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Classic Car Cake Pricing??? - Page 2

post #16 of 29
7/18/12 at 6:42pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by howsweet

$400 is low and $175 is ridiculous (unless your cake is a sloppy mess) Setting out to put real bakeries and people who don't want to work for nothing out of business is irresponsible, or at least not very nice, and that is what you're doing if you underprice your cakes, folks.



My cake was not a sloppy mess. I mentioned its faults in my constructive and positive advice. I also stated it was for a very good friend. It was essentially a GIFT at $175, was my point, and that the OP needed to charge more. Furthermore, judging by the number of people who post on this site requesting pricing help I highly doubt most people are "setting out to put real bakeries...out of business". YOURS is the only response that was "not very nice".
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post #17 of 29
7/25/12 at 10:15am
Thread Starter 
UPDATE: I've gotten the green light for the '37 Studebaker so say a prayer for me! Thank you all for your tips and encouragement. I'm patiently awaiting Mike McCarey's DVD so hopefully it comes in time to watch it and plan properly. Look for it next weekend!
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post #18 of 29
7/25/12 at 12:55pm
Do like Jason said and raise your prices now . I've just read about too many people knocking themselves out and making nothing . A sculpted cake is a work of Art and you should be paid accordingly.
First question for potenial clients should be how many people are you serving and what is your budget ?
.
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post #19 of 29
8/2/12 at 2:00pm
Are you planning to do an empty bed, or solid cake with a black top?

50-60 servings is a lot of cake especially when you are doing details like on that vehicle. You are definitely going to need to sit down with a design plan and see how big the final project will be to serve that many. You are looking at a cake at least 18"x8" (with solid bed). With an empty bed, all your cake needs to be in the cab & engine - that's gonna be big!

Plus there is the expenses of structure. Are you going to have it raised above the base board so you can see under the vehicle?

You are definitely undercutting yourself at $400.
I have a full time desk job, but I would rather be baking....

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I have a full time desk job, but I would rather be baking....

Bailias Cakes - putting a smile into every occasion!
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post #20 of 29
8/2/12 at 6:34pm
Thread Starter 
Believe me, I know I've undercut myself yet again. My sore back and double vision are proof! I've put in at least 20 hours already. Yes, it will be sitting on a board with a riser underneath to make it look as if it's sitting on the tires. On the bright side, I'm almost finished. All that's left is attaching the tires once the board is ready, attaching the lights and painting the details chrome. At least I've proven to myself that I could do it and the next time someone wants a cake like this the price will be double.
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post #21 of 29
8/6/12 at 6:52pm
We've all been there. I know that feeling and it's super easy to under price when you've never done a particular cake before. Pricing is something you learn along with your other cake making skills.

My point to the person who thought I was so nasty and making a personal attack on her - Since the passing of the Texas baker's bill, I've had to lower my prices fifty cents per serving. I'm pretty sure it's due to an increase in people doing cakes and also an increase in people under charging. While it's natural to undercharge at first, it's harmful to everyone not undercharging. If these same people were selling his/her used car, they'd look at the blue book value and price accordingly, but for some reason when it comes to making cakes people develop a self esteem problem and let their friends, family and bonafide customers walk all over them.

Also, I've suddenly started having a few people try to negotiate price. I'm sure as heck not going to get into a cake bidding war, but when I read posts in general about pricing it's clear to me that plenty of other people are afraid to let customers walk away and I just don't have a lot of patience with that because this is supposed to be business, not playing at business.

In that post I used the language I did to point out that whether a person purposefully tries to put someone out of business or whether they do so without a single thought rattling around in their empty head, the harm done is the same.
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post #22 of 29
8/7/12 at 4:30pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by howsweet

We've all been there. I know that feeling and it's super easy to under price when you've never done a particular cake before. Pricing is something you learn along with your other cake making skills.

My point to the person who thought I was so nasty and making a personal attack on her - Since the passing of the Texas baker's bill, I've had to lower my prices fifty cents per serving. I'm pretty sure it's due to an increase in people doing cakes and also an increase in people under charging. While it's natural to undercharge at first, it's harmful to everyone not undercharging. If these same people were selling his/her used car, they'd look at the blue book value and price accordingly, but for some reason when it comes to making cakes people develop a self esteem problem and let their friends, family and bonafide customers walk all over them.

Also, I've suddenly started having a few people try to negotiate price. I'm sure as heck not going to get into a cake bidding war, but when I read posts in general about pricing it's clear to me that plenty of other people are afraid to let customers walk away and I just don't have a lot of patience with that because this is supposed to be business, not playing at business.

