So I had a lady tell me yesterday that if I wanted to really get my cake business going I need to come down off my high horse and start charging more realistic prices! It all started with my new original retro dot design in my pictures, it is the latest cake in my pics if you want to look at it for a reference. She asked what I would charge for it. I told her $260 and she was totally shocked. I explained that my cakes start at $3.25 per serving and then go up from there. It is a 4x6, 4x8, and 4x10 inch round. Per serving that comes to $240 and then I explained to her due to how time consuming it is to cut and place the dots I charge an extra $10 and I charge an extra $10 for the orchids as well because how time consuming they are and there skill level. The total with delivery was $260. she actually got mad at me and said I was insulting her by even mentioning that price! And then went on to say "What is this world coming to when a cake decorator thinks she can get away with highway robbery, it's just cake!!!!!!" I was so mad last night!!!! Can you believe her!!! Needless to say, I will never do a cake for that women!
First of all I would charge no less than $300.00 for that cake and get it. It is absolutely beautiful and so time consuming to make. Your orchids are exquisite and I also love your S topper. And your dots are perfect. I would have told her she was insulting me with her implications that my hard work was not worth the money I charge.
You would get WAY more than $300 for that cake in my neck of the woods (Chicagoland). Some people just don't have an appreciation for the time it takes to create something that amazing - don't let them have an effect on you, just keep on doing your thing!!
She's not worthy of your creations...Period!!! You go girl!!!
that's one crazy lady 
I agree no less than $260.00, your cakes are beautiful 
If she wants you to get off your "high horse", tell her to get off her "cheap a$$ donkey" because "some" people actually notice and appreciate talent such as yours, and actually did buy the cake you made for that price and enjoyed it very much, thank you.
Here in rural territory I can't get over 2.25 , but I don't do fondant. Well haven't yet and if they want if BAD enough they ARE gonna pay for it. That cake is easily worth 260.00 You go for not budging on that price!!!!!! Your work is BEAUTIFUL................................ Make them pay for it, I agee if they want cheap looking pay cheaper prices.
Just one more cheap skate totally unwilling to comprehend the "you get what you pay for" concept. Anyone who says "it's just a cake!" in reference to my price can JUST get their cake at Wal Mart or anywhere else they can. I'd never consider doing business with her, if she crawled to my door.
In my opinion $260 is cheap for my retro dot but I know how people are around here. I feel that price is way more then fair! I finally quit lowering my prices for brides budgets and I am okay with someone not ordering from me due to price but I have never been talked to that way!!!! I really didn't know people can be that rude! And thank you for your wonderful compliments!
OK, I just showed that to my husband and he said no less than $500...of course, I always cut his 'prices' in half! So I agree that the cake is absolutely worth what you paid for it. People who do not decorate cakes or work with fondant, etc, have NO idea how long it takes to create what most of us feel are "works of art". That being said, we really do have to price our cakes according to our market. Where I live, I could charge that and probably more. The only bakery we have - other than Walmart - refuses to work with fondant or gumpaste! Best of luck to you - your cakes are beautiful!
That woman is NUTS! Anyone can see how much work that cake was! IT IS stunning!!! I think that price was very reasonable! I woudl have charged more than that! The orchids are AMAZING and the cake is nothing short of perfection! The design, the quality of the work, all perfect. I also would have told her to go to her local grocery store, or WalMart and get a cheap sheet cake if all she was concerned with was price. It is such a shame people just don't get it when it comes to understanding the amount of work we put into cakes!
Does she run a business? Does she make pricing and purchasing decisions? Does she have any (ANY?) inside knowledge about this industry and how it works? Has she ever even MADE a cake in her life?
I always always always ignore people who are not entrepreneurs. I tend to throw it back on them with "How did you grow your business? Oh wait. You dont' HAVE a business, do you? Then why am I am even pretending to listen to you?" (That's not a real conversation ..... it's in the column of Things You'd Love To Say But They Still Wouldn't Get It column).
misterc, it's a gorgeous cake and probably worth much more than you are charging for it but you charge what you can for where you live. I'd tell her this is the price take it or leave it and if you like I can offer you a 10% discount on your next wedding cake. (Cause you know this marriage isn't going to last. 
