After reading the posts I tend to agree with adven68. Maybe after seeing the cake she realized that no way was a cake like that worth $45.00 and feels it is worth way more than that. I think by "researching" it shows that she is aware that a custom castles cake would definitely sell for much more. I hope I am not being an optomist, but maybe when all is said and done she'll end up surprising you in a good way.
Good Luck!
Please update us, I only do cakes for family and friends, but I did a Bratz cake for a friend's daughter's birthday and quoted her $25 her exact words after my quote were, "that's kind of cheap, but ok". She gave me $50. Hopefully it will work out this way for you too.
I know it's once again after the fact but I have been reading a lot of problems like this here. Everyone knows to get half down and draw up some agreement BEFORE starting a cake, thinking it isn't necessary is very risky and 2 of the biggest risks are you foot the bill and you have animosity about the customer. Having said that, I just wanted to say that while all you decorators put love, sweat and tears into each inch of cake there are those who still just see it as cake. Remember the term "easy as pie?" well the same goes for cake in many peoples minds. My husband has come in here and seen me scouring cake galleries and while I'm in awe of how it's even possible to create such confectionery art he just pretty much rolls his eyes and walks out. For me, I am becoming more and more aware of the value of a beautiful cake (or cookie) but for him it's still just cake with a decorative coat that goes in one way and comes out the other. I suspect there are a lot of people like him. Please don't assume everything will turn out in the end, you deserve to protect your work, investment and talents. I hope this works out for the best and I'm sorry this happened AGAIN to someone who tried so hard to create the perfect cake. Please let us know what happens.
Oh my gosh! I feel sorry for you, I haven't had this problem luckily,my past orders have come from either mail or phone, so no payments upfront but when they come pick up the cake i have the boxes open on the table so they can see it and then i say "umm so you like it, I think i quoted you for £££?" then they give me the payment and i close the box. Hope you get your money and if that was your first one too, you should definitely make sure you get the money for it!
What occurred to me is that she may have thought you were charging her too little. Perhaps they are researching to see what it really would cost so that you get a fair price!!!
I hope so.....let us know!
Yes this is what I was trying to say, but adven said it better! While I do think she should have paid you for now, it might be premature to jump all over this woman. I mean there is a GOOD chance this isnt the case, but lets hope you get a nice check instead.
I hope this turns out for you. I have never had this problem. I quote all my cakes in advance, even though I undercharge, at least I get what I asked for.
I'd like to know how things turned out too.
I was thinking the same thing as one of the other posters. Maybe she wants to give you more and doesn't want to rip you off. Wouldn't that be wonderful?
I can't wait to see the outcome of this one.
When I first started out, I did a Spiderman cake for a co-worker (shaped pan) and I told her $15. SHe thought I said $50 and was willing to pay it. I told her no and she ended up paying $25. IT was then and there that I realized that I needed to be charging more for my time, even if I am just doing on the side.
Keep us posted.
Some people are way too cheap! That's crazy that she has to research it. Even if she thought she owed you more she should have just given you more money instead of drawing it out and researching it. That is very rude and inconsiderate. What if you needed that money to pay a bill? What do you do, call the bill collectors and tell them your researching how much you think you should pay them?! Come on now - she's retarded!!!!
I really, really, really hope that adven/merissa are right and that she thinks it's worth more than that.
but then the other part of me thinks if she really thinks you deserve more, she would just give you more than the $45 and be done with it.
I quoted a coworker $62 for cupcakes a few months ago and she loved them so much, she gave $75 - no research involved. If you think someone deserves more, you give more. If I love a waiter's service, i give more than the standard, I don't have to go research it first.
Just let us know when we can saddle up and research her behind. 
I do hope you at least get your $45 soon! Anything less than that would be a slap in the face.
Good luck! 
Definitely let us know what happens with this.
For those pessimists in the group -grin- I will say that something similar happened to me... I both officiated and made the cake for the mother of a friend of mine at her second wedding last year, to her high school sweetheart. Because they're the parents of a good friend, I basically charged gas money and supplies, with a little for my time. When the groom asked how much for my services and the cake, I said $75. He gave me $80 before the wedding. When I showed up with the cake, he demanded that I accept more, especially since a two-tier cake turned into a 4, with columns and lots of RI roses. (it's the red and white cake in my photos). (officiants for weddings normally start at $100 around here)
So yes, people can decide to pay more, if they know a little about the market and figure you're not charging enough for your talents.
