Would you be happy with the finding of this cake for £80

[forfoxsakee]

I ordered a graduation cake from a lady who I have used for years and all of the cakes have been beautiful which is why I've returned every time. However I picked up this yesterday and I'm a little disappointed in the size and finish compared to the picture I sent of how I would like it. I've messaged her to tell her I was a little disappointed with it but she hasn't replied so am I being unreasonable? She wasn't in when I picked it up she left it with her teen son to hand over so couldn't really say anything there and then.

I wouldn’t be pleased for £80 😬

This was my daughters 2nd birthday cake, she charged €60, not sure what that is in pounds, but not anywhere near £80

I'm a good hobby baker but I'm crap at decorating , I prefer the cake making and hate decorating but having said that I could do better than that

Maybe cat or dog got at it?

£80 for a cake???

You must be absolutely minted, OP.

I used to make cakes for family and friends including a couple of wedding cakes and lots of novelty retirement cakes and Christening cakes. I would be unhappy to offer that cake to anyone. Did she make the orchids? They are the best bit. Not only is the icing unpleasant but the additions are clumsy and too large.

The only thing I can say is that it is difficult to get buttercream smooth on a sponge cake but then she should of said she isn’t skilled in that type of presentation. These are quite a recent trend and look beautiful if done well. That cake isn’t.

I also think it is overpriced unless all the orchids are icing in which case they would probably account for the high price I know someone who makes those and they are between about £8-£10 each flower. I’ve had another look and even the lettering isn’t spaced evenly look at the u. I think either she is like me and getting on a bit and is struggling with arthritis or someone else has made that cake. I would be disappointed. I hope it at least tastes delicious. I hope the recipient isn’t too upset and in years to come it might be something to laugh about.

You need to tell her ASAP.

It really doesn't matter what anyone else says or that she's won awards. YOU were unhappy with what you got.

Actually both price and finish doesn't look too bad? The. Buttercream finish as opposed to icing tends to look a bit more rustic?

If you supplied the original image as "this is what I want you to make" then she hasn't done that.
The cake she has made is about half the height of the one you wanted and the decoration is very poor quality.
I'd keep contacting her and try to return it.

I love baking and cake decorating and occasionally friends ask me to make something for which I just charge them the cost of ingredients.

I wouldn't be happy handing that over in those circumstances let alone charging someone £80.

Sorry, got sidetracked by -

How big is Iggle Piggle's nose??!!

I think you sort it out with the lady who baked it and not put photographs of it on here.

That's a poor effort for a professional.

Chitlin

Cakes down south are very expensive. Some are hundreds. I’ve never charged more than £50 and the ingredient cost me about thirty five as I needed to buy specific cutters for sports that I have never used again. When I considered the amount of hours I put into making it I vowed not to make any more. I have only made family cakes and a Christening cake for dear friends and that was my gift. It was a lot better than that one.

I got charged £35 for this. £80 for that is daylight robbery! I would definitely complain, OP.

Oops, pics didn't post.

That's not very good. I'd expect a lot better than that.

@Bowerbird5

Chitlin

Cakes down south are very expensive. Some are hundreds. I’ve never charged more than £50 and the ingredient cost me about thirty five as I needed to buy specific cutters for sports that I have never used again. When I considered the amount of hours I put into making it I vowed not to make any more. I have only made family cakes and a Christening cake for dear friends and that was my gift. It was a lot better than that one.

If you’re only making £15 on a cake for hours of work, that’s madness. You need to value your skills more.

People think they can knock up a cake no problem. In reality, it takes skill and a lot of time.

OP, I’m a cake maker and for one like yours but at the size of the photo you provided your cake maker and at a professional standard I’d have charged £60. Which isn’t at all expensive for the cost of ingredients, materials and about 3 to 4 hours work.

@IfItWerentForYouMeddlingKids

I got charged £35 for this. £80 for that is daylight robbery! I would definitely complain, OP.

You were well undercharged. There’s about £25 of ingredients and materials alone there.

Eeesh that’s atrocious! I’d be embarrassed to give that to someone tbh.

I would just enjoy the cake and order elsewhere next time.

@ivfdreaming

Actually both price and finish doesn't look too bad? The. Buttercream finish as opposed to icing tends to look a bit more rustic?

Only if it’s been made to look that way or you’re sloppy. You can get just as, if not a sharper, finish with buttercream than sugarpaste , depending on the techniques you use.

@Grilledaubergines perhaps, but that's what she charged me. She was new to baking at the time (only been doing it professionally for a few months), which is maybe why it was so cheap. I would have been happy to have paid more.

[quote IfItWerentForYouMeddlingKids]@Grilledaubergines perhaps, but that's what she charged me. She was new to baking at the time (only been doing it professionally for a few months), which is maybe why it was so cheap. I would have been happy to have paid more.[/quote]
Wasn’t a criticism at all of you - just an observation. It’s just a shame skilled cake makers under sell because it’s quite difficult to then increase your prices to reflect the time taken and the work involved.

people say “I can get one for £10 in Asda”. And I always think “so do that then”. there’s nothing wrong with a supermarket cake at all if that’s what people want but you just cannot compare it to one made by a cake maker!

That's too much. I made the mistake of paying £50 for a cake after seeing someone else receive a lovely cake from the same person.

When she brought it in to work for me I was delighted. When I got it home and gave it to my mother for her birthday she cut into it. Full of green mould.

My best guess is it was taken from a window display somewhere and I got royally ripped off. I confronted the seller at work but I knew I wouldn't get my money back. I did something else quite illegal to her which I still don't regret.

I wouldn't be happy with it and would have to say something. I'd dread doing it but I would.