I found this on craigslist. Look at her prices. This is why people scoff when ask to pay reasonable prices for cakes.
http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/crs/705872360.html
Dude, that is crazy!!!
I'm a cake mix gal and now that's cheaper than scratch, but there is NO way I could afford to do it that cheap! I wouldn't even break even.
how in the world? in order for me to sell that cheap and even break even I would have to steal all of my ingredients LOL.
did you notice the images, etc? Even the grocery store charges $5-$8 more for images. I haven't seen this persons work but come on. This is what I compete with. And I am not lowering my prices. I'm not indydebi or leahs but seriously!
forget about the cheapness of it. she told how she makes her cakes and which icing recipe she uses!
I don't think any of you should be concerned! (Although I was kind of shocked at her price list.) If you notice she says she sells her cakes cheaper than Giant Eagle or Wal-Mart. Last time I checked your photos, Giant Eagle or Wal-Mart are NOT your competition. She seems to be targeting people who don't have a lot of money to spend or time to make a cake themselves. I couldn't see any of her photos, but I would GUESS from her price list that her decorations are probably kept basic. People who contact you gals/guys want something special, custom, and sometimes "over the top". And to those who complain about your pricing, they can take it or leave it. If they leave it, they either don't have the money (and you don't want them as a customer) or they don't have an appreciation for what goes into these artistic creations (and... you probably don't want them as a customer). I don't think her craigslist post will negatively affect your businesses. JMHO. Thanks for sharing this though! It's amazing who's out there!
how in the world? in order for me to sell that cheap and even break even I would have to steal all of my ingredients LOL.
If you just consider the ingredients, and don't figure in the time spent, she would be making money. It might cost me about $4 to make an 8" two-layer round (less if I used margarine instead of butter, and cheap shortening). So if she's home with her kids and not doing anything, she might be making a little bit of money. She's not going to get rich at those prices though, that's for sure.
Poor girl. She just wants to start a business, and doesn't know how. She is desperate for customers. A year ago, I actually was going to charge $1.50 for FONDANT. What was I thinking?!?!?!?
I agree, if she is using straight mix and just making little small 1/2 sheet cakes, she is probaby make about 10 bucks a cake if you dont count labor. Who knows what they look like! I bet she isn't licensed either!
Does anyone actually look for a cake decorator of Craigs List??? I wouldnt even think of that. The description is not very appealing either.
Does anyone actually look for a cake decorator of Craigs List??? I wouldnt even think of that. The description is not very appealing either.
I think it's a great idea, maybe she just wants to practice. She's getting a little something back from it instead of giving cakes away or having cakes laying around.
She has another ad with some pictures: http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/com/705886674.html
You'd be surprised how many people do want a cake off of craigslist. I do a lot of stuff on craigslist (not cakes) and when people come by and end up seeing one of my cakes they always ask if I sell cakes and then they tell me about all the cakes they've bought off craigslist...so there is a market for it.
It sounds like she wants the practice.
I agree, because she certainly isn't making $$$ with those prices. Goodness, I couldn't charge that! I don't know how any business owner could, and make it.
Agreed. My 8" cakes costs way more than $9 to make. I can't imagine accepting such an economic loss in my business.
She also says she uses the "pudding in the mix" cake mix so she is not extending the mix at all
So the cost she has in it is :
1. the cake mix
2. the icing ingredients
I don't know how she does it either and there is a person around me that is selling cakes for 1.00 a serving (add a dollar for fondant etc.) and the only other place around that sells cakes are walmart, and grocery stores. So I don't know how she is "making" any money.
After reading this on her website I am thinking to myself, will I ever be able to get legal and sell cakes, not for those prices, not for what I put in my cakes.
She obviously isn't a member of CC, or someone would have smacked her down (in that nice, friendly way, of course!) about those prices by now! LOL
I DO use cake mixes (with extenders most of the time now), and just with basic ingredients and delivery, I wouldn't be able to do it that cheap. I *might* break even, but only just.
i think she just wants to start a client list. and she probably wants the practice. i completely understand the need to want business... and sometimes the only way to get noticed -at first- is to have low low prices. she is probably sacrificing a lot by making the cakes... but it's probably something she enjoys doing. i make my cakes for free-they are for family- but still... i just love to make and design cakes. and you have to think abou the power of word of mouth advertising.
more power to her!
i think she just really wants to practice and maybe get a portfolio together. the pics she posted are really good, so who knows..
If you really wanted to make sure she wasn't your competition, you could always contact her asking if she is a legal baker. You will either scare the crap out of her or she will be around for a long time with prices like those.You never know when the health dept. is going to check out craigslist!
my time is worth more than she's charging.
I don't think she is looking at the 'hidden' expenses. Gas to the grocey store, electricity, water.
Actually I occasionally put an ad on CL and people do find me...surprisingly I've had a couple wedding orders through there!
There's a girl in our Philly CL that constantly advertises "cheap" cakes, cheaper than anyone else, and that she has tons of openings. LOL.
well.....
has any one thought to EMAIL her with the link to CC inviting her to come and join our merry band of cakers???
i would do it BUT -- somehow, a guy doing it might be construed all the wrong ways.
however, you lovely ladies could and do so in a most polite -- OOHHHH we saw your cakes and would love to have you come join our cake forum.
just don't mention anything about pricing! -- otherwise it will seem like she's getting mom/gramma-ed to death for being "bad"
let her come and learn by just reading through all the "price this" posts.
rather than complain.....
evangelize, convert, assimilate!!!!
we are CC. you will be assimilated. resistance is futile!
I checked, Doug. You need to be a member of my space to send a message through there, and craigslist says you aren't supposed to contact them through that page.
I don't have quite enough guts just to send to her e-mail...
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