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Jazz2U
Regular Member
Joined: Nov 13, 2006
Posts: 113
Location: Northern NJ
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Sat Mar 29, 2008 9:31 am |
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Actually, when you think of the time plus the cost of ingredients, that's a bargain. That was a beautiful cake! I never really knew the work involved in making decorated cakes until I got started it myself and obviously, she doesn't either. I'm sure she was happy when she got the oohs & ahhs from her guests! People are becoming more aware of the cost nowadays. There are cakes and there are cakes. She got the Lexus, not the Ford. |
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tonedna
Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Jul 19, 2007
Posts: 5115
Location: Florida..where the Magic begins!
Birthday: Apr 23
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Sat Mar 29, 2008 9:43 am |
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I actually think that the price for the cake was low..I dont like to add my flower prices to my servings cause it reallly depends on the amount of flowers and the type of flowers that I am using. Usually I charge people, and the cake have to be paid before hand..That way no surprises and no excuses..
Edna  |
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Wendl
Regular Member
Joined: Apr 12, 2007
Posts: 112
Location: Houston, TX USA
Birthday: Jun 23
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Sat Mar 29, 2008 9:44 am |
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The client/friend/fellow gardener should be thanking her lucky stars it wasn't more! Your cake is a delight and beautiful!
Your price is right on the money (ha!) and worth every cent!
I dont' have my own biz yet, but am starting to do more as a hobby and there's no way my specialty cakes will be under $50.
I am not a grocery store, I am an artist, my medium happens to be edible, but quality and talent cost!
Keep on trucking!  Just smile knowing your talent is awesome!!!
Peace,
Wendl |
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kansaslaura
Forum Addict
Joined: Dec 15, 2006
Posts: 639
Location: Kansas
Birthday: Jul 11
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Sat Mar 29, 2008 9:44 am |
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| uschi1 wrote: | | I had a call last week from a potential customer saying that if I could make her a cake for the same price Loblaws charges (local grocery store), she would be interested in ordering. I had to explain (NO, frankly you didn't!!) to her that Loblaws cakes are mass produced and there is no way I will sell my custom cakes for the same price.... Some people have no clue what it takes to put a cake together like the one you made. |
Gee, did she think she was doing you a favor by CONSIDERING ordering from you??
I'd have told her I'm not only NOT interested in what Loblaws charges, I'm not interested in taking her order. |
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khoudek
Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 13, 2006
Posts: 780
Location: Memphis Area, Tn
Birthday: Aug 19
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Sat Mar 29, 2008 9:52 am |
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Thank you everyone. You've made me feel much better. I'm going to continue pricing separately and not feel guilty about it. I'm sure she didn't mean anything as she is always complimenting my work. Maybe her hubby gave her grief about what she was going to spend before she came to pick it up. |
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superstar
Forum Fanatic
Joined: Oct 19, 2006
Posts: 1816
Location: Kauai, Hawaii
Birthday: Jul 27
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Sat Mar 29, 2008 9:58 am |
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I think your cake is beautiful, she got her money's worth. If you want to pay peanuts, you will only get monkey's. A custome cake like that one is worth every penny. |
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PennySue
Forum Addict
Joined: Dec 13, 2005
Posts: 895
Location: So CA
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Sat Mar 29, 2008 10:02 am |
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Your cake is just beautiful and that woman is just nuts to think that it was too expensive. Don't underestimate your talent or the quality of your cakes. I would have charged more.
P.S.
How exciting about becoming a grandmother in a few months! I never thought I would love being one until our grandson came along. Oh my goodness, it is sooooo much fun! They live in another state so we don't get to see them as often as we would like. We also have a grandaughter coming in June. Blessings to you and your family! |
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ShirleyW
Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Sep 23, 2006
Posts: 11493
Location: San Francisco Bay Area, Concord, California
Birthday: Apr 06
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Sat Mar 29, 2008 10:05 am |
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| khoudek wrote: | | Thank you everyone. You've made me feel much better. I'm going to continue pricing separately and not feel guilty about it. I'm sure she didn't mean anything as she is always complimenting my work. Maybe her hubby gave her grief about what she was going to spend before she came to pick it up. |
Absolutely! Don't even think about bundling your flowers into a cake price of $3.00 per serving. I am shocked to think anyone would do that. The amount of time it takes to make those flowers and the dedication it takes to have them look as close to the real thing as possible has to be taken into account. If these flowers take as much as three days to complete I am not going to give them away and I am not going to feel guilty about charging what they are worth. |
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FromScratch
Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Mar 12, 2007
Posts: 5380
Location: Southern NH
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Sat Mar 29, 2008 10:19 am |
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Great cake.. your price is right on.. probably on the cheaper side. Don't lump your GP flowers into the per serving price. They are a totally separate monster. And they aren't easy and they definitely call for a charge all their own to help your customers see what they are getting.
