What do you say when someone says, bride saw a really cute cake at a certain shop but it wouldn't fit into her tight budget so they thought they would talk to me.
Can they hear what they are saying? Basically, if we had alot of money we would ask someone else to do our cake!! Is what it sounds like to me!! They don't even know my prices but ASSUME they are cheeper than someone with a store front.
I guess I should have thanked them for even considering me.

Well, I'd ask what her budget is, and to let me see the cake she wants and we'll see what we can work out for her. How close can you get to her dream cake with the amount of money she has. I guess I'm just saying this cuz I just bake for family right now so I don't have much experience but, as of now, that's what I would do...

Edit: Wow! Just saw your photos, you make some beautiful cakes!!! Exquisite!

Yep it takes awhile for a home baker to overcome that mentality of other people thinking you're cheaper because you work from home! The best way is just to keep your prices up and to make your website look as professional and flashy as any bakery and go from there.

Don't back down on your pricing!

I would ask how much they were quoted and charge $0.10 less than the original price. I would consider it an insult as well. But that's just me. I can understand wanting to save money BUT, (and it's a huge one) I would never walk into wendy's and say I could get 1 more nugget for that price at mc'donalds on a monday. (I'm so not comparing cake to mickey d's, just bringing a little humor) Now i'm hungry.




edited to add: You are very talented and they should have come to you first.

You should charge the sane anoint unless the other place truly is overpriced,which I doubt.

Personally, I would tell her that your prices tend to be comparable with most store fronts, but that is because were YOU to have a store front, you would have to charge much more, due to your extensive training and quality of work that far exceeds most in your area!! (Whether its true or not, it should shut her up and hopefully make her feel about as tiny as she made you feel by telling you that she'd really rather have the other place do her cake...)

edited to correct spelling

I think everyone is responding to this on a more emotional level than it really needs.

The bride can shop around as much as she wants. To someone who doesn't make cakes, the cake is one more thing on the list. She's not saying your work is worth less than the shop's work, she's just saying she's shopping around to get the best price for what she wants. This is the point where you either get emotional and insulted, or you look at what she wants and quote her a price.

I think Texas is right..To Most Brides the cake is just another check off their list so they are looking to spend X amount of dollars...not saying or knowing how much a cake is worth.Quote her your price and she can take it or leave it.

I am going to look at what she wants and quote her a price and I do understand people shopping around. I just think people should consider their approach to you when they want your help. How about, we saw a cake that we really love and know you do great work, wondering if we could talk with you about replicating the cake for us. I just hate to keep hearing that we would like to talk to you about cake because we can't afford the other guys. I am a pretty easy going person but I get feeling bad that others don't value my work but at the same time want me to work for them! Thats life. Got to have a thick skin!

Having seen your work, should this work out, I have a feeling this going to be one VERY happy bride!

It does sound like price will be an issue so I have a feeling the customer will try to negotiate...just make sure you hold your ground regarding price, and if the customer's budget is lower than the quoted price you can suggest a simpler design with a lower cost.

Don't forget that the customer is not trying to be your friend -- many people have a very different demeanor when conducting a business transaction.

If you continually get customers trying to bargain-shop, you may want to post example prices on your web site so people get an idea of how much you charge before they contact you.

[quote="Lili5768"]

I had an older bride who had eloped her first time getting married and these many years later had NO idea what cakes cost. She had a wonderful attitude though. She told me "I went to walmart and they wanted $149 for a wedding cake!" I said, "Wow, that's a really good price!"

Her eyes got wide and she said, "It is???? REALLY???" then she started laughing and said, "That's shows you how out of the loop I am on this stuff!"

Then we started "the education process" on cakes.