How much would you say I was asking for this cake?

[Cosmos45]

Just out of curiosity really.. I make cakes as a hobby, they are buttercream decorated rather than fondant and I have made some recently for a few local people (NHS workers and stuff). Someone local asked me if I would make them a cake, I do not know this person but it was someone who knew someone type of scenario.

I sent this message:

"I don't actually have a cake business but I do make cakes for family and friends. I have been asked recently to do a few for people - the ingredients, box and board come to about £9 and I am starting to ask for a small amount (say £10) to cover a bit of my time. I only do swirly icing types ones and I could do you pink swirly one, I will send a picture of the type of thing I mean"

Reading that, how much would you have given me for the cake when you came and picked it up?

@TinRoofRusty - exactly what I said to my friends/family on a zoom call the other day. They said I should think about going into to it commercially and I said no, because people would want a £150 wedding cake and want to pay a tenner for it.. Just not worth the hassle is it?

It looks lovely OP!
Maybe you should make it more than a hobby you could do quite well I imagine

It was perfectly clear. Granted it was poorly drafted, but who the fuck would value someone else’s time spent making a cake at the princely sum of 1 pound. It’s offensive.

It’s a beautiful cake.

I think the message is ambiguous.

Just be much clearer next time.

And don’t be shy about charging! Your time and skills are valuable.

Sorry OP I didn't reply to your question because my answer was I would have paid you £20 for the same reason as most people here. I didn't mean to irritate you!

Actually yes I have told my friend that making breakfast pastries and selling them even as a hobby might be a load of hassle based on years of seeing it backfire on here.

I couldn't read it any other way than £19. Unless you skimmed it and didn't really read.
So they thought your time was worth 50p an hour? Nice.

Beautiful Cake @Cosmos45

@Friendsofmine - sorry I was not irritated but I am surprised by some of the responses about food hygiene and safety certificates etc. I mean if people sell eggs outside of their houses (loads do round here) and often people sell a freezer pack of meat (a lamb etc) people buy that and I am pretty sure the seller doesn't have a food safety certificate? But anyhow, I don't really want to go down that road of discussion tonight. XX

I read your message and paused a bit over the pricing part. And I'm not thick or a CF. So I read it as £19 but it wasn't an immediate conclusion.

You really shouldn't be charging for your time if it's a hobby though. It drives the people selling professionally absolutely crazy, because they can't hope to compete and it makes people expect low prices for time consuming handmade cakes.

Too bad really isn't it. How is anyone ever supposed to start a business if they have to worry about the people who are already doing it and if it's fair on them? Are you really saying OP can't charge people her own time?

I read it as £19 and even after reading again after the comments I still wouldn't have thought you were asking £1 for your time! Seriously, who would charge a pound for their time?!

@ParkheadParadise Thank you..

£20, but I would have given you £25, because its lovely. Im not rich by any means & would have liked to give you £30

Im as clear as mud!

I also thought you meant £10. And i thought thats a ridiculous amount to charge for your time.

That’s a lesson in ensuring your communication is clear and concise in future. Don't be embarrassed by asking for what you expect.

Reads as £19 to me OP and I'd give you £20 because I couldn't be bothered scraping about for change

I’m surprised by the lack of basic reading comprehension shown on this thread! OP I would have read it as £19 but given you £20, then probably have sent you another £10 if it tasted as delicious as it looks!

Definitely £19 and I would have given £20.

I would have given u at least 20 because I appreciate the work involved in cakes but I would have no idea of the correct price from the message as you have shown. I suggest that you give a single figure.

For example: all cakes are iced with swirly buttercream icing. Please advice if you want pink or orange. Total price is £20. This amount is payable 24/48 hours in advance of picking up your cake. Payment is accepted via paypal or bank transfer.

You need to be very clear.

Sorry should add never use paypal a collection item.

I think she’s really cheeky only paying £10 for that lovely cake. You could barely get a cheap supermarket cake for that. I don’t understand the confusion- I only saw it as £19, but I’d have given £25 personally.

Reading your message you wanted £19 and I would have given you a bit more.

£20

I read it as £19

I read it as £19. And theres no comparison really between a home made cake and a supermarket cake.
It's like saying, if you were going spend £100 on a good quality coat, but primark have coats for a tenner!

It could be worse op, your lovely cake could have ended up being named and shamed in a dirty rag tabloid ... your cake looks lovely 😊 Always remember to never take a photograph of your creations with a spliff in the background!