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How much should I charge for SAMPLE cupcakes?

post #1 of 10
1/30/12 at 6:22am
Thread Starter 
I have a request for 60 cupcakes in the flavours of Banana, Vanilla and Chocolate. This lady wants to come in with her sister and niece to taste some samples and see my overall presentation of a safari chic theme cupcakes (green, yellow and brown with cut out animal faces on them such as the monkey, elephant and lion). I have never had to prepare samples before. Do I need to charge them for this? I imagine I should, as it is costing me ingredients plus time. But how much do I charge them? So I need to make a total of 9 cupcakes, 3 in each flavour for them.

Please help, I'm not sure how to respond back to her. Each batter normally costs approximately $12 to make which serves 24 cupcakes. so $6 would be 12 cupcakes.

Thanks!
Esther Lee
The Frosted Cake Boutique | thefrostedcakeboutique.blogspot.com
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Esther Lee
The Frosted Cake Boutique | thefrostedcakeboutique.blogspot.com
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post #2 of 10
1/30/12 at 7:01am
Why are you doing samples for a cupcake order? Most of us only do samples for wedding cake folks or possibly big ticket items. Can you really afford to make the 'samples' for less than the actual order? Is this a confirmed order that has been prepaid? Is this a repeat customer who already knows your product? If so, why do they need samples?

If the potential client can see examples of your work via a website or photo album, that should be enough info for her to know if you're capable of creating a safari theme, even if you've never done it before. She's asking you to do the work twice (possibly since she hasn't actually placed an order). Can you afford to do this? Are you prepared to do detailed 'samples' for all 'potential' clients?

Can you imagine Picasso painting a 'sample' art piece to see if the 'potential' client is going to order?

Lots of questions, uhicon_smile.gif. Personally, and only personally, there is no way I'd do this. It is time consuming and cost deficient. I also think it is a completely unreasonable request. We are not required to give folks everything they ask for. We should remember to conduct business at all times. And sometimes you have to say no to unreasonable requests!
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post #3 of 10
1/30/12 at 7:05am
Why are you doing samples for a cupcake order? Most of us only do samples for wedding cake folks or possibly big ticket items. Can you really afford to make the 'samples' for less than the actual order? Is this a confirmed order that has been prepaid? Is this a repeat customer who already knows your product? If so, why do they need samples?

If the potential client can see examples of your work via a website or photo album, that should be enough info for her to know if you're capable of creating a safari theme, even if you've never done it before. She's asking you to do the work twice (possibly since she hasn't actually placed an order). Can you afford to do this? Are you prepared to do detailed 'samples' for all 'potential' clients?

Can you imagine Picasso painting a 'sample' art piece to see if the 'potential' client is going to order?

Lots of questions, uhicon_smile.gif. Personally, and only personally, there is no way I'd do this. It is time consuming and cost deficient. I also think it is a completely unreasonable request. We are not required to give folks everything they ask for. We should remember to conduct business at all times. And sometimes you have to say no to unreasonable requests!
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post #4 of 10
1/30/12 at 7:21am
I'm with DDiva, what???? no, no, no! They can buy several of your cupcakes and either look at your portfolio or website/fb page. Even if it were a 3,000 cupcake order it would be the same response.
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post #5 of 10
1/30/12 at 7:40am
You charge your regular prices . If they want to sampled your cupcakes they can come in.buy some .And yhey can.look at your portfolio
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post #6 of 10
1/30/12 at 8:04am
I would not make special, decorated samples for an order that small. And if it's only a potential order, double no way. They can purchase whatever flavors you have on hand at regular prices.

As IndyDeb always said, the lemon tastes just like the vanilla, only lemon.

When I was dong wedding cakes and therefore sampling, I had brides who would use two of their three flavor requests on white and almond white. DUMB. But easy for me. One batter: one plain, one with a few drops of almond extract.
Answers to the most often asked questions re: SPS. SPS instructions are on Page 15 of the Sticky at the top of the Cake Decorating Forum. Supplies can be ordered from Oasis Supply, Global or BakeryCrafts.
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Answers to the most often asked questions re: SPS. SPS instructions are on Page 15 of the Sticky at the top of the Cake Decorating Forum. Supplies can be ordered from Oasis Supply, Global or BakeryCrafts.
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post #7 of 10
1/30/12 at 10:34am
Thread Starter 
Wow! I'm so overwhelmed by this response, I had no IDEA they shouldn't be asking for tasters. I am still starting out and because I have no idea who this person is, or how they found me, I thought why not try and build my client base. Now I know for future orders this is an unacceptable request.

Thanks so much for your feedback, it was a BIG help!
Esther Lee
The Frosted Cake Boutique | thefrostedcakeboutique.blogspot.com
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Esther Lee
The Frosted Cake Boutique | thefrostedcakeboutique.blogspot.com
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post #8 of 10
1/30/12 at 10:38am
We have a minimum order of one dozen per flavor. If a customer wants to buy 9 cupcakes in 3 different flavors that's fine, as long as they are willing to pay for the cost of 36 cupcakes.
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My experimental blog: The Bakery Business Perspective
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My experimental blog: The Bakery Business Perspective
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post #9 of 10
1/30/12 at 1:26pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by EstherLee

Wow! I'm so overwhelmed by this response, I had no IDEA they shouldn't be asking for tasters. I am still starting out and because I have no idea who this person is, or how they found me, I thought why not try and build my client base. Now I know for future orders this is an unacceptable request.

Thanks so much for your feedback, it was a BIG help!



When I have an order for a cake that feeds100+ people, I will provide the customer a box containing 6 mini cupcakes in 3 different flavors, as well as 3 containers of 3 different flavors of frosting. That way, they can take their time, and mix and match and make their decision as far as flavors. Of course, I have a more formal tasting for wedding cakes. I'm not out much and the customer feels special that they got a "tasting". But just for cupcakes? No Way!
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post #10 of 10
1/30/12 at 2:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by EstherLee

Wow! I'm so overwhelmed by this response, I had no IDEA they shouldn't be asking for tasters. I am still starting out and because I have no idea who this person is, or how they found me, I thought why not try and build my client base. Now I know for future orders this is an unacceptable request.

Thanks so much for your feedback, it was a BIG help!



I understand how, when you're just starting out, to think that the customer is always right. They're not. icon_smile.gif She probably knows you're new and is trying to get whatever she can. If you aren't sure how she found you, just ask. I had someone like that who told me they got my name from a friend of my brother. So, thank her for calling and ask her how she heard about you. Businesses do it all the time to see how their advertising is working for them.

Then either tell her no you can't do the samples (especially if she's actually had your cupcakes before based on her answer to the question above) or explain that you normally wouldn't do samples for an order like this but since you already said yes, explain that you can provide a dozen basic cupcakes, (no decorations) in two flavours. Just decorate with a swirl. Show her pictures of your work. That should be sufficient. If she really inisists, I would walk away. She is just trying to take advantage of you, especially if she thinks 3 people need to be sampling them.

I'm in Ajax, and the going rate in my area for a basic swirl cupcake is $2.50. So let her buy a dozen for $30. I'd be charging $3.50 per cupcake for the order she's asking about, if you're doing fondant decorations.

And don't give her samples for free!
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