Dummy Cake Price

Decorating By Janette Updated 31 Jan 2007 , 5:27am by tiggy2

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Janette Posted 31 Jan 2007 , 1:16am
post #1 of 20

I have a bride giving me a problem with pricing.

She needs a 14"square Dummy Cake and I don't know if you charge pp or by tier and what price?

19 replies
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nglez09 Posted 31 Jan 2007 , 1:34am
post #2 of 20

Let's see. . .

14" Square Dummy- $8.00

Icing for the dummy-$3.00

Fondant- $15.00

TOTAL: $26.00


It seems really expensive to make one. . .where am I going wrong? icon_redface.gif

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nglez09 Posted 31 Jan 2007 , 1:46am
post #3 of 20

BUMP.

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BrandisBaked Posted 31 Jan 2007 , 1:55am
post #4 of 20

I would charge the same price as if it were actual cake. There isn't much difference in the price of ingredients and the price of styrofoam - the money is in the time spent decorating. How much is that worth to you?

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nglez09 Posted 31 Jan 2007 , 2:08am
post #5 of 20

Well it does give 84 servings (don't worry, I'm not giving my servings but the number of servings Earlene suggests icon_wink.gif). So I guess $50 wouldn't really be too pricey for a dummy cake. . .although the customer may not think the same way. icon_cool.gif

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Janette Posted 31 Jan 2007 , 3:14am
post #6 of 20

I didn't know better and the only thing I could think of is $.50 pp.

It came out to $31.50 which I thought was fair.

She bulked at the price. I tried to explain that it still has to be decorated the same.

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mjs4492 Posted 31 Jan 2007 , 3:20am
post #7 of 20

Janette:
Thank you for this post!!!
I've been asked to do some dummy cakes for a store-owner opening a full bakery in May and I had absolutely NO IDEA how to go about charging her for them.

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TexasSugar Posted 31 Jan 2007 , 3:22am
post #8 of 20

With a dummy cake you don't have the baking, cooling and the torting part. But you replace that will finding the dummy and the cost of it.

You will still use the same amount of icing to decorate it and you will still use the same amount of time dercorating it. I also sometimes find dummy cakes harder to handle since they are so light weight.

I would definetely charge very close to what I would for a real cake. Just because it is not cake under the icing does not mean it should be cheap.

If she balked at $32 I'd let her go and see if she can find someone else to do it for her. It will take time away from your family and your life for very little in return.

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mjs4492 Posted 31 Jan 2007 , 3:25am
post #9 of 20

Where's the best place to look for dummy cakes?

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BrandisBaked Posted 31 Jan 2007 , 3:54am
post #10 of 20

Try finding a local craft store with a cake decorating section, or you can find them online. I've ordered several from a supplier in Utah - but why pay so much shipping for styrofoam if you can find it local?

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jenncowin Posted 31 Jan 2007 , 3:58am
post #11 of 20

At the bake shoppe that I used to work at, we charged the same price for dummies that we did for real cake. The owner felt that the same amount of time went into it regardless of if it was eaten or not.

Personally, I think I would go half of what it would be per slice if it were real cake. Just my opinion.

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mjs4492 Posted 31 Jan 2007 , 4:00am
post #12 of 20

brandibakes:
I have looked everywhere! One cake decorating shop about 45 mins away from me did offer to order them for me. The prices were a bit outrageous though.
Thought there was somewhere online I could check. icon_smile.gif

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mjs4492 Posted 31 Jan 2007 , 4:14am
post #14 of 20

Thanks tiggy!!!!!!!!!

Bookmarked it! thumbs_up.gif

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loveqm Posted 31 Jan 2007 , 4:20am
post #15 of 20

wow... I don't know about ya'll but those prices for dummies are the cheapest that I've seen so far...

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mjs4492 Posted 31 Jan 2007 , 4:47am
post #16 of 20

just found another site for online purchasing:
"dallasfoam, inc."

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Janette Posted 31 Jan 2007 , 5:14am
post #17 of 20

Wow, those are good prices.

Thanks Twiggy

If you think about it charging half is resonable.

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nglez09 Posted 31 Jan 2007 , 5:23am
post #18 of 20

WOW. The site I looked at sold ONE cake dummy for more than half of the price of the set! Thanks!

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babyscake Posted 31 Jan 2007 , 5:27am
post #19 of 20

I love this site!! I cant get enough of it! And they make custom orders!!!!

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tiggy2 Posted 31 Jan 2007 , 5:27am
post #20 of 20

You're welcome, glad it was helpful.

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