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How much do people think a cake costs to make??? - Page 3

post #31 of 191
2/7/11 at 12:39pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by grandmomof1

I really think it would be great if the "Cake shows" would actually list the prices of their work much like they do on Fabulous Cakes. People are getting their ideas from the things these shows are putting out. They are totally unaware of the amount of work that goes into creating a character or animal or building. If you want true art then you have to pay for it. If it doesn't matter whether you have "true art" then go buy the cracker jacks because you get exactly what you pay for, cracker jacks.



The new show Fabulous Cakes does a good job of that I think. Most cakes have the price listed (haven't seen anything less than $2,000) and they do give an indication of the timeline in their narrative, but you only get that if you're really paying attention and it might go over your head if you don't know anything about anything! I do think it might be a good resource for you next time if someone is snarky about your prices.
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post #32 of 191
2/7/11 at 12:43pm
I have decided to include what I charged for my cake whenever I upload the pic to CC I hoep I have some followers out there??

It would be so helpful to everyone I think!
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post #33 of 191
2/7/11 at 12:51pm
Just looked at your cakes, $175 is def a good price! Cheap! That prob what I would charge for a cake, and I live in one of the cheapest places on earth lol!! I have that all the time, people are so used to "Walmart Pricing" that when they want a custom cake, its a bit of sticker shock. I refuse to undersell myself just because someone doesnt think my work is worth it. I KNOW MY WORK IS WORTH IT. my attitude towards my work i think helps to sell my cakes too!
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post #34 of 191
2/7/11 at 12:51pm
Thread Starter 
Ryannrochelle~~ That is horrible. I would have made her pay anyways. I learned the hard way that everyone is under contract. I get it in writing that they agree to pay $x.xx in advance and then $x.xx at delivery. I also have it put in my contract that they have to pay a cancellation fee if they cancel within 7 days of the due date and they lose their deposit. It protects me once I've ordered supplies that I can't use.
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post #35 of 191
2/7/11 at 12:54pm
They think it costs whatever Wal-Mart or Costco or all of those guys charge.. $15.95. Yet, no one knows that they get their cakes in frozen, their icing comes on a pallet in a bucket, and you only have like, 30 set choices to pick from. Drives me crazy.. Especially when people come in bragging about how much money they spent on the flowers or the venue or the favors or whatever for the party.. yet they think a cake should cost $20.
Of course I match Wal-Mart's price on cake! :eyeroll:
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Of course I match Wal-Mart's price on cake! :eyeroll:
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post #36 of 191
2/7/11 at 12:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ali3971

I have decided to include what I charged for my cake whenever I upload the pic to CC I hoep I have some followers out there??

It would be so helpful to everyone I think!



Good idea! I will do that too! Hopefully it will catch on, only thing is newbies beware, someone in NYC can charge more for a cake than someone is the boonies!!
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post #37 of 191
2/7/11 at 12:56pm
Thread Starter 
One other thing that gets me, since we're ranting, is that people have NO IDEA how long it takes to make a cake and all the flowers and the figurines. I can't tell you how many times I get a call from someone, "can you make me this hard and difficult cake" for Saturday, as in 3 days from now? Then they are amazed when you can't because Walmart or their local store can make them a cake overnight. I mean c'mon, I work from home. I don't have a huge stocked warehouse. I have to order supplies for most of my cakes.

Because of this, I now require at least 30 days advanced notice on all cakes. And that's 30 days under contract with a deposit or the answer is "no," unless it's something like, "can you make me a chocolate cake with icing and no decoration?"

I think this is because of the cake shows. People really believe you can make this huge cake in 8 hours and for $50.00. CLUELESS!!!
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post #38 of 191
2/7/11 at 1:09pm
Thread Starter 
Ali~~ I love your idea, so I'm going back to my pictures now and writing how much I charged under the ones I can recall. I think we should all do it.
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post #39 of 191
2/7/11 at 1:10pm
With the cost of everything used in caking going up I made a very hard decsion to increase my pricing. I too work outside the home and do cakes for family and friends, but I know longer can afford to give the cakes away.

