Conflict Of Interest Help...

Decorating By SILVERCAT Updated 14 Apr 2007 , 11:01am by qtcakes

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SILVERCAT Posted 13 Apr 2007 , 2:27pm
post #1 of 11

As you may have read in the past I am doing another four ace's cake this weekend. Well I was told today by my friend that she would be paying for the cake. I had also asked here how much to charge for it, and was told about $100-120 as it is four 9x13 cakes and cheese cake mousse filling with cream cheese icing. So my conflict here is since my friend is paying for the cake do I give her a discount? I really had my price set at $100-120 for this cake. My friend decided to pay for the cake as a present for the guy whos birthday it is for. Would you all give a discount and how much? You can see the cake in my photos that I did about a month ago. Help Please, Megan

10 replies
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Irish245 Posted 13 Apr 2007 , 2:38pm
post #2 of 11

I say, if this is the cake she wants....then she has to pay what it's worth. If you want to give he a discount, that's up to you but make it $10 or $15 dollars and make sure she knows you're giving her a discount and why!!!

I've come to find out that friends and family sometimes (usually not meaning to) take advantage of you because they are exactly that...friends and family.

Don't sell yourself short!!! If you were to give this cake as a gift to a person you know, that's a totally different story. For instance, I have 10 nieces and one nephew and they know, their wedding gift is their wedding cake.....but it still is not going to be a $1200 cake!!!! Also, since only one has gotten married so far and then was divorced within a year and is now back with her ex husband and thinking of remarrying him......one free wedding cake per niece/nephew!!!!! Luckily her mother told her the same thing...."one wedding per daughter!!!".

Kris

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beccakelly Posted 13 Apr 2007 , 2:46pm
post #3 of 11

i say don't discount. tell her your price and if she really wants the cake, she'll pay you what you deserve. however, as a friend, you may want to explain why it costs as much as it does. let her know the time, ingredients, and effort it takes to do a cake like that. she'll prolly understand once she knows you're not ripping her off!

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tyty Posted 13 Apr 2007 , 2:46pm
post #4 of 11

Irish 245, that was funny. I give close friends and family $5 to $10 off.

My DH wants to take a cake to every event he attends, so I charge him 1/2 price. He always waits until the last minute.

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tiptop57 Posted 13 Apr 2007 , 2:46pm
post #5 of 11

SILVERCAT - Nope no discount, that wasn't ever discussed before the cake was decided upon. Think of it this way, you are not a discount supply warehouse, but a specialized decorator that makes incredible custom creations.

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gateaux Posted 13 Apr 2007 , 2:47pm
post #6 of 11

I charge $20 minimum for a cake (1 basic cake mix) weather it's for family and friends. (unless I am doing the cake as a gift - then it's usually free).
You have to pay for the basics and give yourself at least a $5.00 per hour.

So you have 4 - 9X13 with all ingredients cheese cake filling and mouse is more expensive than BC, board, box, transport and your time I think $90 to $100 is very fair. That would be about 20% discount give or take.

Unless the birthday "boy" is also a good friend of yours and you plan on having the cake be part of your gift, then you might want to give her a bigger discount.

Your cake will serve about 100 people once complete right? So that would be $.090 to $1.00 per slice.

I hope this helps.

Dont sell yourself short.

Good Luck.

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SILVERCAT Posted 13 Apr 2007 , 7:39pm
post #7 of 11

Thanks everyone for the input. And no I was just told today by my friend that she was picking up the cake and paying for it, she doesnt even know what my price is for the cake. When I did the cake for her benefit she had and I donated the cake I told her that it was about a $100 cake. I have only met the birthday boy/guy once and he is my friends friend so no gift from me. Thanks again.

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gateaux Posted 13 Apr 2007 , 9:53pm
post #8 of 11

You might want to remind her of your price, in case she forgot and gets sticker shock.

Good Luck.

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rlsaxe Posted 14 Apr 2007 , 3:45am
post #9 of 11

me personally.....if it was a good friend of mine....I would give a decent discount...simply because she's my friend.
I'd do the same for close family as well.
If she was just a friend that wasn't necessarily close to me, I don't think I'd do a discount.

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mizshelli Posted 14 Apr 2007 , 3:48am
post #10 of 11

my sister gets free cakes forever. But she bought me everything to start decorating, so I think it's a pretty fair trade. And she's not gonna order them for friends or anything, it's just her and her kids.

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qtcakes Posted 14 Apr 2007 , 11:01am
post #11 of 11

i would deff. tell her up front how much it will cost before hand.
sounds a bit high, we sure couldnt get that price around here. even if it was fondant.

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