This is an email from somebody inquiring about a cake...had to share...
Good evening,
My name is Chris, and I live in town. I'm turning 21 on this coming Sunday. I've googled just about everyone who is able to make a cake for my birthday. You work is absolutely exquisite! I want a cake that is unique for my birthday, I don't want it to look like an ordinary cake. But my only problem is, the pricing. I don't have enough money to get the kind of cake that I want. I'm having 40+ people at my party, and I was wondering, if it was possible that you could make a cake for me?? Please?? Just because. Your help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much, please reply back A.S.A.P.
Have a blessed day!
So...I better cancel all of my paid cakes for this weekend to make her one
On a side note...she "liked" a ton of my cakes on facebook and of course they are all carved, topsy turvy fondant cakes. A breeze, right?
Well I guess they say it doesn't hurt to ask, right? And of course there is a lot of entitlement going on in this day and age. I really don't know what to think about that request. Not even an offer of paying for the ingredients.
WOW!! I think this beats the one I got a few years back that was inviting 100 people to her birthday party and wanted to know if she could use her food stamps card to pay for the cake...what?
Ok so I would just not reply ASAP at all BUT, if I did it would go something like this -
Good Evening to you as well stranger who I don't owe any favors,
My name is hsmomma, and I live in the real world. I am too old to be so foolish as to want to do a free cake this Sunday. I am glad you googled everyone, did you search under "Gimme a Free Cake for my Birthday" or what? I consider my skills EXTRAordinary and so are my cakes but the problem is that cakes cost money, they don't grow on trees and I won't have any money if I work for free. I am glad you recognize that your tastes are beyond your budget. "Just because"...you must be used to disappointment. I am sorry but I require money, not appreciation because they don't take appreciation at the store, they want cash. You are welcome for this reality check and you don't have to hurry and reply back.
I am blessed, not crazy.
Dear Birthday Girl
I would love to make you a cake just because. In fact, I think you're on to something! Please also convince the grocery store to provide the ingredients, the gas & electric company to provide power, BP to donate some gas, the babysitter to watch my kids and a maid to clean the mess, just because. Plus I need a little extra donation from them all for my family, to compensate for the time I spent making your cake. If all of this works out, I can then afford to make you a cake "just because" and would be more than happy to do so. Please respond ASAP as I would love to make this happen.
I'm dying! My husband thinks I'm crazy sitting here laughing at you guys and reading your replies outloud...but this is fun. Somebody else do a reply. I need more laughs this morning.
Well I guess they say it doesn't hurt to ask, right? And of course there is a lot of entitlement going on in this day and age.
My sentiments, exactly. Everyone thinks they're special. When I teach new business owners how to start up, I always add that they need to think about a "courtesy" discount. Many of their future customers will request a discount because they are "special." It's important to be prepared for specialness.
I get crazy e-mails like this from time to time and while I would love to choke them, I think sometimes it's better not to tick off a future potential customer, plus I like maintaining a professional image. My letter would go something like this...
Dear Chris,
First of all, Happy Birthday to you! Turning 21 is your final turn into adulthood and a huge milestone in your life. Secondly, I am so glad you are such a fan of my cakes! Unfortunately, I can't gift you a cake for your birthday, but I work with clients just like you every day to make a cake that will fit into your particular budget. If you have little/no budget for a cake, perhaps you can ask your parents/friends for donations towards the cake for your birthday in lieu of gifts?
I get crazy e-mails like this from time to time and while I would love to choke them, I think sometimes it's better not to tick off a future potential customer, plus I like maintaining a professional image. My letter would go something like this...
Dear Chris,
First of all, Happy Birthday to you! Turning 21 is your final turn into adulthood and a huge milestone in your life. Secondly, I am so glad you are such a fan of my cakes! Unfortunately, I can't gift you a cake for your birthday, but I work with clients just like you every day to make a cake that will fit into your particular budget. If you have little/no budget for a cake, perhaps you can ask your parents/friends for donations towards the cake for your birthday in lieu of gifts?
Jennifer, I am totally impressed with your professionalism. Great response!!
I would respond professionally as well and suggest that she ask her close friends/family members or herself to Google "how to make a birthday cake on a budget" and let that be her springboard to a great birthday cake.
Nothing shocks me anymore. People really don't know the time, effort, energy, blood, sweat, tears, frustration, etc. that goes into making cakes. I got a kick out of that.
One last suggestion, maybe she thought she would play a Halloween joke on somebody so she asked you that to see what your response would be! LOL. Oh the humanity!
I get crazy e-mails like this from time to time and while I would love to choke them, I think sometimes it's better not to tick off a future potential customer, plus I like maintaining a professional image. My letter would go something like this...
Dear Chris,
First of all, Happy Birthday to you! Turning 21 is your final turn into adulthood and a huge milestone in your life. Secondly, I am so glad you are such a fan of my cakes! Unfortunately, I can't gift you a cake for your birthday, but I work with clients just like you every day to make a cake that will fit into your particular budget. If you have little/no budget for a cake, perhaps you can ask your parents/friends for donations towards the cake for your birthday in lieu of gifts?
