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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To expect to be paid more than half? (Pic included)

817 replies

MrsA2015 · 10/10/2016 17:58

Background: I'm a home baker using decent/top quality ingredients in my cakes, friends and family buy off me for special events and am trying to kick start a little baking business from home ( after receiving loads of compliments and encouragement which I'm thankful for!) A friend has requested a cake (pictured) and offered well below the asking price knowing what quality I use and usually the one to berate others if they take the mick when it comes to price. I don't over charge and usually find I've undrecharged when adding up costs ( new to this). How much would you expect to pay for this cake? I'm just feeling a little upset really, I love her and will still make it just surprised at asking to pay less than half. I understand mates rates and all...
Before you ask
Yes she can afford it
I don't buy wholesale ingredients
No I didn't stick to my price (out of shock)

To expect to be paid more than half? (Pic included)
OP posts:
Thread gallery
32
OdeToAutumn · 11/10/2016 20:22

User1470... I did get you were posting in agreement with it costing more. Was just explaining generally (not specifically aimed at your post) a few of the points mentioned Smile

GeekyWombat · 11/10/2016 20:28

Hold on, I'm really confused... Is laidback the bride to be with unrealistic expectations?

I actually had to have cake today as a result of this thread!

MargaretCavendish · 11/10/2016 20:30

No 1000$ cakes, even to feed 100 people...

But 100 portions isn't that big a wedding cake. If you wanted a cake to feed 200 people - which (again using M&S as a guide ) isn't some monster cake, it's something like this: www.marksandspencer.com/3-tier-elegant-sponge-wedding-cake/p/p60009442?prevPage=plp - then that shop would charge you over $1000. That $245 for a two-tier cake price seems to be a for a 20 portion cake, which is really quite small.

RunRabbitRunRabbit · 11/10/2016 20:32

Do the text.

Can you arrange to have DH present next time you see her in person?

He is outraged on your behalf, you have recently got over PND, she's got brass neck, you have doormat tendencies. I bet he'll make sure she doesn't get the advantage over you if you ask him to lend you his balls.

givemeasec · 11/10/2016 20:36

Your post is really interesting. I enjoy making cakes and have surprised myself with some of the novelty ones I've created but am now making the odd one for friends. I've only ever charged the cost of the ingredients so I don't feel the pressure to produce something 'professional' but always hope friends might decide to pay more when they see the result. This has only happened once! However, like you, I am keen to get experience first before I charge more. Over what sort of time frame did you start increasing your prices and do you now charge friends the same as everyone else? x

Phalenopsisgirl · 11/10/2016 20:36

M&S portions are cubes, so you would slice the cake laterally and then cube it to get a mouthful sized piece, most cake makers would call a proper slice a portion so it's very hard to compare by stated portions, better to compare by dimensions

givemeasec · 11/10/2016 20:38

Sorry - new to this. Thought I was replying to MaryBerrysSoggyBottBott!

GrandMarmoset · 11/10/2016 20:40

Real friends don't expect 'mates rates' when you're starting up on your own. I fell into this trap. You do learn to toughen up in time if it's how you make your living. Learn from this experience and be more assertive about your worth next time. Best of luck with the new venture.

chocolateworshipper · 11/10/2016 20:44

I noticed a couple of posts saying "it depends on what's inside the cake" so my idea is ...... decorate cardboard. You could probably buy the decorating bits for £40?

whothefuckhas5children · 11/10/2016 20:55

OP - hope all well with your SIL did you manage to send the text

dazzlingdeborahrose · 11/10/2016 21:02

I made this for my daughters birthday. It took me best part of a day and I spent around £20.00 on ingredients I didn't have in as standard. If I'd been baking it for a friend? £50.

I'd definitely be going down the "I've costed the ingredients etc up and £40 won't cover. Happy to make it at cost but the cost is £x"

People really do t understand the work and time that goes into a cake. Comparing a bespoke hand crafted cake with a mass produced offering from a supermarket isn't a fair comparison in any way.

To expect to be paid more than half? (Pic included)
OCSockOrphanage · 11/10/2016 21:09

I hate baking and never make cakes, but feel driven to tell the OP that you will only work on her cake if the price paid reflects the content, skills and time you spend on it. And I am not talking about minimum wage levels.

