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Makes me mad!!!!!!!! - Page 2

post #16 of 26
6/16/05 at 8:49am
Gee, I guess so far I am very lucky. No one has asked me to do a cake for free, but the ones I did for free was all on a voluntary basis just for the practice. I've sent cakes and candy into my husbands work and I ALWAYS get thank yous.

Debbi
Spanish sugar, French Pastry, Swiss chocolate, and American Apple Pie. How much sweeter can life get????
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Spanish sugar, French Pastry, Swiss chocolate, and American Apple Pie. How much sweeter can life get????
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post #17 of 26
6/16/05 at 10:42am
When I started out (just a few months ago), I told coworkers that I would start by doing the cakes for cost (~50c/slice) to build up my portfolio and get some practice. I had a bunch of people ordering cakes.

Now I am starting to charge normal price (not less than $20, but about $1/slice). We'll see if I still have people asking. I just gave someone some ideas I had for a birthday cake, and she seemed a little surprised as I wrote the cost on the sheets for her. I think I will be surprised if she still wants me to make it.

But there is NO WAY $1/slice is charging too much. I also live in central NJ and the prices here are not cheap.
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CakesByEllen

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post #18 of 26
6/16/05 at 11:11am
Speaking of cake prices, how do you determine what to charge? I'm new to this cake game and I make pound cakes as well as frosted cakes. I set a $20 charge for pound cakes and $30 for layer cakes, and they almost always have 3 layers.
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post #19 of 26
6/16/05 at 2:25pm
a few years ago i made a gorgeous barbie-doll cake (doll pan set atop a large oval cake) for a co-worker, with the agreement that she'd pay $30 for supplies and labour, and provide me with photos of the cake taken at the outside venue. she paid for the cake up-front, but never gave me pictures, and about 2 weeks later i was sacked and then about a week later she was fired too! live and learn...and now i know to take all my pictures.

you should never feel as though you're required to bake or decorate for free, unless you're doing it for some sort of fundraising. getting good at saying no is an important skill, and it's important to communicate to people that your time and effort, as well as the investments you've made to set up your kitchen, buy tools, etc., are valuable.
who pays any attention
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will never wholly kiss you
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who pays any attention
to the syntax of things
will never wholly kiss you
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post #20 of 26
6/16/05 at 3:30pm
Thread Starter 
Thank you everyone for your support/advice.
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post #21 of 26
6/16/05 at 6:02pm
I had this friend ask me if I would make a cake for her cook-out on Memorial Day for free. She always purchase her cakes from Food Lion and not from me. So I told her to go and get Food Lion to give her a cake for free because I was not doing it. She didn't have a cake for Memorial Day.
WE CC SISTERS AND BROTHERS NEED TO STICK TOGETHER - LOVE AND PRAY FOR EACH OTHER - STAND WITH AND FOR EACH OTHER - SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER - YEP - THAT'S WHAT CAKE CENTRAL SISTERS AND BROTHERS DO BEST. !!!

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WE CC SISTERS AND BROTHERS NEED TO STICK TOGETHER - LOVE AND PRAY FOR EACH OTHER - STAND WITH AND FOR EACH OTHER - SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER - YEP - THAT'S WHAT CAKE CENTRAL SISTERS AND BROTHERS DO BEST. !!!

www.freewebs.com/stephanie214
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post #22 of 26
6/16/05 at 11:13pm
It's because people think they are getting a cheaper made and a less then skilled decorator decorated cake so why should they pay the same price as a bakery charges.... I havent had a unsatisfied customer and so far everyone I have made a cake for has suggested me to other people.... but if you have read my post about this one lady here, then you know what I said above is true.. unless its a mom and pop bakery (and even those sometimes) the bakery has sacks of cake mix that they measure out, its not really any different then what you make at home!
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post #23 of 26
6/17/05 at 7:18am
$1 per piece is a donation, not a payment! icon_eek.gif

seriously, if you're baking cakes or pastries for "fun" and you're bringing it in for co-workers to enjoy, it's not unreasonable at all to request that those enjoying the treats you have both paid for and spent time creating, make a small donation to the charity of your choice. i specifically did fundraising in my office (of about 80 people) with truffles and squares and other pastries offered at low cost, and raised over $600 for a brain cancer support centre here in Toronto. icon_smile.gif
who pays any attention
to the syntax of things
will never wholly kiss you
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who pays any attention
to the syntax of things
will never wholly kiss you
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post #24 of 26
6/17/05 at 7:40am
My motto is - if I offer to do an office cake assume it's free - If you approach me about doing a cake be prepared to pay (and I consider myself waaaay above grocery store cakes)
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post #25 of 26
6/17/05 at 9:29am
I'm always doing cakes for free out of my home! I just love to decorate them, and since I still consider myself a student of different techniques, I don't charge people, that way I can consider it practice and if it's not "spot on" perfect, then oh well! It was free. So long as it's not horribly ugly, I don't have to live with any guilt. If you want spot on perfect, catch me at the bakery, where it's my job to make them look perfect.

I figure I'll start charging once I feel more confident in my abilities to do the more advance "moves". icon_rolleyes.gif
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post #26 of 26
6/28/05 at 10:15pm
icon_razz.gif Hey Ya'll,
I have a Neighbor that asks me to do birthday cakes and then never asks how much they will be. but Most of the time its What Ever you want to do to them is fine,So I finally go over it ~kinda sorta~ But,, its just the fact that She thinks that they should be FREE! I should call her up and tell her I would love for her to come mow & WEED EAT my yard. then say o that looks really Great! and keep walking.. Would she be a lil tiffed? hmmm Probally so.. icon_lol.gif
I went to Wal Mart, got some 2"x4" mailing lables to print on there with all my info on it. & I stick it Straight in the middle of the top of the box icon_lol.gif (and have tried really hard to get my cute lil flower pic For Some reason I cant get the flowers and the Typing on there at the same dern Time. icon_cry.gif .) but as long as I get my name and # on there I can live with out the flowers for now. I think my Hubby is working on figuring it out for me,, hehehe..(still not holding my breath that it will work..) omg, its like ya'll wond me up to tight and i cant stop.. lmao. I am just glad that I love my cake days icon_smile.gif
~Sweet~ icon_rolleyes.gif
I'm Tellin Ya What I Know! =0)
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I'm Tellin Ya What I Know! =0)
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