I did a cake for a non-family/friend member for the first time. As a newbie to this I really enjoyed it. She requested a castle cake for her three year old daughter. Fine, I did my best and it actually turned out pretty cute (except for a slightly crooked tower). THe bottom was 10X10 square double layer and the next level was 8x8 double layer.
Anyways, day of the party she shows up picks up the cake and never leaves a payment. WHen I asked, she said she will send it with my husband (who she works with). Monday rolls around and when I questioned him regarding the money, he stated that she is doing research on what the cake was worth!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I just about blew a gasket! sTill blowing gaskets!!!!!! What would you estimate a 10x10,8x8 castle cake to be worth? It took me all day Saturday and not to mention getting the towers covered and imprinted earlier in the week.
Sorry I can't post any pictures, my computer can't handle the MB's.
A castle cake that large would easily be well over $50 - $75 just to start. There are plenty of them listed on CC. Just point her in this direction, we can tell her how much they are worth.
Did she not agree to a price when she ordered the cake? If so then that's how much she owes you. Since when do customers decide how much a cake will cost? This just makes my blood boil!!! I would call her ant let her know she can do all the research she wants but this is how much you owe me $xxx!
I've done two castle cakes - so I know how much time is involved. I would charge no less than $100. What was the price you quoted her?
Hi Lin - I feel your pain. I had a recent gasket-blower, also for a co-worker of my husband's. They are pretty nice people as well as pretty well off - I figured I didn't want to make waves haggling over price and that they would pay me what they felt the cake was worth. The first and last cake I never pre-quoted! It's the First Communion Cake in my photos and they paid me $40 for it. I thought it was a joke when my husband brought the check home.
Even for the closest of friends, acquaintances, etc - I will never fail to give my price up front again. Lesson learned the hard way!
You should get the price you quoted and be assertive about it. The woman sounds like a bully, and a control freak...tiggy is right...since when do the customers set the price for your wares. First cake or not.
omg.. my mouth dropped open. What??!! Who does that?? Be firm. Make sure you get what you think is fair, not her.
Excuse me????? She wants to research??? She should have done said "research" before ordering the cake. I think I would send her an invoice with a payment due date.
Take heart. As a general rule, most clients aren't like this one. Next time quote a price up front and get a deposit, especially on a large time consuming cake.
Also, I don't think I would do another cake for this woman. Instead, direct her to a bakery or to Wal-Mart.
Whoa! That's 50 servings of cake! My prices START at $2.50 a serving for buttercream, and you can bet I'd charge more for something as PITA as a castle cake! From me that cake would have cost $150 MINIMUM!!! The nerve of some people!
Yup, I start all my fondant cakes out at $3 was it fondant? If so, based on your cakes, without extra deco. I would charge $144 b/c it would serve 48 people. You can give them my website to check out my prices if you want
I would NEVER allow this! I would send a very professional letter to this woman and advise her the pre-set price of $85.~ for the cake. If that's not do-able "please be advised you are no longer welcome to place orders with our company" or something to that extent.
$40.~ for that cake!?!?! are they mad?! That communion cake is BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!! you got ripped
pardon me but what the heck is her problem? You made this cake and it goes by your pricing, not hers!
Did you not agree on a price before hand?
If not.....DON'T EVER DO THAT AGAIN!!!!
Yes, she was quoted a price of ONLY$45.00 (since it was my first and I was not sure how it would be coming out). I feel like telling her I'm getting "estimates" on a lawyer, I wouldn't but I'm sure it would put bee's in her bonnet!! Needless to say, I informed my hubby that from now on it's $$$ up front. Even for friends and co-workers!!!!
okay wait....look at the other side of the coin, maybe she doesnt want to rip you off either. I think you should have quoted her a price before you ever made her the cake, you should not leave it up to her (been there done that). so unless you told her how much to start, maybe she is just trying to be fair...maybe not, but it is just a thought.
RIDICULOUS!!! I don't know anywhere that you can pick up a cake and be all "oh I'll send payment later after I research what a cake like this is worth!!! I would definitely insist on no less than $80 and technically it should be no less than $100! IMO! Though I will say that hopefully she will research it and see what it is worth and pay more than you're expecting. What would you have said if she had asked you at pick up "how much do I owe you?"
okay we must have been typing at the same time and I did not see that you had quoted her a price of $45. While that is probably much too low, that is how much she owes you. Case closed.
