Good point. I have 3 cakes to deliver on Sat. At $500 each, that's $1500 worth of boxes.

I'm too scared to figure out how many cookies I'd have to sell to PROFIT $1500 to come up with the extra cash for this kind of purchase.

I'm also not sure if it's reasonable to put a $350 cake (cake for 100 @ $3.50/serving) inside a $500 carrying case.

and the question arises: just how long will one box last? 1 year? 2 years? 5 years?

knowing that and how many cakes it would transport over those years, you could then amortize the cost of the box across the cakes. (BTW: does anyone know the IRS rate at which cake equipment can be amortized? is it the same 5 years as most business equipment? This is important as it lets you take the cost of the equipment off your taxes on a pro rated basis over a set number of years)

so, using FICTIONAL numbers to create an example:

lets say I can get 3 years out of one of those boxes. And let's say that I can use any box once a week -- so that's 156 uses in 3 years

or about $3/use for the box costing $450. not too bad.

I could upsell the use of the box -- it is NOT a standard part of the delivery.

"Would you like to buy added insurance? $5 (i'm going to build in PROFIT!)

or not upsell and just add it in automatically and promote the heck out of my exclusive cake safe delivery technique. (insert some platitudinous tag line here)

of course if I can get more than one use a week or more than 3 years out of the box, then the costs drop correspondingly and my profit goes up as well.

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HOWEVER -- I'm with the person who said make your own.

it appears to be made of double wall lexan (often used for greenhouses and available anywhere that sells supplies for making greenhouses or covered pergolas)

here for good pic: http://www.ridoutplastics.com/lexan-thermoclear.html

then held together with some type of loose-pin hinge system (like hinges on a door, but the pin fits in just loosely enough that it is easily removed, but still holds things tight -- an old theatre trick for easily collapsible, yet sturdy, sets. Other fancier fasteners available, but this is super cheap -- make it yourself out any old hinges)

base is (guessing) wood. top more of the plastic. holes aligned to and bottom by stacking top on bottom and drilling at same time.

could grove the base for the panels to sit in or attach metal U-channel for same purpose.

any skilled wood worker could construct one fairly easily.

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so a 4x8 sheet of 3/4" plywood would yield at least 4 if not more bases

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the lexan panel, about $70 for 1 - 4x8 sheet enough for one box.

http://www.eplastics.com/Plastic/Lexan_Thermoclear_Polycarbonate_Multiwall_Sheet

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and the wooden knob on top is just a mushroom knob:

http://hardware.hardwarestore.com/74-466-wood-cabinet-knobs/2-x-3-4-plain-round-hardwood-knob-610463.aspx

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steel rod available at any hardware store.

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the metal 3-prong T-nut needed on base for rod to screw into: (well, i'd use one just be to be extra safe)

http://www.selbyhardware.com/k9.htm (first image)

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So home made could do for about $100.

LOL

it's a techi theatre thing.

I think theatre folk invented the concept of:

I want it to look like a MILLION bucks! And your budget is $100.



corollary: we have done so much with so little for so long, we are now qualified to do anything with nothing!