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Are people shocked at the prices of decorated cookies? - Page 3

post #31 of 67
1/29/07 at 10:31am
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post #32 of 67
1/29/07 at 10:34am
I tell customers up front that I have a minimum $35 setup fee - they can get 1 dozen fabulously decorated cookies or 3 dozen simple ones - just depends on how custom they want to get. I actually enjoy the challenge of a new design and making my own cutters, but I don't think I charge enough either. But I do love making them so much, it really doesn't bother me. I have recently learned to decline orders when I am already overbooked or just want some family time. I hate doing it, but after saying yes to everyone everytime, it feels good to have some down-time, too. I cannot believe she asked for your cutters! I have a friend who I occasionally loan mine to, and I know she would reciprocate if I needed one of hers, however I don't feel we are competing against each other. But a customer asking to borrow? Why don't you just sell them to her for $19.99 a piece! LOL She might realize the investment you;ve made in your craft! Good luck with the cake order... I'd send her an email with your new and improved price list...
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post #33 of 67
1/29/07 at 10:36am
Oh that is just incredible. Turned down her order b/c of price but wants to borrow the cutters? She should hunt them down herself and buy them. She wants 'nice custom cookies' but doesn't want to pay for them? I had the same problem feeling guilty about cookie prices. Went with 1.50 each and with how long they took I got way less than minimun wage out of it! I started feeling VERY bitter about getting ripped off even though I quoted the price myself. My own fault. But for next time - think of this: (like I will too) If they are on a budget, they can go to kroger - or roll out refridgerated dough. But if they want SPECIAL and CUSTOM then they need to PAY for special and custom!
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post #34 of 67
1/29/07 at 11:20am
I've only done 3 orders for decorated cookies! First order for a friend's DD wedding favors; charged $1 per cookies and made 360 of them. After I was done I realized that they got a HUGE bargin and I got an aching back!! Second order for 2 dozen was for a DF, no charge! Third order was for an acquaintance of the DF and I balked at charging her $1.50 per cookie but after doing 50 of the coffee mug cookies (3"x4"), I finally got it that I am definately not charging enough!! She didn't bat an eye at $75 for 50 cookies and I thought I'd ripped her off charging that much! Price is now $2-5 per cookie!! It only took me three orders to "get the picture"!!!
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post #35 of 67
1/29/07 at 11:26am
Wow, just finished reading all the posts in this thread. And I must say... I can't believe the nerve of that woman! LOL. She must be crazy, heehee.

I charge $15.00 for a 3 cookie bouquet and individual cookies are $1 an inch with a 50 cent extra charge for bagging & tagging. I use to think I charged WAY too much but then I checked CbyD and they charge about $3-$5 more than I do for their bouquets, so that made me feel a little better. When I think of how much time and effort goes into cookies, I think it justifies the higher prices most definitely thumbs_up.gif
~ ~ Melanie
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~ ~ Melanie
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post #36 of 67
1/29/07 at 11:28am
No less than $4.00 a cookie unless the cutter you use is very small (2 inches or less). I always charge $4.00 a cookie and nobody bats an eye. There is waaay too much work involved in decorating cookies to charge any less. The only way I could see charging a bit less is if the cookie is covered with one color of icing with no piping or other details - and even then, I would not charge less than $3.00 a cookie.
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post #37 of 67
1/29/07 at 11:33am
$1.00 per cookie is too low, even if it is a simple iced one. Walk into any Arby's, Subway, or other place that has those little cookie displays by the register. You are going to pay a MINIMUM of $0.79 to $1.79 for a mass produced, chocolate chip that's been sitting around for a few days. Compared to your custom made, multi-step, definitely will taste better iced cookie? Starbucks is even more.

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post #38 of 67
1/29/07 at 11:39am
My 3" cookies are 2.50 and go up .50 per inch. Sometimes I think that is nto even enough. Cookies really do take a long time. Do not under price or you will be wondering what did you get yourself into.

Last year I did a cookie fundraiser for the pre-k. I had 2 5 1/2 inch cookis that could have a name piped on them. I only charged $5.00 for 2, then I gave the school 30%, after the costs of cookie, bag and bow..I think I made like .25 per cookie. And I sold 286 cookies......all individually personalized. Horrible!!!

