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Question about pricing.

post #1 of 30
9/8/07 at 7:34pm
Thread Starter 
Okay.. I made this cake for a friend of mine for her daughters birthday. (It was a big hit by the way) Two people asked me if I could make a cake for their kids birthdays and how much do I charge. Well I told them 40 dollars for the castle cake. (I think that's reasonable) I mean it cost me 20 dollars to make the thing plus 25 to 30 hours actually making it. So what is that, like 75 cents an hour?? Well both and i do mean both of them turned their noses up at me. Well.. that's too much.. I can get a cake at the grocery store for that price. Yeah well it's gonna be a regular old sheet cake and not something the kid is gonna remember like a super
cool castle. Please tell me if I'm being reasonable. I personally think I'm under charging. It's two 13 inch layers for the bottom and two 8 inch layers for the top. That's a lot of cake! How much do you guys think this cake should cost?

Oh and also.. This is NOT the Wilton Romantic castle cake set. Every tower was made by hand with paper towell rolls, ice cream cones and fondant.
LL
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post #2 of 30
9/8/07 at 8:44pm
I think you did a beautiful job!! Oh, and $40 is a steal for that cake! Let them get their sheet cake from the grocery store for $15! Ha!
No longer baking and caking. Medical transcriptionist and Thirty-One Gifts independent consultant.
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No longer baking and caking. Medical transcriptionist and Thirty-One Gifts independent consultant.
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post #3 of 30
9/8/07 at 8:46pm
You did a great job on the cake...much nicer than the Wilton one! And yes....way under charged~
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post #4 of 30
9/8/07 at 8:50pm
I'm not sure where you are located, but it seems like everyone's prices on here seem high for my area
people are charging more than I would ever be able to get for a cake in SW Indiana
BUT!!!! 40 bucks for that cake - its a great deal!!!
don't worry about it, they can have their sheet cakes and you will get business elsewhere
ITS BEAUTIFUL!
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post #5 of 30
9/8/07 at 8:54pm
Good thing you didn't tell them what you should charge...over $100. You probably would have had to call an ambulance.

(Don't quote my on the price cause I am new to the pricing thing but $100 min. would be my ignorant guess!)
Pastryjen

Money talks...but chocolate rocks!
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Pastryjen

Money talks...but chocolate rocks!
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post #6 of 30
9/8/07 at 8:56pm
$40 for everything hand made is way underpriced. Let them get a tasteless cake from the local grocery store for $15. They will realize they will get what they paid for at that price. And I agree with you, it won't be a memorable cake for the kids. My sons still talk about cakes I had made for their birthdays years after.
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post #7 of 30
9/8/07 at 8:56pm
That is a beautiful castle. You are way undercharging for sure. I wouldn't charge any less then $80 for that cake. Maybe even more. It really came out great.
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post #8 of 30
9/8/07 at 8:57pm
Forgot to mention your cake is very beautiful.
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post #9 of 30
9/8/07 at 8:57pm
Don't you just love getting paid less than minimum wage for such a masterpiece. Whenever I tell someone how much time it takes to make a cake x $5 per hour plus the ingredients - they usually then don't balk about the price of the cake.
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post #10 of 30
9/8/07 at 9:01pm
Sounds like those people were living in a dream world! I live in rural Kentucky, and just for a double layer 13" and a double layer 8", I would charge $77.50....and that's not with all the castle stuff! That's just for the two cakes stacked together.

If they want a cake for a grocery store price, I'm sure they can get an sheet cake with an edible image for under $40....and you can spend your valuable time with your family or working on a cake for someone who will really appreciate your talents!

By the way, the cake looks fantastic!
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post #11 of 30
9/8/07 at 9:06pm
Let them go to the grocery store! I wouldn't take less than $80-90. It looks awesome!
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post #12 of 30
9/8/07 at 9:40pm
Repeat after me "I don't compete with Costco"

I've said this before, but it bears repeating. The Lexus dealer doesn't feel bad when someone buys a Hyundai, they are in a totally different market.

bonnebouche you only think your talents are worth $5 an hour? A hamburger flipper gets more than that! At least in CA Min wage is $7.50 going up to $8 a the new year........ You are SKILLED labor. AT LEAST charge $10 an hour! I think closer to $30 is more like it (and sometimes I DO!)
www.selfservebaker.com
Decorating Supplies-cupcake inserts, fillings, boxes

Let God's promises shine on your problems. ~Corrie Ten Boom
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www.selfservebaker.com
Decorating Supplies-cupcake inserts, fillings, boxes

Let God's promises shine on your problems. ~Corrie Ten Boom
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post #13 of 30
9/8/07 at 10:25pm
i'm very reasonably priced....

i'd charge well over 200.00 for that cake.

you are fishing in the wrong barrel...

you don't want the wal mart shopper....your target customer should have more disposable income.

i've been noticing as of late, most of my customers have been comming in rocking the "LV" , hobo, or some other purse i could never afford.

they know you pay for quality.

and ...i also get people who are aghast that i charge 35.00 for a half sheet( i know too cheap), ya can get one from wally world for 19.00...off with you then...go to wal mart.
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post #14 of 30
9/8/07 at 10:44pm
I have to agree with everyone....WAY undercharging. I would for more like $75. People just don't understand the amount of time it takes to bake and decorate a cake. We actually BAKE them, make the icing, ice it and put all of the little details on it as well as the stuff that we have been working on for a week or more! Oh well, we'll always have those few that don't get it.
Jenn
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Jenn
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post #15 of 30
9/8/07 at 10:49pm
I keep hearing that if you charge more you won't get the business, but how do you know if you don't try. I charge more than people and other "non-grocery store" bakeries in my area (and I undercharge compared to the cities) but I am booked for the year and have several up for next year.

It really depends on the cake and the skills. Don't undersell yourself.

By the way, for that castle cake you made (at 25 hour of labor) $0.80/hour. (Don't do that to yourself, you are much better than that!)
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