Baking in Ambitions?

[keenveneracion]

I don't know if any of you guys have asked this question too. I mean, I've seen this tip that you should check the newspaper for baking prices if you want to hold a bake sale. Can someone please explain this to me? I really don't get it if there is or isn't. Plus, can a "baker" be self-employed? They also have this baking outfit in CAS.

[Pam]

Welcome to the Forum, keenveneracion!

The only thing I know of regarding baking in Ambitions is that children can bake more things with the toy oven, then they can sell them at a bake stand (similar to a lemonade stand).  The stand is portable and has to be loaded with baked goods from the child's inventory.  The child tends the table and collects the money if any Sims come by and buy cookies, brownies, etc.  I'm not sure if this is the same thing you're asking about.  I don't know that the newspaper is connected to what the children can do.

[Jonna]

Checking the newspaper for the baking forecast is indeed part of the child's bake stand.  Kids can bake a few more goods now, in different flavors (vanilla, chocolate, and so on).  Every day the popularity of each flavor can go up or down, which a child may check in the newspaper, and then raise or lower the price of certain flavors of goods to maximize profit.

[Saltypaws]

My toddler finally used his oven and table.  It was adorable,  I believe you can load the table up and take it to the park, I have not tried it yet, but I think that someone said that.  Will try here shortly.

[Leto85]

That is so cool! Too bad they can't use it anymore once they grow up.

[AriaGirl77]

I do know that if you set it up in front of your house then random townies will come and buy stuff.  But be sure to pick it up when you're not using it, otherwise you'll have a bunch of random people in your front yard with nothing to do.

[jmz95]

I do know that if you set it up in front of your house then random townies will come and buy stuff.  But be sure to pick it up when you're not using it, otherwise you'll have a bunch of random people in your front yard with nothing to do.

Haha that would be funny, but it would provide a great opportunity to meet some people for a sim needed friends for the Super Popular LTW or someone searching for a soul mate.

[Saltypaws]

Had my little girl take the table to the park.  A lot more fun than in front of the house.  It was really cute.  She read the paper and found out what was selling and made it, so she sold quite a bit.

[Saltypaws]

Here she is at the park.  Cute

[Metropolis Man]

That is so cute, Salty. Wow. My entrepreneurial wheels are turning now. I wonder if you could piggy back that action for a kid with a guitarist nearby on the weekend where they would both benefit.

[Saltypaws]

Leave it to you Metro to find a way to put a guitar somewhere, lol.

[Pam]

You took the words right out of my mouth, Salty! 

[pallyndrome]

I tried the baking. My kid read the paper, saw that vanilla is in, so made 2 batches of vanilla muffins. Then since it was too late to sell that day, I put them in her inventory for the next day. One of them quickly went bad, so I put the other plate in the fridge, then back in her inventory when it was time to sell. I've had the stand set up in my yard for days and days but no one crowding my lawn. My kid put her remaining muffins on the table, and stood there tending it for hours, but no one came to buy. So I'm wondering, if the baking report is daily, how is my kid supposed to bake lots of stuff, and sell it all, in one day? Especially if the baked goods go bad (spoiled) so quickly, and no one buys the stuff? My kid doesn't have time to bake lots and sell before the next baking report of before it all goes off. If I leave it in the fridge, one of my sims might eat it.

[Saltypaws]

Did you take the table to the park?  That is a pretty good place to go too.  I tried the house and I got too many people and then they would not leave. The do spoil quickly, I found that out.  I just make alot, unless I go to the park.  Have them get up early, like on sat or sun, bake a couple of each and then go to park, see if that helps.

[Archer0]

I had such bad luck with this silly baking table that I just gave up finally.  Tried the park multiple times, but got very few customers.  Maybe location, maybe time of day, maybe just bad luck, I don't know.  Had the best luck at home actually, as far as customers showing up.

However, after one customer would buy, he would stand around, get bored and then try to talk to my child, taking her away from tending the stand!  Of course, then another customer would show up, but since nobody was available to take their order, that customer would leave.

Or, I'd have one customer that already bought something, start talking to another that hadn't.  When they got done talking naturally or I shooed them, the one that had not bought, would just leave!  Needless to say, it took me forever to complete the sell 5 baked goods in a day wish.  Argh!

