Cake Consultation Fee

I'm in Atlanta as well and two out of three I went to charged for tastings. Price of the tasting was put toward your balance if you booked though. The only one that didn't charge was a large company with a big show room; the other two were small operations so I understand them needing to be paid for their time.

I have no problem with it, but that may be because I'm on the other side of the fence. I can't tell you how many brides show up to free consultations only to garner information on what flowers to use and to ask detailed questions as to how specific arrangements are made. It's maddening and a waste of my time. I have no problem being part of the competition process (it goes with the territory), but I'm not going to be used by people who have intention of hiring me or my competitors. I'm not the only vendor who goes through that, I'm sure.

I actually remember one very odd WW bride who huffed and puffed her way out of here because she had no understanding of how to treat her guests, and she didn't appreciate being educated by the WW ladies. She was very proud of her horrible behavior at a grocery store bakery, and she bragged about it on this forum. She went to a very popular grocery store bakery that allowed potential brides to take four dessert-sized sample pieces of cake home for free. Free. She not only marched up to the courtesy desk reporting the bakery employee for not servicing her in the way she felt she should be serviced, but she then went on line leaving reviews of the bakery because she didn't like all four of the flavored samples they gave her (two weren't "interesting" enough), and she didn't like the way they were packaged (in a cake box, but too sloppy). She never intended to purchase a cake from this bakery -- she intended to make her own. She took great pride in posting the letter she wrote to the chain's corporate office slamming that particular bakery. No good deed goes unpunished. She wanted free dessert and some ideas on what flavors she should incorporate in her own cake. Yes, those people are out there, and I have no problem with setting up some kind of system to weed them out (a minimal charge will take care of most of them). If a bakery is willing to deduct the tasting fee from your bill if you sign with them, I see no problem. As for food product companies needing to give away free samples as part of their marketing plan, there are tons of food items on grocery store shelves you buy and try, not try and buy.

When we went to wedding shows or the baker was hosting an event (a tasting event) - those tastings were free. However, most of the bakers we reached out to charged between $25-60 for a tasting (it would be the flavors you wanted to try and a private meeting) - most were on that lower end of $25 versus the $60.

In my se Minnesota area I have seen a few bakeries charge a tasting fee. I totally get it and have no problem paying it if I am actually trying to find the best. Also for the prices betting listed, I actually pass when you can't even give me some basic prices. If you ate not in my budget not only did you waste my time but your own time.

Yep, here in the PNW it's pretty common. The (one) bakery we tasted at was one we found through a wedding expo and had tried their GF (gluten free) mini-cupcakes for free there and were super impressed.

We were pretty determined to book through them after that, and they only charged $15 ($18 for GF, which we chose), but it went toward the cost of the final product. We really didn't have many options though, since most other wedding bakeries only offer limited GF flavors, and this place had several others!

We did get to choose any combo of cake/frosting/filling flavors we wanted (up to 3 cakes), which they had to make just for the tasting, and then try to sell the remaining slices off, so I totally understood the need to charge for something that others may not actually want. They said sometimes they get people booking tastings, they make the special cakes, and then the tasters don't show, so there's that too.

The first place that we set up to meet with would have charged us but she screwed up and forgot about our meeting so we got some free cupcakes, we didn't go with her. The baker we choose was 100xs better and she didn't charge us and made us a whole cake too!

Thanks all. I have 4,consults set up and 2 are asking for the fee and I am going to pay it. I agree they do have to prepare and give you cake to taste so I do unerstand. I had my florist tell me my first cake consult is expensive and it should not be first consult although they are good should I cancel? I have no ideA of their prices but they are a preferred vendor of my venue

Normal.

Its becoming normal everywhere it seems. I understand why the charge a fee since they make cake for you to try and most do put the fee towards your bill if you book them. I have seen a few that charge a fee if you don't show up and they made samples specifically for you that are now wasted.

I know other types of vendors have started charging fees for consultations, but they are personalized for you then. Like a florist that makes up samples for you to take home or a bridal shop that shuts down just for you.

Before planning I had never heard of this. Around here there are plenty of bakers that do not have fees for tastings, ours being one of them. The average price I've seen is about 20-30 dollars.

Did you contact the baker i recommended- she doesnt charge, at least not when we met with her-

Probably about half of the bakeries I looked at had fees, so I guess it's becoming a thing...I was surprised...BUT if there's a Bridal show in your area go to that! That's where I found the bakery I wanted to go with and they all had samples out, of course...just had to pay for admission into the show!

If they are providing a tangible, consumable product during the consultation it makes a lot of sense. I'd expect to pay a nominal fee and be thrilled if the fee could be applied towards my total bill if I contract with them. It never even occurred to me that people might ask pros lots of questions without the intention of hiring them, like Centerpiece said, but I guess that happens too.

My catering company did a free tasting for up to 6 people, no contract, no deposit nothing. AND they had wine options for us too. No hard sell nothing! We had 6 apps, 5 salads and tried at least 8 entrees! They weren't huge but FH and I definitely went home to crash out with food coma right after! We ended up going with them, the food is amazing, we probably wouldn't have booked a tasting if we weren't really interested in them, regardless of cost. Sounds like these bakers have been jerked around by previous other brides.

ETA: when I worked in sales we always charged at least a nominal fee of even $5 for a consult because psychologically if you have given over something of value to be somewhere you are much much much more likely to follow through, not only with a consult but also a booking.

I have a $25 tasting fee which the client gets back when they book with me. The reason I started charging is because I had a lot of no shows, and it takes a lot for me to conduct a tasting. Since I started charging, everyone shows up!

Angie and I have the same baker. I met with her and there was NO consultation fee. And her cakes are so freaking delicious! You would NOT be disappointed if you contact Her!

I did not pay or tastings at the venue or with the bakery or 2 I tried. I ended up with a work friend making my cake, and it was amazing. 2 of the tiers ended up sliding off her seat in a near accident on the way the hall, but the other 3 were gorgeous and tasted amazing.

So glad to see a vendor online and contributing. Good to see the other side of the conversation.

I think the minimal fee is fine, especially if it can be deducted from the cost of the contract if we choose them.

For the prices, I would rather have prices up front, I know what my budget is, and no flavor of cake is going to make me go over that. Wish more vendors would have pricing up-front or be willing to email it. I know some like to haggle and there are always little things that change the cost, but, a good ball-park figure upfront is helpful to me.

I actually have two consultation options for my brides and I let them choose. I have what I call my "Chef's choice" tasting which is a free consultation and tasting. What I do is bake extra of whatever flavors (usually 3) my customers have selected and offer those to sample. It's not much more work for me to mix up a little extra batter of something I am already making and make an additional small tasting cake. However, if a bride wants to select her flavors then I offer her my "Bride's Choice" tasting. For $30 she is allowed to choose two flavors and I will bake them custom for her. The reason I charge is because of the additional time and expense I incur in making a specific flavor for her. I also offer a grand tasting 3 times a year where I bake up a whole bunch of different flavors and brides can come in and sample, free of charge. Most brides choose the free consultation.

Have you ever thought about not having a cake at all? That's what I'm doing. I'm just having an awesome "sweets' table. Consider it.