Do People Really Think We Are Going To Give Them A Free Cake.

Business By LovelyCakes4Us Updated 10 Mar 2013 , 6:01pm by Spireite

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LovelyCakes4Us Posted 8 Mar 2013 , 3:07am
post #1 of 20

AHere are my most recent inquirys,

Wedding cake for 300 guest their budget 500.00! Big #1 cake to feed 40 their budget 30.00! Wedding cake (serious details!) Guest 250 budget 500.00! Very detailed crib cake to serve 50 budget 100! Dozen of pink flower cupcakes budget 12.00!

This is only the last two weeks! So very annoying. Small rant

19 replies
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melanie-1221 Posted 8 Mar 2013 , 3:35am
post #2 of 20

I feel your pain...

This week I was asked to

1.Donate 200 cupcakes to a charity event .

2.Donate a wedding cake gift certificate for a silent auction at another charity event.

 

2 orders ~ $0

thumbsdown.gif

 

I love to donate but lately I am being asked for for pretty pricey stuff.

I have backed my business down to friends and family until my son starts school and having no regrets yet.

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LoveMeSomeCake615 Posted 8 Mar 2013 , 4:01pm
post #3 of 20

My favorite is when they tell you their budget, you come up with a price in that budget, and then they tell you it's too expensive. Whaaaa??? icon_confused.gif

 

This lady called me last week and said she wanted to come in to our shop this week with some pictures of what she wanted for her son's birthday cake. She told me her budget was about $50. I stopped her right there and told her that our most basic custom cake for 20 servings starts at $50 and goes up from there depending on design. So she then tells me, ok well I can go as high as $100, but definitely no more than $150. Ok, we should be able to work with that. So she brings in what she wants, a sheet cake with a character on top. I quoted her $90 for a 9X13 (double layer, we don't do single layer sheets) iced in bc with a buttercream transfer of the character (very detailed image, not a simple BCT). She responds that it's too much and that I had told her a shaped cake would be $60 (Whaaa??? Where did she get that from??? I NEVER said that. Our shaped cakes start at $250) so why would a sheet cake be $90. 

 

Why do people equate "sheet cake" with "cheap"??? It's the same amount of cake whether it's in a square, round, or rectangle. Sheesh. icon_mad.gif

 

So that's how my morning started. Yay. Thanks for letting me vent! icon_wink.gif

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Jimmyca Posted 8 Mar 2013 , 4:07pm
post #4 of 20

I can relate. They don't take into account the amount of work, details and time it takes to create a cake to feed a certain amount of people. Most of us are under charging because we don't add how much our time is worth. I had a client this week ask for a crib cake to feed about 75-100 people. Based on my servings fomula ($4.00 a serving) 75 people is about $300.00 which doesn't include the detail and work involved.

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Roseyrod Posted 8 Mar 2013 , 4:19pm
post #5 of 20

I was asked if I would do a 3 tier fondant wedding cake with gumpaste tigerlilys and calla lilys for a young couple from their church probono.  What?????? This from someone who is just an acquaintance and I do not attend her church and I do not know the couple!!!!

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LovelyCakes4Us Posted 8 Mar 2013 , 11:54pm
post #6 of 20

Relieved to know i am not crazy for being so upset about it lol!! Why waist our time with multi emails and pics after i quote to then say its to expensive! Ugh the nerve

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scrumdiddlycakes Posted 9 Mar 2013 , 12:30am
post #7 of 20
Quote:
Originally Posted by Roseyrod 

I was asked if I would do a 3 tier fondant wedding cake with gumpaste tigerlilys and calla lilys for a young couple from their church probono.  What?????? This from someone who is just an acquaintance and I do not attend her church and I do not know the couple!!!!


They were asking you to do it for free??? wow.

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Annabakescakes Posted 9 Mar 2013 , 12:47am
post #8 of 20

I am so soft hearted, but when I did cakes for huge discounts, or free in the past, when I got to the venue, I could see that the cake was the only thing they were scrimping on.... You look at the linens, and chair coverings and the wedding dress, and the stretched limo, and see why there was no budget for cake! A-holes....

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IAmPamCakes Posted 9 Mar 2013 , 2:41am
post #9 of 20

AI had that problem with my boyfriend's friend who got married. Months before the wedding, we hung out and had a tasting. They pretty much knew what flavor they wanted, so it was no big deal. Then I told them that a wedding cake would START at $3/serving. We designed a cake, I gave sheet cake options, and told them the potential cost. Ok. Days later, te groom calls me to say they can't afford $600 for a cake so were going to Costco for sheet cakes, and could I make a smallcake for the wedding party that could be photographed. I made a 2 tier (1 dummy tier) cake for them. On delivery (my BF was in the wedding, so I was also a guest) they were having their wedding in one of the most expensive venues, expensive orchids, nice linens, and expensive catering service. I was going to charge them only ingredient cost for the cake. After all was said & done, I just gifted the cake to them so I wouldn't be bitter about not getting paid anything.