In that post I used the language I did to point out that whether a person purposefully tries to put someone out of business or whether they do so without a single thought rattling around in their empty head, the harm done is the same.



Interesting points here. Perhaps my comments belong to another thread but I too have seen prices drop due to an increase in people doing cakes as well as people doing wedding cakes as gifts for family members and friends for free or just covering cost. Almost everyone now has someone in their family who can bake and decorate at varying skill levels. What amazes me is the number of persons who do free wedding cakes. I never did anything free for anyone. Not even a family member. I worked with a decorator for years before I started on my own which is why I never felt I had to do it for nothing. It really has affected the industry here and has affected those who treat this as a business.Why pay x baker when it can be free as a gift. It just made it harder for some of us but I assume this is how it is in many industries.
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post #23 of 29
2/23/13 at 3:10pm

I took the times to look at your work. AMAZING! You are selling yourself short. Your time is worth much more. 

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post #24 of 29
2/26/13 at 11:29am
Thread Starter 

Thank you, Tashayee!  Pricing is probably the hardest part of the business for me.  Like I said before, there isn't really any competition in my area besides the supermarket bakery and a few home bakers so people are usually shocked by my prices.  I'm finally gaining enough confidence to charge more for my work because I really value my time.  If people don't want to pay me what I feel that I'm worth then that's just fine with me.  I'm not wasting anymore time making cakes for people who make me feel like they're being robbed.  In this case, I estimated 15-20 hours of labor and I was WAY wrong.  It ended up taking me over 40 hours, so I made less than $10/hour, plus I had to pay for all the ingredients and materials, not to mention I had to take two days off work.  Just thinking about it makes me ill!  Lesson definitely learned!

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post #25 of 29
2/26/13 at 11:56am

Hi Kendra_83 here is a tutorial for sculpting  a fondant car to give you an idea, there are others too.

 

http://youtu.be/ONUwi0_R62c  hth

"Every person has something of value and must be treated with respect. Even a person who brings fleas into the house may be of value one day, because those fleas might awake you when your life is in danger.”  by Takime of Enga

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"Every person has something of value and must be treated with respect. Even a person who brings fleas into the house may be of value one day, because those fleas might awake you when your life is in danger.”  by Takime of Enga

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post #26 of 29
2/26/13 at 12:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tashayee View Post

I took the times to look at your work. AMAZING! You are selling yourself short. Your time is worth much more. 

Dito, very nice work

"Every person has something of value and must be treated with respect. Even a person who brings fleas into the house may be of value one day, because those fleas might awake you when your life is in danger.”  by Takime of Enga

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"Every person has something of value and must be treated with respect. Even a person who brings fleas into the house may be of value one day, because those fleas might awake you when your life is in danger.”  by Takime of Enga

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post #27 of 29
2/26/13 at 12:11pm

Kendra_83, I know I am dipping in, but there are places where I have worked that didn't look as half as good as yours and their princes were ridiculously high.

 

I have to give it to you your are very talented, I really like the cake with the rosettes, beautiful, my dear you have everything you need to charge whatever you want.  I could only hope to become as good as you , because fondant work is not as easy as it looks,  and I'm still trying.

 

So good luck to you.

"Every person has something of value and must be treated with respect. Even a person who brings fleas into the house may be of value one day, because those fleas might awake you when your life is in danger.”  by Takime of Enga

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"Every person has something of value and must be treated with respect. Even a person who brings fleas into the house may be of value one day, because those fleas might awake you when your life is in danger.”  by Takime of Enga

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post #28 of 29
2/26/13 at 12:58pm

icon_eek.gif old thread, sorry
 

"Every person has something of value and must be treated with respect. Even a person who brings fleas into the house may be of value one day, because those fleas might awake you when your life is in danger.”  by Takime of Enga

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"Every person has something of value and must be treated with respect. Even a person who brings fleas into the house may be of value one day, because those fleas might awake you when your life is in danger.”  by Takime of Enga

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post #29 of 29
2/27/13 at 11:54am

Kendra,

         I am a beginner, however I am very critical.In NY, where I live it is very competitive. Charge more. I have seen work that cost more for work that isn't as neat. I am having the problem of friends wanting FREE or offering what they want to pay. I refuse. I am not as good as you, but like you said the cost of supplies aren't cheap. I hope to be as good as you soon. But you have to be compensated for your time. I used a few pointers on here. I look at other ppl prices so I am competitive n if ppl dont want to pay u need to network with new clients you have the pockets to supply the needs. One thing is stop posting were u got your supplies from n letting the client calculate the costs n learning ur tips and tricks. But this is just a suggestion ...

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