Need Input Please...was My Price Too High For This?

Decorating By gooberina Updated 13 Aug 2011 , 11:28am by gooberina

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gooberina Posted 11 Aug 2011 , 10:20pm
post #1 of 28

My customer order a cupcake tower (which we custom make for each customer according to their theme), 60 cupcakes (choc/straw/van) with fondant accents (minnie mouse ears, bows, and polka dots for each cupcake), and an 8 inch top cake with the large minnie mouse ears, large polka dotted bow, polka dots, etc. as seen in the pic...(top tier only). When I spoke with her I asked her what her budget was and she told me she had no budget and so I told her I would send her some pics of some ideas, and she could tell me which one she liked. She picked out one and I started working on all the fondant pieces and then two days before the party, when I told her the total cost would be 200.00 (including delivery), she said that she only bugeted 100.00 for the cake and cupcakes and tower. Was my price fair? After lots of research and figuring, this is the amount i came up with. I would love to hear your input. Thanks..

27 replies
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mariacakestoo Posted 11 Aug 2011 , 10:22pm
post #2 of 28

For future reference, you get paid ahead of time. Then there is no issue. If you did lots of research and figuring, why didn't you give her a number ahead of time to agree on and submit an invoice?

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JoanieB Posted 11 Aug 2011 , 10:25pm
post #3 of 28

I myself am starting to get in to cupcakes. For all the work involved that sounds like a fair price to me. I don't know how she can say she has no budget but then only budgeted $100 LOL. I guess get a price confirmation is important. That way there are no surprises either way. I like to give a quote before I start anything. But yes, I believe your price is fair, IMO

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jason_kraft Posted 11 Aug 2011 , 10:27pm
post #4 of 28

We price fondant cupcakes starting at $3.50 each, and an 8" cake with fondant would be in the $80 range, so we would have priced this order at $290 minimum, plus delivery ($1/minute round trip), plus setup ($60/hour), plus tower rental. 50% of the payment is due when placing the order and the other 50% two weeks before the event.

If a customer said her budget was $100, we would recommend a basic half sheet cake with no custom decorations.

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gooberina Posted 11 Aug 2011 , 10:28pm
post #5 of 28

I learned a lesson the hard way. I am still new to this and now I know better. I am trying to post the pic because I am wanting to be fair in my pricing and not over charge anyone....I just wanted to know if my price was correct. Thanks

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gooberina Posted 11 Aug 2011 , 10:30pm
post #6 of 28

thanks for all the helpful advice...I truly appreciate it. I just wanted to be correct in my pricing.

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gooberina Posted 11 Aug 2011 , 10:35pm
post #7 of 28

how do I upload pics?

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cakestyles Posted 11 Aug 2011 , 11:35pm
post #8 of 28

Minnie Mouse is copyright protected and Disney is very strict about that.

I wouldn't mess with Disney with a ten foot pole and therefore I turn down orders like this.

I wouldn't post a picture of this anywhere near your business site. They have people looking at websites and blogs to be sure nobody is producing their images for profit.

A friend of mine made Disney image cupcakes and had them on her site and she was sent a very threatening e-mail from them.

She was lucky they gave her a warning and not a C & D

***I can't believe Jason_Kraft didn't pick up on that! lol

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QTCakes1 Posted 11 Aug 2011 , 11:58pm
post #9 of 28

A very fair price and a hard lesson. Tell cost up front, get a non refundable deposit, final balance paid at least 2 weeks prior to delivery.

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JoanieB Posted 12 Aug 2011 , 12:18am
post #10 of 28

Are the ears copyrighted? I've always wondered about that cause I feel like I see them all the time and I detest the ears LOL!

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cakestyles Posted 12 Aug 2011 , 12:41am
post #11 of 28

The ears are the Mickey/Minnie image/symbol, it's what we all think of when we see them...yup they're copyrighted.

Disney is tough, or did I say that already? lol

Seriously they don't mess around with this stuff.

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oohrahwifey04 Posted 12 Aug 2011 , 6:09am
post #12 of 28

If it's a big NO-NO then why do I see that stuff all over in the galleries? I'm not really questioning this as I believe you, but I'm trying to point out that I see a lot of Mickey Mouse/Minnie Mouse stuff in the galleries.

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jillyscakes Posted 12 Aug 2011 , 6:25am
post #13 of 28

I am sure that if it made for your own family and not being sold then its ok

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kathie-d Posted 12 Aug 2011 , 6:27am
post #14 of 28

If I am not mistaken, you are able to make a cake for yourself but not for profit....but I could be way off.

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jason_kraft Posted 12 Aug 2011 , 12:09pm
post #15 of 28

In the US, copying someone else's work without their permission is copyright infringement whether or not the item in question was sold. So many people do it because not many people know about copyright law, so they see others do it and assume it is OK.

If you want to make a Mickey Mouse cake, the only legal way to do it (unless you have Disney's permission) is to purchase a licensed cake topper and put it on a cake with a Mickey "theme" that does not include any copyrighted design elements.