That comment about your $3/serving should include all decorating is a crock.. NO WAY IN HELL should you spend hours on GP flowers and not get compensated for it. Makes me wonder if the one who posted that has ever made a gumpaste flower? Most likely not.
Did she know how much the cake was going to cost her from the get go? If she didn't then she may have been shocked, but if she did.. she had no right to act the way she did. |
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mezzaluna
Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 29, 2005
Posts: 624
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Sat Mar 29, 2008 10:42 am |
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I totally agree with my ssester.
Khoudek, I'll come over there and slap up your asshole customer for ya! |
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imaginecakes
Forum Addict
Joined: Feb 20, 2006
Posts: 576
Location: Fort Collins, Colorado
Birthday: Jul 29
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Sat Mar 29, 2008 10:47 am |
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Very beautiful cake!!! Yeah, I think this is probably an issue that we will always deal with!! Unless it is for someone who has actually sat by your side watching you attempt to preform magic at times!!!! |
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Cakepro
Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Jul 09, 2005
Posts: 3630
Location: Houston
Birthday: Dec 10
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Sat Mar 29, 2008 11:05 am |
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| jkalman wrote: | That comment about your $3/serving should include all decorating is a crock.. [b]NO WAY IN HELL should you spend hours on GP flowers and not get compensated for it. Makes me wonder if the one who posted that has ever made a gumpaste flower? Most likely not.
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After reading the post about not charging separately for GP flowers, I had to pick my jaw and eyeballs up off the floor. I was going to say what you already said, jkalman, but I couldn't have said it any better, so I'm just going to quote you.
Good LORD!!!!!!!!!!!!
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You did an awesome job, khoudek, and the lady got a good deal. Be proud and don't second guess your pricing!! 
Sherri |
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tonedna
Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Jul 19, 2007
Posts: 5115
Location: Florida..where the Magic begins!
Birthday: Apr 23
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Sat Mar 29, 2008 3:26 pm |
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| jkalman wrote: |
That comment about your $3/serving should include all decorating is a crock.. NO WAY IN HELL should you spend hours on GP flowers and not get compensated for it. Makes me wonder if the one who posted that has ever made a gumpaste flower? Most likely not.
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 I didnt want to say anything ...but this is true...I charge my flowers separetly..sorry..they are way too time consuming!!!
Edna |
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indydebi
Forum Matriarch
Joined: Jul 07, 2006
Posts: 22149
Location: Indianapolis IN
Birthday: Jan 19
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Sat Mar 29, 2008 4:42 pm |
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| mixinvixen wrote: | | my husband and i always fight over whether i should give extra cake because in my husbands words "no one knows that they're only supposed to eat that tiny little bit" or "what about if someone wants a second piece?"... |
Has he heard my KFC stories???
A family bucket of 16 pieces is designed to serve 8 people (based on 2 pieces of chicken each). Under this illogical logic of "What if they eat like Jethro Bodine and someone wants 4 pieces instead of just 2?" Does he really think that KFC is going to just "throw in" 4 or 6 extra pieces for them? Or is it THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CUSTOMER to know how many pieces of chicken (or how big of a piece of cake) they tend to eat and to order accordingly.
I come from a German family of big eaters. If something said it served 6, my mom bought 3 of them. She didn't expect the seller to "throw in" extra just because we had hearty appetites ... she planned appropriately.
Obviously your husband has no connection to the financial side of business ... and if he does, he should be ashamed of himself saying that to you. |
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iamlis
Frequent Member
Joined: Oct 05, 2007
Posts: 485
Location: Kansas City, MO
Birthday: Oct 09
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Sat Mar 29, 2008 4:54 pm |
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This is nuts, I would not take another order from her. If she would say that to you, imagine what she says to guests! That is insane...and lets go further than saying how long it takes to make...how long did it take to learn the flowers and leaves? Did you take classes, did you travel to take classes? Did you have to buy...wire and floral tape, cutters, impression molds, cutters, ETC. Thats nuts to say you DON'T charge per flower...in logic it would have taken 1/4 of the time to make the cake, the flowers are HOURS of extra TIME & MONEY! Your cake is gorgeous...you obviously are a master gardener! I have always wanted to take those courses, and for someone who knows the labor that those things bloom in nature, for you to make the botanically correct out of sugar...just makes me mad! I love your cake, you did a great job, I hope she finds another baker Your loyal customers will always appreciate your talent! The rest ...let them eat MASS-PRODUCED cake! |
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