LOVE this response..and very professional.. It is only fitting that if she would like a cake of that nature and can't afford it that perhaps it could be a "gift" from one or more of the 40 guests..
Well finally!!! And here I thought Mrs. "But you don't seem to understand, I want a 6 foot tall wedding cake and I DON'T want to pay for it" had beat all. Glad to hear I'm not alone!! (And she was in her 50s, not 21!)
Well I guess they say it doesn't hurt to ask, right?
Oh it would hurt alright. I would send back such a slapdown she'd feel it for a week.
All you need to say is that a cake for 40 people has a starting price of $X. The customer will either find a way to pay for the cake or they'll go somewhere else, but if you don't take them seriously you can be assured that they will go somewhere else (and will probably tell others about the lack of professionalism).
She's probably related to the bride who sent me a wonderful offer for me to "sponsor" her wedding by making a free cake for all of the "very influential people" who would be attending. I would also be able to go to the reception and give a little speech about my company, and she even sent me a flyer that described how much the advertising space in her ceremony program would cost if I wanted to also buy an ad.
I wouldn't even have answered that email. She's not a future client, she's an entitled leech. She's the one who will be calling wanting a refund for some vague imaginary reason if she ever does happen to order a cake.
Oh Lord, what a wet noodle. LAUGH for cripes sake. Of course the OP isn't going to be brutal, I wouldn't be brutal, it's in fun.
She's probably related to the bride who sent me a wonderful offer for me to "sponsor" her wedding by making a free cake for all of the "very influential people" who would be attending.
I wish I would get a customer asking to "sponsor" their wedding, I'd gladly offer them a 20% discount off a price quote 20% higher than usual.
cupadeecakes & Jason are right on IF one was to even reply.
Yes, and I think it's safe to say most people here do have the sense to know the difference between "in jest" replies in a vent thread, and what is the proper thing to say. Sometimes it's like a monitor drops in to chide the children to act professionally.
Well finally!!! And here I thought Mrs. "But you don't seem to understand, I want a 6 foot tall wedding cake and I DON'T want to pay for it" had beat all. Glad to hear I'm not alone!! (And she was in her 50s, not 21!)
Are you serious? Who would think that this made sense to ask?
I wouldn't even respond to that foolish email. I would laugh it off and keep it moving. That email doesn't deserve a reply.
Wow.....I would have to reply to that amazingly rude and entitled email!
I love that she scoured the Internet for the best person to mooch off of! And since your cakes are the best in her area she has to know that you have nothing better to do than donate several hours and dollars to this birthday princess that would probably gripe and find fault with everything you did for her even if it was free...
I have daughters in their 20s as well and they would Never think of being so bold rude and demanding!
This email is really disgusting and you might want to direct her to our replies here re her email to give her a lil reality Check! ASAP...lol
I can understand dire situations illness or tragedy that can cause a financial distress like a natural disaster! And reaching out kindly for a little help...I love to help but that email was just rude and entitled , this girl was raised with either a welfare Mentality...the world owes me...or she was a spoiled princess that is a user and a taker!
I would also love to see her letters to the club that owes her a V.IP table and bottle service only the best of course asap! and the best designer where of course she deserves a private showing to pick out her free out fit because you know you only turn 21 once...and the catering company that will provide her and her esteemed guests Caviar , Champagne etc and will of course get in touch with Lady Gaga for her to donate her time to entertain this birthday girl as well because her 21st bday is this weekend
and she deserves Only the best and in a timely manner asap!
I would pass out if even my 13 year old behaved in such a selfish manner..I am blown away!
The email doesn't come off as particularly rude, bold, or entitled to me. We occasionally get emails from customers who don't want to spend much money (I don't see where in the email she requested a free cake)...sometimes we can work with these customers to make a more basic cake within their budget, and sometimes we can't.
I get crazy e-mails like this from time to time and while I would love to choke them, I think sometimes it's better not to tick off a future potential customer, plus I like maintaining a professional image. My letter would go something like this...
Dear Chris,
First of all, Happy Birthday to you! Turning 21 is your final turn into adulthood and a huge milestone in your life. Secondly, I am so glad you are such a fan of my cakes! Unfortunately, I can't gift you a cake for your birthday, but I work with clients just like you every day to make a cake that will fit into your particular budget. If you have little/no budget for a cake, perhaps you can ask your parents/friends for donations towards the cake for your birthday in lieu of gifts?
great response- I used this tactic a few weeks ago for an anniversary cake. The client wanted a wedding cake but only had a budget of 80.00...I suggested she talk to her family and see who wanted to chip in for the anniversary couple and it worked- she was able to get enough money collected to get the cake she wanted
Jason, read the original email again. She says that she wants a super special cake, she doesn't have the money to pay for it, and would the OP make her a cake anyway "just because." That seems pretty entitled to me! There's a difference between someone asking for you to work with their budget and "make a cake for me that I can't pay for just because."
IMO that's reading a lot into the email...I prefer to defer judgment until I find out what the actual budget is. If it turns out to be $0, then I agree that the request is a little silly, but for all we know her budget could be $50, which might be enough for a small cake. Or she could get $200 as a gift from her parents to spend on the cake once she finds out how much it is.
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