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Just got a earfull of "WHOA! HOW MUCH?!" - Page 2

post #16 of 40
10/1/10 at 11:57am
Quote:
Originally Posted by cakeythings1961

Quote:
Originally Posted by Cake_Karen



I get sick of people wanting things for cheap.



Yes, people don't understand how much work goes into a custom cake.

But isn't this true of every industry? Examples: our house recently needed new windows, and we were shocked that these windows alone cost what our first house went for in the 1980's!....I used to work at a nursing home -we're talking round-the-clock skilled nursing care- but families simply could not believe the monthly fees....my daughter recently got married, and we experienced sticker shock at just about every purchase we had to make.....the cost of my son's college textbooks could support a small family for a month! Any purchase that people don't have to make regularly seems way too expensive.

This customer wasn't devaluing the OP's work, she just didn't expect this expense, which probably meant either re-thinking the plans for the cake or increasing the budget for the party. I hope she ends up ordering a cake from you, Swede-cakes, because we all know how a beautiful, delicious cake can really set the tone for the whole party! icon_smile.gif



Well put.
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post #17 of 40
10/1/10 at 12:12pm
Wow! I will use these various responses and thinken my skin in the future instead of having my feeling hurt.
Thanks, everyone!
You're never fully dressed until you put on a smile!
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You're never fully dressed until you put on a smile!
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post #18 of 40
10/2/10 at 5:07am
Thread Starter 
Lots of people have budgets to work with and some of them are going to tell us in a blunt outward fashion that they think we're too expensive...that's what we have to been able to handle. When she finished her exclamation, I simply answered her "Alright that's fine, xxxxx, I understand. Thank you."

I truly believe "there's always another client around the corner" and that was proven once again. 45 minutes after I spoke with this lady, another one called to order a cake for a Baptism like one I had on my website. icon_biggrin.gif
If not for chocolate, there would be no need for control top pantyhose. An entire garment industry would be devastated. ~Author Unknown
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If not for chocolate, there would be no need for control top pantyhose. An entire garment industry would be devastated. ~Author Unknown
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post #19 of 40
10/2/10 at 5:49am
A friend of mine just told me that she has a hard time pricing her cakes 'cause she doesn't want to "shock" people with high prices. She just did a 14, 10, and 6" tiered, fondant covered cake for $200! I told her she didn't even cover her costs with prices like that and that she was basically giving her talent away!
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post #20 of 40
10/2/10 at 5:50am
I know what you mean, I find this side of business so hard, I want the work but at the same time I've had many a time when I first started out getting frustrated to the point of tears almost when I realised how much work I was doing for a cake for so little if no return. I've toughened up a lot and think sometimes "well that's fine you don't want a custom cake at that price then I don't spend days and days creating a cake for no pay". I've started to learn to tell people things like a diamante number on top of their cake is gonna cost xyz and they are surprised! The other side i think sometimes is that people don't realise how great the cake will look when they first hear the price. I've lost count of people who go "oh wow wasn't looking spending that much" then when I show them pictures of creations they change their mind. I find it hard to ask people if they have a budget as they seem reluctant to tell me but I find if they do we can work something out by changing the cake a little to less work but still a good cake for their money. Now friends asking for cakes.. don't get me started! Word of mouth is good but not when they get friends rates then tell all and sundry what a bargain they got and everyone expects it! icon_sad.gif
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post #21 of 40
10/2/10 at 5:55am
I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one who gets that crap!! People want Sylvia Weinstock cakes for WalMart prices and when you tell them "your" price (which is very reasonable for custom work) they get their knickers in a knot!! icon_confused.gif (Can you tell this hit a nerve with me??) icon_rolleyes.gificon_lol.gif
To find "THE RECIPE LINKS ARE HERE" thread, click on "Forums", then "Recipes" and it's the first sticky. Latest updates are on (the bottom of) page 10 here: http://cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopic-625803-135.html
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To find "THE RECIPE LINKS ARE HERE" thread, click on "Forums", then "Recipes" and it's the first sticky. Latest updates are on (the bottom of) page 10 here: http://cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopic-625803-135.html
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post #22 of 40
10/2/10 at 6:29am
Just think of it this way...I don't htink that the people at Rolls Royce cry when someone tells them that their cars are expensive. They know that they are, but there's a reason for it. They're not going to drop the price to match a Kia price just because that type of car exists. Don't feel that you have to drop your price just becasue grocery store cakes exist.

(I'm writing a book on running a small business so I'm just full of "inspiration" these days)
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http://www.acaketorememberva.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/acaketoremember
http://www.youtube.com/karabuntin
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post #23 of 40
10/2/10 at 6:44am
Quote:
Originally Posted by costumeczar

Just think of it this way...I don't htink that the people at Rolls Royce cry when someone tells them that their cars are expensive. They know that they are, but there's a reason for it. They're not going to drop the price to match a Kia price just because that type of car exists. Don't feel that you have to drop your price just becasue grocery store cakes exist.

