Post content has been hidden

To unblock this content, please click here

Beginner January 2022

Cake Tasting Fee

Christine, on July 1, 2021 at 9:39 PM Posted in Planning 0 7

Saved

Flag
Hide content

Hey everyone!

My fiancé and I are trying to pick our cake person and we know there a lot of local home bakers where we live and would prefer to go with them rather than an actual bakery. The only problem is that there’s some that do and don’t deliver.
We were quoted $45 for (3) 3 inch cakes of different flavors and fillings from a baker that already quoted us $300 for a cake that feed 10 people and they include delivery and set up in that price as well. We think the cake price is pretty good considering our location and other quotes we’ve received. My main concern is the tasting fee. Do you think it’s reasonable for them to charge $45 for a tasting?

Flag
Hide content

7 Comments

Latest activity by SLY, on July 2, 2021 at 9:12 AM

Master July 2019
Hannah · on July 1, 2021 at 9:45 PM
Flag

Hide content
If you book with them, does the fee count as part of your contract payment? I understand a tasting fee since they have to pay for materials and their time to make the tasting cakes, especially if there isn't a guarantee that they get the booking.
- Reply
VIP December 2021
mrswinteriscoming · on July 1, 2021 at 9:47 PM
Flag

Hide content
Some bakers will charge tasting fees because you are sampling a product that they spend time, effort and money in making, and it isn’t fair on them to give out cake for free and have no booking result from it. It is not uncommon either that the costs of the tasting will be put towards your booking should you go ahead and order with the baker.

With this said, I think $45 seems a bit excessive for a tasting, unless they are actually giving you actual mini cakes to take home. For comparison, I did tastings with 5 bakers (I’m very fussy with cake) and of those I remember in detail - one charged $20 for a box of many different assortments of cake, another was free and we had 10 small samples to try, whereas another charged $15 for a box of 5 decent slices of cake.
- Reply
Champion December 2022
Michelle · on July 1, 2021 at 10:16 PM
Flag

Hide content
It’s definitely reasonable because you are asking them to give you a sample of their work. Without charging, they lose money on supplies and labor at minimum wage per hour.
- Reply
VIP June 2019
Hanna · on July 1, 2021 at 10:37 PM
Flag

Hide content
$45 is very reasonable for a tasting fee in my opinion
- Reply
Expert December 2021
Samantha · on July 1, 2021 at 11:24 PM
Flag

Hide content
I've never seen any tasting over $30. Most in my area are complimentary, or prorate the tasting fee towards the purchase of the cake.
- Reply
Super May 2019
KYLIE · on July 2, 2021 at 7:05 AM
Flag

Hide content
That’s what my best friend in the DC metro area paid—they got to try 6 very small slivers of cake for $45. When you say 3 in cakes, is that actual whole cakes or slices? If it’s three 3-inch mini cakes, I think that’s super reasonable!

My friend also had to pay a courier fee for her tasting cakes ($20).
- Reply

Master January 2022
SLY · on July 2, 2021 at 9:12 AM
Flag

Hide content
That's about right for a cake tasting fee. Most of the time they put that amount towards your total if you end up booking them for your wedding, so I'd ask them if that's the case for you. Keep in mind that even though they're samples, the baker still takes time and ingredients to make them.
- Reply