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JWinslow Posted 9 Mar 2013 , 4:23am
post #10 of 20

Yesterday I was asked to duplicate my avatar pic for $30.  I must tell you that I deserve an award for the best acting. " Gasp, cough - I'm sorry I have something caught in my throat - cough, cough."  When I gave her the price she told me with attitude that she could get it cheaper at the grocery store.  With a very polite smile I borrowed a line from another thread on CC - "you can get a cake at the grocery store but you Can't get That cake"  Thank you to whoever said it first!!!!!!!!

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winky1073 Posted 9 Mar 2013 , 4:39am
post #11 of 20

How about a very detailed 3 tier Mickey Mouse cake with each tier a different flavor, and 48 cupcakes with 3 additional flavors. Budget $175.00icon_eek.gif

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mccantsbakes Posted 9 Mar 2013 , 9:34am
post #12 of 20

I am an aspiring baker.   I have been doing cakes for nothing for a while...building my skills, getting my name out there among my peers.  Due to personal economic challenges I cannot give my cakes away anymore.    So yesterday I made a batch of cupcakes for a friend who was "paying"   Since I am new to all of this I wasn't sure what to charge so I told her that I would charge for materials and anything extra would be a "tip"  (mistake....yes I know!)

so my materials cost 29 dollars for these 40 gourmet cupcakes (2 types, white chocolate raspberry with white chocolate mousse frosting and fresh raspberry compote filling with SMB inside...the other was cookies and cream)   These were from scratch.   They took me all afternoon to make.   I get to the party, everyone raves over them and wants my number....yay!    The friend who commissioned them paid me 40 dollars total.    

 

I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.   I still don't.  (I am leaning toward crying).  So my 5 hours of hard work equated to 2 bucks and hour.    Seriously?!!!    Yes.   My fault.   I should have set a price (lesson learned there!)  

the kicker?    It was a Tupperware party where I ended up buying 80 bucks worth of stuff. (The paying friend is the Tupperware consultant so essentially what she paid for the cupcakes literally just got paid back to her from me via commission)   Can I get the chump of the day award?! 

 

I feel defeated by this.  I am bitter (mostly at myself). It makes me feel worthless and kind of taken advantage of.   (But I allowed it)  

 

I am not looking for sympathy or tough love on this, I just needed to rant to a community that understands.....most of my people look at me like I am nuts because they think 40 bucks for 40 cupcakes is high anyway.     

 

Needless to say, I cannot keep stabbing myself in the foot taking on projects that devalue me.  And for goodness sake I cannot buy Tupperware anymore!   

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cazza1 Posted 9 Mar 2013 , 10:42am
post #13 of 20

And I wonder how many of them go out to cafes for coffee and cake and pay quite happily?

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BakingIrene Posted 9 Mar 2013 , 8:41pm
post #14 of 20
Quote:
Originally Posted by IAmPamCakes 

I had that problem with my boyfriend's friend who got married. Months before the wedding, we hung out and had a tasting. They pretty much knew what flavor they wanted, so it was no big deal. Then I told them that a wedding cake would START at $3/serving. We designed a cake, I gave sheet cake options, and told them the potential cost. Ok. Days later, te groom calls me to say they can't afford $600 for a cake so were going to Costco for sheet cakes, and could I make a smallcake for the wedding party that could be photographed. I made a 2 tier (1 dummy tier) cake for them. On delivery (my BF was in the wedding, so I was also a guest) they were having their wedding in one of the most expensive venues, expensive orchids, nice linens, and expensive catering service.
I was going to charge them only ingredient cost for the cake. After all was said & done, I just gifted the cake to them so I wouldn't be bitter about not getting paid anything.

Sure.  Couples get really carried away by all the frills that add up...and the poor cake comes last and there are only pennies per person to spend.  You have to be really hardnosed to sit there and say to vendors, "good food comes ahead of fancy frills".

 

The only exception is when we cake makers make our own wedding ckaes.  Then, people show up expecting to have at least 3 slices if you say there are three flavours. And you know, there always seems to be enough cake at those parties...

