hi all,
So I have a friend who I've one cakes for before, for her children. Weeks ago she ordered a cake shaped like Mickey Mouse (8 inch round + two six-inch rounds for ears) plus two dozen cupcakes around it to look like the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse floor. I quoted her $70 for all this, which I thought was a good deal. She kind of balked at the price, saying "this is for a 4 year old's birthday" but then kind of backed off, like it was Her who was going over the top with it. okay, so I offered to scale it down, and she said how about without the cupcakes? I told her that wouldn't be enough for her guests so I said I could increase Mickey's head size to 10 inch round, and quoted her $60 for the bigger Mickey only. She once again said it was for a 4 year old's birthday.
The thing that really bugs me is....why is my time any less valuable because it's for a little girl's birthday party?!? And, this is a friend who once told me I should raise my prices if I'm not making good money. I give her a 20% friends and family discount, so I feel like she's getting a good price. I mean, if you don't want to spend that much, go to Costco!!!
This friend also annoys me because she is so nitpicky...my cakes are too "high" and "can my cake not be so high??" and she says my BC is too sweet so I have to make hers with Salt!
ugh. thanks for letting me rant 
Ok! I think I'd agree with her. It is for a 4yr old's party. So she should go to Wal Mart and get a sheet cake with sprinkles on it for $12 and quit wasting your time!!
Criminy. I think I'd be busy for friends and family if that is going to be their attitude.
forgot to add that she doesn't like her kids having chocolate because she is concerned about caffeine (I told her there is not a whole lot of caffeine in a piece of cake) so she wanted the cake to be chocolate for adults and she wanted the two dozen cupcakes to be yellow for the kids. I knew she'd be in a panic if we got rid of the cupcakes and (HORROR!) her kids had to eat chocolate, so I asked if she wanted Mickey to be yellow. She said no, her MIL would make some yellow cupcakes....hmm...okay... with the bigger cake, it was only going to be $10 less, so you would think she'd just have me do the cupcakes too? obviously, she thinks my price was too high.
Whatever!!!
I had the same problem with my friends,... but I think nobody want to spend money in their children Birthday cake... But I think and they know too that a homemade cake is better than Walmart cake, is better flavor, better decorations, better filling and more.....
I had a friend make a comment like that - so my reply.
The day you or your child is just a important as the cake you had for your wedding or the one your order for parents anniversary. The day a person is born is an important date, they came into our lives and each year we celebrate that. Your wedding was for one day but you will be celebrating an anniversary every year I guess that is not important then. I love the looks I get because they can not say anything to that, it will be like the day they are born meant nothing so why bother with a cake.
My kids love having great cake designs. I only decorate the table and have a jumping house and games. Everyone has fun. So, for me I would walk away, she said it's just for a four year old then have her go to the local grocery store. My niece would get mad if I did not make her cake she would like to have a design just for her and little decorations at her party.
Good luck with your friend.
Redbird -- I'm trying to give her the benefit of the doubt and think she was just thinking out loud. But then, she goes and has her MIL make cupcakes all the while saying "you should charge more!" like she's all supportive, except when it comes to HER cakes!!
Oh my gosh, you are so charging the right amount!
Earlier this summer I did that same exact cake, for only $25! I was so happy to make a sale that I lost money on that stupid cake! It was hard work, and takes attention to detail and time. It's like you friend thinks you can just slap it together in no time flat!
http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=778003
Good luck. The more I learn, the more I believe that it is important to charge what we are worth.
I think we've all been there. We all have "one of those"...either a friend or relative. I had the same problem at my husband's office. I used them as my taste testers. When I started getting orders, everyone thought it was time for cheap cakes since I "was just getting started". I did a few and everyone was thrilled. Then, I started raising my prices and I got the same feedback you did. My sister has a saying..."everyone wants something good for a cheap price". She's right. Some recognize if you want something custom, you pay a custom price, however they are few and far between. Good luck.
Tell her to call you when the little girl is 5 years old. Maybe the price will be suitable for that age.
What difference does it make if she is 4 or 40? Tell her you don't give a senior citzen discount or a baby on board discount either.
Tell her to call you when the little girl is 5 years old. Maybe the price will be suitable for that age.
What difference does it make if she is 4 or 40? Tell her you don't give a senior citzen discount or a baby on board discount either.
LOL!! I cracked up at that one
SummerNoelle, great job on your cake!! What did you use for your board?? It's such a big cake, I'm not sure what I'll use ?!
tell her to go to wallmart. maybe she can bargain there and get exactly what she wants. just because you are friends does not mean she acn take advantage of you.
