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tracycakes
Forum Fanatic
Joined: Feb 27, 2007
Posts: 1093
Location: Arkansas
Birthday: Apr 24
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 Posted:
Thu Oct 29, 2009 7:16 pm |
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I got the call and turned down because I'm too much. A lady called today wanting a birthday cake for her daughter. She watches the cake shows and wanted something really cool. She actually WANTED fondant, small square cake, bow, polka dots, sounded so easy and fun in lime and black. The sleepover for the girls party is at Embassy Suites so I'm thinking...HOT DOG! I gave her the price and she paused a minute. So she's going to check out something else and if she called back, she wanted it, if not, she found something else.
Well, no call. But, I guess she decided to do something else completely because my prices are right in line with the other custom shops in town. Oh well, thanks to you guys, I just laugh it off. I am slowing getting my name and reputation out there so I realize it will take some time to get my name out there.
Thanks for listening. It's been a long week and I'm exhausted and rambling....  |
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prterrell
Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Mar 20, 2007
Posts: 2639
Location: Newnan, GA
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Thu Oct 29, 2009 7:35 pm |
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I think a good portion of the population is just being cheap right now, but in this case it sounds like she blew the budget on the hotel room!
I had a mom at my church talking to me for months about doing 2 cakes for her twins' birthday. Came close to the day and I asked her if she still wanted the cakes as we hadn't set anything in stone (design, deposite). She'd spent so much on other stuff for the party that she couldn't afford the cakes anymore. Oh, well. 
People always really want my cakes until I tell them how much they are, then they don't want them anymore. It's annoying cause I know my cakes are really good, somehow people just have a hard time justifying the expense for food to themselves. |
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CarolAnn
Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Sep 22, 2004
Posts: 2267
Location: Kansas
Birthday: Nov 10
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Thu Oct 29, 2009 7:49 pm |
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When I had a meeting earlier this month about a wedding cake I half expected/half hoped that when they heard my price they'd decide it was too much. The never said a thing about it thru the meeting and when I told them they didn't bat an eye, so I'm doing the cakes. I've never charged just per serving like I am now. I'll see how it goes.
You ladies just consider it a blessing and do something nice for yourselves before that next order comes your way. |
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Toptier
Regular Member
Joined: May 25, 2008
Posts: 155
Location: Northwest
Birthday: Sep 27
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Thu Oct 29, 2009 7:57 pm |
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In this economy people think you're desperate and more open to negotiation. NOT! |
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tracycakes
Forum Fanatic
Joined: Feb 27, 2007
Posts: 1093
Location: Arkansas
Birthday: Apr 24
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Thu Oct 29, 2009 8:54 pm |
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I have learned so much from the people on this site. IN the past, I would have started questioning myself and/or my prices. Not now. I don't want orders because I'm cheap, I want orders because they taste great and look good.  |
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CakeForte
Frequent Member
Joined: Oct 21, 2004
Posts: 481
Location: Internet
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Thu Oct 29, 2009 9:41 pm |
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We are in the business of "want" anyway. You don't NEED a cake to celebrate a special occasion. So if they really want it, they will pay for it. Those that don't...whatever, time to do what you enjoy for a day or two. |
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brgrassmyer
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 03, 2008
Posts: 22
Location: Central PA
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Fri Oct 30, 2009 2:10 pm |
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I will take my "high end" clients any day over the "grocery store" cake buying consumer any day. The people who have money are still spending it and they don't bat an eyelash at $5 per serving. This is the part of the business I want and deserve and so do you!! |
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saberger
Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 01, 2007
Posts: 812
Location: NJ
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Fri Oct 30, 2009 2:34 pm |
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| prterrell wrote: | | People always really want my cakes until I tell them how much they are, then they don't want them anymore. It's annoying cause I know my cakes are really good, somehow people just have a hard time justifying the expense for food to themselves. |
DITTO!!!!!!!! I, too, have learned a lot from this site about pricing. Thanks CC for kicking me in my butt many times!  |
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CakeGrlPA
Frequent Member
Joined: Nov 04, 2007
Posts: 407
Birthday: Nov 28
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Fri Oct 30, 2009 6:35 pm |
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| Toptier wrote: | | In this economy people think you're desperate and more open to negotiation. NOT! |
I think people are just watching way too much TV, they see all these shows about cake and they think the cake get the same cakes but for Walmart prices.
