I have only been cake decorating as a hobby since the start of the year, mainly just for kids birthdays. Just friends and family and the odd friend of a friend which I do charge for as they are strangers. Somebody had a cake at daycare today which was really good, fondant covered with a fondant digger on the top "digging" a hole in the cake. Looked really cute and apparently the cafe where they purchased it only charged $45. I would probably charge $70 and I am only learning and am thinking that I should just throw in the towel when there are more experienced people putting out wonderful stuff at such cheap prices. Hardly seems worth it by the time you factor in ingredients and labour! I guess I just need to keep learning and practicing and hopefully I will get quicker... Just a vent - but does anybody else ever just feel like your a lost cause LOL!!!!

I definitely do. I entered a contest yesterday and the minute I walked in, I knew I was out of my league.

so you would rather be more advanced, and making less than minimum wage? well its your call....
your cakes are good and nobody should work for less than minimum wage, particuarly for what is skilled, customised work, that not everyone can do. let the other lady underprice, lose her own money, maybe burn out - you stick to your business and making money. its only worth comparing your pricing to other people who know how to price.
xx

Everyone prices differently and some decoraters are happy giving good work away. Do what makes you happy.

Well, did you see the post recently where a star tipped decorated (very sloppy at that) won over a 3D carved cake? Don't discount your skills too heavily.

Sounds like your husband and my husband could be best friends!! Your cakes look great, don't sell yourself short!

Don't let this bum you out. Are you sure the cafe where this cake come from does cakes like this all the time? I work at a grocery store bakery and I have worked with several people who just get caught up in the "fun" of the job and then agree to do things that we're not supposed to do. We have a book of cake designs that have been carefully picked because they are cheap and quick to do. We are not to deviate from this design book because it's just not economical for us. But once in a while we get a new decorator that helps someone out with their cake order. The person doesn't like anything from our book and asks the new decorator if they can do something else, let's say draw a beach scene with palm trees and waves and a sunset. Now technically, I could do that. I know how to. But not for a $20 sheet cake. Sometimes we get that newbie that doesn't understand this concept and says yes.

So the person ended up getting lucky with talking to the "right" person at the "right" time. Maybe this is what happened with this cake.

Thenks for all the replies guys - makes me feel like I might not be completely bonkers after all! The bakery is just a small privately run cafe - not like a bit chain or anything. Apparently did the people's wedding cake and other cakes for them in the past so am presuming they do a few. I guess I worry about charging people too much and when you see somebody selling cakes for such a low price then I think I must be ripping everybody off. Not entirely sure how prices compare here in New Zealand with prices in the States. Thanks for all the support though guys

Hug,Hug, Hug, pat on the head. Now stop that crying and be a good girl and go make one of your FABULOUS cakes!

Well hello fellow kiwi !! I am just south of Christchurch about 10km from the epicenter of the quake we had recently. ( I thought about doing a quake cake for the local council to thank them for the good job.) I also get a bit demoralised but then again the things I get demoralised over are not the skill level I am at yet !! I do feel the same as you but these people have both the equipment and the time to do these sorts of cakes as opposed to one offs. Maybe they have made 10 of those little diggers or they buy them from someone. We all know its much more cost effective to make 10 cakes in a bakery than 1 cake at a time. Think about the ways they could cut cost by baking filling freezing etc and just pull it out when needed. I recently did some for the school and it was faster for me to make in bulk as opposed to one at a time to order the cakes and iceing and quicky go over 4 10inch squares than it takes for me to do just one 8 inch round patchwork custom made cake. I got given the littlies mag too by a neighbour and I won't enter as my cakes have been sold and it would not be fair for me to send the pics when its not one of my children. I am a bit over it too and getting burnt out as people think its too much to pay.

You're cakes are great! Enjoy your hobby right now and don't let it stress or demoralise you. I've had my business for about a year now and let me tell you, a few of my customers have gotten a great cake at a greater price, especially a couple of times when my husband took the order and they wanted like some fondant makeup, lipstick and stuff, that he didn't charge for. Or when I quoted a price and when I creating the invoice later, realized I had greatly undercharged.

I also find that if the customer gives me free reign on a cake and my schedule is light, they might end up with a better cake than they paid for, especially if it's a cake design I've been wanted to do for my portfolio.

In addition, they might not have been completely truthful about the price, either.

Anyways, don't worry. Just have fun!

In addition to all of what the other posts have said, if this family has been a pretty loyal/repeat customer over the years, that may factor into the price. My photographer does this for me She's increased her prices quite a bit but I still get the original price.