For something like that I would collect up front. Even if you quote a price, a person like that may not feel it's worth it, and still may not pay you what you ask. No $ no cake!
people are supposed to get estimated before they purchase...once its eaten its too late to get an estimate...
what i do is - if the payment is not in my hands on or before the date that the cake is requested, they don't get cake...i don't care if i have to throw it out, or take it to work for ppl to eat, or whatever...they are NOT getting cake if I don't get payment...
and "tomorrow" is a no-no too...it's on or before, that's MY policy...
Yes, she was quoted a price of ONLY$45.00 (since it was my first and I was not sure how it would be coming out). I feel like telling her I'm getting "estimates" on a lawyer, I wouldn't but I'm sure it would put bee's in her bonnet!! Needless to say, I informed my hubby that from now on it's $$$ up front. Even for friends and co-workers!!!!
$45? OMG that's crazy money! That's less than $1 a serving and no cake should be charged less than that, even if it turned out to be a big pile of poop - which yours most definitely didn't! You are barely covering your costs at that price - learn your lesson well for next time!
Thank you all! You are the best. I will definitely remember all of your great advice for the future. I will also let you know what happens!
What occurred to me is that she may have thought you were charging her too little. Perhaps they are researching to see what it really would cost so that you get a fair price!!!
I hope so.....let us know!
If she was quoted $45.~ upfront then that's what she's expected to pay. Now if she's "researching" to find a BETTER price then so be it but if she comes to your husband with a check for less then $45.~ send it back! and demand payment in full of what was quoted
When you get payment, you will have to let us know how much she paid you for the cake. It might be a case where she felt that $45 was not enough and would like to pay you appropriately. You never know, just because she is researching doesn't necessarily mean she is going to pay less. I wouldn't be surprised if she paid you more, especially if she was pleased with the cake.
Okay, I know that it is hard sometime to value your work, especially since you are just starting out. $45 would be way too cheap...but make sure that is what you get for it. You might want to send her an invoice stating that the price is normally $$$ but you gave her a discount to help word of mouth advertising. A double layer castle cake would be at least double that. You stand by your price...you deserve it. I saw someone's signature on here that said...."Good cakes aren't cheap and cheap cakes aren't good". TOO true. If they don't want to pay, let them go to WalMart and get an ordinary cake that anyone else can get. Your cakes are unique and made specially for each customer.
angie,I just looked at that cake and are you kidding me $40 ,that cake is so elegant and perfect.Iam sorry but your friends are clueless.well actually according to me there are 2 set of people ,one who really know what goes in to making a cake and always pay more then you ask and there are ones who wanted it for free but are paying as a FAVOR to you.
I hope that they just don't want to rip you off... otherwise that is just plain rude and stupid!!!!
Angie... $40.00 you have got to be kidding me!!!!!! I have never sold a cake before, but I'll tell toy this... They would have to pay me more than that just for the time spent cleaning the kitchen!!!!
LMAOOO @ researching cost of cakes???? Did she drop in from another planet?
She has some balls. Ask her in what galaxy they do business that way? Regardless, whether benefit of the doubt says, as people here have suggested, that she is researching because she thinks you're undercharging (I highly doubt that though- someone who thinks your work is worth more will say that upfront, someone who is a cheapskate will make excuses. I mean, come on, how many people would hold back praise or mentioning 'hey you did a great job, are you sure 45 is all you want to charge?'
Blood boiling indeed- ya need to march down to her office and ask her, lets see, did you think this was a garage sale where you barter price? What other businesses do you try that with? Do you go gas up your car and then go into the cashier and say, I want to haggle with you? Or go out for dinner and then when you get the bill, say, no I was at this other restaurant and they only charged me 4 dollars for their burger.'
Sorry, I know you all are trying to give benefit of the doubt- it just doesnt make sense that someone who thought she was undercharged would say what she did.
I tell ya, of all the stories Ive read in here, that one truly is the winner I think.
God I'd love to meet that woman, and see what kind of other crazy stunts she pulls lol
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