What Have I Done....very Long...sorry Needed To Vent!!
Decorating By torki Updated 29 Jan 2007 , 7:40pm by CakesUnleashed
I made some mini xmas cakes & gave them as gifts. My DD's boss wanted to order 6 xmas cakes and a new Years cake for 40-50ppl, with only a couple of days to make each order I said no..Well she begged & I eventually back down 
I've never charged so I had to come up with a price 
I told her $60 for the 6 sml and $60 for the N/Yr cake, I was hoping this was too expensive..but she agreed & even said that it was too cheap 
I somehow managed to get the 6 xmas cakes done. My DD took them to work & came home with $30 & a msg that she would pay the rest when she got the other cake!?! Well I worked my butt off & got the N/Yr cake done again DD took it to work and only came home with $30 So I paid this lady a visit & requested the rest of the $$, she looked at me blankly & said she thought it was $60 all together, my DD even tried to get the extra $$$.... but it wasn't going to happen 
Lesson learned. Well...my DD came home from work on Sat night 20/1 with note & $50 from her boss....note said "caramel mud cake for 50-60ppl, a b'day msg and will be away for a few days so can my DD take to work on 24/1"!!! 
. I have no ph number and can't contact her...DD suggested I don't do it and keep the $$ for the rest of the payment from other cakes!!.... 
I cant do that... can I ?? well DD delivered the cake to work this morning...I have to admit...it was made through gritted teeth and not a lot of love...which you can tell by looking at the cake (in my album). I think next time i will tell her to shove her order in her cake hole 
I fell much better with that off my chest...thanks for listening 
It was her daugther but I agree! : )
I would be forever booked from now on.
Stories like this always amaze me. I don't know how some people live with their conscience. Guess not everybody has one.
WOW!!! 
IMO you are too nice!!! I would not have done that $50 cake!!! Just tell your dd that she is not to handle the money anymore, that her boss must contact & pay you in advance & keep dd out of it...that way, you can always be booked!! Yikes
Oh my, I would have done the same thing, but it does burn your bottom doesn't it. I would have to ask my DD to politely refuse and have them make contact with you directly. Tell her not to take any cash or orders - if they insist (I have a feeling they would) you could become very busy that weekend. The nerve of some people, how did they know you weren't previously obligated... arghh
I feel for you, and for a rushed job the cake does not reflect that at all. It is better than one of my slow jobs. 
Take care,
I'm always amazed to hear how nervey some people can be. (You may not have made the cake with much "love"--but the photo looked great to me!)
My daughter just called me from work and guess what.... yep her boss wants another cake, the same size as the New Years cake, banana or carrot flavour with some flowers on it for the 2nd Feb and something similar for 20th March.... oh and she will pay me $30 for each I told my DD to let her know I will come in and talk to her so I can tell her (very politely)I wont be able to make her cakes....
How rude is this woman.....and I thought she was nice!!
Just in case, have a couple of contracts made up for these two cakes; be sure to charge way more than $30 (think of it as aggrevation pay). If she really wants them, she will have to pay and pay dearly. Your New Year's cake is gorgeous and worth more than $30 - you put alot of work into that cake, and should be compensated!
Okay, I think I have finally found someone who, like me....GIVES her cakes away!!
IMO your cakes are worth MUCH MORE than you are being paid unless they are like....mini cakes? LOLL
I would be booked FOREVER for this lady. I know, that's not nice...but, sometimes we just don't feel nice do we?
Beth in KY
don't feel bad...we all get these types of clients once in a while. I have one client that takes FOREVER to pay me, but because she's a client in my fulltime job, I don't feel free to demand payment. I got myself into this rut. BUT, she's great for word of mouth and she does give me tons of business.
I think that she has some nerve to not pay you what she owes from the first cakes and the to expect you to do more cakes for what she wants to pay!!
I think you should definitely go talk to her in person, explain to her why you can't do the cakes for that price and if she still wants you to do them, More money needs to change hands. She has a lot of nerve! There's no way she would get away with that in a shop.
