Very Upset...and Want To Know What Yall Think!!!! (Long)
Decorating By lillykaci1 Updated 1 Apr 2007 , 2:35am by LaSombra
I think your cake was worth more than $37, I would not have done the daisies alone for much less than that!!!!! But something we all have learned (the hard way unfortunately) is that we need to give them a price up front B4 we do the cake. That way there are no surprises on either end. Some of those people out there, the noncake decorators, have NO CLUE the time, energy or money that goes into any cake. So in the future you should probably tell your clients the cost up front. I would be nice and tell them that you did it for a favor for your husband but in the future your cakes start at 50.00 and go up with each flower, border etc...... We have all been thru this before, me with a wedding cake 
TELL THEM YOU'RE TO BUSY AT THE PRESENT. MAKING CAKES FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T MIND PAYING YOUR PRICE, AND PAYING CUSTOMERS MUST COME FIRST. CUSTOMER WHO WANT TO HAGGLE, COME IN SECOND.
NOT SURE WHAT KIND OF BUSINESS YOU HUSBAND WORKS FOR, BUT I AM SURE THEY DON'T EXPECT TO HAVE THEIR PRICES CUT BECAUSE THE COMPETITION CHARGES LESS. YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR, AND IF THEY WANT A DRY, NASTY CAKE, TELL THEM TO GO THE THE SUPERSTORE AND GET ONE.
BY THE WAY, IN MY AREA I WOULD HAVE CHARGED $80.00 FOR YOUR CAKE AND RECEIVED A $20.00 TIP FOR DELIVERING IT. DON'T BACK DOWN, YOUR TIME AND TALENT IS WHAT THEY ARE REALLY PAYING FOR.
can see why you're mad, but if you didn't specify a price when you accepted the order, then I don't think there's really anything much that you can say.
I agree. I know you were doing it because it's your husbands workplace, but you should probably be upfront next time about the price. Cut 'em a deal, but no need to suffer, either. I would not do the future cakes. If you want, perhaps a price somewhere in the middle, but it sounds to me like they just don't know.
If you're anticipating (and want) repeat business from this source, then maybe you should sit down with them and work out a "standard" cake that they get for a specific price. Maybe all they really want is a few buttercream roses or some plastic scenery, which is all I see at most supermarket bakeries. That way, you're not knocking yourself out trying to deliver more than the customer actually wants - and they're getting the cake they want. In some situations, a "custom" cake is just overkill.
[quote="rezzycakes"]SOME NERVE!!!!! If they want to pay H-E-B prices.. let them get it from H-E-B then!! quote]
I agree 100% How RUDE!!!!
I learned too the hard way that you need to determine BEFORE what the cake will cost. That way both parties have the chance to walk away before anything gets done. I think most people just dont understand the work that goes into the cake, and you may need to explain that to them. If all they want to spend is $37 you can tell them either to go elsewhere or maybe you could do something smaller and/or less decorated for that price.
will call his store tomorrow and find out what they plan on paying for the cake they want for Monday, cuz if they say $37 I'm going to call the bakery and order thier $37 cake for them and then charge them for the call!!!!
Why would you call a customer and ask what they are willing to pay? You'll make cakes for them forever at that rate. Someone will be calling you for a wedding cake, if you do them, and telling you what they'll pay if you don't set your prices yourself. I hope you're not thinking that if you don't make their cakes it'lll affect his job. Geesh!!
I would call and let them know that there is a mistake because your cakes are not that cheap. Let them know that your cakes are homemade and require many hours of work as opposed to the frozen assembly line cakes you get from the store. If you are new and trying to get your name out there maybe offer them a deal to do all of their cakes, a small discount nothing drastic. Good luck and let us know how it goes 
$37 is a steal!! Don't let them rip you off. Sit down and discuss the price with them. If they are not willing to pay the $75..then they can go to elsewhere.
Just to add...the whole thing sure sounds like they thought they'd save themselves the trouble of having to actually do the legwork of picking up a cake at a store, and have the convenience of having it delivered via your husband. It might be worth it to show them what they'd get for $37.00 if that's what they want, but I'm sure it was ignorance on their part just thinking, "How much can a cake cost?"...not even realizing the custom nature of homemade cakes. Just part of the problem home bakers are facing to make a profit, let alone get paid for their labor.
My husband's rule of thumb is "estimate your overhead costs, and the price of your time, then add $15.00-$25.00 to cover the unexpected." Then he always adds, "You're worth it."
So are you Lillykaci1.
This is one of the nicest posts I've ever read. I want to hug you and your hubby!!
Good luck with the problem. I think you just need to talk to your husband and see what he thinks too. My husbands work is a HUGE source of orders-then their families order, then their friends order, you see where I'm going with this right??? Make sure "outside" orders now how much they are going to pay BEFORE they order and stick to your guns. Just keep the first few within reason. If they are used to paying $37 and you want to charge them $75, you may not even get your foot in the door. Try to meet them in the middle and charge them $50.
