I had an aquaintance pm me on facebook asking me if I could make her son's 2nd bday cake for this coming Sunday. The messaging went on for about a half an hour or so.. with me asking the general questions re: flavour, size, design etc. I finished the conversation with the question I really should have asked right at the beginning - $$$? What do you know.. the messaging came to an abrupt halt - either fb had technical problems or her fingers went numb from the shock of my prices!!
Ok so here is how the conversation on FB went:
Enquirer: it is ------'s 2nd birthday on Sunday. Would you make me one of your stunning cakes? Call me on ---- ---- ---- if you like.
call her?? hmmm I thought it should be the customer calling me?!
Me: Hi.. Can do
What did you have in mind and how big? You can check out my website for a bit more info if you like.
Enquirer: not sure about size. Is not a huge party. He loves Thomas the tank engine. So is a Thomas cake possible? .
Me: For sure.. how many serves would you estimate? That way I know what size I should base the design around.
Enquirer: Can you work with 10 adults and 5 kids? We are happy to have a larger cakes. Leftovers won't go bad. Oh, and ---- is a chocolate boy!! .
Me: Sounds good.. I will base it around 15 - 20 serves. So would you like to run with chocolate mudcake filled with either white-chocolate or chocolate ganache (smooth creamy truffle filling)? I then cover themed cakes with a vanilla-marshmallow flavoured fondant to finish. .
Enquirer: Chocolate mudcake filled with chocolate ganache please .
Me: Ok.. so next question - 3D sculpted Thomas or stenciled Thomas? For a 3D cake to feed between 15-20 serves you would be looking at a cost of approximately $120. A stenciled round or square cake would cost $80
END
Were my prices over the top? I personally don't think so. I would have thought that considering the time that goes into either of these cakes that my pricing is quite reasonable. Maybe I should throw her a wad of fondant and and a timer & say "here - have a crack". I may just be a beginner, but that doesn't mean I have to go 'cheap'.. and I refuse to advertise myself as such... as in this small town if you do one 'discounted' rate everyone feels entitled to ask for a cheapie.
And what is it with this whole "I would like just a simple cake"... define simple.. simple is a supermarket sponge that you throw together yourself with some canned mock cream and frosting with coloured sprinkles. I've had two calls in the past two days by brides asking for something simple. Does simple = I don't have a huge budget?" IF this is the case why not just be honest and say "this is what I have to play with $$$ what do you think you could do for me?"
End of rant
Ok so here is how the conversation on FB went:
Enquirer: it is ------'s 2nd birthday on Sunday. Would you make me one of your stunning cakes? Call me on ---- ---- ---- if you like.
call her?? hmmm I thought it should be the customer calling me?!
Me: Hi.. Can do
What did you have in mind and how big? You can check out my website for a bit more info if you like.Enquirer: not sure about size. Is not a huge party. He loves Thomas the tank engine. So is a Thomas cake possible? .
Me: For sure.. how many serves would you estimate? That way I know what size I should base the design around.
Enquirer: Can you work with 10 adults and 5 kids? We are happy to have a larger cakes. Leftovers won't go bad. Oh, and ---- is a chocolate boy!! .
Me: Sounds good.. I will base it around 15 - 20 serves. So would you like to run with chocolate mudcake filled with either white-chocolate or chocolate ganache (smooth creamy truffle filling)? I then cover themed cakes with a vanilla-marshmallow flavoured fondant to finish. .
Enquirer: Chocolate mudcake filled with chocolate ganache please .
Me: Ok.. so next question - 3D sculpted Thomas or stenciled Thomas? For a 3D cake to feed between 15-20 serves you would be looking at a cost of approximately $120. A stenciled round or square cake would cost $80
END
Were my prices over the top? I personally don't think so. I would have thought that considering the time that goes into either of these cakes that my pricing is quite reasonable. Maybe I should throw her a wad of fondant and and a timer & say "here - have a crack". I may just be a beginner, but that doesn't mean I have to go 'cheap'.. and I refuse to advertise myself as such... as in this small town if you do one 'discounted' rate everyone feels entitled to ask for a cheapie.
And what is it with this whole "I would like just a simple cake"... define simple.. simple is a supermarket sponge that you throw together yourself with some canned mock cream and frosting with coloured sprinkles. I've had two calls in the past two days by brides asking for something simple. Does simple = I don't have a huge budget?" IF this is the case why not just be honest and say "this is what I have to play with $$$ what do you think you could do for me?"
End of rant
just one more...
just one more...
