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turnerdmann
Regular Member
Joined: Aug 13, 2006
Posts: 112
Location: Southeast Virginia
Birthday: Jan 08
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 Posted:
Fri Apr 11, 2008 5:29 pm |
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A new customer contacted me about a cake. She had seen and eaten one I had recently done and was very complimentary. She left me a cake order at store that sells my cakes, never inquiring about price. I sent her price list so she would have the price of everything. Tonight she called and canceled order cake was too expensive. She wanted stacked 12x4, 8x4. WASC with home made lemon curd filling and Buttercream icing. She wanted a brown fondant ribbon around each layer with small bow on front. She wanted blue circles (polka dots) fondant of different sizes. The cake would be topped with "M&M" in blue fondant. She would also used my silver plateau. I quoted her $135 for cake (including separator plates and doweling). $20 for fondant work and $10.00 for delivery and set up (probably 20 mile round trip). Grand total of $165 plus tax. Is this out of line? Be honest do I need to adjust prices. The cake she saw and liked was the same price.
Thanks!! |
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atcake
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 05, 2004
Posts: 54
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Fri Apr 11, 2008 5:38 pm |
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Don't know what the going rate is by you, but that's only $2.30/serving. I think that's cheap for what she wanted.
For me, up in Cleveland, that cake would have been around $300.00. |
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HerBoudoir
Forum Addict
Joined: Mar 18, 2008
Posts: 631
Location: Eastern Shore, Maryland
Birthday: Oct 18
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Fri Apr 11, 2008 5:48 pm |
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For a lot of people - if it's not the 8.99 cake they can buy at the grocery store - it's just too expensive.
You can't drive a Mercedes if all you want to pay for is a Hyundai. |
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costumeczar
Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 18, 2007
Posts: 723
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Fri Apr 11, 2008 6:04 pm |
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I would have charged her around $300 once the delivery and sales tax were added in. |
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turnerdmann
Regular Member
Joined: Aug 13, 2006
Posts: 112
Location: Southeast Virginia
Birthday: Jan 08
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Fri Apr 11, 2008 6:07 pm |
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Thanks for your input. I think she had me second guessing myself.
Thanks again for the input.
Darlene |
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indydebi
Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Jul 07, 2006
Posts: 15102
Location: Indianapolis IN
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Fri Apr 11, 2008 6:23 pm |
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I agree with the $300 range ... my eyes kept getting bigger and bigger as I read all of the detail she was wanting.
The Walmart mentality is the hardest obstacle we face.
Did she say what her target price was? I'd be interested to see what she expected to pay for cake that served about 80 people! 
(And I'd LUV to see the cake she ended up with!  ) |
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mezzaluna
Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 29, 2005
Posts: 624
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Fri Apr 11, 2008 10:15 pm |
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I would have charged her $662 for that cake, plus a big FAT deposit on that stand. |
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DecoratingDingbat
Frequent Member
Joined: Feb 21, 2007
Posts: 249
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Fri Apr 11, 2008 11:07 pm |
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I agree with the others, your pricing is more than fair. Stick to your guns, if you go any lower in price, you'll start to resent and dread doing them. Specialty cakes are just that... special. If people don't want to pay for it, then the occasion can't be all that special --- and they can order elsewhere.
Leave it to Wal-Mart!
Keep in mind this actually really did happen!!!! This is someone who was moving from a claims office.
Okay so this is how the conversation went:
Walmart Employee: “Hello ‘dis Walmarts, how can I help you?”
Customer: “ I would like to order a cake for a going away party this week.”
Walmart Employee: “What you want on the cake?”
Customer: “Best Wishes Suzanne” and underneath that “We will miss you”.
Walmart Employee: “Dat all? Okay, Bye.” |
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milissasmom
Frequent Member
Joined: Dec 09, 2007
Posts: 498
Location: Apple Valley, Ca
Birthday: Jul 18
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Fri Apr 11, 2008 11:48 pm |
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| DecoratingDingbat wrote: | I agree with the others, your pricing is more than fair. Stick to your guns, if you go any lower in price, you'll start to resent and dread doing them. Specialty cakes are just that... special. If people don't want to pay for it, then the occasion can't be all that special --- and they can order elsewhere.
Leave it to Wal-Mart!
Keep in mind this actually really did happen!!!! This is someone who was moving from a claims office.
Okay so this is how the conversation went:
Walmart Employee: “Hello ‘dis Walmarts, how can I help you?”
Customer: “ I would like to order a cake for a going away party this week.”
Walmart Employee: “What you want on the cake?”
Customer: “Best Wishes Suzanne” and underneath that “We will miss you”.
Walmart Employee: “Dat all? Okay, Bye.” |
Ok...I totally needed that laugh...made me giggle  |
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xstitcher
Forum Fanatic
Joined: Mar 18, 2008
Posts: 1029
Location: Raleigh, NC
Birthday: Apr 11
Gallery Supporter Member
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Sat Apr 12, 2008 1:22 am |
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| DecoratingDingbat wrote: | I agree with the others, your pricing is more than fair. Stick to your guns, if you go any lower in price, you'll start to resent and dread doing them. Specialty cakes are just that... special. If people don't want to pay for it, then the occasion can't be all that special --- and they can order elsewhere.
Leave it to Wal-Mart!
Keep in mind this actually really did happen!!!! This is someone who was moving from a claims office.
Okay so this is how the conversation went:
Walmart Employee: “Hello ‘dis Walmarts, how can I help you?”
Customer: “ I would like to order a cake for a going away party this week.”
Walmart Employee: “What you want on the cake?”
Customer: “Best Wishes Suzanne” and underneath that “We will miss you”.
Walmart Employee: “Dat all? Okay, Bye.” |
That is hilarious, I have tears rolling down my face, I amlaughing so hard! Thanks! |
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turnerdmann
Regular Member
Joined: Aug 13, 2006
Posts: 112
Location: Southeast Virginia
Birthday: Jan 08
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Sat Apr 12, 2008 4:45 am |
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Thanks everyone for the encouragement and laugh. Todays a new day and I'm moving on.
This site is great because you all know what I'm talking about and what it takes. And dingbat you are right. I enjoy this so much I don't want to feel resentful about the cakes and pay.
You all have a great day
Darlene |
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chutzpah
Forum Addict
Joined: Apr 12, 2008
Posts: 851
Location: nowherenearchurch
Birthday: Mar 12
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Sat Apr 12, 2008 10:33 pm |
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I would rather make one cake for $200 than ten cakes for $20. |
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DecoratingDingbat
Frequent Member
Joined: Feb 21, 2007
Posts: 249
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Sat Apr 12, 2008 11:02 pm |
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KHalstead
Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Dec 03, 2005
Posts: 5296
Location: Northeastern Ohio
Birthday: Dec 05
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Sat Apr 12, 2008 11:03 pm |
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okay...........I can't even believe that is a real cake!! Oh man..............that makes my side hurt it's so funny!! |
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DecoratingDingbat
Frequent Member
Joined: Feb 21, 2007
Posts: 249
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Sat Apr 12, 2008 11:10 pm |
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It's more like a six pack of cupcakes for $20. The Walmarts in my city don't offer baked goods ... yet .... thank goodness really .... 
