Custom Cupcakes For 3.50 Each To Much??
Baking By shawna29xx Updated 20 Sep 2011 , 1:30pm by shawna29xx
So I just did a cake testing with someone who had my cakes at a family event. She wants red velvet cupcake with the traditional cream cheese frosting and the First Impressions baby mold as the toppers for 50 cupcakes. I told her I could do them for $3.50 each and she gasps and said that she has another cake tasting at a famous bakery in Los Angeles this weekend and they quoted her $2.50 for ganache dipped cake pops and she will see if they have the same mold for cheaper. Was I asking too much for my cupcakes when she wants them color to her complexion and dressed like her for her party?
No it's not too much... it's too little IMHO. A dipped cake pop is not even close to the same work as making all of those babies.
People have no clue how much work goes into this sort of a thing.
ok so they quoted her 2.50 for a cake pop and she thinks she is going to get a whole specialty flavor with fondant and molds cupcake for less than 3.50.....in my opinion you are undercharging. especially when you factor in the clothing etc.
The cupcakes shops in may town are $3.50 each for basic cupcakes. (SF Bay Area suburbs...not even the city). So, no, I certainly do not think a molded, hand-painted custom dressed baby for the topper is too much, (not enough in my opion). Just think how long it will take to mold & decorate each of those babies.
She asked your price and you told her.
If she's not willing to pay for it........NEXT!
Don't doubt your self.
Not everyone who calls you for a quote is a client.
Let the window shoppers move on down the road, save your energy for someone who sees what an amazing deal they are getting for such beautiful and tasty cuppies.
mommachris
I gave her a deal because I know her family and do a lot of cakes for them. But I explained that it is really detailed and that I would normally charge more. She says she really loved all the cupcakes I made but she wants to see if the professional will charge less. Unfortunately I broke my camera awhile back so I haven't had a chance to update my photos on CC. But I needed reassurance that I was actually not crazy for wanting to charge $3.50 which is about half price. I'm not charging base rate.
Mommachris you are sooo right! Also I live in Los Angeles and the place she is going to charged me $6.00 each to have a fondant purse put on buttercream vanilla cupcakes for my little sisters birthday a year ago so I wish her luck. If she calls me I will let everyone know.
No kidding... LOL. I'd love to see her face then when they quote her $9-12.00 per cupcake... heheheheh.
She'll come crawling back with her tail tucked. I'd be booked.
I gave her a deal because I know her family and do a lot of cakes for them. But I explained that it is really detailed and that I would normally charge more. She says she really loved all the cupcakes I made but she wants to see if the professional will charge less. Unfortunately I broke my camera awhile back so I haven't had a chance to update my photos on CC. But I needed reassurance that I was actually not crazy for wanting to charge $3.50 which is about half price. I'm not charging base rate.
For the topper only I'd charge $3.50 + $3.50 for cupcake. You've already given her 50 % discount! She can't compare cake pops to cupcakes! And I don't think anybody can do cake pops with detailed toppers for her 
Even you can do cake pops for $2.50 (without topper), can't you? Less hassle...
Hahaha I think she felted that she could get me to lower the price even more because I don't have a store front.on Another note Her cousin my regular customer just called me and said that she want to order 2 dozen cupcakes next weekend and that she'll pay extra if I let her lick the bowl. Hehehe 
I feel confidant that my cupcakes are delicious
The fact that you are only chathing her $3.50 a cupcake is a STEAL!! You are a professional and time, effort and workmanship that goes into making the cupcakes and the toppers can't be set aside. If she chooses not to use your services don't worry about it, move alot to the next customer.
$3.50 is a bargain. I just don't understand why people think artwork ( and that is what it is...edible art) should be cheap!!! I'm thrilled to know people are getting $6., $7., and more for custom cupcakes!!!
i think she was looking at that all wrong! sure the cupcakes are 3.50, and the cake pops are ONLY 2.50.....but let me tell you, i'm good with just eating one cupcake, but if i go to a party and they give me one stinkin little cake pop, i would a little bummed. one cake pop? ok here is your crumb was it good, well no more for you! i mean its like a potato chip, who can really only eat one of those...ok i'm done now!
So, I always thought those babies were hand carved by each decorator... Now that I know they're not, I still think $3.50 is a huge bargain! I find it slightly humorous that she compared cake pops and cupcakes. Assuming their cake pop is the same as everyone else's, that's half the size of a cupcake and even less work!
So I just did a cake testing with someone who had my cakes at a family event. She wants red velvet cupcake with the traditional cream cheese frosting and the First Impressions baby mold as the toppers for 50 cupcakes. I told her I could do them for $3.50 each and she gasps and said that she has another cake tasting at a famous bakery in Los Angeles this weekend and they quoted her $2.50 for ganache dipped cake pops and she will see if they have the same mold for cheaper. Was I asking too much for my cupcakes when she wants them color to her complexion and dressed like her for her party?
I am puzzled. Why doesn't she ask this 'famous bakery' about their cupcakes? And does she think those babies will fit on top of a cake pop? How stupid would that look? In my estimation you should have charged $3.00 per cupcake and $2.50 to $3 per baby topper. Actually with all the painting and extras one has to do with those babies, the toppers should be closer to $5 each IMO.
Why didn't she ask YOU about cake pops?
I would love to hear how this ends up.
Some of us do still sculpt them by hand... molds make things much easier though. I don't like to use a mold unless I have the ability to make it myself, but that is just my hang up. If they were hand sculpted the price would go through the roof. Even though it's made with a mold I'd say 5-6$ each with the custom dressing and all... maybe more depending on the details. And that's just the babies... nevermind the cupcakes.
It's funny that she is complaining about $3.50 for custom cupcakes. Those gumpaste babies sell for upwards of $7.00 each on etsy and that is just plain babies with no clothing. So why should you give them to her for free basically? Anyone can make cupcakes at home. When you start shopping outside for baked goods, you have to prepare yourself to pay the going rate.
I think the ceiling of what you can charge depends on location. Bakers in San Francisco can obviously get a lot more money per cupcake compared to someone who is in the middle of Montana creating the same thing.
You will always have those clients that baulk at the price. Not everyone understands the time and effort that goes in creating cakes and cupcakes. It is art and is not an automated process!
The other thing is that if she is complaining about price now, what else is she likely to complain about down the line? 
You can't buy craptastic plastic cupcake toppers for what you are quoting. I don't know how much your base cupcake price is, but when in doubt, google the plastic versions of what you want to make out of fondant and always have that as a plan B when quoting prices. If anything it helps to justify your price.
People are nuts - they have no problem paying $.99 for something, but quote them $1.00 and it's too much.
QTCakes1
she hasn't seen a cake pop before so she assumed that they were about the size of a cupcake.
Carmijok
Her Famous cake tasting was after mine this weekend. Mine was on Thursday because i had another order this Saturday that went great! From what she told me the FB qouted her way more (she would specify) for their 3D topped cupcakes than I did and she "really" want me to do her party because they didn't have what she was looking for anyway.
To All CC'rs
I am learning that people will try to shake you down for what they want and i have to stay firm with my pricing. Either they will buy from me or not. She thought that i would give her a better price because i know her family but I feel half off is good enough. thank you everyone. You have all really help me.
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