Cake Pops-No More Hand Rolling!!!
Baking By cupcakesnbuttercream Updated 10 Mar 2013 , 7:03pm by Vanilla Bean
Well darn it - if she doesn't get her minimum met, I don't get one at all! You bet I'm pimping it out... I WANT ONE!
And honestly, it bugs the snot out of me that there are so many people here who are looking at nothing but the negative, and somebody has got to point out the positives - and there are several. (Apparently, I've appointed myself for the job.)
Although... a free one WOULD be nice. (Hope whoever makes them is reading. Heh.)
This is not true, IMO. There are a lot of positives.
The one negative is the price. And quite frankly this is business 101. Just about every product has this dilemma of discovering the correct price point to make the consumer buy.
If I were in her shoes I wouldn't be looking at this as a negative. I would look at it as a message to either figure out a way to lower that price or to give the consumer more information in a way that appeals to the common market of people who do not make hundreds at a time.
And people will always find a cheaper alternative to a product. I remember all the conversation about The Mat. She should welcome this. In time others will warm up to the price, or it will go higher and be a niche product like the marzipan one. Either way I am sure she will get what she wants in the end.
I told her about the discussions and suggested she get in touch with CC admin and possibly share information on the site.
She created a new account about a month ago and made a post advertising her product. The post was deleted.
I find it ironic that it seems like the return on investment would be much greater for this than for the Agbay, but everyone raves about the Agbay and nobody bats an eye at the cost... (I didn't bat an eye either, I have the double blade)
And the Cricut Cake?!? How many cakes do you have to use cut outs on before that $400 is recouped?
I see where y'all are coming from though - maybe $200 IS a lot of money... especially when it's just eggs and flour. *ducking and running*
I find it ironic that it seems like the return on investment would be much greater for this than for the Agbay, but everyone raves about the Agbay and nobody bats an eye at the cost... (I didn't bat an eye either, I have the double blade)
And the Cake?!? How many cakes do you have to use cut outs on before that $400 is recouped?
I see where y'all are coming from though - maybe $200 IS a lot of money... especially when it's just eggs and flour. *ducking and running*
Well as one who is still on the fence about the cost:
I still have not bought an agbay. I do just fine with a knife and I worked in a bakery where we torted all cakes using a serrated knife.
I got the Cricut dirt, dirt cheap - not full price. And others probably got it cheaper than I did.
And $200 will buy a lot, a whole lot of eggs and flour.
Like I continue to say, this is definitely going to appeal to those like you who make a lot of cake balls on a very regular basis. Whether or not there are enough of customers like you to reach the minimum order we will have to wait and see.
This might be the exact reason why the marzipan roller is so high in price. Because there is not a huge demand, they may produce a smaller amount which in turn will keep production costs high. Has anybody asked her if the price goes down if she orders say 2K of the product? I bet you it does and I also I bet you if the beginning price was being offered at say $100, she would be well over the amount she needs to order.
I just pre-ordered mine. The return on investment will be great in the time I would save hand rolling those stupid balls. I have the Agbay which I love and spent a pretty penny on that. Also have the cake cricut which I use all the time also and that cost even more. The amount of money I would spend on labor to make those little balls would not take long to add up to far surpass the price of that. I am hoping she gets what she needs soon so that production can start and I can get mine soon. The cricut cake cost me a bunch but has saved me lots in labor for all the cutting it does while I and my employees work on other things.
I find it ironic that it seems like the return on investment would be much greater for this than for the Agbay, but everyone raves about the Agbay and nobody bats an eye at the cost.
Really? I've seen a lot of posts where people complain about the cost of the Agbay. If you split a lot of cakes, you can justify the cost, but for many others, it's a wish list item because they'd like to have one, but can't justify the cost. It's the same with this deal. A lot of people would like to have one, but can't justify the cost. For people who make a lot of cake balls, the cost is easy to justify.
I think a lot of the negativity is the way this item was "introduced" here. I've seen 3 different posts about this item. Two of them were started by someone who created a profile just to tell us about "this great new invention I heard about...and I've got one on order and you all need to order one, too!!!!" It just felt kinda smarmy. Had the person who "invented" it simply said, "Hey CC! I'm selling this great new device for making cake balls! Please order one!!!"...I think it would have been received better. Anyway, that's my take on it. 
I have to ask ~ why do people roll cake balls by hand in the first place? I just use an ice cream scoop. I don't pack the cake balls down into a compressed, super-dense state. You can scoop out a buttload of cake balls in a hurry.
What is so darn slow about cake balls is dipping the damn things. If there were just some kind of affordable chocolate enrober, THAT would be gold.
LOL.........Cakepro I completely agree (= I do want the cakeball roller though, I love to buy things I dont need (= Like the stupid cricut cake!
I have to ask ~ why do people roll cake balls by hand in the first place? I just use an ice cream scoop. I don't pack the cake balls down into a compressed, super-dense state. You can scoop out a buttload of cake balls in a hurry.
