I agree...by the detail she has given you for each cake she knows exactly how to play people to get siomething for nothing...Tell her forget it!!!

I don't turn my oven on for less than $50.00 minimum and it sure isn't for a 3D type cake..Mine start at $150.00 and up...

Don't let customers dictate your prices!!!

I do not negotiate prices. This is my price, if you don't want to pay that, then go to Sam's and get a sheet cake. Sorry if that sounds rude, but I'm not working for free!

I do cakes as a hobby but every time I go buy all the stuff and goodies to make a cake, I always spend way more than $20!!! for sure.

I agree turn her down. She is taking advantage of you.

You will start resenting doing cakes once the bills add up and you realise you are paying for their cakes. I was doing that all the time at first as I wanted to get experience, I would find myself running out of money and getting annoyed that I had done something for nothing. Someone asked me for a hello kitty cake for 30 people, so I quoted £40... They were horrified.. Said they only wanted to spend £20-£25... The uk store cakes are about £15 so I told him where to go. This was someone I work with who earns £17 per hour when they do overtime!!! They expect me to work 8 hours for £20-£25 when they can earn that in 2!!!

PS. Yesterday I took an order for a birthday cake. 8" round, pirate (not a figure) and message, in fondant. $96. Customer didn't even blink.

Oh HELL no.

I grew up in San Rafael and can tell you that it is a very expensive area to live in (wasn't quite so bad 30 years ago). $20 wouldn't cover anything--I hope you told this lady no and referred her to a baker in Tiburon or Belvedere instead!

I recently posted a question about are some customers clueless and after reading the response I got on it I realized something, if I wanted to be working for charity I should be volunteering for one.
So this week I got one of "those" customers who's other cake ladies had moved or retired. I listened patiently to her describe what she wanted for this cake and how she didn't have a lot of money to spend after spend $100 on invitations, so she knew she would be able to get one of my cakes for $20. She gasp when I told her what the price would be...and this is what she said..."I told you I didn't have a lot of money to spend on a cake didn't you understand?" I took a deep breathe, thought of all of you and my two children and told her "Mam, I don't have a lot of money period because I have been doing cakes for people who want to take advantage of me and for running my business like a hobby instead of a business, the bottom line is the price is the price.....so will you be ordering that cake or not?
I'm glad I grew a pair....thanks yall.

I had been doing daycare for a gal for about 4 years now, and she is getting married this May. I have done birthday cakes for her 2 kids, and she asked if I would do her wedding cake and what would I charge. Well, I quoted her a price for the 3 tiered cake she wanted, but that would be if it was all the same fillings and cake flavors and such. Well, she tells me that she just wants a "simple" cake and she really likes the look of fondant. She knows that I am not comfortable doing fondant cakes, because I just have not had good luck with it. We have talked about this different times. Anyway she kept saying that she really wants it and she knows that I can do it. This went on for a while, and finally I told her how much more it would cost with the fondant. She couldn't understand why it cost so much, since she was just having a plain cake. So I explained it all to her. And she says "well, since you said that you haven't had a lot of experience, then this could be kind of a trial cake for you, and I'm okay with it not being perfect, this way you'll get some experience and then when you are good you can charge that price." I just looked at her and said "I don't even know how to respond to that." She goes "what?" Well, after explaining to her all that was wrong with what she just said, I told her that she should find someone else to do her cake. She said that she didn't understand what the big deal was and that was the end of that, until 2 weeks later when she told me that she wouldn't need me for daycare anymore. Her reason was that she has a friend that really needs the money so she is going to take the kids to her. That hurt.

kaseyrconnect, I know it hurts but you are better off cutting your loses. Your "friend" wouldn't have been happy with the cake not looking perfect as she had claimed.

That was real low of her to take her kid out of daycare. You are obviously better off without her. I am shocked that you never had any problems before with this women if you were making birthday cakes for her.

cakelady2266 - your story is great! I would hope more people stand up to those bullies trying to practically steal cakes. I am fairly new to Cakecentral, only been reading posts for a couple months now. But I think the most valuable information I have been taking away from here is now to undervalue myself. I feel lucky enough to not/or ever depend on cakes as my income because my lovely husband has agreed to be our main provider. Plus I have 2 little ones under 2 at the moment so I really have no time to devote to cakes at the moment. But I have set my prices and I have had a bnch of people asking for quotes for wedding cakes for next year, but I havn't booked a single one. But that doesn't bother me. I know the right customers will come who have seen my work and are willing to pay. And it probably helps that because I already have no time, its easy to think to myself, if I take that birthday cake order I been up all night for 2 nights for maybe $40. What can i buy with $40?

Hello Everyone, Im new to the cake world and I happened to come across this web site. I visited for the first time last night and before I knew it it was 4:00am. The warning was right it is addictive. I just finished my first course with wilton and Im so excited and ready to learn more. I revisited the site today and find my self unable to leave. There's so much I've already learned here that only hands on experience could have taught me. I have always had interest in cake decorating but was a single mom with two kids and never had time to do the classes. My children are grown and on there on now. I was able to fulfill my long wish to take a course in cake decorating. I having a dream of a home base business. I know Im at the right place in order to get the support to accomplish this dream. Glad to be here and hope to get to know each one of you better.

NO NO...please do not give away your hard work for nothing!! She will get her cheap cake and then pass your name to all her buddies and you will have a big problem!! You cannot even get a cake in a cheap bakery for 20 bucks. Just say no thanks and I guarantee that customers will come along that will appreciate your work. This lady is sure a piece of work and obviously does not know the work that goes into a custom cake...send her to Costco if she wants a deal...and even there they will not do a fancy cake like that!!!

turn it down!!! you cant even possibly cover your costs at 20!!! tell her to go to walmart, that would be in her price range!

and kasey, so sorry that happened to you!!!! that is awful and i wouldnt have a clue how to respond to that either, but u stood your ground and good for you! it will pay off, this is one loss, but it will be worth it in the long run.
and as for my earlier post, walmart would prob be too high for this lady, or they have already kicked her out! LOL