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tomsmom245
Frequent Member
Joined: Apr 04, 2007
Posts: 219
Location: Terre Haute, IN
Birthday: Dec 06
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 Posted:
Sat Jun 14, 2008 8:15 pm |
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A lady I know called me last minute for a cake for her daughter's 16th birthday. She called me at 5pm friday and wanted it before 6 on saturday. She wanted a 1/2 sheet. She went to the grocery store bakeries and they wouldn't do anything that didn't involve a kit.
She wanted 1/2 white 1/2 chocolate with black buttercream trimmed in red with a chalk outline of a body on it. (murder mystery party).
I charged $40. I always feel like I overcharge. Did I? |
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karateka
Forum SuperStar!
Joined: May 16, 2006
Posts: 2020
Location: West Chester, OH
Birthday: Dec 03
Gallery Supporter Member
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Sat Jun 14, 2008 8:26 pm |
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A half sheet feeds 54 people. You didn't even charge $1 per serving. So I don't think you charged enough! |
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poshcakedesigns
Frequent Member
Joined: Jan 15, 2008
Posts: 478
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Sat Jun 14, 2008 8:30 pm |
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WOW she got a deal. And not to mention being a very last minute order. She was lucky you didn't charge a rush fee. |
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tomsmom245
Frequent Member
Joined: Apr 04, 2007
Posts: 219
Location: Terre Haute, IN
Birthday: Dec 06
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Sat Jun 14, 2008 8:30 pm |
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Thanks. I just don't want people to think I am ripping them off. I probably would've charged $35 if I hadn't had to use so much Americolor black in the choco buttercream to get it black. |
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chutzpah
Forum Addict
Joined: Apr 12, 2008
Posts: 846
Location: nowherenearchurch
Birthday: Mar 12
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Sat Jun 14, 2008 8:38 pm |
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Well, wait for the onslaught, 'cause all her friends and her friends' friends and their cousins and neighbors are gonna be calling you, wanting übercheap cakes.
That was way to little. Did you even break even on this cake?
Raise the bar for yourself and you raise it for all of us. |
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lisascakes
Frequent Member
Joined: Apr 01, 2006
Posts: 245
Location: Lee's Summit, MO
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Sat Jun 14, 2008 8:41 pm |
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I just raised by price to $35.00 for 1/2 sheet cake. I also figure that it feeds up to 48 small pieces. I feel that I'm making enough to cover my cost & a little extra and that is all I want to do. I know I won't get rich off this hobby. |
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chassidyg
Forum Fanatic
Joined: Feb 02, 2008
Posts: 1109
Location: Bellevue, Nebraska
Birthday: Dec 07
Gallery Supporter Member
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Sat Jun 14, 2008 8:45 pm |
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Do you have a picture of the cake? That'd be a fun cake. |
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chutzpah
Forum Addict
Joined: Apr 12, 2008
Posts: 846
Location: nowherenearchurch
Birthday: Mar 12
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Sat Jun 14, 2008 8:57 pm |
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Well, as long as you are happy working for free. 
It's a shame, though, that you're undercutting any and all who are trying to make a living doing this. |
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lisa78332
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 22, 2006
Posts: 72
Location: TX
Birthday: Jan 31
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Sat Jun 14, 2008 9:07 pm |
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| chutzpah wrote: | Well, as long as you are happy working for free.
It's a shame, though, that you're undercutting any and all who are trying to make a living doing this. |
Please also understand that for some of us, we have to base our prices on the market in our area. $40 for 1/2 sheet in my area is way too much. Everyone would probably through the cake back at me. I currently only charge $25 for 1/2 sheet but since prices are all going up in my town, my prices will be going up too. But only about $5 more. |
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Kitagrl
Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Jun 16, 2005
Posts: 2737
Location: NE Philly suburbs
Birthday: Jan 31
Gallery Supporter Member
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Sat Jun 14, 2008 9:20 pm |
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Depends on how you want to market yourself. If you want to be the person who competes with bakery prices..."just another bakery".... that is fine, although you will get sick of it eventually....staying up late mixing icing for a $5 profit.
Or you can market yourself as someone who does what the person wants, when they want it....and you get what you pay for. If a person asks the other bakeries and "they won't do it" why should you charge what those "I won't do it" bakeries charge? You WILL do it, and the customer should expect to pay more...you custom bake, and you decorate not-with-a-kit.
I won't even do last minute cakes like that except special circumstances. What with gas prices as they are, its not worth it to make an extra trip gathering more supplies for someone who could not plan ahead more than three days. |
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Kitagrl
Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Jun 16, 2005
Posts: 2737
Location: NE Philly suburbs
Birthday: Jan 31
Gallery Supporter Member
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Sat Jun 14, 2008 9:20 pm |
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oops |
Last edited by Kitagrl on Sat Jun 14, 2008 9:22 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Kitagrl
Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Jun 16, 2005
Posts: 2737
Location: NE Philly suburbs
Birthday: Jan 31
Gallery Supporter Member
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Sat Jun 14, 2008 9:20 pm |
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oops |
Last edited by Kitagrl on Sat Jun 14, 2008 9:21 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Chefperl
Frequent Member
Joined: Dec 20, 2006
Posts: 233
Location: Baltimore
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Sat Jun 14, 2008 9:20 pm |
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the bakeries in my 'hood charge $48 for 1/2 sheet cake with some flowers and a happy bday on it.
and that is for a nasty cake. I also charge a $15 rush fee |
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servingzero
Frequent Member
Joined: Sep 13, 2007
Posts: 202
Gallery Supporter Member
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Sat Jun 14, 2008 9:25 pm |
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I don't consider someone who is doing it as a hobby as "undercutting" someone who does it as a profession. That is sort of silly. You pay for what you get, and alot of pricing is due to talent and reputation. I would say that $40 for a 1/2 sheet is underpriced. I am also afraid of overpricing things, especially being unprofessional.
This is a place to be honest and supportive of everyone's working talent, not to demean. I mean, I know that people can go to walmart and get a $20 cake, and some people hear my prices and do just that. Do I consider them enemies for undercutting me (or other hobbyist bakers)? No. I know my product is good and looks the part. And guess what, they pay it. |
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chutzpah
Forum Addict
Joined: Apr 12, 2008
Posts: 846
Location: nowherenearchurch
Birthday: Mar 12
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Sat Jun 14, 2008 9:28 pm |
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I didn't imply that someone who undercuts is my enemy. And yes, a hobbyist who undercharges for cakes does undercut those who do it for a living. |
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