Hopefully, that's exactly what this woman is doing. That cake is GORGEOUS, and she should have no problem paying at least what you quoted her!
You should have been paid by NLT Monday. You need to get her phone number and give her a nice reminder call. I know I said Monday but I truelly ment day of delivery. So sorry this has even happened to any one here.
First of all, your cake is absolutely gorgeous!! I'm putting it in my favorites. When I first read your post I thought the lady was trying to rip you off and give you less than you asked. But after seeing the picture, I really think the lady wants to pay you what the cake is really worth. I certainly hope that's how it turns out. Maybe you should take a poll on whether she pays more or less. But no matter how it turns out, take pride in the beautiful job you did.
said that it isn't uploaded. I looked and couldn't find anything, so I'm just wondering........ Definitely let us know what happens with this.
For those pessimists in the group -grin- I will say that something similar happened to me... I both officiated and made the cake for the mother of a friend of mine at her second wedding last year, to her high school sweetheart. Because they're the parents of a good friend, I basically charged gas money and supplies, with a little for my time. When the groom asked how much for my services and the cake, I said $75. He gave me $80 before the wedding. When I showed up with the cake, he demanded that I accept more, especially since a two-tier cake turned into a 4, with columns and lots of RI roses. (it's the red and white cake in my photos). (officiants for weddings normally start at $100 around here)
So yes, people can decide to pay more, if they know a little about the market and figure you're not charging enough for your talents.
Hopefully, that's exactly what this woman is doing. That cake is GORGEOUS, and she should have no problem paying at least what you quoted her!
lol I like to think of it as being a "realist". 
I'm glad they compensated you more, your cake is lovely and they knew it! You deserved every bit of extra.
I think the main difference for me between our dear caker here and your story is that you were given the money on the spot. (and beforehand) Not after days of "researching". That's the one part pushing me over to the land of pessimism. lol
Lin, have you tried calling to other bakeries yourself just to see what others in your area would charge? I'd be curious...
I don't think they are looking at the original posters cake, cause she said she doesn't have photos of it uploaded. I think that they are looking at the first communion cake that a poster posted about a few posts down. I think she said her cake was 40.00
OOOOhhhhh... the only thing bigger than her nerve, is my curiosity!! Did she pay more ... or try to get away with less?
Excuse me .... I have to go unclench my behind ... angry just reading that!
Something very insulting in the tone of that! I'd give her something to research ... 
I don't think they are looking at the original posters cake, cause she said she doesn't have photos of it uploaded. I think that they are looking at the first communion cake that a poster posted about a few posts down. I think she said her cake was 40.00
Oops! my bad! You're absolutely right. But I still think a castle cake is worth far more than $45.
That woman had a lot of nerve saying that. What did your husband say to her, he knows how much time and passion you put into your cakes. To be a fly on their wall at work, has to be tense...
Hope like the rest on here she finds that was to cheap and pays extra. We will send bad vibes her way and she'll pay you double!!!! If there is a "next time" for her get your money first and charge her extra $5.00 for your aggravation.
Please let us know the outcome!
[quote="lipbalmcollector"]I don't think they are looking at the original posters cake, cause she said she doesn't have photos of it uploaded. I think that they are looking at the first communion cake that a poster posted about a few posts down. I think she said her cake was 40.00[
/quote]
Yes, I was talking about angiecakes First Communion cake. Sorry for the confusion. It was such a long post that I got sidetracked by the time I got to the end of it. I'll try to stay more focused next time.
Hi Lin - I feel your pain. I had a recent gasket-blower, also for a co-worker of my husband's. They are pretty nice people as well as pretty well off - I figured I didn't want to make waves haggling over price and that they would pay me what they felt the cake was worth. The first and last cake I never pre-quoted! It's the First Communion Cake in my photos and they paid me $40 for it. I thought it was a joke when my husband brought the check home.
Even for the closest of friends, acquaintances, etc - I will never fail to give my price up front again. Lesson learned the hard way!
A castle cake no less than $75 - they are alot of work, take a lot of time. preparation ahead of time, etc...
Off topic - Angie $40 bucks, what a joke, I would have offered no less than at less $100.(and that would be a friends price) She should have been embrassed to give you that amount.
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