) Make sure you are smiling nicely when you say this. It will take her a while to get it.
Women like her remind me of the story I've told a few times already .... the friend of mine who was appalled that hubby and I spent $150 on dinner for two .... twenty years ago!!
Good thing the restaurant didn't get HER input before they opened their doors or we would have missed out on a great evening with wonderful food and fabulous ambience.
You have a talent, charge accordingly. If she cant handle that she cannot afford it....well....GET THE HECKY-DOODLE OVER IT CHICK!
She was mad because she couldn't get what she wanted for what SHE thought she should have to pay.
Go try to get an original Monet painting for the price of a printing of Dogs playing poker and see if you get it!
My pricing for that cake would go like this:
Fondant cake: $4.00/sv.
Dots/work: add $0.50/sv ($37.00 extra is NOT much for that work!) so $4.50/sv x 74 wedding servings
Handmade orchids: $12.50 EACH x 3 = $37.50 (less if I bought them)
Total as designed: $370.50
And believe me, people pay that ALL day long for wedding cakes.
When I hear someone talk like that (and I've never heard someone been *quite* that rude about it), I laugh a little laugh that sounds like I'm amused and condescending at the same time, as if they are way, way out of their league discussing things they know nothing about and should really run along to Walmart to do their cake shopping, smile, and give them my DH's favorite answer for people who are balking at our prices or trying to weasel around paying full price:
>>>"It's OK, (her name), 'no' is not a bad answer."
You can't let what people say offend you--if they can't afford you, they can't afford you. Her lack of money (or tact!) doesn't make your time or ingredients any less valuable.
Those flowers alone are worth about $50.00 or even more!!
They are so realistic!
You know I can understand the woman's view..that $260.00 seem like a lot for a 'cake'...but what you do...and what I do aren't 'just' cakes..they are masterpieces...and she should take her head out of her butt and realize that there is a lot more to a cake than just slapping on some icing.
I think those people are out there to keep you on your toes. lol
People like that should just stick to Cosco or Wal-mart..or whatever!
Keep at it! You are superbly talented!
oh, and just send her over here so we can SCHOOL THIS WOMAN ON REALITY!
Oh, where is indydebi when you meet these people????
I always want to just call her and hand them the phone....HELLO? YES, THIS IS REALITY SPEAKING AND YOU MY DEAR ARE LONG OVER DUE FOR THIS LITTLE CHAT!
.....I laugh a little laugh that sounds like I'm amused and condescending at the same time,
I know that laugh! It's SO much fun to do!
A favorite phrase of mine, when dealing with someone who's acting like a spoiled baby is "It's ok ..... you'll outgrow that attitude someday." (Bat eyelashes, smile sweetly with arms crossed over chest, stand there and watch them squirm while they try to figure out just exactly how they've been insulted ... but can't quite get there.)
(Edited to add an omitted word)
Indydebi, I know--aren't we so naughty?!? lol
I love my dh's line about "It's ok--'No' is not a bad answer." It gives them permission to not order from us, while at the same time implying that they probably can't afford to anyway. It's not like we're standing out in the cold with our hat in our hand, hoping they'll spend money with us. *snort*
I looked at your retro polka dot cake and the other cakes on your website...Your cakes are stunning! And worth every penny.
I'm sorry, did she say you were going have trouble growing your business? Did she happen to mention whether or not she was smoking crack?
I certainly don't think that you will be needing her to grow your business.
I haven't charged anyone that kind of money yet but noone has asked me to do anything that superb yet. When they do, I won't bat an eye at charging $260 or more for it. Particularly a wedding cake.
Hell when someone is getting married the cake is something they think about and expect to pay in the hundreds for. I mean shit....the saying you get what you pay for....IT IS TRUE!!!! YOUR CAKE IS WORTH WAY MORE THE $260 AND THAT LADY IS NUTS!!! I would have told that lady where to stick it and then told the Wlamarts limited styles and shapes start at $137 so go there and have them make you their "dime a dozen" cakes and I'll Keep my ONE OF A KIND CAKE!!!!
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