So a few days ago my aunt and uncle decided to buy a dragon cake from me. I planned on making them a sculpted dragon like the ones here on cc. I quoted them 50.00$. They called me later and asked me for a cheaper cake. I quoted them 30.00$ for an 11X15. They said cheaper. I quoted them 25.00$ for a 9X13. They agreed. I made up the buttercream frosting today for the cake due on sunday. I got a phone call today from my uncle saying he would like the cake frosted with whipped frosting "like walmarts". 
So I said fine. Since I have never made whipped frosting myself, I planned on going to my local cake story and buying a tub of it (no extra charge). Then a few hours later my uncle calls me and tells me "go ahead and make the dragon cake" 
Sooo now I have to schedule out a sculpted dragon cake instead of a simple 9X13!! He is a real customer, paying and all, but if he wasn't family, should I allow all these changes two days before the cake is due??
Hell no.
Simply explain that you cannot be expected to provide a service that would take twice as long to prepare with no notice when you planned on completing a measly little 9x13. When you speak to them, don't focus on the "what the hell is wrong with you?" aspect, though that will certainly be at the front of your thoughts, simply explain it as a professional decision based on the time needed to prepare.
You probably already know the answer to your question! This is the kind of situation that causes cake decorators to become disenchanted and quit. It's difficult to treat family members just as you would any other customer, but in the long run, it's better for everyone involved. Putting your policies into writing and then sticking with them will be one of the hardest, but kindest thing you can do for yourself. Good luck..
in the other thread ..didn't you sort of want to do the dragon and had sort of decided to do it ?? what changed?
... Adding insult to injury, besides telling you to lower the price a lot further down. You're not gonna put with this again are you ? because they will keep doing this to you..
Not to sound mean - so please don't kill me- but why would you make the frosting on a Friday if the cake isn't until Sunday? In our bakery - we make the cake the day before or the day of depending on what the pick up time is. Our customers can make changes up to 24 hours prior to the pick up time. The only time this does not apply is when Gumpaste is envolved - due to drying time and things having to be made in advance.
Even when I worked at a high-end bakery in a groery store (where they actually made all there cakes and icing from scratch- I know shocking)...The decorators still didn't make anything more than 24 hours in advance.
Sorry - I just don't see it as a problem. (IMOP)
TheCakerator i would be just as mad as you are, i would have told him that i already had everything set for what he ordered and that he is really putting you in a bind changing his mind so close to the cake date and that you are already doing it for practically nothing and have bought extra out of your own pocket that you are not charging him for, they probably think by paying you they are doing you a favor when really its the other way around.
i don't know about every elses family but my family are the worst customers they never pay full amout, want more then they want to pay, and complain when i charge them full price, change there order even hours before cake is due and think i can pull what they are now asking for out of thin air, got an aunt who ordered three cakes for one day, stiffed me with the 90$ cost of the ingredents, still has not paid, and told everyone in the family that they were a gift because she took me out to lunch, so now everyone else wants a free cake i am now starting to treat family like regular customers, half up front non refundable, finalized plans three days before cake is due no changes after that date and other half paid before cake is delvered, there is on thing being nice to family and another to be taken advantage of.
big last minute changes i'd charge extra for..beyond what you first quoted them..for having to purchase more stuff and for the expense of the items all ready purchased that you are now not going to use.
IMO if you were working in a bakery it might not be a big deal because it is not coming out of your pocket but the bakery's if they change the design or make the order smaller or bigger or they want different flavors/icings.
well it was not 100% set in stone that I was going to do this dragon cake for him .. money is tight .. I recently lost my real job so I was just thinking if it wasnt going to put me way in the hole I might still do it .. but he had said only a 9X13 so I was leaning more towards that .. then all of these changes .. it is just frustrating .. I dont know about anyone else on cc but I usually make my icing a few days before my cakes are baked .. I just re-whip and it is fine .. but anyways .. I was just wondering if anyone else would let that slide, looks like the majority says no way ... so thanks for the replies 
I would say no to the change!
As for the icing...if you are using all crisco you can make it 2 weeks ahead and if you are using 50/50 or all butter you can make it 2 weeks ahead and put in fridge. If I waited until 24 hours before the cake was due 
to make the icing or the freakin' cake....I'd be doing about 5 cakes a week and I can't have that!
I have a cousin that always order my cakes. She knows to give me 3 days at least and when she calls like the day before for a naughty cake, I just say no, not enough time, or I don't have all the supplies. I don't do last minute orders anymore, family or not. I don't explain my prices, they either want the cake or not, everyone that orders from me have had my cakes, so they know what it is like and I don't bake until the night before a cake is due, but it is all planned out like that, so cakes are always fresh.
Sometimes if they balk at my prices and say they can get it at local supermarket for cheaper, doesnt bother me, I say fine, but just know I ice with a spatula, not my hands, and if by chance something falls on the floor i discard or what needs to be done, I don't just continue icing...they look at me strange and say do the cake. It is true that i observed the personnel in the bakery dept icing with ungloved hands and frozen cake fell on the floor they picked it up and kept going. grossed me out.
I pre-make my icing as well, well in advance. If and when I'm making icing I fill up my KA, and just store in refrigerator. Then pull out what I need and color it. I think making the icing is the "crap" part of cake decorating.
I'm a sucker and would probably make the dragon. But I would see if I could ice it in the "whipped frosting" he wanted. I wouldn't know what else to do with that frosting. I love BC.
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