hey i need some opinions on this one... i recently had 2 seperate cake orders from friends at work. the first wanted a half sheet cake with a "leaf" on the top, the second wanted a soccer themed cake for her daughter's b-day. i couldn't find a soccer set that had anything except men playing soccer...so i asked her if a soccer ball would be okay,she told me to go for it but she didn't want a 3-d ball for fear of driving home with it. so i made a 10 in round base and a 6 in round soccer top. i thought it was alright.. the half sheet cake didn't rise as much as it should have(not enough batter most likely) so i baked a second cake and made the "leaf" cake a 2 layer.. this was my mistake so i ate the extra cost..however ,when i took them to their respectful owners (they both paid 25.00 as agreed to when ordered) the soccer mom was a little put out. another friend later said that i "ripped off" the soccermom!! i have always done FREE cakes for people at work for special occasions,but b4 this alot were coming up to me and wanting cakes (creative ones at that!) just for asking..so to avoid hurt feelings i decided and let every one know that i could not afford to do free cakes any more unless it was something that i felt the need to do(serious special occasions)....anyway now the cakes that i charge for(about 1.00 a serving) have to be VERY creative in order to compete with the cakes that i did for free!!
so.... the following is a pick of the soccer ball cake would you pay 25.00 for this?? i have since "made it up" to the soccermom and made a mermaid cake that i only charged 25.00 for(including the ballerina barbie)

It has been said before and I'll say it again. People who don't make cakes have NO idea what goes into making one. I don't think $25 was too much at all. You cannot go to the grocery store or Wal-Mart and get a cake like that. You'll pay $25 or more and the cake might have some plastic figures or airbrushed rainbow or something and it will not taste very good. You were very good to "make it up to her" with the other cake, but don't let people guilt you about taking money for your cakes. The cost of ingredients adds up quickly and the time and effort you put into it is well worth the cost. The problem is our "friends"/coworkers get used to our free goodies. My thing is, if I want to do it for free, fine. If not, don't expect it because I don't see them bringing in homemade goodies every week! It is a great cake. She should be grateful it only cost $25.

Were the layers single or double on the soccer cake?

I'm with rvallee,

She is lucky she paid $25.00!! I would have charged $35.00

That cake is worth more that $25. Please. For that size are you crazy. She got a deal.

In my opinion you undercharged her. I would've told the soccermom to go find a cheaper, better tasting cake somewhere else if she felt she paid too much. Some people can be so ignorant. You probably put a lot of time into that cake and you definately did not deserve to have that thrown in your face. Did she expect you to give it to her for free??

YOU DID NOT RIP HER OFF. . . HER AND HER LITTLE FRIENDS SHOULD TRY MAKING THAT TYPE OF CAKE AND THEN WE'LL SEE IF THEY THINK $25 WAS A RIP OFF. . . THE NERVE OF THEM! tHAT WAS A GREAT DEAL!WHAT ABOUT YOUR TIME & EFFORT, THAT DOES NOT COST ANYTHING TO THEM OBVIOUSLY! I WOULDN'T MAKE THAT FOR ANY LESS THAN $40.
SEND HER MY WAY AND I'LL TELL HER WHERE SHE CAN GO!
HONESTLY, DON'T MAKE HER ANY MORE CAKES, IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE SHE VALUES YOU, YOUR WORK, OR YOUR TIME. INGREDIENTS ALONE CAN BE ABOUT HALF THE AMOUNT YOU CHARGED!
AHHHH! SITUATIONS LIKE THIS REALLY TICK ME OFF. NEXT TIME TELL HER YOUR ALREADY BOOKED, TELL HER TO GO TO THE SUPERMARKET SINCE SHE LIKES CHEAP CAKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

very nicely said alengirl!!

Something like this happened to me recently. I agree wtih everyone who has posted. You did this lady a favor by giving her a low price. If she had gone anywhere else it would have been more. People don't relize that cake deorating can take hours from baking to the finished product. If the woman didn't like the cake, she has the option to go somewhere else. I am sure you will find other customers that appricate your time and hard work.

thanks so much to everyone who replied to my fussin'. i feel SO much better now that i've gotten your feed back!! i thought i might have been gettin a big head ....but now i know... like it or leave it their choice.. you guys are great!!! thanks so much

I think the soccer cake is really cute and feel 25.00 is most appropriate. I actually usually charge 30.00 for my 10 in. round. The friend/co-worker is a difficult issue. There are certain people that I just do not charge...and I know that before I make their cake. In return...those people have always sent me other customers. Try not to let people make you feel guilty!
Traci

nothing like a good "she said it was too much story" to get us going huh!!!!

goodthing we have each other to vent to

Hey Tabs, & Everyone Else too!

All I can Say is "WHAT NERVE". Just the time alone that you spent making the Soccer ball PERFECT was worth the $25.00 . Ugggghhhh People. I think you went WAY Above and Beyond on Making it Up to her. I would have called her on it and said Well I am sorry you feel this way but this is something you should have come to me with for starters. and then I would have had to have said If you are not happy with my work or my prices I think it would be better if you find someone else to do your cakes because I can't afford to GIVE them away, Heck I am Going UP! hahaha.. I can't believe people. "ALWAYS WANTING SOMETHING FOR NOTHING." ugghhh.. that bugs me all by itself.

Good Luck!

~Sweet~

I am with everyone else. You did go out of your way by "making it up" to her. But don't make that a regular policy. She is likely to tell people that if they fuss enough that you you will do a "make up" for them, too. No one understands what we do and what it takes to do it, except other decorators. I wouldn't do anything else for this lady, even if she begged me. Just my honest opinion!

Tanya

I think you were UNDER PAID, this has happened to me at work also. It's like well we work together so it should be free (WRONG) we don't get the stuff it takes to make these cakes free. Chin up and STOP the make up you are to kind to these whinners

I agree with everyone that you didn't overcharge but if each cake was a double layer, I think you should have charged even more like $35.

Just ask yourself...how much does your boss pay you per hour?

How many hours did you spend on that cake...thinking about your design...shopping for the ingredients, getting them together ..baking... excecuting your design...decorating...and delivery?

What's the minimum hourly wage in your part of the state???

Then do the math....