Is It Just Me Or Are Some Customers Clueless???
Decorating By cakelady2266 Updated 1 Dec 2010 , 4:50am by cakelady2266
This is driving me crazy!!! I'm not trying to disrespect all the cake shows and the popularity of cake in general but I going to lose it. Since the cake shows and competitions have become so popular everyone is obsessed with cake, which is great for business. Here is my problem..... people are wanting 3 or 4 tier birthday cakes with tons of work on them but they don't understand that they have to pay more than say $25 for a cake like that when they only want to serve 20 people. I explain to them that a 3 tier cake (6,8 and 10) will serve 75 people so if they want a cake that large it will cost more. Then I get this reply....well we really want a 3 or 4 tier but we only want to serve 20 and our cake budget is only $30. I then recommend they cut the cake size down to a 2 tier to serve that number and the cost will be closer to their budget.
I don't understand how people don't get it....if you want something bigger it will cost more than something smaller. Any cake that has just a ton of work will also add to the price. That is pretty much the rule of anything not just cake.
Personally, I would LOVE to know what some of those cakes sell for that are featured on Cake Boss, Amazing Wedding Cakes and the other TLC cake shows. People would just FLIP hearing what those types of creations actually cost the customers and I'm sure they would be tossing out the old "OMG, it's just CAKE!" 
I think the minimum cost for a cake done by Duff on Ace of Cakes is $1000. Pretty sure I read that somewhere :s
Hi, I just took a peak at your cakes, they are beautiful. I sure do hope you are charging a lot more than $30 for even a one tier cake.
Good luck.
I love how Fabulous Wedding cakes actually does throw the price out so everyone can see!!! Yes, sometimes cakes DO cost thousands of dollars!!
Amen.....folks I swear. I did hear that Ace of Cakes minimum is $1000 and that was a basic cake. What kind of people pay that for basic cake? If people had any idea what goes into some cakes maybe I wouldn't be about to pull my hair out.
I've been doing cakes for 21 years and back in the day cakes were not as far out there. Most people would ask for a character cake for kids birthdays or a sheet cake for a baby shower. But now that cakes are much more detailed and larger people need to get on the bus about price.
I spend as much or more time on birthday or shower cakes as I do on a wedding cake and I make a whole hell of a lot less. Most people expect to pay a good bit for a wedding cake because it is a once in a life time event, birthdays are a every year thing.
Oh and I just love it when the big idea with a low budget clients pick up their cake and they are driving BMW, Lexus and Mercedes, they are dressed in designer clothes and so are the kids and the dog. Got to love that.
I heard Duff just upped his minimum to $1500.
You guys might like this: The other day I was browsing in Barnes and Noble and noticed a book about Buddy and Carlos' Bakery. Basically his whole story. So I'm paging through and I notice a little chapter called "that should have been an episode". He told this story about how one morning everyone came into work to find a cooler door had been accidentally left open overnight. The cakes in there that were for pick up/delivery that day were ruined. He said it was around 5 wedding cakes so his team had to scramble to get them all done in time. And he did mention how much they were! He said they were each to feed about 400 people, costing around $4000 each. That's $10 a serving.
Just nice to know he mentioned that!
I don't know how much they'd listen, but I want to write to the producers of some of the cake show and see if they will include the prices of the cakes. Some people expect the world on penny budget.
I totally agree with putting the prices on the cakes on tv. And I want people to realize that just because the cake isn't for a wedding it doens't mean that its not as much work.
I actually find that birthday cakes can be more time involved.
I recently read an article, I believe in the Cake Central Magazine, on how to explain to your customers why custom cakes are so expensive.
Especially with weddings, people are surprised how much it costs to feed their guests. It mentions that $4 might not seem like alot for a cup of coffee, but buying that for 100 people...and you hear, "$400 for coffee?" And $4 per serving for a specialty cake is even on the low side. People pay at least this for a specialty dessert at restaurants.
The same goes with cakes...people rarely buy dessert, or anything for that matter, for this many people. As we all know, they're shocked when they hear the price. They say, "...for a cake?!?!" They simply do not know all that goes into it. And although the cake shows are fueling the industry, they make it seem as though they can be done in an hour. They don't show you that most of those cakes have components that are worked on for weeks in advance. As you all said, they also rarely show the prices. I'll try to post a link to the article on here. It was so wonderful, I printed it out and now give it to all my prospective brides or family members who say, "...for a cake?!?" 
A standing ovation to all the replies!! 
I couldn't agree more. I love how popular the cake shows are, but come on people. I am ONE woman in a kitchen with a regular full time job and a family. I'm sure if I had a staff to prep my pans, bake, level, fill and crumb coat my cakes (not to mention clean up!!) I'm sure I could whip out your 3 tier masterpiece for little suzie q's birthday in 30 min just like on tv, complete with molded figures and a rotating tiara on top. Yes, yes, I'm sure I could... 
Among my dreaded moments when a customer walked into the shop and said ......
Them: I want something really different!
Me: (uh-oh)
Them: And I just LUV that Aces of Cakes show!
Me: (UH-OH!)
Me: Oh me too! Did you know (said in a conspiratorial whisper) that his MINIMUM for a cake is $1000???? I've seen one of his thousand dollar cakes and let me tell you, those cakes you see on TV? They are not even CLOSE to a lousy thousand dollar cake. The good news is I'm not QUITE that expensive. Now ..... waht were you looking for?"
Another was a lady who wanted (what turned out to be) my film strip cake. She was a co-worker of hubby's. I ask "How much were you wanting to spend?" and I get the hem-haw thing. I interrupt her hemming with "Let me tell you up front that I don't have walmart pricing ..... but you are not going to get THIS cake at walmart. that's why we call them "CUSTOM" cakes."
