So I had a lady call and ask for a 3D carved cake John Deere Tractor on a field with crop circles that spell happy birthday, to serve 60 people. I told her it would be $80 and she LAUGHED and said that is way too expensive for a "friend" (she is just a neighbor).

I told her that she can get a 2 teired cake at walmart that is a 6 and an 8 with a toy tractor on it for $88. (I have seen it in their specialty books). She said she didn't want to pay that much for a birthday cake. I told her I understood and I am not doing the order now.

I asked the "what is your budget" question to which she said, "whatever", so I gave her that price, plus the price for 60 cupcakes with the tractor theme ($$70) plus the price for a sheet cake type order that is simple in the theme ($60...becuase there is no fondant and they are fast) She was like...forget it.

What would you have charged? It is servings for SIXTY. HELLO!!!!

I suspect she will not find anyone anywhere who will do a carved cake to serve 60 for a price she is willing to pay. Cake civilians are so ignorant.

I don't do 3D/carved cakes often, but the few I have done I charged $2.50-$3.00 per serving, for buttercream only, and that is waaaay cheap. Most here charge a lot more than that.

I charge $4 per slice for 3d and i'm at the low end where I live.

I charge $3 a slice and I think I'm too cheap for the work that goes into them!

I love how you asked what her budget was and she said "whatever" yet she thinks you're charging too much. Also how she feels since she's a friend, she's entitled to a huge discount.

Some people.

I feel your pain. I have gotten this type of response and people just have no clue what this type of cake costs. Walmart.....that's like comparing Nordstroms to ...well Walmart! The nerve. I don't think you charge too much, but check around your area to see what folks are charging in your area. I don't know about you but eggs have doubled in price and quite frankly if she doesn't want to pay, then she can go to Walmart if it were me.

I would have charged WAY more than $80. It's not worth your time for less.

Wow!!
Your work is beautiful, you have a lot of talent don't give it away, $80 is way to cheap for all that work.

I charge $6 per slice plus $50 equipment fee. I know how long it takes to make something like that and if you make that for that price you are not getting pay for all those hours that takes you.

Stick to your price. This is not a flea market your at where people think they can haggle you down on the price. 60 servings is a lot for a party and if she's not willing to spend at least a 1.00 or more per person, or for her friend, then she can go else where.

IMHO!!

YOU ARE NOT OVERPRICED!! your time and talent are valuable and should be treated as such. Hang in there. a "friend" would never take advantage of you that way

Wow - I usually don't charge enough, but even I would have asked for more than $80. I try to get between $2.50 and $3.00 per serving and there are still plenty of times I don't hear back from people after they receive my quote. Hey - I always use IMBC and don't charge extra for fondant...Good riddance!

Ignorance is priceless sometimes....

Isn't it though?

I charge a minimum of $250 for 3-D sculpted cakes.. it's not worth it for less IMHO. It's a lot of thinking and working and custom support boards. Be glad you aren't doing this order.

I have been charging $145.00 for my JD tractor cake on a sheet cake and I am getting ready to raise that price. It is WAY too much work.

She was getting a huge deal with that price.

Heck, I charge $75 for a plain 'ole sheet cake that only serves 50!!!! A tier cake to serve 60 would cost her $180 with me.

It's a great step to ask what their budget is first. To those who won't give you an answer, a good comeback is "Wow! I haven't had anyone ready to spend $1000 in awhile!" If this doesn't prompt them to swallow their tongue and give you a figure, then I'd explain, "The cake you get for $50 is WAY different than the cake you get for $100 or $250. So I need to know if you're looking for a $50 cake or a $250 cake."

a 3D cake for $80!! oh my goodness! i dont get up for less than $100 ( its the linda evangalista in me lol!!) no seriously a 3D cake starts at $150 for me and it is hard to work out portions for a carved cake so i work in size of the actual cake $150 will get you a 20cm square tractor goes up by $50 avery 10cm from their, i two tier to feed 60 people would set you back $260 with me, thats is picked up not delivered and i am the cheapest around here. i do mostly fondant work though BC doesxn't do well in my climate

I think some people just don't realize how much time we spend doing a cake!!! I personally think my pricing is right on for the area. Sometimes too low.. I have had several people ask and never call/email back. I mean.. I am trying to build my business but am not giving my hard work away for FREE!! My logic is if they want a unique cake that is great tasting and not your average Wally world cake then they will order from me. For the rest that don't.. well, they can just get it at Walmart!!

I cant stand people like that. I have a 3 tier wedding cake this weekend that I am doing for my mother in laws friend. she wants it triple layer chocolate ganache raspberry filling all buttercream simple silk flowers and a ribbon around it so I gave it to her for $200 and she has the nerve to tell my MI gee 200 bucks all she has to do is put a ribbon on it. So I am going to tie some ribbon around the cake mix boxes and give it to her......

So I am going to tie some ribbon around the cake mix boxes and give it to her......?????


Hahahaha, that's too funny. Good thinking!!

that is brilliant!!!!! you simply must do it! i am having the same issue with my hubby's boss his girlfriends daughters 18th and they asked for cake, no worries 'mates rates' knocked a $250 cake down to $150 thats basically half costs half profit, no problem, then boss winged to poor hubby that he thought we were going to give him mated rates (said wonderfull hubby leapt to my defence and told him size and cost etc as he knows as he does grocery shopping!!) saif boss then says its to big make it smaller so i knocked it down to $120 (not really that much smaller 1" reduction on both tiers) he is still complaing (said gorgeous husband who has now found out about boss whinging is not impressed and is telling boss either stop winging or go to supermarket and buy some flour suger and eggs and get busy, which girlfriends daughter would justy love for her 18th i am sure!!! gotta luv a good hubby!! he is angry cos i squeezed it in in the first place to help them out when they rang last night! (its for saturday week) hmm feeling better now that i have vented!!! lol!!

Thanks everyone. I knew I wasn't crazy. How about a barbie cake for $30 with them supplying the barbie?

Walmart sells the Barbie cakes here for $30.. that is no fondant just buttercream. I just made one for a friend with a fondant dress for $45

Friends are the ones that seem to whine more than just regular customers!! Its like I am giving you the best deal possible!! They want everything for free!!

You are blessed! Before I started a "real" business I would make cakes and give as gifts. This was strictly for the kids. We have a large family and the kids just loved telling me what they wanted! Of course, now everyone just tells me what they want and does not even offer to pay for anything. I feel that I should not have to ask for compensation but that they should at least offer for the cost of my materials!