Embarrassing conversation about prices - Page 3

Those are nice cookies for 1.00 a piece, it kills me I too am from Ohio and I see people all the time in Giant Eagle buying their hard cookies for 1.29 a piece but bawk at something homemade that's even less. I'm to the place I'm more than the grocery store but less than the bakery if they don't want it they don't pay for it let them go to Giant Eagle or where ever. Your work is good and we can't buy in bulk like they do and our stuff is fresh. Don't feel bad, now come give me this talk in about a week ok? I feel guilty all the time too and we have to stop the insanity.

i like that! i just taught a cake decorating class last night to a group of 8 women that i know from church. they always see my work and jaws drop when i tell them that i spend an average of 10-12+ hours on a cake. well, last night we had three hours and all we did was torte and fill our pre made cakes, make buttercream, ice and sprinkle a little glitter on top. man those cakes left something to be desired let me tell you ...and you know how it goes...they all brought 1" high cakes with tapered edges, lopsided and from a cake mix. anyway, after 3 hours, i think they all gained a new appreciation for what it REALLY take to put your best effort on all your cakes one at a time, and they have all agreed that it is best left to those who are motivated enough to stick with it and really learn and that have talent...as well as saying that "YES, we will buy our cakes from you one day when you have a shop and are famous." ha ha.

Oh where to begin!!! You ladies are wonderful!!! Yes, keep your prices...you are SOOOO worth it, your cookies are wonderful! I have tried (yes tried) to decorate cookies and it takes patience and talent and I am laking in both right now. I would gladly pay for your product! You do wonderful work. You are a professional!!!!
I also agree that you can't buy a pack of Oreos for $1.00 a dozen!!!! I bought a pack yesterday for $2.50 plus tax!!! And you know they aren't fresh!.
And remember as mentioned here, your ingredients are much more than $1.00, then time, then electricity....adds up fast!!!!

That said, I know how you feel about pricing....I am terrible!!! I feel guilty when it comes to pricing and especially to people I know and end up losing money!!! So, I am going to take this thread to heart and not feel bad anymore and not be taken advantage of!!!!!

PLUS I love that you gave her a detailed invoice, with both prices, that is great!!!
Okay, don't feel bad anymore!!!

The cookie shop in a town close by charges $5 a cookie. My daughter rec'd a cookie bouquet when she had her son. No-one could eat them, not even me who will eat anything sweet.

You are so right Janette.. those edible arrangement cookies are gross. My brother got some when he first joined the Marines and I tried one and couldn't finish the bite I took.. just gross. Hard as a rock and no flavor.

Indydebi is exactly right. I have done craft shows for a number of years, and for awhile I was worried about selling my stuff for almost twice what other folks were selling. I thought about lowering my prices, but I stood firm in the end, realizing that a) I was using different materials than the others, b) I was using my own design, and not something everyone else was doing, nor was it something that you could get off a website anywhere... it was mine, and it was unique, and c) I calculated my time, materials, expenses, etc, and there wasn't much left over for 'because I deserve it' in the profit. Bottom line, I sold out the first year, even over the other folks who were making similar items, because I was proud of my work and my price reflected that I thought it was worth it.

When my market and items changed, so did my prices, of course, but I still stand by what I charge. I do still get the occasional "I could get that at Walmart and paint it myself!' outraged comment, but I challenge them to find ANY hand-painted, personalized christmas ornament for $5 at walmart! You can barely get screen printed individual ornaments for that.

My cakes and other baked goods are the same, when I sell them... I charge what I need to charge, both to recoup my expenses and time, and to allow for the creativity that goes into them, when someone asks for something special. (example: plain lemon tarts have one price... the ones I made to look like drops of blood for a special occasion -really, don't ask!- were at least double, because i had to hand-shape the tarts into what looked like teardrops, instead of using a pan and tart shaper, and I had to color 250 tarts' worth of dough and lemon curd a bright, bloody red. That took a lot more than the simple lemon tarts I usually make, so I charged accordingly. The customer complained about the price, right up until they saw them! LOL The tarts were so perfect for what they were being used to celebrate, that I was paid, and gladly, with an additional tip from friends of the customer who appreciated the extra time and effort that went into it all.)

Remember also, that at the end of the day, while YOU might have no problem making beautiful cakes and desserts, there are a lot of people out there who either won't, can't, or don't have the time to do it themselves. You're not selling to other bakers... you're selling to people who really appreciate your time and energy, and your prices should reflect the respect they have for your work, whether you believe it's worth that much, or not.

Say it with me, folks:
I'm an artist, not just a baker, and my work is worth something wonderful.

Doni in NC
(who's apparently joining indydebi on her soapbox!)

Boy do I feel your pain. I become sheepish when I have to tell someone the price. I thought it was just me BTW - Your cookies are AMAZING I would pay $2 a cookie for those hands down!

I just looked at your photos and your cookies are very nice. You should be very proud of yourself for the quality work that you do.

My hubby is a woodworker, so we are at craft shows a lot. Saw a couple of signs that have stuck with us:

1) Don't mistake bad workmanship for "that rustic look".
2) Yes, you COULD make it yourself .... but will you?

Once again I must ask myself... why aren't we hanging out? That is too hilarious, and reflects my mindset completely!

I will also repeat ....glad that you gave the real price, showing the discount .......
hopefully these people will learn!!!!!!!!!
fat chance huh????

And if remember right, we're also both Halloween fanatics! I am THE house in my neighborhood! I spend more on Halloween than I do on Christmas and Easter combined.

Oh yes Debi... we were meant to be friends!

indy, we could be sisters.

I LOVE Halloween. I will have to send you pics. I also collect Department 56 Halooween Village. I got a few pieces for Mothers Day.

I have got my children so into it too.

Everyone knows the last Saturday of Oct is our Halloween party. And we go all out.

michelle, I think I need to borrow your son.