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Are people shocked at the prices of decorated cookies?

post #1 of 67
1/29/07 at 2:56am
Thread Starter 
I just posted to my Mommy group the cake I made for someone and almost immediately a member responded that she LOVED the cake and wondered if I could make 30 decorated cookies for the 31st of January!!!! (Ummm... short notice, batman!!!)

I've only done decorated cookies for home for the holidays and never even really ventured into any major details on cookies, so I would shy away from anything too intricate, but I still told her that a decorated cookie with any detail would be $2 to $3 a cookie depending on what size cutter she chooses.

I responded to her email late last night, so she probably hasn't seen the message yet, but I'm POSITIVE she (and most anyone else) would be in sticker shock at cookie prices, but they are SOOOOOOOOO much more work than cakes unless you are into super labor intensive fondant work (which I am NOT)...

Do you find that? Do people understand it once they start thinking about it? Who knows, maybe she'll decide that $60-$90 reasonable for a decorated cookie for her 6 year old to bring to school for her bday, but I SURE wouldn't!!!! NO WAY would I pay that for that... I told her $1 a cookie for simple iced cookies of her choice... was that too much? I still think that's spot on as I still have to mix, chill, roll, cut out, bake, ice and dry... LOTS of work involved, imo!!!

Melissa
Sweet Melissa's
Custom cakes made from scratch using organic ingredients
http://www.sweetmelissas.net/ http://sweetmelissas.blogspot.com/
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Sweet Melissa's
Custom cakes made from scratch using organic ingredients
http://www.sweetmelissas.net/ http://sweetmelissas.blogspot.com/
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post #2 of 67
1/29/07 at 3:02am
I thought it was high too, until I started decorating them. They take so much time. The baking part is easy, but the decorating sometimes takes two or three steps depending on the design.

I think 1.00 each is very reasonable and you will probably kick yourself when you finish for charging so little!!

Cindy
Laughter is the best medicine, chocolate is a close second!!
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Laughter is the best medicine, chocolate is a close second!!
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post #3 of 67
1/29/07 at 3:07am
Decorated cookies are lots of work! I had an enquiry about some for party favours, and I hummed and hawed over the price, but then worked out just how long it was going to take me, plus the costs of ingredients and the lustre dust and glitters I'll be using and finally said $4 each. The woman placed her order.

Don't ever sell yourself short on cookies, I often have! I have seen a person where I live charge a lot more than I do for much simpler decorated cookies (in fact almost as much as I have charged for the cookies above - for a cookie plainly decorated with just one colour!), so people must be willing to pay the price (but in all honesty, I wouldn't feel comfortable charging so much for such simple cookies!).
AKA: bonjovibabe
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AKA: bonjovibabe
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post #4 of 67
1/29/07 at 3:15am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by cindy6250

I thought it was high too, until I started decorating them. They take so much time. The baking part is easy, but the decorating sometimes takes two or three steps depending on the design.

I think 1.00 each is very reasonable and you will probably kick yourself when you finish for charging so little!!

Cindy



Well, $1 a cookie is for a one color icing, no detail of a 2-3 inch cookie... I would charge $1 an inch for detailed/piped cookies... and I dread doing it as who wants to make the same design over and over and over again? You guys are far more patient than I!

Melissa
Sweet Melissa's
Custom cakes made from scratch using organic ingredients
http://www.sweetmelissas.net/ http://sweetmelissas.blogspot.com/
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Sweet Melissa's
Custom cakes made from scratch using organic ingredients
http://www.sweetmelissas.net/ http://sweetmelissas.blogspot.com/
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post #5 of 67
1/29/07 at 3:34am
I never realized how long one cookie took until I made them. My first decorated cookie I sold, my cross cookies, were a simple design, but it does take alot of time nevertheless. I belive I chared arond $2 each for them - customer was thrilled with them.

deb
mom to Christine, John, Michele, Joseph & Peter......grandma to Zachary and Colette
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mom to Christine, John, Michele, Joseph & Peter......grandma to Zachary and Colette
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post #6 of 67
1/29/07 at 3:36am
we have a beautiful cookie here in town and they charge up to $5 a cookie.
Allison
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Allison
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post #7 of 67
1/29/07 at 3:42am
I have such a hard time with this too. I recently just had someone ask for 65 cross cookies for First Communion party favors in May. I'm going to give her a price this week but, I don't know how much I"m going to charge yet. icon_confused.gificon_redface.gificon_confused.gif
Keep on swimming...
If at first you don't succeed...try, try again.
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Keep on swimming...
If at first you don't succeed...try, try again.
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post #8 of 67
1/29/07 at 3:49am
PS, if you check out my pics and look at mine, was just a white cross with shell border and a small cross (dusted with gold lusterdust) in the center. I would say no less than $2 each as the border takes a bit of time. Truthfully I am doing them again for this weekend for my grandson's christening. Oh yeah, welcome to NJ.....where are you?