If your prices are too low, you can't do the quality of work you would like. In my field (totally unrelated) I charged a day rate, plus travel costs, plus a premium depending on how much I disliked the subject/client. By the time my day rate was doubled, I was nearly reconciled to working for insurance clients. Can I shout, please?

WOMEN WORK TOO CHEAPLY. Your skill has a price; please charge it.

3luckystars · 11/10/2016 21:14

I made a wedding cake for my friend, it cost me an absolute fortune in ingredients. The marzipan alone was expensive!
my friend never even thanked me, she thanked her sister in her speech for decorating it. I still think to this day she has no idea how much it cost me. Lesson learned, never ever ever make cakes for friends.

I think the ops friend is expecting the cake as a " gift " and is giving the money to cover ingredients. Both parties are going to come out of this agrieved. Don't do it op, comeup with any excuse not to, your oven is broken, your food mixer is broken,, your hand is broken, whatever, just apologise and say you can't do it and give her the number of a bakery.
In future just say "I don't make cakes for friends" and smile.

CakeNinja · 11/10/2016 21:15

Dazzling, I have that Emma bridgewater cake tin!

GoLightlyHollie · 11/10/2016 21:32

Are you sure she knows how much the cake is worth? I don't know anything about baking and until I saw what others are saying, I'd have guessed about £50-£75. Not out of meanness but out of ignorance, if that makes sense.

Notmorecake · 11/10/2016 21:33

LikeDylan.

Thanks for the info.... Wow. Cake gets people worked up. I don't think op ever dreamed this thread would go so crazy. It seems a lot of us have been stung making cakes for unappreciative friends.Sad

Thingamajiggy · 11/10/2016 21:44

Welcome to business. You'll be soft for a while, undersell your services and let people take the piss. After a while you'll get fed up with the hard graft and lack of returns you'll get grow a thicker skin and just say no.

Original poster
MrsA2015 · 11/10/2016 22:17

Hiya just managed to get through new posts! I'm actually going to ring her up tomorrow and discuss things in detail with her and say more or less what you've all suggested, that I really can't afford to do it for the agreed price. Thank you all that have PM'd me with enouragement, tips and advice I really do appreciate it all and must admit I feel overwhelmed at the positivity and sense of community on here! Mumsnet +baking really did pull me through PND. A massive thanks to you all!

OP posts:
KitKat1985 · 11/10/2016 22:30

Glad you are going to speak to her tomorrow. As you can tell from this thread there are plenty of people who will be thinking 'it's just a cake, why so expensive?' so I think you just need to break it down a bit for her on the phone. E.g, say you will need about £40 to cover ingredients and then there's 8 hours worth of labour involved, so it needs to be a fair price, even at mates rates. For the record if you are going to do this professionally I would maybe create an album (or a website) with sample cake photos and quotes so people at least have a realistic idea what to expect pricing wise so you don't get piss-takers.

It has to said though it's not just traditional 'women's work' where people take the piss. DH works in IT and is a computer whizz and the number of friends who have asked him to do them IT favours and then pay pittance is a joke. I think I lost it once when he gave up his entire Saturday to spend about 8 hours completely repairing a friend's computer and hard-drive, and the friend gave him £20 at the end. DH was too polite to tell him he was taking the piss, even at mate's rates.

2kids2dogsnosense · 11/10/2016 22:33

Wow. Cake gets people worked up

Of course it does.

It's CAKE

Mouseinahole · 11/10/2016 22:34

I paid £40 for this 10 inch Genoese sponge including ornaments. Everyone felt this was very cheap indeed and I was delighted with it.

To expect to be paid more than half? (Pic included)
Mouseinahole · 11/10/2016 22:35

Cost included the cupcakes, half vanilla and half chocolate.

PoohBearsHole · 11/10/2016 22:49

you got a good deal mouse :)

Notmorecake · 11/10/2016 22:51

2kids.

I could not agree more. I refused to bake for ages after one of my cakes got a short texted thanks. Made with love as a gift. Plus cupcakes with custom made stickers ( which got no mention at all ) . I felt gutted. I'd post a picture of the cake but it would probably get back to my friend and I'd end up feeling worse.

ginnette · 11/10/2016 23:00

You're doing it the wrong way round!
She should be asking YOU how much you'd charge for a cake like that ... not offering you some paltry sum.

I'd personally say I just couldn't afford to do it at the price she's offered.