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cakestyles Posted 12 Aug 2011 , 12:09pm
post #16 of 28

Corrrect. People should be cautious about posting Disney cakes that they sell on their websites. Making them for your child is different but I still wouldn't post them on your site.

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jason_kraft Posted 12 Aug 2011 , 12:16pm
post #17 of 28

US copyright law outlines penalties for infringement, and it specifically includes options for copyright owners to recover either the profits of the infringing item OR statutory damages of $750 - $300,000 per item in cases where there are no profits.

http://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap5.html#504

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JoanieB Posted 12 Aug 2011 , 12:39pm
post #18 of 28

I'm careful not to agree to cakes where I can't buy the licensed items required to make what they want. What chaps my a$$ is a local, very successful baker that has these types of images splashed all over her website. Cause then you always get, "well so and so does it"....drives me mad. Which this has totally gotten off topic....

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Colorful-Bliss Posted 12 Aug 2011 , 2:18pm
post #19 of 28

And again off subject. : /

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jason_kraft Posted 12 Aug 2011 , 2:36pm
post #20 of 28

Considering the cake and cupcakes mentioned in the OP would be infringing (and could potentially get her in trouble) I'd say it's related to the topic at hand.

If you'd like to continue the discussion of why you think it is off-topic feel free to send me a private message, otherwise this thread really will start going off-topic.

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Colorful-Bliss Posted 12 Aug 2011 , 3:00pm
post #21 of 28

It's related in your mind because you are aware of all of that. But she wasn't asking about that...she was asking about her price.

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momsgoodies Posted 12 Aug 2011 , 3:02pm
post #22 of 28

IMO that is a bargain!!!!

I don't know where you live and the prices in that area, but with your description I will charge $2.50 for each cupcake, at least $60 for the cake + the cost of the tower.

Your price was more than fair!!!

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cakestyles Posted 12 Aug 2011 , 6:38pm
post #23 of 28
Quote:
Originally Posted by Colorful-Bliss

It's related in your mind because you are aware of all of that. But she wasn't asking about that...she was asking about her price.




I didn't know about copyright infringement until I started reading forums like this many years ago.

I'm happy someone was generous enough to inform me about the laws, because it saved me a lot of headaches.

The OP asked about pricing Minnie Mouse cupcakes....of course copyright laws apply to that question.

Maybe she already knew about the laws, but maybe she didn't and I hope she appreciates being told from one of us instead of an attorney.

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usmdesigner Posted 12 Aug 2011 , 7:02pm
post #24 of 28
Quote:
Originally Posted by oohrahwifey04

If it's a big NO-NO then why do I see that stuff all over in the galleries? I'm not really questioning this as I believe you, but I'm trying to point out that I see a lot of Mickey Mouse/Minnie Mouse stuff in the galleries.




I agree. If this is a big problem, then why would this site allow it? Why would Cake Central not be in trouble for allowing these to be posted? Obviously they can't monitor 24/7 every picture, but it's not like images of this haven't been on the site for a short period of time. I would have never know it was illegal, just from coming here and seeing it all the time. (sorry if off topic, but oohrahwifey brings up a good point! And I agree that I believe it as well, it is just interesting)

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jason_kraft Posted 12 Aug 2011 , 7:13pm
post #25 of 28
Quote:
Originally Posted by usmdesigner

I agree. If this is a big problem, then why would this site allow it? Why would Cake Central not be in trouble for allowing these to be posted?



Read the Indemnification clause at the end of the terms and conditions for this site...by posting pictures here you agree that CC is not responsible for any liability incurred by said pictures.

http://cakecentral.com/terms-conditions

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cakestyles Posted 12 Aug 2011 , 8:22pm
post #26 of 28
Quote:
Originally Posted by usmdesigner

Quote:
Originally Posted by oohrahwifey04

If it's a big NO-NO then why do I see that stuff all over in the galleries? I'm not really questioning this as I believe you, but I'm trying to point out that I see a lot of Mickey Mouse/Minnie Mouse stuff in the galleries.



I agree. If this is a big problem, then why would this site allow it? Why would Cake Central not be in trouble for allowing these to be posted? Obviously they can't monitor 24/7 every picture, but it's not like images of this haven't been on the site for a short period of time. I would have never know it was illegal, just from coming here and seeing it all the time. (sorry if off topic, but oohrahwifey brings up a good point! And I agree that I believe it as well, it is just interesting)




And if it's on the internet it must be legal than right?

icon_rolleyes.gif

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OhMyGanache Posted 12 Aug 2011 , 8:39pm
post #27 of 28

Make sure you don't use anything that could be potentially hazardous, because if it's left out too long before it's eaten, someone might get sick and sue you!

Oh wait - you weren't asking for legal advice? My bad. LOL!

I don't think $200 is too much at all! I would charge at least $4 per cupcake, and with the addition of the cake - well, $200 sounds like a bargain to me. You should make sure you agree on the price beforehand though - not everyone realizes how much custom baked goods cost.

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gooberina Posted 13 Aug 2011 , 11:28am
post #28 of 28

Thanks everyone...I really appreciate all the helpful information. I just want to be fair in my pricing and not overcharge or undercharge anyone.

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