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DeliciousDesserts Posted 9 Mar 2013 , 11:04pm
post #15 of 20

A

Original message sent by JWinslow

Yesterday I was asked to duplicate my avatar pic for $30.  I must tell you that I deserve an award for the best acting. " Gasp, cough - I'm sorry I have something caught in my throat - cough, cough."  When I gave her the price she told me with attitude that she could get it cheaper at the grocery store.  With a very polite smile I borrowed a line from another thread on CC - "you can get a cake at the grocery store but you Can't get That cake"  Thank you to whoever said it first!!!!!!!!

Omg! I've been quoted!! Love it!

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Denise Posted 10 Mar 2013 , 12:44am
post #16 of 20

I like that quote!!

 

If you don't value your work neither will your customers because "it is only cake". 

 

I just delivered a peacock cake for a bride that shelled out what I asked for the cake - venue was gorgeous - those are the kinds of brides I like.

 

Hubby and I went to eat at Applebee's right after we delivered the cake.  Their cakes/brownies were $5.49 each.  That is not a cake that is stacked up, painted up, fluffed up into the design the bride chose, in the flavor she chose and delivered to be the center piece of their reception!  I told Barry that if someone took 200 people to Applebee's for desert would they expect to pay $100? 

 

Not hardly.  And they won't at Cakes So Special either!
 

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JWinslow Posted 10 Mar 2013 , 12:57am
post #17 of 20
Quote:
Originally Posted by DeliciousDesserts 


Omg! I've been quoted!! Love it!


Oh THANK YOU!  It was a really nice way to open her eyes.  The women wasn't offended but she couldn't swing the $$ this time - maybe someday - HA!

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sugarjones Posted 10 Mar 2013 , 1:56pm
post #18 of 20
Quote:
Originally Posted by Annabakescakes 

I am so soft hearted, but when I did cakes for huge discounts, or free in the past, when I got to the venue, I could see that the cake was the only thing they were scrimping on.... You look at the linens, and chair coverings and the wedding dress, and the stretched limo, and see why there was no budget for cake! A-holes....


Ugh!! I hear ya!! I am not so soft hearted, however :-) I don't negotiate pricing, it is what it is. If someone wants a lower price they will get less cake, less decorations, etc.

And while I'm on this tangent, who the heck is telling brides that dummy cakes are super cheap? I have to explain this all the time! If you have a kitchen cake (we don't do sheet cakes) for 400 people and have a 6 tiered styrofoam cake on display, you are still paying for the labor and materials of decorating the thing (actually more because I will charge you for the styro!)! I don't just magically have a display cake that looks exactly like the cake you showed me to rent for 30 bucks! haha

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IAmPamCakes Posted 10 Mar 2013 , 5:23pm
post #19 of 20

AI agree on the dummies. I worked with a person who did the dummy & sheet cake thing, and I could never wrap my head around it. Not only do I have to make the dummy cake look how you want, I still have to bake enough cake separately to feed your guests. I was ranting once about this idea, so I sat down and did all the math. I think it actually does come out cheaper to make kitchen cakes & dummies. I can't remember how I did it, but a bride could save a few bucks, the way the person I worked with did it. How does everyone else feel about the dummy/kitchen cake set up?

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Spireite Posted 10 Mar 2013 , 6:01pm
post #20 of 20
Quote:
Originally Posted by IAmPamCakes 

I agree on the dummies. I worked with a person who did the dummy & sheet cake thing, and I could never wrap my head around it. Not only do I have to make the dummy cake look how you want, I still have to bake enough cake separately to feed your guests.
I was ranting once about this idea, so I sat down and did all the math. I think it actually does come out cheaper to make kitchen cakes & dummies. I can't remember how I did it, but a bride could save a few bucks, the way the person I worked with did it.
How does everyone else feel about the dummy/kitchen cake set up?

But surely it costs more to ice and decorate a tier, than just plainly ice a kitchen/sheet/cutting cake?

My wedding cake was 3 tiers of fruit on pillars, and an extra layer in the kitchen to be cut first. The kitchen cake had plain white royal icing on it, the tiers were white RI with lilac RI flower buds on.  So there was no point  icing the kitchen cake to the same level of decoration.  Whilst none of my cake had a dummy layer, I wanted to be sure to have enough to feed all my guests on the day, and send slices to people unable to make the day itself...AND have some left over for me and the husband to eat after our honeymoon.  We fed 170+ and had the whole top 6" layer plus half of the 8" layer left for us to enjoyicon_biggrin.gif I like eating rich fruit cake icon_biggrin.gif

 

Looking back to your colleague, maybe she could ice ahead of time a perfect wedding cake (on dummies) and then 'only' had to bake sheet cakes to serve that didn't necessarily need to be as perfect.  I much prefer icing a fruit cake as the time pressure is off.

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