The daisies take a long time to make, so next time, make something that doesn't take a lot of time, but still looks pretty. Get them on the taste, let them order again and again, knowing yours is SO much better than HEB, then keep raising your prices or tell them to go to the store. Chances are they will NOT go back to the store! Just my opinion. It's so worth getting that office full of people to love you and your cake!!!
Okay, I'm getting from your post that your husband works at H-E-B, is that correct? If he works at H-E-B then why didn't they just get the cake from the bakery? Could it be because they know just how crappy their cakes really are?
BTW, I went to Baylor U in Waco, TX!
I was reading last night that store bakeries are "loss leaders" and impulse items, that's why the cakes are so cheap, cause as you shop you will be buy other items. I agree with ChristaPaloma that we are not always going to get what we are worth for our cakes. State your price and stick to it. If that is a 1/2 sheet though, I think $75 is too high.
Okay, I'm getting from your post that your husband works at H-E-B, is that correct? If he works at H-E-B then why didn't they just get the cake from the bakery? Could it be because they know just how crappy their cakes really are?
BTW, I went to Baylor U in Waco, TX!
That is EXACTLY what I was thinking. I use to work @ HEB in Waco (on N.19th). I couldn't figure out why they'd order one from her & not just get one from their own bakery. Especially if they just wanted to pay $37.00 for it.
Well............. they didn't really have a set price before they ordered the first one...............
But the $37 was insulting..............
If you continue to make cakes for $37, you are definitely making a statement. You are telling them "you decide what it's worth". That's not good business. Just tell hubby that in future all cakes are $75, take it or leave it. They can go to HEB if they want to...........
If it's a big deal with hubby, tell him to pay the $38 difference!
LOL
He does work for H-E-B, but the one he works at does not have a bakery! They asked him if I would make a cake for their partner thing that they were having. I told him to ask them what they wanted and they told him a full sheet cake with a spring theme. And they told him that they would take care of me.
I talked to my hubby today and he said that I should call and talk to the lady that wants me to make all these cakes and tell her that it will be $65 for anymore cakes that they want done, and if they want anything extra that it will go up from there. He said though he would not let me do anymore cakes for them if they were going to pay me $37.
I told him that I didn't mind doing the cakes becuase I love doing them, but the work put in them was worth more than what I got. I sat down with him and showed him what everything I used cost, and showed him that I made about $5 to $6 on the cake. Does no good to make hubby pay the rest....he would just spend the money anyway...lol
If it is a full sheet then $75 is ok. I charge $80 for a full sheet and don't put half as much in it as you did, especially if customer try to get more than they want to pay. Now I will do more than expected depending on the customer, cause that customer is gonna tip me anyways so I don't mind.
Oh, and btw it is a very nice springy looking cake.
Do talk to the lady in charge of ordering the cakes yourself (cut out the middleman!) and explain to her all the work and time that goes into making a full sheet cake and why $37 is not enough. Most people just have no idea why a cake baked by a private baker would cost more than a supermarket cake, but the reasonable ones will understand once you explain it. If they really want to save the money, they can buy a grocery store cake. They have a choice and so do you!
Good luck!
Maybe you should send your DH to work with an official typed up price sheet. Then they know up front, and seeing it in writing might make it feel like less of an option for them to make up their own prices or just send whatever money they want.
Or maybe they need to pay you before you hand over the cake, even before you start baking. A full sheet cake is A LOT OF CAKE. In the future, they need 50% to hold the date of the cake and 50% due like 5 days before they want it.
I'm curious if the customer requested that you do the cake as you did it or if it was your design choice. If you chose to do all that work without negoatiating the price first; then that was your choice. But if that's what they requested, you should have told them what you'd charge.
"We'll take care of you" is not a good way to agree to do a job for somebody. And you know now that you have learned a hard lesson.
If you generally get $75 for your cakes, you're lucky!
YOu could always tell dh he can tell work that they got a hefty discount on the first cake but after that they will have to pay full price, which is $75. Unless like someone else mentioned, they just want a basic cake, like the one from the other place. You could show them a pix or two of something simpler that you make & give them the prices.
I someone else said, I would do up a sheet with prices on it and have your husband bring it in. If they would like another cake then they could contact you and I would stick to your pricing. They got an amazing deal for that cake you made them. Plus if they want a cheap cake they could get one from a different H.E.B. since I am sure that they would get a discount since they work for the company I would assume. Good luck!!
I would be mad too! Hubby did the same thing to me--so and so wants a cake 1/2 sheetcake, blah, blah so I made it. The next day when he came home I asked about the money--"Oh it was on me!" 
The next day he needed me to make 1/2 sheet, a 1/4 sheet and 60 cupcakes for (drumroll please) $45. I think that the significant other expects you to give coworkers price breaks. See if your husband will work a full day for half of the pay and see what he says.
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