. And to top it off i even threw in 100 pan de polvo cookies free(since they didn't have enough money) and promised to refer me. No thanks. I told my sis to not do me any favors and get me any more orders from thier family.
Thanks. Did you think $45 was too much. I called around to my local bakeris and they would have charged around $200 for this.
OMG!! $45?? That's it?? How nice of you! Really, next time, charge waaaaay more, I understand you were doing this as a favor and so sorry to hear what happened to you! Do you think you covered your expenses with the $45 they gave you? Next time at least $160!!! I always multiply my cost by 4, and by cost I mean down to a small % of your electric bill, soap, paper towels, and so on!
Your cake is absolutely beautiful!!
I agree beautiful cake!!! Well done! Personally I would've had a price tag on that sucker for about $185.~ to $225.~ 
I'm sorry, but I am SO sick of cutting people amazing deals on cakes because 'money is just so tight' they just 'don't know how they can afford it all', etc. then you get there and they have diamond encrusted water fountains spewing out Crystale Champagne into cut crystal wine goblets sorrounded in rubies and emeralds. Ok, SLIGHT exaggeration there, but I know exactly how you feel. Unless you are rich (or the person paying for it is) you don't have a baby shower that's as fancy as a wedding. She should have paid you better and forgotten the slip covered chairs! It just burns me. I don't blame you for not wanting any more 'mercy' jobs on their behalf. I don't mean to sound cranky (PMS? Ya think? Hahaha!) I am just sad that the cake maker is always the one to 'take it in the shorts'. Good luck getting Sam's club to discount your cake because money is so tight. 
Oh, sorry, I got so crabby I forgot to tell you that your cake is SOOOO darling! Bless your warm little heart for putting so much into it!
First, your cake is absolutely beautiful.
Second, anybody who got that cake for $45.00 STOLE it.
I just don't get some people. They think just because they want it and can't afford it that you should give them the cake or least give it to them for next to nothing.
I want to drive a Mercedes but that doesn't mean because I can't afford it the dealership will give it to me for half price 
Your cake is soooooooooo cute. I am so sorry this hapened to you. $45.00 is a steal for this cake.
Melvira - You crack me up 
Your cake is absolutely gorgeous! Sorry for your problems, though. I am the QUEEN of not charging enough for my cakes so let me just say.....YOU DIDN"T CHARGE ENOUGH FOR YOUR CAKE!! LOLL I guess I'd tell my sister not to help me anymore as well! LOL
Your cake is darling! I paid someone to make a cake for my 1st's baptism and it was a 1/4 sheet cake with little decor and basic writing--nothing fancy and it costs me $35. It was very nice and from an out of home baker and friend. It was pretty but nothing like yours.
Yep, they STOLE it from you, fer sure. A playgroup lady told me she loved my cookies I baked once for the group(NFSC, fondant, with royal icing accents)and she said she would love to order some from me, but she would not be able to afford a lot, how would $6/dozen sound? Oh she also threw it in my face that since I was new to all this. I told her to call me and we'd chat further. I wanted to think of an excuse since I was blinded by her big ol' huge COACH purse and the shine from her Lexus!!!!!
I am sorry that you got jipped. With your talent, you will have no problem finding enough cakes to do!
I'm like Melvira - only I hate hearing "I can't afford it" about everything, not just cakes.
People say that because they can use it as a way to get a lower price. I work in the healthcare industry and the number of patients that play the sob story card is ridiculous! Yes, there are MANY people out there that can't afford decent healthcare. But those aren't usually the ones whining about the cost! It's the well-coiffed, perfect-manicured, Cadillac-driving, designer dress and diamond wearing people that have the nerve to say "I can't afford it"!!!!!!!!!!!
It's all about priorities and there are too many people in this world with messed up priorities. 
OMG! That cake is beautiful. what size pans did u use.
Your cake is SOOOOO beautiful.
I think you should have charged them an extra fee for being rude and ungrateful! Some people demand a pitty fee after they give you a long sad story. Then when you cave in and make them a cake, they are ungreatful and rude. I just don't get them.
I think you could have easily gotten 200 for your cake. I love it. Great job!!
I'm like Melvira - only I hate hearing "I can't afford it" about everything, not just cakes.
People say that because they can use it as a way to get a lower price. I work in the healthcare industry and the number of patients that play the sob story card is ridiculous! Yes, there are MANY people out there that can't afford decent healthcare. But those aren't usually the ones whining about the cost! It's the well-coiffed, perfect-manicured, Cadillac-driving, designer dress and diamond wearing people that have the nerve to say "I can't afford it"!!!!!!!!!!!