One of the best things that happened to me while planning my wedding was one magazine finally listed the prices on some of the cakes they were showcasing.. I knew right then and there all the cakes I had clips for ideas were OUT! So when I went to meet w/ the cake ppl about design and such I did not have to look like a complete clueless azz.
The other thing is since I knew a head of time instead of while I was standing in the bakery for the consult I was not let down that I had a "simple" cake vs the kind you see in magazines (although I did find my design in a magazine!)
I had a woman ask me to do a cake for her company Christmas party. Wanted a 3D company logo with elves on either side and the elves having the characteristics of the owners. And only wanted to spend $50. Hahahahaha
Maybe she just wanted a topper
I agree with all this.
But I thought of another aspect too. Y'know how you might be planning a wedding and you know you can't afford to feed everyone a meal--now I've probably lost some people right there where some of us wouldn't dream of conducting a wedding reception without a full sit down meal.
Well there's another level of the economic strata that could only conduct a wedding with just a cake & punch reception. Therefore the cake is considered the economical choice. So there's that.
And not to mention there are enough of us who would do the company logo with elves in the likeness of the board of directors spinning straw into gold for .05 cents a serving apologizing all the way.
Just lamenting with you.
Long story short.....
Went out to dinner last night and another couple at the table were speaking to me about how their DD just lovesssssssss the cake shows on pay tv.
Really............ i say - assuming interest.
Oh yes, she would loveeeee one of those huge cakes she see's on tv from the States all the time for her next birthday.
And would you like it to be me who makes one of those huge cakes for her?
Oh, would you - that would be perfect - would you really?
Indeed i shall - just write a cheque out for $xxxx.xx and i am yours for April next year.
Whattttt - you want how much???
Chaaa Chinnnng ....I want $xxxx.xx
Why - you seem surprised - is there a problem?
Ummm, wow we didn't think you would charge that much.
Oh please - your joking ............ surely.
What, you think i am going to spend 3 days making that cake, yet charge you anything less -.............LOLLLLL - surely you jest...... 
Hmmmm, perhaps we shall speak to our DD and chat amongst ourselves.
Thats fine - and whilst you chat amongst yourselves i will get back to eating my cold mushroom and leek tart............. ok?
So cakers of Amercia do me a favour please...
Get those blasted shows off tv and whilst your at it - tell them Australia doesn't want them either.
Thanks in advance 
Bluehue
Well, you have heard about writing to your congressman...maybe we should all write a letter to Food Network requesting that a full listing of ingredients, time spent, and price tag be listed with these cakes. Maybe this would give some of the reality tv cake show viewers the REAL "reality" of these cakes. I'm personally getting tired of being approached by friends wanting monster cakes, but they want me to provide the ingredients out of my pocket to produce them for free. Some of these "friends" have only spoken to me on occasional passing. Give me a break...pay up or go to Wally World.
for thoes who wanted to know Cake Boss prices
Coppied from Carlos Bakery "CAKE BOSS" web site
What is the price range for specialty and wedding cakes?
Any specialty cake is priced per person; basic butter cream cakes start at $8.00 per person and go up from there. A good rule of thumb is to look at cakes that are featured in any magazines or publications; they are usually priced in the $12.00 to $18.00 range per person. The more elaborate, intricate, and time consuming the cake is, the greater price range you will be looking at.
Well I knew I couldn't be alone in this. I have seen cakes on Cake Central that should have been on t.v. or magazines. You all are so talented and such an inspirition.
It just insulting when you have to justifiy your prices. Most of us have to sit for hours on end making little critters or whatnot to go on juniors cake. And sure it's great that we made somebody party special but we should get something out of it besides carpal tunnel. This is more than a just hobby to most of us and it's certainly not a charity.
We have all heard "it's just cake" and then deliver a wedding cake to find enough beer, wine and food to feed a small nation for a few days. Or and I love this, the cake cutter set cost more than the cake. I especially love that after you get some sob story about how hard lifes been for them and could I please cut them a deal.
Clueless really is too nice a word....but I will be kind. If the custom cake was so easy to make they would be falling from the sky premade and we would all be looking for jobs.
I had a father of the bride once try to haggle with me, he says...."well there young lady I don't think a cake should cost that much"....so I say "well your daughter wants a big cake with a lot of detail"....he says "I'll give you this much for that cake" I took a deep breath and said "sir, if your boss ask you to work twice as long for half as much money would you do it? he says "hell no" ....I say "well you have my answer and have a nice day"
I had a father of the bride once try to haggle with me, he says...."well there young lady I don't think a cake should cost that much"....so I say "well your daughter wants a big cake with a lot of detail"....he says "I'll give you this much for that cake" I took a deep breath and said "sir, if your boss ask you to work twice as long for half as much money would you do it? he says "hell no" ....I say "well you have my answer and have a nice day"
You've hit the nail on the head right there.
I was so happy the other night when I watched an episode of Fabulous Cakes. They showed the prices and one cake was $15,000. The other two cakes were $2000 and $3000. Yeah, maybe a little reality check for customers.
for thoes who wanted to know prices
Coppied from Carlos Bakery "" web site
What is the price range for specialty and wedding cakes?
Any specialty cake is priced per person; basic butter cream cakes start at $8.00 per person and go up from there. A good rule of thumb is to look at cakes that are featured in any magazines or publications; they are usually priced in the $12.00 to $18.00 range per person. The more elaborate, intricate, and time consuming the cake is, the greater price range you will be looking at.
that is not the same cake boss on tv
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