People who watch ace of cakes should have some kind of a clue as often the staff or duff speak of times working on cakes till the wee hours of the morning. I do think, however some people would have sticker shock on what a sm cake would cost when purchased from the ACE of Cakes and The Cake Boss.
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post #40 of 191
2/7/11 at 1:16pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by TPACakeGirl

Ali~~ I love your idea, so I'm going back to my pictures now and writing how much I charged under the ones I can recall. I think we should all do it.



I did as well icon_smile.gif
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post #41 of 191
2/7/11 at 1:29pm
Wow, I was just venting to my husband about this..
I have a client/customer that thought I would do a Mickey mouse clubhouse 3d cake that feeds 40 people for under $30 I also should mention she would want a cream cheese icing instead of a buttercream. Cream cheese alone will cost $10. She is one that should just go to walmart. I also had someone want a 3d carved cake of appa from the last air bender and thought it would cost $30 aswell. I feel like asking if it is cheapo month and if they do the groceries for the house ? Maybe then they would pay attention to costs of milk, flour, eggs, etc...
hehe looks like my venting is coming back sorry icon_smile.gif
I kinda hope that all cake shows start saying pricig on cakes perhaps then people/customers would be more logical.
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post #42 of 191
2/7/11 at 1:43pm
Just a hint to those that added prices it might be a good idea to add sizes of cakes as well.
Pam

http://www.myspace.com/granpam47
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Pam

http://www.myspace.com/granpam47
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post #43 of 191
2/7/11 at 2:40pm
Ok- so just to add to mine....I just found out from an aquaintance of my customer (Husband's 50th bday) that she invited her guests out to a restaurant for cocktails and appetizers but if they wanted to stay for dinner with them they (the guests) had to pay their own way icon_eek.gif Now I'm wondering at what point in the evening does she plan to serve the cake???? If people aren't going to stay for dinner b/c they don't want to pay will she serve it after appetizers? What if some do decide to stay, will they eat the cake before dinner so those who aren't staying can have some?? And she's only inviting 10 ppl!!!

I still haven't heard back from her...I'm going to assume that I'm done with her and she's decided not to get the cake from me icon_smile.gif
"He who passes on dessert drives home with a stomach full of regret."
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"He who passes on dessert drives home with a stomach full of regret."
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post #44 of 191
2/7/11 at 2:57pm
I'm sorry I do not remember who stated it first but, has anyone been on the Ace of Cakes website! $1000.00 minimum! I am all the time having this agrument with my DH! He thinks I overcharge. So I pulled up the website and showed him. He says OH but he has a degree and a shop and ect.... really?! Ok so I do this from home, and alot of the cakes in my gallery are ones I have done for my kids, or family, but don't even those of us who do that deserve to be paid accordingly? I, unlike alot of you do not have a "customer base" I have a few friends and my church that I do things for but I have found that my "friends" are the ones that don't want to pay for my work. Also does anyone elses DH want you to make things just to take into work, for free!?
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post #45 of 191
2/7/11 at 3:12pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by shannycakers

It was a huge awakening for me this past weekend when my hubby used software to track my expenses on what i thought was a profitable sheet cake selling for $60. IT turned out that i only made 35 dollars on the cake after expenses!!, the cake ingredietns were 20 dollars and then the rice krispy modeling chocolate football was 5$ expense. Took me several hours...



You actually didn't make $35. If your ingreients cost you $25, and your football cost you $5. You still have electricity, water, gas, and most important your labor to take out of the remainign $35. You said you worked on it several hours. Even if you worked minimum wage at 3 hours (and this includes time to go to the store, clean up, bake, decorate ALL of it) that comes up to $21.75, So that leave you with $13.25 to cover everything else. I bet you ended up just breaking even or loosing money.
It's better to be Hated for who you Are,
Than Loved for who you're Not.
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It's better to be Hated for who you Are,
Than Loved for who you're Not.
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