I do not think that is unreasonable. I do not as a rule offer delivery for non-wedding orders, but if someone desperately wants it delivered then they pay the same amount.

I wanted to do an informal poll here - do any of you reading along INCLUDE the charge of delivery in your cakes?

I never have, because I think its unfair for someone living by the lake (nearby) paying the same as someone living in the valley (far away). So I go with google's distance calculator use driving routes and work out a per kilometer charge. BUT quite a few decorators in my area include delivery in their prices, which hides it somewhat. "Oh I offer free delivery!" Not really! I prefer being up front and have my quotes itemised.

I am with Leah! I would never deliver cookies...not worth the time it would take me away from the shop. We normally don't even deliver tiered birthday cakes unless it is for an event planner that sends us all their business.

I do make exceptions for three tiered party cakes if we are not bogged down with wedding cake deliveries. But they pay the same as wedding cake deliveries.

I had surgery recently and was out of the store for several weeks. I just heard throught the grapevine (the photographer) that a recent customer complained all evening that we would not deliver a birthday cake downtown, which is a good 1/2 hour one way. I asked if it was a large cake....no, a small 2 tiered cake. The lady complained alot I guess. The photographer said it was probably the first time this lady had ever been told "no!" (It was a "well known" family.) Oh well!

Yeah, we will probably eventually get to the place where we don't deliver unless it's a larger order or a wedding. Right now we don't have a storefront location, so sometimes it is actually easier for us to deliver it rather than try to figure out a place for them to come get it.

$.51 per mile is for the car expences-that does not cover your time!

$.51, you are actually undercharging if you are figuring gas and time. You need to figure in insurance, wear and tear on the vehicle, maintenance, etc. All these costs are passed on to the customer.

Now with the price of gas going up, as of yesterday, tell her that you now charge $.75 per mile, but your keeping hers at $.51, so she IS getting a bargain.

Sometimes people make me wretch.

I'm surprised any vendor would flat-out refuse to deliver smaller cakes...there are many customers who would gladly pay extra to avoid having to pick up the cake. We've delivered many birthday cakes in the $50-$100 range with delivery fees ranging from $30-50 (based on $1/minute travel time round trip).

For $60/hour I would make deliveries all day long.

On a side note, in my opinion, meeting a customer halfway is just asking for trouble. It puts you in a position of waiting for them if they are late. I think lots of people make sure to be late so they aren't the ones put in the position of waiting.