It's all about priorities and there are too many people in this world with messed up priorities.
I have to post this story. A friend of mine was marrying for the second time. Let me just say....this guy has MEGA BUCKS!!! The lady he was marrying kept "poor mouthing" to everyone and even got the "cake lady" (not me) to do the cake for $200.00!! White cake (many tiers) with real red roses draped along the side. The cake lady told my florist friend that she felt sorry for them and wanted to help! When my friend told her that he was a millionaire....well....she wasn't happy!! Some people have TONS O NERVE!!
Thanks for all the support. I think i learned my lesson. I am planning on opening my buisness in febuary so it won't be as easy for someone to take advantage.
You cake is adorable. They got an amazing deal, and I agree with HellieOh---the rich are rich because they are cheap. 
Angie
"Thanks for all the support. I think i learned my lesson. I am planning on opening my buisness in febuary so it won't be as easy for someone to take advantage."
I don't understand this. Just because you work out of your home right now, doesn't mean you aren't a professional and lo and behold when you open a store you become professional. Your ability and talent in cake artistry is what makes you professional. And the cake you made for this shower is a ringing endorsement of just how much of a professional you are! Store bakeries don't give people discounts for sob stories and home decorators shouldn't either. We do these kinds of things to ourselves. However, I think if we approach all this with a professional manner and attitude than we will be treated as professionals.
That cake is adorable!! I'd l ike to know what size pans you used too! Precious! Definitely - last free "charity" cake! If you CAN'T afford a nice cake... get something in your budget that you CAN afford..... it doens't have to be from the grocery store but tell the cake decorator what your budget is and let the cake decorator choose what kind of cake he/she can make for that!
Maybe if we thought about cake more as art... if you can't afford a beautiful piece of glass or a painting, etc. - you just don't get it. You don't go up to the poor starving artist and say "wow I'd love this but I just can't afford something like this right now - can you lower the price?" - it's not like we don't have bills to pay, mouths to feed, etc...... people are just too greedy and too into that "I deserve everything" and the "world revolves around me". Those kids on the "Sweet 16" MTV show make me sick sometimes with their "I should get everything and everyone should bow down to me and be so gracious that I LET them wait on me hand and foot" attitude. GET A REALITY CHECK! I just don't think you should ever let people walk all over you.
Hmm sorry to be writing so much on this - it hasn't truly happened to me yet, but it burns me that it has happened to so many people here. Maybe when brides or people come to us w/ an event and say they "can't afford a luxury cake" we should ask to see their budget and tell them we'll HELP them find the money for it! Chair covers? Good grief! For a baby shower? Unless those were donated or she already had them I think she could definitely have skipped those and added a little more money to the cake. Okay I'm done now!
First the obvious: your cake is fabulous!!! I dont' do fondant but I have a great appreciation for those who have the talent to work with it! This is one of the cutest shower cakes I have ever seen! My price, using all BC for 100+ people, would have been $225-250, so I'm adding my two cents in that they got a heck of a deal!
You could always return the favor to your sister by getting her a Christmas present at The Dollar Store, with an explanation of "I would have spent more on you but the shower cake loss ate into my Christmas fund!" hahahahaha!
Looking forward to hearing more about your big launch in February! 
I've finally learned about mercy cakes....I just talked to a bride who said money was tight, so I told her I could work with her...since I am a stay-at-home-mom and overhead wasn't as high as the other decorators..the wedding was for 200 guest, so I thought, "I'd rather get some money, then no money, so lets make a deal" I asked her what her budget for wedding cake was, she said $225.00 for 200 guest. well, it doesn't take a degree in rocket science to figure out the profit on that order..I just politley said, walmart may have a deal like that for you. thanks any way.
or another bride that swaked about the price...even though I am ALOT cheaper then the famous decorators in the area, just as good, and offer lots of free things like sit up and delivery. I knocked $100.00 of the price to get the job. but the whole time was thinking that "wow" we are sitting in your $450,000.00 house. whatever.
I did take the job, because like I said...some money is better than no money. haha
sorry for taking over your post.
let me say that your cake is absultuly adorable and worth so much more then you were guilted into charging.
but, what if someone at that event saw your cake and want to hire you for their event? you never know. you just have to think positive!!
good luck!
melody
melodycakes, your story reminded me of the bride who called for food catering. She had a set budget. I asked her how many people she was planning and when she gave me the figure, it came to just barely over two dollars a person! For FOOD!!!!!! I told her "Honey, you can't get a Happy Meal for that...." and told her I couldnt' do it for the budget she had. thanks for calling.
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