Cake Central › Cake Forums › Cake Talk › Cake Decorating › Different pricing - depends on client??
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Different pricing - depends on client??

Poll Results: Would you charge significantly more (twice, thrice per serving price) to clients who would pay anything you ask?

 
  • 1% (1)
    yes
  • 98% (54)
    no
55 Total Votes  
post #1 of 18
2/22/12 at 3:48am
Thread Starter 
I've lately got some new clients (word of mouth), I know who they are and their financial situation. Let's say they are very rich. I still charged them my standard prices + upcharges for top notch ingredients if they ask for them but I'd charge the same upcharge to anybody else - rich or not. My friends tell me I'm silly and incredibly stupid not to charge them twice or thrice the standard per serving price and that they would spend the money elsewhere no matter what. Frankly, it'd be like stealing to me, I'd not feel comfortable with that and I'm still a beginner in fondant decorating. But I'm probably really stupid. What would you do? Thanks for your opinions!
Paula
Reply
Paula
Reply
post #2 of 18
2/22/12 at 3:59am
No way would I charge more, my prices are my prices, some cannot afford me, others could pay more, but why should they???? It would be unethical in my opinion
regards from Shanghai, China
Ursula
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shanghai-schroeder/
Reply
regards from Shanghai, China
Ursula
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shanghai-schroeder/
Reply
post #3 of 18
2/22/12 at 5:18am
I agree. That just seems so wrong, and it would be very bad if it got around that you were doing that.

The Dude abides.

Reply

The Dude abides.

Reply
post #4 of 18
2/22/12 at 5:44am
Just because they're rich doesn't mean they give out their money for free without further thought! I agree with everybody else. Don't charge more! If I were that customer and I found out you were charging me and only me considerably more money, I'd be very upset and definitely find someone else to do my cakes.
Reply
Reply
post #5 of 18
2/22/12 at 5:48am
Have to agree with the others. Seems wrong to me. It seems dishonest. I wouldn't do it. I believe in honesty and integrity. All customers are equal regardless of their large pocket book.

They will appreciate your integrity as a business woman. People with money know others will try to over charge them. Keep your prices the same for everyone and maybe your honesty will lead to more business from the upscale crowd.

Quinte West, Ontario, Canada   www.TeriLovesCake.ca   Strictly Wheat & Gluten-Free         

 

Reply

Quinte West, Ontario, Canada   www.TeriLovesCake.ca   Strictly Wheat & Gluten-Free         

 

Reply
post #6 of 18
2/22/12 at 6:04am
No way. Customers talk. Having different prices for different people will eventually bite you in the backside.
Answers to the most often asked questions re: SPS. SPS instructions are on Page 15 of the Sticky at the top of the Cake Decorating Forum. Supplies can be ordered from Oasis Supply, Global or BakeryCrafts.
Reply
Answers to the most often asked questions re: SPS. SPS instructions are on Page 15 of the Sticky at the top of the Cake Decorating Forum. Supplies can be ordered from Oasis Supply, Global or BakeryCrafts.
Reply
post #7 of 18
2/22/12 at 6:07am
Thread Starter 
Thanks everybody for your opinions! I'm really happy to know there are still people thinking the same way - I'd rather pass for stupid in eyes of my friends than for a thief in eyes of my customers. Thanks a lot.
Paula
Reply
Paula
Reply
post #8 of 18
2/22/12 at 8:25am
It's easy for people to give advice like this when it's not their business on the line.

I agree that you shouldn't charge them more just because, but you could try to upsell on premium products and/or more complex decorations.
.
My experimental blog: The Bakery Business Perspective
.
Reply
.
My experimental blog: The Bakery Business Perspective
.
Reply
post #9 of 18
2/22/12 at 9:01am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by jason_kraft

It's easy for people to give advice like this when it's not their business on the line.

I agree that you shouldn't charge them more just because, but you could try to upsell on premium products and/or more complex decorations.



I agree, in fact, they almost always ask for premium products and there is always logically the upcharge (clearly never doubles the price per serving), now for example they want fresh berries in the filling that are not available in winter here - no way I'd use anything frozen. So it takes me a lot of effort and expenses to find them and them being of a good quality at the same time. I surely upcharge for example for inscriptions in Cyrilic as I still didn't find the cutters and have to do everything by hand - but that's not a problem. For complex decorations: I can offer something more complex but can only do what they chose and confirm.