I had a lady the other day inquiring about a cake for her daughter's birthday, she said the cake was for only 20 people and then she sends me a picture of a 5 or 6 tier cake done by Buddy V., she said her daughter LOVES cake boss and she wanted the same cake.
I explained to her that the cake on the picture was for approximately150 to 175 servings, maybe more, and if she wanted to replicate that it would cost her $$$, she emailed back telling me that the cake was for only 20 but she wouldn't mind a 'little' extra cake, I gave a price for 20 servings and let her know that we needed to re-design the entire cake because for only 20 servings she could only have ONE tier, not 5 or 6 and if she wanted the huge cake then the price was what I told her before.
Never heard back from her, I'm cool...I don't have patience for people who can't understand simple math. |
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tracycakes
Forum Fanatic
Joined: Feb 27, 2007
Posts: 1093
Location: Arkansas
Birthday: Apr 24
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Sat Oct 31, 2009 1:02 pm |
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Everyone I talk to seems to watch Ace of Cakes, which is the only cake show I DON'T watch. You are right CakegirlPA, everyone watches the shows and wants something like that but doesn't want to pay the price. But it's funny, those that REALLY want something special don't blink at the price. |
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tracycakes
Forum Fanatic
Joined: Feb 27, 2007
Posts: 1093
Location: Arkansas
Birthday: Apr 24
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Wed Nov 04, 2009 2:40 pm |
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I got another call today, daughters 14th birthday...yep, they love Ace of Cakes. She's works in the same building I do (at my day job) and has been hearing good things about my cakes.
She wants a basketball theme and it's only for about 15 people. So, I asked what her budget was this time....around $30 - 35. hmmmm, that's in the sheet cake range. I know she was disappointed a little but admitted that she is new to this. I explained the difference between grocery store and custom and she understood. We talked about some different things and I'm going to come up with something cute that fits the theme and give her several different options for pricing. She is willing to go higher to get something extra. We talked about the 3D basketball but it was way above her pocketbook.
I just keep telling myself...I'm building a business, I'm building a business... |
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cylstrial
Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Aug 12, 2008
Posts: 5349
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Wed Nov 04, 2009 6:24 pm |
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| tracycakes wrote: | I got another call today, daughters 14th birthday...yep, they love Ace of Cakes. She's works in the same building I do (at my day job) and has been hearing good things about my cakes.
She wants a basketball theme and it's only for about 15 people. So, I asked what her budget was this time....around $30 - 35. hmmmm, that's in the sheet cake range. I know she was disappointed a little but admitted that she is new to this. I explained the difference between grocery store and custom and she understood. We talked about some different things and I'm going to come up with something cute that fits the theme and give her several different options for pricing. She is willing to go higher to get something extra. We talked about the 3D basketball but it was way above her pocketbook.
I just keep telling myself...I'm building a business, I'm building a business... |
Good for you! It sounds like your on the right track! |
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dandelion56602
Forum Fanatic
Joined: May 09, 2006
Posts: 1963
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Wed Nov 04, 2009 6:29 pm |
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I hear ya. I usually give a buttercream, fondant & sculpted price & most people gawk. I would rather they just say "that's out of my price range" or "I'm just going to go to Walmart" than nothing at all. Did they not learn manners?
But I will have to applaud Buddy. The first show of this season he was talking about flowers for a cake & talking about the HOURS his team spent on JUST the flowers. I think if these tidbits were thrown in by the cake shows that people might start getting a clue that we don't poop decorated cakes |
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Chefperl
Frequent Member
Joined: Dec 20, 2006
Posts: 250
Location: Baltimore
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Wed Nov 04, 2009 6:39 pm |
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i just wish all those cake shows would show the prices of the cakes. The people on TV just say "Oh OK, great". and that never happens in real life. So people don't understand how much those cakes actually cost. It drives me crazy. I had a customer who wants a spinning scrabble board cake for 50 people but doesn't want to spend more than $150. Are you kidding me? you know how much a cake like that would cost at Charm City? |
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indydebi
Forum Matriarch
Joined: Jul 07, 2006
Posts: 22157
Location: Indianapolis IN
Birthday: Jan 19
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Wed Nov 04, 2009 6:50 pm |
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| Chefperl wrote: | | you know how much a cake like that would cost at Charm City? |
I know it would cost at LEAST $1000 minimum!  |
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