deb
mom to Christine, John, Michele, Joseph & Peter......grandma to Zachary and Colette
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mom to Christine, John, Michele, Joseph & Peter......grandma to Zachary and Colette
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post #9 of 67
1/29/07 at 3:58am
Starting price for me is $2.00 per cookie 1 dz minimum
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post #10 of 67
1/29/07 at 4:26am
I charge around $2.50 - $4.00 depending on the cookie and the size. Most times I'll offer a small discount for large orders. When shipping cookies there is always a "handling" fee to cover my packing materials. Some people don't blink an eye, some think they're inexpensive and others are shocked icon_eek.gif at the prices. They have NO idea how involved these cookies can get and how much time it takes to decorate each one.

I agree with bonjovibabe "don't ever sell yourself short".
"Do anything, but let it produce joy!"

~Henry Miller~
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"Do anything, but let it produce joy!"

~Henry Miller~
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post #11 of 67
1/29/07 at 4:26am
I struggle with this too! I guess I am not a business person. I charge $3 a cookie (check my pics for size), evem for the ones on sticks. I haven't had anyone say no yet but I am sure they are "talking" about the price as too much (am I paranoid??). However, I really can't sell for any less considering the time spent. I was really proud of myself when I gave a price to one of my friend's friends. I didn't go into my "justify the price" routine where I tell them the price and say it is because it is sooooo much work, etc. I just told her that they were $3 each and that was that. She placed the order. Don't sell yourself short. They could go to the local grocery store and buy a large (3plus inch) cookie and it would be at least $1 if not more. We all know what those cookies look like! These are specialty cookies. More of a gift not like a plate of chocolate chip cookies to put out at a party. No more justifying for me, $3 and that is that!!!!!!!
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post #12 of 67
1/29/07 at 6:53am
Thread Starter 
Well, the lady very nicely said that she didn't realize the labor that went into it and she'll contact me again in March when she needs a cake... but, she ends the message asking if I had some girly cookie cutters she could borrow!?!?!

WHAT???? She doesn't want to pay for my cookies, even the $1 simply iced ones, but she wants to borrow my cookie cutters... that takes some gall!!! Now I'm trying to figure out how to handle saying no and still keeping the door open to her for a future cake.... Though, she probably die at the $35 to $45 for a cake too!

Melissa
Sweet Melissa's
Custom cakes made from scratch using organic ingredients
http://www.sweetmelissas.net/ http://sweetmelissas.blogspot.com/
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Sweet Melissa's
Custom cakes made from scratch using organic ingredients
http://www.sweetmelissas.net/ http://sweetmelissas.blogspot.com/
Reply
post #13 of 67
1/29/07 at 6:56am
tell her you do not lend out your supplies...
direct her to ebay to get cookie cutters
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post #14 of 67
1/29/07 at 7:00am
Melissa,

Just simply say that you cannot loan out business equipment. Perhaps you could direct her to a few websites where she can buy some (and see the cost of really nice cookie cutters!!)

Kathi
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post #15 of 67
1/29/07 at 7:17am
Yes! The worst was a customer who kept changing the cookie design until they were giant daisies (5-inches) on florist tape covered sticks, individually wrapped. The cost of the cookies was more than TWICE that of the cake. She almost dropped dead! I gave her a coupon toward her next cake as a goodwill offering. No way was I going to back down on my price. She redeemed the coupon and has referred several customers to me so I guess in the end she understood.

If you don't value your work, no one will. Letting people bully you into lowering your prices sends a powerful message. I'd rather have the weekend off and retain my self respect than slave over an order that goes unappreciated.

And borrow your cookie cutters???? What a frootloop! I wonder how she cuts down on dentist expenses!
Peace,
Diane

Learn to make loopy bows here http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-629785-loopy.html
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Peace,
Diane

Learn to make loopy bows here http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-629785-loopy.html
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