I wouldnt change my prices. I would say, this is my price. If you feel it is too high, than I suggest you go to the grocery store. You can get plenty of cake for your budget there. You will never win over the "it's just cake" people.
People want custom cakes on wal-mart budget-simple as that! BUT that doesn't mean we have to give it to 'em! I just went thru this with a friend of a friend. She wanted a enough cake to feed 40, wanted a 3-d lightening on top of the base cake but $55 that someone else local had charged for it was way out of her budget. People really don't understand what's involved with custom work and she was very polite about it when I explained that $55 was a really, really good price and I gave her some ideas that she could use while getting a grocery cake. NOT that I would give your "friend" the same help 
She's a bit of a pip for me!
Just make sure that everyone knows that the cupcakes that MIL makes are not from YOUR kitchen! I wouldn't let her do that.
What a nutjob! No cake for her! Send her to costco!
She is the one ordering the cake...if she doesn't like the price then she needs to scale down her order. I had a friend awhile back order a $100 cake and then tell me "I only wanted to spend $35" and I simply told her "then you better go to Walmart". I don't change my prices for anybody and I don't offer a family/friend discount. Period. Family and friends should be the first people to value your time and effort.
The last time I checked, if you buy a plane ticket for a 4 yr old they charge you the same as an adult. Just because your butt is small doesn't mean you aren't taking up a spot for somebody else. In this case, your time could be used to make somebody else's cake.
If you want the nicest ride....you gotta pay the big girl price!
Friends don't ask friends for free cake! Plain and simple.
My good friends would never allow it (I think they have heard me griping over people trying to rip me off and have seen what goes into it from planning to completion)
The friend of a friend kinds are the ones who expect it free and drive me crazy... I answer my phone and they start off with "well I'm SallyJoBeeBop's friend and she said you would do a cake for me and I can have her discount/free like she got". My reply is always "unfortunately she was incorrect and discounts are not transferrable would you still like the cake?" Some laugh and say yes, others no.
Then good old SallyJoBeeBop calls screaming about how she is embarrassed and to just do the 
cake at a discount so she doesn't look bad. This is how the rest of the conversation usually goes...
Me: They can have it but in return since I am loosing money off you doing this then I need a package of size 2 diapers and a container of formula from Wal*Mart. That is about how much in price difference the discount is going to be. When you bring over the diapers and forumla I will make the call and do their cake. It's going to be $32.89 " I will then need you to go pick up a few TV dinners or hot dog/buns for us so we can have some food in the house. I'm flat broke."
Them: WHAT! You have got to be kidding me!
Me: No I am not kidding. As a friend I do you this favor. I don't know this person calling, and it's not fair to ask me to loose money on a cake. I have two kids to put clothes on and feed. When you put me in the position you did I have to walk away because your price is something I don't make money off of and I'd rather not do a cake for next to nothing for people I don't know because they will ALWAYS expect that same price again just like you now do." I either need to charge paying customers full price because charging next to nothing or nothing at all doesn't put food in my children's tummy."
Them: Oh I see your point.
I've lost a couple friends because they didn't see the point I was trying to make. I've gained the respect of the rest of them who now won't let me discount. I've got a few that will now bring over a gift card on top of their payment, and a few who still take advantage of me (these friends I am now busy for when they call. )
thanks, guys, for taking my side 
sometimes I feel bad only offering 20% discount but jeez, I don't want to lose $$$ on these cakes! and this friend supposedly understands the need to make money?!??
The thing w/her MIL making cupcakes does annoy me, but I'm trying to just let that one go... 
Nip it in the bud, now Kate. It just gets worse as it spreads!
Tell her you will do all the cake or none.
If you do the cake, try a trick that I picked up on CC: print out an invoice for your cakes with the actual cost of the cake...take your time, figure out how many hours you spent on it, ingredients, supplies like cake boards and boxes, etc. Put that amount down on invoice with the cake description.
At the bottom, have a line where you can put discounts. Don't give a reason, like family discount, or a percentage, so they can't expect it every time.
Figure out the amount of discount they recieved from the amount that you actually charged them.
This helps you by showing clearly what you cakes are worth, and how much to charge for it the next time! It also shows you how much money you forfieted by giving a discount at all. That can sometimes hurt to see the number difference in the discount column.
This helps your "friends" and family by showing them how much that cake is worth, giving them an idea of the deal they scored.
Quote by @%username% on %date%
%body%