Don't under price...and no bakeries do not loan out their equipment. What if you got a real order?

Good luck

Julia
www.sweetjulias.com
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post #39 of 67
1/29/07 at 8:28pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by soccermom17

Well, I must be doing something VERY wrong. Last week I filled an order for 4 dozen cut outs, iced and I charged $20. It was the SIMPLE icing, basketball, football, football helmet and trophy cup. I charged her the platter price for 4 dozen $15, and then added $5 to frost. She absolutely loved them. Our kids go to school together, etc. and she'll be ordering a cake in April too. If I do some cookies for a wedding, with the royal icing and lots of detail, then I'm charging $2 a piece. Maybe I'm off my rocker with my charging $20, but I'm in a REALLY small town, and am trying to grow my client base, and I really enjoy decorating the cakes and cookies too!



I live in a small town too. I charge $10/dozen for decorated cookies. I've had people balk at that price. I think it's very reasonable (on the verge of dirt cheap) considering the size of the cookie and the amount of detail. I must say I am kind of shocked at the $2 & up per cookie.... but I'm thinking I need to adjust my prices.
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Mama of 3... girls...4 and 1 boy if you count the dogs!

Presley 10, Cora 8, Tessa 8
Scarlett & Bing (the dogs)

"Let them eat Cake!!"
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post #40 of 67
1/30/07 at 3:20am
Here is a very dumb question to start the day, and one I have seen asked but never answered before, how do you determine the measurements of a cookie? icon_redface.gif Do you measure height then width, add the numbers and divide by two, or just height (top to bottom)? or do you measure diagonally? Take a heart cookie for instance, it may be wider than tall, so which way do you measure? See, told you it was a dumb question? icon_eek.gif

deb
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mom to Christine, John, Michele, Joseph & Peter......grandma to Zachary and Colette
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post #41 of 67
1/30/07 at 3:41am
You know what I find hilarious about this world we live in....people will go to a cookie shop in the mall and buy a plain chocolate chip cookie for $1 and up, but wouldquestion the price per cookie if someone made it at home that has more detail put on it....SMH at that. I haven't had that problem because I haven't done cookies for a paying customer, but I know someone out there has had that problem.
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Anybody with artistic ability can make a cake look beautiful, but it takes someone with the heart and soul of a "true baker" to get in the kitchen, bake from scratch, and make that cake taste good.
~~~~Deeva~~~~
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post #42 of 67
1/30/07 at 4:57am
I measure actually the cutter. I take the width and I take the height. I choose he large of the two. I usually give them the 3 inch price if it is under 3 3/4 at the largest point. I also round down if it is very thin. I try think of how much dough a 3 x 3 cookie would use then I judge by the.

Thanks
Julia
www.sweetjulias.com
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post #43 of 67
1/30/07 at 6:20am
I've only had one real order for cookies, it was a large order all the same in a simple design bagged and I got about $1.30 a cookie. I live in a small town area with a high unemployment rate but I figure that if people aren't willing to pay what I charge than they don't need the cookies. My MIL feels that I charge too much for the area but I guess my feeling is that it isn't worth it to do unless I'm getting enough for my time.
The only other "order" I've had was from my son's teachers for their Christmas program, they wanted 5 dozen decorated cookies. I charged them $20 to cover my ingredients because it was for my son's class.
I know that I wouldn't pay what I charge for cookies, my husband would throw a fit (he'd also throw a fit if I charged less than what I have) but that's why I decorate them myself.
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post #44 of 67
1/30/07 at 6:49am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mbelgard

.....I know that I wouldn't pay what I charge for cookies.....



Man, I know the feeling! Our plain 'ole chocolate chip and snickerdoodles are $4.50 a dozen (and based on conversations in CC, this is too low!). I'm sitting here thinking, "Holy cow those are expensive!" but when we tell people the price, they say, "Is that ALL?????"

One client refers to them as "gourmet" cookies and I stopped her immediately. I think the term "gourmet" is pretentious and I have yet to find an actual definition of what "gourmet" is. So from I can see, there are some out there who are just slappin' that lable on their products for ..... whatever reason. Are they "gourmet"? Who knows?
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post #45 of 67
1/30/07 at 7:01am
After reading this post and checking out all of your cookies, I have to say...They are amazing!
Donna
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Donna
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