I had a first time customer call and ask for a birthday cake. He asked me what were my prices, I said my smallest cake is a 6" round for $15 (not even worth my time, and have since changed to a minimum order price) he said ok that is what i want. He didn't even let me get to the other sizes. I asked how many he needed to feed and he said about 4. So he comes to pick it up and has a funny look on his face when he sees it and says "i guess i was expecting something bigger. i guess we all will only be eating one piece". I explained to him that that was what he ordered a 6" round. He still complained about how small it was, even though he admitted it was his fault b/c he did order that size but had a picture of a walmart cake in his head about 9-10" big. I wasn't sure what to say as this was my first time having to deal with an unhappy customer. He said the cake was pretty and what he wanted (it is in my picture gallery, the one with the roses), but it was just very small. I guess he didn't know how big 6" was. So I didn't want to leave him an unhappy customer and gave him $5 back. So I only made $10. Should I have given him money back? Also, what do you guys do as far as a minimum order or to make sure you at least make enough money to bake and decorate a cake. I also feel like my prices are too low. I would appreciate if any of you have any advice on them, they are on my website.
But, after I say ALL that, he did order a cake the next week and it brought in $90 for a full sheet cake. It was 2 11 x 15's put together. It is also in my pictures (the picnic cake) I don't like the way it looks, but that is what he asked me to do. Does that sound right?So maybe it was ok?
Thanks for reading and for the help and advice.
bonjovibabe Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Jan 27, 2006
Posts: 2379
Location: Quickstepping across the ballroom, cake in hand!
Birthday: Sep 20 Gallery Supporter Member
Posted:
Sat Jun 21, 2008 5:07 am
I fail to see how it was your problem that the guy is an idiot and doesn't know how big 6in is!!! That was more than enough cake to feed 4 people - it would comfortably serve 8-12!!!
I have a minimum charge - $60, and I don't care if it's only for 4 people, tough noogies, it isn't worth the effort to turn the oven on for any less IMO.
I'm all for customer relations, but not when it comes to ignorance or stupidity!
Tiababe Junior Member
Joined: Aug 20, 2007
Posts: 95
Posted:
Sat Jun 21, 2008 5:16 am
Well, as you said, he decided on the 6 inch round without hearing his other options. And even after he saw it, he acknowledged his own mistake, but still took the cake. I think it was extremely nice of you to give him some money back; however, I didn't think it was necessary. You did discuss serving size with him; if he wanted to feed four people more than one slice of cake, he should have ordered more cake. This is probably a lesson learned on his part, which seems to have turned out to be a good thing since he ordered another cake from you.
Manna4 Junior Member
Joined: Mar 11, 2007
Posts: 67
Posted:
Sat Jun 21, 2008 5:30 am
I agree with the others, $10 for any cake is ridiculous. Add the amount of time that took you to make the cake and frosting, set up and clean-up, the cost of your oven electricitty and the materials...It doesn't make any business sense at all. Unless you are just like Food Lion with a freezer full of cakes and buckets of pre-made-colored frosting, you are just wasting your time and will burn out in no time. Don't be afraid to charge for the quality of your product, your time and talent. If you don't people will not value what you do.
indydebi Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Jul 07, 2006
Posts: 15102
Location: Indianapolis IN
Posted:
Sat Jun 21, 2008 5:46 am
I read this to my hubby who said, "Men have been lying to women for years on how big six inches is ..... sounds like the tables were turned and now this guy knows how that feels!"
For the next time .... when someone asks "How much are your cakes?", your first question needs to be "How many servings are you needing?" And if you do just start in with a list, never start with the smallest .... always start with the biggest.
Ever go into a portrait studio for family pics? When you're looking at proofs, they NEVER start with the $24.95 package..... they always tells you about the $299.95 package FIRST! THEN they work their way down to the $24.95 package!
And no, you should not have given him any money back. Being an idiot should not be rewarded.
thanks, is 15 ok for a 6" if i sell it with something else to make up a minimum order of $35. or is either one of those prices still too cheap? I'm just starting and feel like i'm not making any money and i think it is b/c I don't charge enough.
KathysCC Gallery Moderator
Joined: Aug 18, 2007
Posts: 543
Location: Mississippi
I've given money back in the spur of the moment when I get a complaint (hit myself). In the future you shouldn't do that just because they don't like the size. But he IS a returning customer and that is what matters. He obviously liked your first cake.