(I'm writing a book on running a small business so I'm just full of "inspiration" these days)



yep that's a good way to look at it. I had a bride who wanted peggy porschen and mitch turner cakes, she came round with all top end designs that they charge £1,000 plus for and wanted the same created but cos i worked from home and a one man band i think they thought i would do for way way less than that. I still thought I came in at a good price for the cost of one that was 4 tier that is tons of RI detailed work that London charge £1,500 for but still that wasn't good enough. then unfortunately you need to look at your design and come down a little on what can be achieved on your budget. I think I am reasonable, i don't look at "wedding" and stick ££££ in front I look at what it costs me more in time, technical detail and cost of ingredients. On some cakes at the start I found once I broke it all down i was making about 50pence an hour!!! I may as well not work!
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post #24 of 40
10/2/10 at 6:53am
wow i'm starting to think i'm not charging enough!! I try to stay at $3 a slice minimum but most clients are friends or family so I always try to just make them a cake and come out a little more than breaking even. I made a 2 tier (12" and 8") birthday cake, covered in fondant with pretty elaborate decorations with delivery for $215. I also made a 3 tier (12, 9 and 6 inch) fondant covered birthday cake for a friend that was very simply decorated and didnt have any crazy fillings or flavors, and it was $225. Is this too little?? In both cases, they only wanted to feed 50 people but wanted a bigger looking cake.
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post #25 of 40
10/2/10 at 7:25am
The most annoying thing about pricing cakes is when I get a bride call to ask for a price on a cake, They say Oh I only want it plain not much detail at all (So the cake will be cheap) and then as you carry on talking to them all of a sudden the cake is covered in so much detail and piles of handmade flowers.......but remember they only want it priced on the 'plain' cake they asked for!!!
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post #26 of 40
10/2/10 at 7:55am
Quote:
Originally Posted by PaulasPastries

wow i'm starting to think i'm not charging enough!! I try to stay at $3 a slice minimum but most clients are friends or family so I always try to just make them a cake and come out a little more than breaking even. I made a 2 tier (12" and 8") birthday cake, covered in fondant with pretty elaborate decorations with delivery for $215. I also made a 3 tier (12, 9 and 6 inch) fondant covered birthday cake for a friend that was very simply decorated and didnt have any crazy fillings or flavors, and it was $225. Is this too little?? In both cases, they only wanted to feed 50 people but wanted a bigger looking cake.



No I don't think you probably are charging enough if they are very elaborate decorations esp including delivery too. I think it is different though if it is for friends. Maybe make a table of just friend's rates for say a single tier, 2 tier, 3 tier etc. so they can see what your costs are and the small amount you are putting on and the good value they are getting. i don't mind sometimes doing just for the cost of ingredients but when it takes a long time I don't think it is fair not to charge a little something for the time involved. I look at it that I'm doing a good cake at a really good price and I could be doing a cake for a paying customer that I am losing out on doing this. I don't mind if i don't have work on but otherwise I've lost money lots of times icon_smile.gif
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post #27 of 40
10/2/10 at 7:57am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cake_Karen

The most annoying thing about pricing cakes is when I get a bride call to ask for a price on a cake, They say Oh I only want it plain not much detail at all (So the cake will be cheap) and then as you carry on talking to them all of a sudden the cake is covered in so much detail and piles of handmade flowers.......but remember they only want it priced on the 'plain' cake they asked for!!!



LOL oh I so hear you on this! Had exactly same thing. Just want a simple cake, plain with ribbon then I price then 5 mins later i get "can I have a spray of sugar roses on top and some on sides of each tier". Yes you can but they cost extra. Oh but I only having it plain. no you're not you're adding. Quoted again on a heart cake, just plain with a star burst. oh but can I have a shoe instead of the writing, and some beads instead of the fondant cut out.. mmmmm ha ha
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post #28 of 40
10/2/10 at 8:02am
Okay let me throw this out there for y'all to get your thoughts on it -- I prefer to charge per slice. On wedding cakes I don't negotiate that. However, on party cakes, I do have a price per slice but that seems to get me no where. Other designers in my area have a set price for a party cake that looks good but isn't overly decorated. For example, a 10 inch pillow cake (feeds about 20) at say $4.00 per slice = $80.00. Now you would get some fabulous decorating for that money too. But around here nobody will pay more than $50 IF that! So what is a designer to do? What are your thoughts?
To find "THE RECIPE LINKS ARE HERE" thread, click on "Forums", then "Recipes" and it's the first sticky. Latest updates are on (the bottom of) page 10 here: http://cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopic-625803-135.html
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To find "THE RECIPE LINKS ARE HERE" thread, click on "Forums", then "Recipes" and it's the first sticky. Latest updates are on (the bottom of) page 10 here: http://cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopic-625803-135.html
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post #29 of 40
10/2/10 at 8:15am
Quote:
Originally Posted by bobwonderbuns

Okay let me throw this out there for y'all to get your thoughts on it -- I prefer to charge per slice. On wedding cakes I don't negotiate that. However, on party cakes, I do have a price per slice but that seems to get me no where. Other designers in my area have a set price for a party cake that looks good but isn't overly decorated. For example, a 10 inch pillow cake (feeds about 20) at say $4.00 per slice = $80.00. Now you would get some fabulous decorating for that money too. But around here nobody will pay more than $50 IF that! So what is a designer to do? What are your thoughts?



yeah this is a tough one - i am in similar situation as I live in like a very low populated area so people more often than not don't want to pay much for cakes. I'm finding it hard to balance between charging for what I see is a really well decorated professional cake, good quality and tasty cake and having no customers at all for some weeks. Like last week - zero orders. I guess the only way I see it which is what i'm thinking about at the moment, is to have a basics range. basic cakes, basic decoration that don't take hours and hours of labour and thereby being able to charge that kind of cost thereby hopefully more customers and more orders? Maybe this would be an idea for you? its rock and hard place as it's not the market I want to target when I know how much hard work I put into my cakes. Just can't seem to sometimes get past people wanting elborate designs but at low prices
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post #30 of 40
10/2/10 at 8:54am
I love the debates about walmart or whatever v/s custom made. I made the heavenly pumpkin spice cake by aztomcat this past weekend and brought it in to work.. it was amazing, if I say so myself.. awesome recipe. Someone else had attended a wedding on Sunday night and brought back quite a few cupcakes that were leftover from that wedding.. purchased at the local superstore..thus the reason a bunch were leftover and they ended up being thrown away while I caught one person scraping the cake plate for crumbs on the spice cake... Love that!!!!
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