Good Luck, keep us posted.
Jenn
I would tell her politely that you have already gone over the fact that she misunderstood you (whatever) about the holiday cakes and that your going rate is $60--no exceptions. Also, flavors other than the standard white or chocolate come with an additional charge. Tell her you also need to have a signed contract and up front payment. Then she cannot misunderstand you again. I would also suddenly raise my prices for her and make it worth your while, not to mention tell her that your daughter is not your secretary and to book your services she needs to speak directly with you. Don't let her intimidate you. If she thinks she can walk all over you--and it seems she's trying--you will have to put up with her antics for a very long time. I had a customer like this that I put in her place very politely, but firmly laying down MY rules. She acts like she is my best friend now 
but she asks very sweetly if I'm available and always comes with cash in hand. 
Well I visited my daughter's boss at work.......I let her tell me what she wanted and what she would pay....that done I launched into my speech... very firmly and making sure she didn't interrupt... I told her that I was really busy but because she was a great customer I could probably fit her cakes in (she is my only real customer), however for the size she is requesting (40-50 ppl) would cost her a min. of $80, but flowers and decorations would be an extra charge and she would need to give me a min. 50%deposit upon ordering and that she would have to phone me directly for pricing. The whole time I giving her my speech my DD & her work mates are behind her giving me the . All I got from this woman was a "oh.. I see!!" i gave her my phone number and told her to give me call when she decided what she wanted and left it at that!! (other than the little happy dance I did outside ....wow that felt good thanks for all of the advise!!! I will let you know if I hear from her!!
Im not sure if you guys noticed but my pricing is in Aus. $$$ not US....prob makes it even worse 
($30 Aus. = aprox $24 US)
Good for you!! You are way too talented to let get so little for your hard work. I think she just thought she could take advantage because she is our dauhter's boss. I think it was a good decision for you to go and talk to her so she can quit using your daughter as a go between.
Don't back down. And overcharge the heck out of her to make up for the money she still owes you!!!
Cindy
Good for YOU!!! Now, knock her socks off with an awesome cake....then....RAISE YOUR PRICES!! If she complains you can always tell her that you haven't heard any complaints from your other customers! LOLL Well....you haven't...have you?
Good Job!
Beth in KY
J be sure to charge way more than $30 (think of it as aggrevation pay). If she really wants them, she will have to pay and pay dearly.
Good for you! What size cakes were these she was gonna pay you $30 for? I can't remember if you said. : )
So Proud of You!!! Don't know if I could be that cool and collected, but you did yourself and your daughter proud! Now let's see if she really wants some good cakes, or just looking for a cheap way out. Please let us know if she ever contacts you!
deb
Trudi
What size were the original christmas cakes? The 6 cakes you did for her?
I can't believe people can be sooo rude.
Nati
PS: At least you may now be rid of her. That birthday cake you got $50 for was an absolute bargain, i wouldnt do anything close to that for under $150!!! hehehe
Nati
The cakes are white choc and coconut rum mud cakes with white choc MMF fondant, about 5inches round and 3 inches high...
She has called me twice and asked me if I can lower my price... as she says "we are friends" lmao. last time I checked...she wasn't on my "friends" list 
I think this is awful! Don't let her take advantage of you. Via word of mouth advertising, you could end up having to honor those prices to others. It can be a big snowball of mess. You were great to go in and talk to her.... She is not your friend.... Tell her your business is business and not about friendship. That you have to separate the two even for other friends. Tell her it started off with a misundersanding on pricing and that you tried to help her out over the holidays but cannot continue at those prices. Tell her she already received discounts on the other cakes.... Keep us posted! What a horrible manipulator!!!!!!
I agree with Jopalis.And shes using that misunderstanding to manipulate you and probably thinks that because your DD works for her that automatically makes you friends.The nerve!!! I saw your cake, and love or not love involved(I dont blame you for that 
) it was awesome and more expensive (LOVE the tag and the hand writing ) Very well done of you to protect your bussiness from people like that!Good luck and let us Know what happen.
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