Interesting Cookie Cutter Question...

Baking By amiegirl Updated 23 Apr 2007 , 3:43pm by MahalKita

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amiegirl Posted 17 Apr 2007 , 5:50am
post #1 of 17

So this cookie thing that started as a past time seems to be pretty dang popular. I have 2 people who emailed me today asking if I can make Elmo cookies and Diego cookies, both as party favors. BUT the thing is I need to make my own cookie cutter for each of these. I would like to charge a flat "cookie cutter" fee for when I have to make a cookie cutter, but I dont necessarily want to give them the cutter when I'm done. What would be a good price for this -- $5? $10? I just dont want to do this for free, since its a bit time consuming. Does anyone else offer to make cookie cutters for customers? I've just found its pretty easy for me to do, just takes a bit of time.

Amie

16 replies
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JoAnnB Posted 17 Apr 2007 , 6:04am
post #2 of 17

The cookie cutters would be illegal to sell and so would the cookies be against the law.

You cannot legally duplicate licensed characters/images.

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GeminiRJ Posted 17 Apr 2007 , 11:53am
post #3 of 17

JoAnnB is correct. I don't think you'll get thrown in jail or anything, but do be aware that it is illegal to produce licensed characters. That said...how much would you charge for an original design? I tried making my own cutters, and I failed miserably! I'd love to find someone to make them for me (3 total). I love the design, and would love to make more of these cookies, but cutting them out by hand is a major, time-consuming pain! PM me if you'd be interested in making them for me, okay?

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bethyboop Posted 17 Apr 2007 , 12:12pm
post #4 of 17

check out www.nickjr.com. there is a template for diego cookies and other character cake, cupcake and cookie templates as well.

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tricia Posted 17 Apr 2007 , 1:22pm
post #5 of 17

I could not find the cookie template..

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MichelleM77 Posted 17 Apr 2007 , 1:25pm
post #6 of 17
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eieio1234 Posted 17 Apr 2007 , 6:38pm
post #8 of 17

I don't think I'd charge them a 'cookie cutter fee' unless they were getting the cookie cutter. Why don't you just up your total price per cookie to account for it and tell them that it was additional labor in making a cutter.

That said, can you give any pointers on making cutters?!?!?!?!? lol! I tried once and stunk at it. AND cut my hand! LOL!

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KonfectionKonnection Posted 17 Apr 2007 , 6:52pm
post #9 of 17

Wouldn't a "cookie cutter fee" be similar to the "one time set up fee" that is sometimes charged for personalized items or printing? You don't receive anything for it, but w/out it your job can't be completed. I'm not sure it would be so wrong if you can't find a cutter you need to then charge for making one.

That being said, however, if the characters are licensed/copyrighted, there might be fines involved for making cutters/cookies w/out permission/authorization.

Sorry I'm not more help.

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KHalstead Posted 17 Apr 2007 , 6:52pm
post #10 of 17

I don't charge anything extra for making a cookie cutter........I just figure it's no different than when I have to buy a cake pan.....I don't charge my customers for my pans either, I consider it an investment in my "business" ( I'm not legal.....but hope to be one day)...but you should take the cost into consideration.....I make my own cutters but I don't make super heavy duty ones........mine only take about five minutes for me to make and almost cost nothing so ....maybe if you're getting expensive cutters to be made you'd have to charge, but the way I make them I charge NOTHING!


edited to say: If you charge this person a certain amount extra to account for the cutter and someone else sees the cookies and wants the same ones......do you charge them extra too??? or do they get them cheaper because you already have the cutter?? Just wondering!

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Iheartcake Posted 17 Apr 2007 , 7:03pm
post #11 of 17

I wouldn't charge a cookie cutter fee. Same with a cake. If someone is requesting a specific cake and I don't have the pan, I'm not expecting them to cover the cost of the pans. I would consider it an investment for future orders.

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bethyboop Posted 17 Apr 2007 , 9:37pm
post #12 of 17

nickjr.com template....

it is under recipes, cake finder, character cupcakes, more...
it actually is a cupcake template, but couldnt it be enlarged for a cookie???

here is the link..
http://www.nickjr.com/food/cake_finder/character_cupcakes/dieg_diego_cupcake.jhtml
(you may have to copy the link into internet explorer)

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megamere Posted 22 Apr 2007 , 10:53pm
post #13 of 17

So, if the website has it up as a template, then aren't they giving you an invitation to use it? Wouldn't it be legal to recreate these cookies if NickJr is offering up the template for Diego?

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bethyboop Posted 23 Apr 2007 , 1:36am
post #14 of 17
Quote:
Originally Posted by megamere

So, if the website has it up as a template, then aren't they giving you an invitation to use it? Wouldn't it be legal to recreate these cookies if NickJr is offering up the template for Diego?




I would think so. I have not used it yet, but am planning on it.

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Hippiemama Posted 23 Apr 2007 , 1:53am
post #15 of 17

The templates that they have are for personal use only. It is illegal to sell items with licensed characters.

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chocolateandpeanutbutter Posted 23 Apr 2007 , 1:56am
post #16 of 17

The templates are there for individuals to use for their own use only. This means that you are free to make cookies using them, but it is illegal to sell your cookies made with them. You can give them away, but you can't make any money from them.

It's the same deal with licensed character cake pans. You can make the cake, but you can't sell it. You can't sell any cake on which you have made any of the characters yourself, either, for example, out of MMF. It's a copyright issue.

Unfortunate, but true.

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MahalKita Posted 23 Apr 2007 , 3:43pm
post #17 of 17

We make most of our cookie cutters (well my hubby does, thanks honey) but we don't charge a fee for it. The way we look at it is, we get a new cutter & will have a cookie out there that no one else has yet.

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