When people ask my prices, I say I have a $35 dollar minimum. I then ask how many they want to serve. I probably would not even suggest a 6 inch round unless they wanted it for 2 to 4 people and I would tell them how small it is. You've learned that yourself though.
So my suggestion is to set a minimum price that you don't budge from and that is for a simple small cake that serves 20 or less. Then ask how many they are serving and go from there. You are in the south like me and if you are in a rural area I would say $2.00 - $2.50 per serving on simple buttercream and add extra for fondant work, royal work, figures, 3-D etc. You don't have to give them details, just quote a price after they've told you what they want.
aligotmatt Forum Addict
Joined: Jun 22, 2006
Posts: 635
Location: NC
Posted:
Sat Jun 21, 2008 6:06 am
Debi, I should swallow my coffee before I read your posts! lol!
lovetofrost, you should up your minimum, it feels like you aren't making money because you aren't.
If you used a DH box mix from walmart (83 cents), 3 eggs (47 cents), veg oil (22 cents), grease your pan (9 cents). Then use your electricity and bake it, make a batch of buttercream ($3.15), put it on a board with some fanci foil or contact paper, maybe a ribbon on it, put it in a box (1.05), you probably used some paper towels, dish soap... $5.81 for your 6" round, unless you made a different cake or better filling... but we didn't account for the gas and time to go buy the ingredients, the time to mix it, put it in the oven, torte, fill, ice, make the roses... So after your refund, you probably averaged 50 cents an hour.
playingwithsugar Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Aug 31, 2005
Posts: 4920
Location: Carrot Cake Should Count As A Vegetable!
Birthday: Nov 20
Posted:
Sat Jun 21, 2008 6:07 am
I don't think pricing is the real issue here.
Of course, I do not think that you should have given him any money back, but that's between you and him. You did what you felt was right, at the time.
I have learned in my many years of dealing with men is that there are certain things that many of them will not or cannot do -
They will not ask for directions
When looking for something, they will not move something over or pick something up to see if the item they want is behind or beneath something else
They are not good at what they consider "woman things" - buying gifts, grocery shopping, buying cakes.
When my Son-IL calls me and orders a cake for his home, the first thing I do is ask how many people he plans on feeding. And then, since it's usually mostly men (card game or sports on TV), I double the amount, because they don't eat slices of cake, they eat chunks.
Perhaps you should also consider increasing the minimum size of your cakes. Baking a 6" cake is a big waste of time to me, and I would never consider baking one for someone else, unless it was the top tier of a wedding cake.
Theresa
aligotmatt Forum Addict
Joined: Jun 22, 2006
Posts: 635
Location: NC
Posted:
Sat Jun 21, 2008 6:11 am
playingwithsugar wrote:
When my Son-IL calls me and orders a cake for his home, the first thing I do is ask how many people he plans on feeding. And then, since it's usually mostly men (card game or sports on TV), I double the amount, because they don't eat slices of cake, they eat chunks.
you are so right about the chunk eating. my fil, bil... take 2 pieces! They won't even start with one,when the cake is cut they just slap 2 ont he plate. Jethro Bodine...
playingwithsugar Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Aug 31, 2005
Posts: 4920
Location: Carrot Cake Should Count As A Vegetable!
Birthday: Nov 20
Posted:
Sat Jun 21, 2008 6:14 am
Hey, watch what you say about Jethro. I had a crush on him when I was a kid (his character sure was dense, but Max Baer Jr. was a hottie in his time!).
I think the fact that he ordered another much larger cake almost made up for it, but I agree that was a waste of time and energy. He didn't need any money back and you were very generous. My husband and I both had a good chuckle from this post. I understand how a man could get confused about how big 6" actually is. ROFL!
the promises they make when you first start dating and the product they come forth with is 2 TOTALLY different things... I feel sorry for this guy.. LMAO
playingwithsugar Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Aug 31, 2005
Posts: 4920
Location: Carrot Cake Should Count As A Vegetable!
Birthday: Nov 20
Posted:
Sat Jun 21, 2008 7:01 am
mgdqueen -
I know you said that with all the nicest intentions, but I just could not help busting out laughing!
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum You can attach files in this forum You can download files in this forum
