Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Help me respond to this message!

247 replies

Froznheart · 08/06/2017 13:22

I've name changed for this as it will out me.

I'm a cake maker by trade, I'm fairly successful but recently did a cake that was extremely popular in my area and was shared lots of times which meant mynpage has become really popular.

I've just had a message from someone asking for a quote on that particular cake. I went on to their profile to check what area they were from and it clearly says on the profile that she is a professional cake maker with her own cake business - so basically a rival of mine.

I responded to the message and said what date did she need the cake for as I'm virtually fully booked over the next couple of months and she replied saying "I'm not fussed about the date, I will fit around you can you just provide me with a price please" I replied with "I will check the diary when I get home and let you know when I'm free" and she replied saying "ok but can you give me a price now?"

How do I respond to this? Part of me wants to say fuck off you just want to pinch my ideas and pricing but I know that it's not professional 😂

So mumsnetters - what would you say? And AIBU to tell her to bugger off Grin

OP posts:
SweetLuck · 09/06/2017 17:38

If she were being straight with you, it makes no sense that she said it didn't matter about when you could make it for.

samalamaloo · 09/06/2017 17:45

I've spent 15 mins reading this thread - I'm now hangry - where's the nearest McDonalds?

leghoul · 09/06/2017 17:49

I would just tell her the price

mikeyssister · 09/06/2017 18:03

The thread about the chester Zoo tickets wasn't real?????????????

lizzyj4 · 09/06/2017 18:03

Just be direct and say you're not sure why she needs a price when she makes her own cakes (or ignore her if that's easier). It's common practice to shop from your rivals (or at least to ask for quotes and check out their marketing).

I'd see it as quite flattering, it means people are noticing your work. The more popular your business gets, the more it will happen. Having worked in a very competitive industry for a long time, I feel I should say, it can get a lot worse (fake negative reviews, complaints to professional bodies/trade organisations, etc.). She seems fairly harmless, as she's been quite open about who she is, but just something to keep an eye on.

exaltedwombat · 09/06/2017 18:03

It's perfectly normal commercial practice to price-check your competitors. What's all the fuss about?

pollymere · 09/06/2017 18:07

Ask for usual plus 10%. If it's genuine she might negotiate, if not her price will be more than yours!

NoPressureNoDiamonds · 09/06/2017 18:09

Quote her £5k

ToffeeCake1 · 09/06/2017 18:17

If it's for a birthday howcome she originally said to fit her in when you're free? How long do they celebrate birthdays for?

Madwoman5 · 09/06/2017 18:22

Sometimes overflow business can be good. I don't want to make it sounds like she is wanting the order but it is too hard for her to do. Give her a price plus 10% and payment in advance.

Mumofyoungteenagers · 09/06/2017 18:23

Does she's have a webpage? Go on there if she does and see if she's advertising your cake? Otherwise state I can't give you a quote without a date as if you need a cake that's urgent and complicated I charge different because I might have to work late into the night to complete whereas if I have plenty of time I will only charge standard hourly rate or something along those lines (not sure if that works in the cake industry?)

Waltermittythesequel · 09/06/2017 18:42

I'd reply now and say "sorry, I'm just too busy to fit her in at the moment. Good luck finding someone."

Yogimummy123 · 09/06/2017 19:10

She might be wanting to deconstruct the cake to copy the design.

Fiddlefaddle2303 · 09/06/2017 19:13

Are you sure it's not someone from McDonalds coming after you for infringement of copyright? ........Wink

Fiddlefaddle2303 · 09/06/2017 19:16

Sorry that should be trademark....

newnoo · 09/06/2017 19:18

This reply has been withdrawn

The OP has privacy concerns and so we've agreed to take this down.

PersianCatLady · 09/06/2017 19:43

OP - I haven't RTFT yet but I don't know why you don't register the cake design, just like a songwriter would copyright their lyrics.

www.gov.uk/intellectual-property-an-overview
www.gov.uk/register-a-design
www.gov.uk/apply-register-design

There are a range of services but it is £50 for one design and £70 for up to 10 designs.

You can register the look of a product you’ve designed to stop people copying or stealing it.

Once you have registered your cake design you could then say to people like this woman and on your advertising materials that your cake design is registered and you will take legal action against anybody who uses your design without your permission.

StillGotCake · 09/06/2017 19:57

Probably wants to buy one to copy it. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery after all.

Stick £30 on your usual price and buy yourself a bottle of wine.

PersianCatLady · 09/06/2017 19:57

Forgot to add -
I recently studied a unit called Intellectual Property And Security Issues as part of my Computing & IT degree and we spent ages learning about copyrights, patents, trademarks and designs.

The whole way through the unit I kept thinking that I would never need to use this information and now I am so glad that it has come in handy here.

stuntcamel · 09/06/2017 20:16

What PersianCatLady says.

jenm87 · 09/06/2017 20:16

make sure you have a watermark over your pics and i would have said im really sorry i dont have the time to pass over my details right now but as your in the same business im sure you can make your own prices or just give her a random price lol

Papafran · 09/06/2017 21:07

Crikey. If she is a professional cake maker, she will know how to price cakes and have a good idea of cost of ingredients, time, profit etc. What would be in it for her to just find out the price of one cake? The massive overreaction to this seems ridiculous. If you are a good cake maker and charge fair prices, you will get business regardless of whether someone undercuts you on a chicken nugget cake.

It's stupid to waste the opportunity to forge business contacts. Yes, it may be a bitchy business, but all businesses are competitive and networking and good business relationships are actually an advantage, not a threat.

SweetLuck · 09/06/2017 21:24

Thing is, you're not going to start taking legal action against people who copy your cakes, are you? So stop getting so get up about it!

MiddleClassProblem · 09/06/2017 21:44

Can you make a frozen cake? Or Disney cakes a bit like princess dresses?

MrsR31 · 09/06/2017 21:49

OP, I have made cakes for a number of years, a few years as a business (until ds came along and I didn't have the time with 2 dc and a day job). I find the whole enquiry a bit suspicious. I have on many occasion recommended other cake makers when I was fully booked, but I would not go contacting them on behalf of a customer for pricing etc. The lack of date and working around you also suggests that it's not a geniuine enquiry. I also never have set prices as the overall price depends on the customers individual requirements/flavours and cost of the ingredients at that particular time (as they can fluctuate). I would just advise her that you do not have a set price, you provide an individual quotation based on needs/cost of ingredients and availability.