Yes, It's Another Pricing Question

Business By chyna Updated 5 Jul 2006 , 12:43am by chyna

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chyna Posted 4 Jul 2006 , 3:56pm
post #1 of 8

cake stats: 180 guests, castle design, fondant over buttercream, buttercream filling, choc cake and filling, b/c piping and fondant details.

I quoted $450-500CDN and didn't get the job because of pricing.

I am in Alberta, Canada.
I haven't done a wedding cake before, but have done several other cakes that have had good reviews.

Should I offer to negotiate? (I feel that is a high price, myself, but I did it by ~2.50 a serving)

I'm trying to set up the matrix so that Ican see what hte actual costs are here for that cake..but I'm feeling a bit flustered and nervous about the whole thing. I've done 2 castle cakes and they have turned out well...but they weren't that big.

7 replies
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bakers2 Posted 4 Jul 2006 , 4:03pm
post #2 of 8

here in 'podunk' Montana I would have quoted $720+ - they're always looking for something for nothing!

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SweetThistleCakes Posted 4 Jul 2006 , 5:31pm
post #3 of 8

Chyna, don't second guess yourself. It's a fair price, and it's her loss. Is she really going to be able to find a good cake for less than that?

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chyna Posted 4 Jul 2006 , 6:42pm
post #4 of 8

I just scoped out the prices at the local grocery store, for my own "justification"
The fondant 3 tier with simple piping and top raised tier, serving the top tier for 167 would be $2.09 per serving (including tax, which I don't add to my prices but did add to the grocery store cost because you'd have to pay that too.....).

The other cake that certainly looks like it's fondant is $449+tax for 183 if the top layer is served.

I guess I'm in the ball park for prices, and she'd be getting custom work.

I DID consider offering her less cake (not for the entire guest list, as not everyone eats cake.....) and a simpler sheet cake for somewhat less.....but it's her DH that is balking at the price..

ETA...the wedding is July 22 and they just saw my pics about a week ago and got back to me with the no answer this morning...

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alicegop Posted 4 Jul 2006 , 6:49pm
post #5 of 8

I created an excel spreadsheet to help me with pricing. If you would like a copy please email me at [email protected] and I will be happy to let you have it.

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chyna Posted 4 Jul 2006 , 7:38pm
post #6 of 8

how much of a reduction in serving cost is typical for making a plainer sheet cake to cut and serve?

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alicegop Posted 4 Jul 2006 , 8:24pm
post #7 of 8

I charge $30 for a 9x13 - 65
$40 for 11x15 - serves 90
$15 for 12x18 - 108

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chyna Posted 5 Jul 2006 , 12:43am
post #8 of 8

update: I emailed and offered the bride a few options....she replied that they had been looking for something with not too much detail to hack apart with a sword (medieval theme) and didn't want something "too beautiful" cuz they wanted something they "felt ok about killing and feeding to peeps"


oookay...thanks for considering my work then, I guess.....

I'm gonna let it go. LOL. I want to make stuff that's too beautiful.

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