BTW they even don't have any possibility to order somewhere else in my region, nobody does fondant and that's what they want.

But how could I upcharge for example for possibility to speak their language while ordering (there is absolutely no baker speaking English, Russian or Serbian - and I had to spend money and time in the past to learn some foreing languages, so let's say it was an investment). They usually don't speak local language. I don't upcharge for that, just consider it better customer service.
Paula
Reply
Paula
Reply
post #10 of 18
2/22/12 at 9:25am
The concept of price discrimination (charging different people different prices for the same product) is actually a valid marketing tactic, and many businesses are very good at using it. For example, when you buy a seat on an airplane, the person sitting next to you may have paid 2-3 times what you paid for the same product.

If you can take advantage of price discrimination you can dramatically increase your profits. It is more difficult for cakes than for more service-based products, but some strategies could be working with an event planner that targets upscale clients and including your cakes at a premium price in the planner's event packages, or shifting your premium cakes to a new product line or brand and increasing those prices while still selling more basic cakes at your original price.

Here's more on price discrimination if you're interested:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Price_discrimination
.
My experimental blog: The Bakery Business Perspective
.
Reply
.
My experimental blog: The Bakery Business Perspective
.
Reply
post #11 of 18
2/22/12 at 10:43am
Quote:
Originally Posted by AnnieCahill

I agree. That just seems so wrong, and it would be very bad if it got around that you were doing that.



thumbs_up.gif
Reply
Reply
post #12 of 18
2/23/12 at 12:07am
People have money because they are smart, not stupid... unless they inherited it or won it. In the example Jason suggested, personally, we don't bother with the price game when we are traveling, but we consciously make the decision not to be bothered. It is still an educated choice. I'm sure the person sitting on the plane in the more expensive seat didn't feel like chasing a price all over the internet. Actually, I know very few who practice this method. In the case presented by the OP, it's just deception.

It is common practice to pay more for convenience or other amenities.

I cater to only upper income, and they are also my friends and acquaintances. Don't misinterpret having more disposable income with ignorance in spending. We and they are just as aware of market prices as anyone else. We just choose convenience and other values over lowest cost.
Reply
Reply
post #13 of 18
2/23/12 at 6:27am
I used to sell cars...it was a regular practice to do this. Needless to say, I didn't do this for long.
Reply
Reply
post #14 of 18
2/23/12 at 8:56pm
I deal with "up-pricing" all of the time because of my address and home...........I'm fortunate enough to live in a lovely home in a nice neighborhood.
I've been given lawn mowing quotes, painting quotes, etc. that are more than double those given to friends who live in more another town less than 2 miles away. The quotes have come from the same individuals for the same services, so it's very much an apples to apples comparison. The only difference is the zip code.....................

So, they pay $30 dollars to have their .75 acre mowed and I was quoted $50 by the same lawn service--nothing requested in the quote except mowing......I called the guy on it, asking for an explanation and he had none...........made me mad as hell, too.
Friends referred me to a painter, he shows up, I ask for an hourly rate, and he quotes me 2X what he charged them................

Given how I feel about it, I could never do it to another person.

Rae
I love you, but your emergency is not my crisis!

They say that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but it is not one half so bad as a lot of ignorance.--Terry Pratchett (b.194
Reply
I love you, but your emergency is not my crisis!

They say that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but it is not one half so bad as a lot of ignorance.--Terry Pratchett (b.194
Reply
post #15 of 18
2/23/12 at 10:10pm
I live in an affluent neighborhood also. I get quotes all the time. I tell all that I am accepting quotes from at least three contractors. I never get prices that are out of line because I let them know I am informed. I am a licensed contractor and no one tries to pull that game on me. They may start the conversation out that way, but they quickly see it won't work and offer a quote that is in line.

Blakes actually proved my earlier point. We are informed. Yes, you can try, but it won't work.

For the used car issue, it isn't by income level that you pay more. It's by being uninformed. I paid $500.00 over sticker for my vehicle. You know why? Because I looked it up on the internet and that was the going rate. You can shop a used car too on the internet. It is so simple. I did it for my daughter. I got the best price I could in a 100 mile area. I did it myself even though my ex owns a used car wholesaling company. He approved of my find.

Again, higher income usually means a higher education level either formally or the school of hard knocks. Either way, stupidity and ingorance do not happen.
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Cake Decorating
Cake Central › Cake Forums › Cake Talk › Cake Decorating › Different pricing - depends on client??