[Saltypaws]

The most fun was finding out how many different kinds of baked goods the youth made and reaching level 4 in cooking is a good start for young adulthood, they can have it maxed in no time.  It is just for fun, but there is always a downside to most everything.

[Simstar3]

I thought there were only three levels you could gain as a child. 

[Leto85]

I thought there were only three levels you could gain as a child. 

That should be obvious, isn't it? But I asume that only counts for the other 'toys' sim kids can use.

[Simstar3]

Well, Saltypaws said four.

[Saltypaws]

You're right, it is three, but when he was doing the oven, I counted the bars above his head four times.  The only reason I counted, because I knew as a youth, nothing would show up in skills panel.  So when he turned teen and started reading the cooking book, said he only had three, so I guess it is three, sorry for the misinformation.

[Esther1981]

I had bad luck with this as well! I had my little boy make tons of stuff, then I put him in front of the theater in SV cause I know that's the major spot for guitar, but most of the people just went in the theater then came out and left. I only sold like 2 or 3 items! Then other kids would come up and talk to him, I would have to cancel those actions, and his parents were busy trying to sculpt, so it's like I was constantly jumping between the 3 of them to make sure they were doing what I told them too! Then it said his curfew was up in an hour and he just left the stand, so I had to interrupt the mom just to go get the silly thing! Finally I figured it out, I just don't have the time for it, plus it's not all that profitable, so I made him get back to inventing. lol.

[keenveneracion]

I'm so sorry I just responded now! It's been a busy week. Pam, so so sorry to keep you hanging.

Thanks for all the information, guys! I didn't realize that this was only for kids. Too bad... I really wanted to have a baker for self-employment (as I enjoy baking myself). Will try to make a child-baker in the future! And I shall post pictures! Yeah!

[Leto85]

So the kid can be very good in baking, but after he grow up the interaction isn't available anymore. That is really to bad. If it improves the cooking skill that is a good thing, but if that's all, than I personally find it a bit disapointing. Like keenveneracion, I was hoping for baking to, although I don't like it in real life.

[Pam]

I'm so sorry I just responded now! It's been a busy week. Pam, so so sorry to keep you hanging.

No worries!  This turned into a very informative thread.

[Justine]

I think I'll have to try in front of my house, but so far I managed to sell maximum 5 goods in one day. I can see the potential though, because the five sold were during two hours in front of the stadium, and it can be a rush - this turned out to be a good spot contrary to the theater (even on weekends).
I also had the problem with customers trying to distract the child from tending the table, especially one girl - it would probably be a good idea to have another person (a sibling, or a parent who's together with him/her) pull them away after they make their purchase.

I'm also thinking that the game might be counting people who come to the sale, so pulling away could create more traffic.

The park was so-so, I even stood near the protesters and they didn't want to buy from me.

How much have you made with this table in one day? Where did you sell?
The other community locations I'll probably have to put to the test.

[Saltypaws]

I tried the park again and no one bought anything.  There were like three other kids there, but they had abandoned their tables.  It seems the kids have a short attention span when it comes to these tables, imagine that.  I had better luck in my front yard.  I don't think I have tried any other spot except the theatre and I didn't do too bad.  It is a cute thing for the kids to do, but, of course it is not very profitable.  I had fun finding out how many different kinds of bake goods they make.  If they are eco-friendly, everything is organic.  I thought that was pretty neat.

[sydney511]

Wow, looks like there are troubles with bake stands! I manage to make around 50 or 60 dollars, so here are a few tips.

-Go and make some bake goods on a weekend (preferably Sunday, there are more people off work) and check the newspaper. (It comes around 9 or 10 AM.) A popup should tell you about the baking report. Go to the park (near the fountain is best), put out the table and baked goods, and price the goods.

If a flavor says it is below average, make that around 7 dollars.
If a flavor is near zero, make it around 2 or 3 dollars. Also, don't waste too much time making this and only bake one plate. (Some sims will still buy it even if near zero.)
If a flavor is "the highest it has been in years!" make that flavor around 10 to 15 dollars. (Depending on the baking cost.)

-People usually start buying around lunch and dinner time. At night, people will be swarming for food.

You can also go into Switch Active Households in Edit Town and select a random family and take one of those family members to the park to buy from your child. Have that sim buy the expensive stuff.

To prevent long posting, I'll make a topic on this. Good luck!