Wedding cake stenciling drama!!!
I have a client that wants me to stencil her cake because she doesn't want to pay for the damask sugar sheets. So I bought a stencil and now she wants to almost recreate the stencil by using portions here and there. I did a trial run and it's a lot more work than I thought. I told her in the beginning that if she wants the entire cake covered there would be an extra fee. Well now she's truly given me a migraine about this darn stencil and doesn't Want to pay extra because of how she wants to rearrrange the design of the stencil. Am i being unrealistic to charge her extra for all the hand work.Her wedding is 10 days away what do I do without being a you know what to her.!!!
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Sandra I. Vazquez Lossiseroni on
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Hi... I saw your post, and thought that you are running into an interesting situation. I was not able to offer you any suggestions, so I stayed behind. But apparently, no one does. So, I am very interested what was your final arrangement with this lady.
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Permalink Reply by tracey lopez on
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Tell her no. Shes obviously is not sure what she wants other than trying to get out of paying. Give her 2 options; #1 being the sugar sheets. #2 pay the extra charge for the other design. Because its this close you dont refund deposit because you have already had to buy supplies. It's just my opinion.
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Permalink Reply by Kathy Kmonk on
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I agree with Tracey.
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Permalink Reply by Laney Cowan on
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It's simple...she is only limited by her imagination & her budget. I would tell her the following: "I know that you really have a specific design & overall look for your cake. I want it to be the cake of your dreams. Please understand that this particular technique & design will take a great deal of time and effort. I am doing my best to be reasonable and I need you to understand the fee associated with this kind of labor intensive design. If this design is not within your budget, I can offer a few other suggestions."
I will never forget the Bridezilla who nickled and dimed me over a cake out of Martha Stewart. It was covered with small flowers. She about fell over when I gave her the quote. We went back and forth about 100 times with other versions. Finally I said to her, Brittany, i don't mean to be ugly but I have spent over 12 hours trying to help you create something within your budget. That's equal to 11 extra consultations which are billed at $30 an hour. I'm doing my best to accomodate you but I need you to either raise your budget or lower your expectations. It finally sunk in her thick skull. She didn't like me at that moment, but she paid & she loved the cake, & she sent many referrals.
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Wow, I will read your message Ms. Laney, over and over again, well said and great results.
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Permalink Reply by Jessicam on
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Perfect! I agree totally.
May I borrow these lines Laney if (when) I come across a difficult person?
Laney Cowan said:It's simple...she is only limited by her imagination & her budget. I would tell her the following: "I know that you really have a specific design & overall look for your cake. I want it to be the cake of your dreams. Please understand that this particular technique & design will take a great deal of time and effort. I am doing my best to be reasonable and I need you to understand the fee associated with this kind of labor intensive design. If this design is not within your budget, I can offer a few other suggestions."
I will never forget the Bridezilla who nickled and dimed me over a cake out of Martha Stewart. It was covered with small flowers. She about fell over when I gave her the quote. We went back and forth about 100 times with other versions. Finally I said to her, Brittany, i don't mean to be ugly but I have spent over 12 hours trying to help you create something within your budget. That's equal to 11 extra consultations which are billed at $30 an hour. I'm doing my best to accomodate you but I need you to either raise your budget or lower your expectations. It finally sunk in her thick skull. She didn't like me at that moment, but she paid & she loved the cake, & she sent many referrals.
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Thank you, Sandra! Jessicam, you are welcome to borrow it in part or in whole! Sometimes, I wish I could sit on my shoulder and remind myself what to do or say. It's hard to think in the moment because there really is a great deal of emotion involved with Cake.
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Permalink Reply by Charmessa Thompson on
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Thanks ladies for all your help. The bride was extremely high maintenance and She decided to pay the extra money for "customized stencil work, Phew what a chore!
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Permalink Reply by Katy Nott on
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I've said it before, and I'll say it again - people that don't make cakes don't understand the time, effort and cost that goes into making them. I didn't post on your original discussion because I am not a professional and don't charge for my cakes - just family and friends and they are gifts. I have been asked by guests at a party if I can make the same cake for their child, mother, whatever and they have just about fallen over when I've told them how much - they don't understand that I'm not Tesco's and my cakes will actually be edible as well as good to look at. But anyway, I am glad things worked out your way and that you stood your ground.
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Permalink Reply by June Kowalczyk on
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What is Tesco's Katy. Is it like a "big box" store, or large grocery chain??? Iam assuming so. It is like Costco here. Big cakes, pre-frozen, tastes like gobs of shortening...yuk!!! Yes, unless someone has witnessed the "process", they have NO idea the time the effort...AND the angst.
I'm glad it worked out for you too Charmessa.
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lol June - you got it. Tesco is a huge supermarket chain in the UK. Like any of the other supermarkets, Waitrose, Sainsbury, Asda they do cakes that are pretty cheap, but massed produced with preservatives and artificial tasting buttercream. OK if you have no idea what a real cake should taste like!
June Kowalczyk said:What is Tesco's Katy. Is it like a "big box" store, or large grocery chain??? Iam assuming so. It is like Costco here. Big cakes, pre-frozen, tastes like gobs of shortening...yuk!!! Yes, unless someone has witnessed the "process", they have NO idea the time the effort...AND the angst.
I'm glad it worked out for you too Charmessa.
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Ya
You got that right Katy. I have always been a baker, and from scratch cause that was the cheaper & better way to go. Started baking with my Mom when I was like 11?? My Mom always made her cakes from scratch. Scratch cakes have a different crumb. More dense. I have doctored cake mixes, but I finding lately the price is getting higher & higher. And by the time I add my extra ingredients, It is easier to start just from scratch.
If I was in business, for tasting, I would have a slice of "crap" cake & my cake & have client taste both. Be easy which one would win.
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