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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this is too much to pay for a cake???

191 replies

AmIjustreallymean · 12/10/2023 21:34

We're having a double celebration (not a wedding) but we thought we'd get one cake to celebrate both events. Cake in the shape of numbers but decorated in two different styles.

The baker was recommended to me and is consistently recommended on our local social media. I don't want to hassle them and i might not get anyone else as the event is soon. But the quote is for 3 figures, ie over £100!!!!

The last cake I bought was £65, nearly 8 years ago so I'm a bit surprised. Am I being really mean and this is a reasonable price?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
10
ActDottie · 13/10/2023 20:01

That’s the going rate for bespoke cakes. You’re out of touch.

BarelyCoping123 · 13/10/2023 20:02

8 years ago

Jeez OP, things have gone up a lot in almost a decade, if you haven't noticed.
YABVU

StarlightLime · 13/10/2023 20:04

linsey2581 · 13/10/2023 18:41

I was £140 for my daughters 18th cake nearly 2 years ago but it was worth every penny!

That looks amazing! Is the broom made of cake too?

Dulra · 13/10/2023 20:06

Just ordered a cake for dhs 50th it is costing me £230. I was shocked but it's a joint with his twin and I'm not from UK so assumed that was about right? But now I'm not so sure.....

BarelyCoping123 · 13/10/2023 20:07

And wait, that was £65 for 1 cake 8 years ago - and you're now complaining about a quote for £150 for 2 cakes (so £75 each) 8 years later? Seriously?

CakeladyJ · 13/10/2023 20:07

I run a bakery and the cost of ingredients, energy, staff time etc is ever increasing. I think this is a reasonable price. Wedding cakes are quite time consuming.

MidnightMeltdown · 13/10/2023 20:09

This thread is making me want cake...

linsey2581 · 13/10/2023 20:19

@StarlightLime No the broom was made with Rice Krispies mixed with melted marshmallow and chocolate, basically Krispy cake moulded into a broom. It was fab.

WickedSerious · 13/10/2023 20:26

Madeforretirement · 13/10/2023 19:20

My first reply ever. I gave up making celebration cakes after 10 years of business, 2 years ago. So very tired of paying myself half minimum wage and customers wanting cakes made for the price of ingredients.
I can assure you £100 for 2 number cakes is a bargain.

Did anyone ever say "Well it's just a bag of flour really isn't it"?

That one always cracked me up.

Ourshoddyhouse · 13/10/2023 20:30

I've just paid £65 for a large cake on "mates rates" so I think £100+ is probably about right 🤷🏽‍♀️

Zerosleep · 13/10/2023 20:34

£100 is not unreasonable. I think I paid £165 for the last birthday cake for my little one.

Toottooot · 13/10/2023 20:37

Thanks for clarifying that 3 figures is over £100 🤣🤣🤣🤦🏻‍♀️

StarlightLime · 13/10/2023 20:38

Toottooot · 13/10/2023 20:37

Thanks for clarifying that 3 figures is over £100 🤣🤣🤣🤦🏻‍♀️

😂

Changedname81 · 13/10/2023 20:43

I charged £125 for this plus delivery earlier part of this year and am down south (Channel Islands) it looks small but it fed 45 - 50 which is well under £3 per portion.

To think this is too much to pay for a cake???
Changedname81 · 13/10/2023 20:44

I mean 125 with delivery apologies 🤣

SawX · 13/10/2023 20:45

It's a fair price. But I wouldn't pay it because I don't value a bespoke cake more than a £20 supermarket one, so I'd get the latter.

Ukrainebaby23 · 13/10/2023 20:59

Yup I paid £100 for what turned out to be a pretty average Christening cake.
Tbh I was expecting to pay less but had to arrange at short notice and thought it would be spectacular at that price. It was ok.

Seems that's the going rate.

Mummyoftwoooo · 13/10/2023 21:28

@AmIjustreallymean my daughters first birthday cake 5 years ago was £55 I wanted the same for my sons first birthday 2 weeks ago expect blue not pink and it’s was £120 and this was the same small business. My friend told made that it cost her £58 for butter alone when she made her daughters birthday cake recently too. so as expensive as it seems it’s probably spot on. The cake I had was 2 tier.

SawX · 13/10/2023 22:06

Ukrainebaby23 · 13/10/2023 20:59

Yup I paid £100 for what turned out to be a pretty average Christening cake.
Tbh I was expecting to pay less but had to arrange at short notice and thought it would be spectacular at that price. It was ok.

Seems that's the going rate.

That's partly why I don't value bespoke cakes. The makers prioritise the look (because that's what people pay for) and they often don't taste great.

Rosejasmine · 13/10/2023 22:43

You’re paying for two cakes - each number is decorated differently, not just the cost of the ingredients and icing and materials, but the cost of the hours that it takes the cake maker to make and decorate them.
If for example, the cost of the ingredients and materials (fondant icing etc), and the cake board and box comes to 40 or £50 and the cakes take 4 hours to bake and decorate (depends on the design), it’s not unreasonable to expect the cost to be in 3 figures.

mylifestory · 13/10/2023 22:45

You can get these at waitrose or m&s!

Daffodilwoman · 13/10/2023 22:49

Sounds a good price to me.
Think how much a plumber charges per hour or a mechanic. My garage charges labour at £50.
A local garage is selling ( very nice looking) slices of cake at 2 slices for £13. So a full bespoke cake for £100 is very good.

TreacleMoon · 13/10/2023 23:39

Apologies for being a bit late to the plate.. And I do hope you manage to get the cake of your dreams.
But I have to tell someone this.

I almost fell over this evening when my daughter told me she paid £5 today for a single doughnut..

One regular sized doughnut!

Just one.

I'm not sure if I'll ever recover from this news!

StarlightLime · 13/10/2023 23:40

TreacleMoon · 13/10/2023 23:39

Apologies for being a bit late to the plate.. And I do hope you manage to get the cake of your dreams.
But I have to tell someone this.

I almost fell over this evening when my daughter told me she paid £5 today for a single doughnut..

One regular sized doughnut!

Just one.

I'm not sure if I'll ever recover from this news!

😱

StarlightLime · 13/10/2023 23:41

Changedname81 · 13/10/2023 20:43

I charged £125 for this plus delivery earlier part of this year and am down south (Channel Islands) it looks small but it fed 45 - 50 which is well under £3 per portion.

That looks lovely. Is it all edible?