What is so darn slow about cake balls is dipping the damn things. If there were just some kind of affordable chocolate enrober, THAT would be gold.
This is what I do. But when you think of it, this is even faster then jus tscooping it.
Still cant afford it tho 
The owner and I have been emailing and she has answered every question we have. I am impressed with her and her company. I have asked permission to post her email here. I also encouraged her to speak with admin to work out a way to answer questions here within CC guidelines. I am ordering one. I'll post when she gives permission. I am obviously hoping she gets to her numbers too.
WykdGud - You say everything I'm thinking! I too can't understand how others don't see the value in this tool.
Yes, yes, I know it's expensive. BUT, one large quantity order and the cost is covered and you physical discomfort spared! Definitely would be hard for the hobby mom to pay this for sure. I can empathize with that group as well.
Just hope she can make the pre-sale numbers so I can get mine!!! Already know I need it in June! 500 cake pops. My hand hurts just thinking about it!! 
I ordered mine last night (= I have 5 kids and I love anything that saves me time (= In a perfect world I could use those 5 kids to roll the cakeballs out, but there wouldn't be any left when they were done (=
This is Jennifer's email to me:
Thank you Susan!! I see it and I am reading it now!! I wish I could instantly reply!! I did see the Marzipan Roller and wonder if it would work! So I bought the smaller individual rollers to see if the method worked since the 3/4 inch channel is way too small so not worth the investment! And it did work! I called the Pastry Chef people on it and asked if they had them in a different size channels or ever seen it and they told me, No, I would have to make that myself! That is when I went into production on bigger/interchangeable pieces!
It does have to be food grade plastic of course, and I will tell you in material alone I have spent over $1,100 on the prototype I have (that I will be selling a BETTER version of in production for less then 1/4 of what MY cost was just to have it made). Not to mention the time and travel costs to work with the manufacturer or the 5k the patents on the new design and utility cost. So I am investing in my idea as much as I possibly can (without my husband divorcing me
!
I originally did not design this to sell, more of a trade secret! However it was working and being friends with so many cake pop people I came across one that had horrible wrist cysts that needed surgery to fix - I am sure it wasnt just the pops, but repetitive motion like that like your husband says just is not good for anyone:/ ...She had been doing it longer then me but not by more then 2 years! I love making them, but I dont know if it is worth THAT kind of pain and sacrifice, so I thought I would go back to the manufacturer and see what I would have to do to make these cheaper and available to other bakers, so we could ALL avoid this pain of repetitive rolling. I didnt think my hands were going to recover after all I rolled for Xmas (the roller wasn't up to speed by then)
I place them carefully in the video so the ends would be balls too, if it is off the end pieces just sit there and dont roll has to be even all the way across to get them all to roll perfect, but you could surely go faster if you didnt care about the end balls and when I have help (not too often) I have my helper roll the "squares" out and have them ready for me to put in, and no one is counting at that point it goes just way too fast!
Thank you again for the heads up on the different threads, I will figure out how to respond the right way!!
Jennifer Cucci
Heavenly Cake Pops
[email protected]
www.TheBestCakePops.com
623.203.5659
Thanks for posting her email! I can't wait to get mine!
I think the point is, that this is a tool that by the video seems like it would seriously reduce production time. It may not be for everyone, but for those who are serious about their business and want to grow it, it probably should be a consideration, it was for me. Culinary tools are not inexpensive unfortunately, and the price point may not be for those baking in their homes or who don't have a ton of cake pop/ball orders. But I believe we are at the beginning stages of the cake pop craze and the demand will increase as they continue to gain popularity. I know many peers who shy away from cake pops due to the time demand they require to produce. Large orders would not be profitable, or like myself around xmas they eliminate a social life Who cares about her financial model, I care more about my financial model. If this tool allows me to go after bigger orders that I normally wouldn't, or maybe normally would but in return not turn a profit than it is a small investment in my future that I am willing to make...
Great post LeTorte. Welcome to CC. It isn't about the price of the tool, it is return on investment. I don't believe she had the home baker in mind with her marketing. Any high production bakery would see a return immediately with decreased payroll and less human error. It is our decision as smaller bakers, to make changes in our cake ball marketing in order to justify the expense and to take advantage of the opportunity for a new profit center.
The bottom line is you have to decide what your time is worth and if it's worth the price to you. It was never said she was targeting the home or hobby baker. If you think it's too expensive no one is twisting your arm to purchase it. This person has a lot invested in producing this item and can't be expedted to give it away, just like we don't want to give our cakes away. The decission is up to each individual and you can take it or leave it. I think cars are too expensive but I still own two.
UPDATE: I got an email saying she has reached her goal! YAY!! The email also said that the first shipment should go out the third week of June. If you were waiting to order, she is still accepting pre orders up until the 8th of April.
Holy crap... if would DEFINITELY order if they came in smaller sizes and worked for fondant - think pearls!
A few CC'ers posted about some sort of Marzipan roller, maybe look into that??
Here is the smaller one.
http://www.pastrychef.com/MARZIPAN-ROLLERBOARD_p_1073.html
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