Customer Questioning my Price!!!!! HELP!!!!! - Page 3

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dani1081 

And that's where the "professionlism" part comes into play. I think a professional business person can explain why their product is superior to Walmart's without being a "jerk" - at least I certainly hope so.  And if the customer can't afford it, at least they can pass on to their rich cousin/aunt/mother why your cakes cost more than Walmart and why they WOULD buy from you if they COULD.  We all aspire to the finer things. . . .Just because they can't this week doesn't mean they won't be able to in a year.  

I'm just saying that it's a balancing act if you take the opportunity to try to educate everyone who calls and says they can't afford your cakes. Sometimes people don't want to hear it if you just told them that you're out of their price range.

Not to mention that most people are uneducable idiots.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Godot 

Not to mention that most people are uneducable idiots.

I like you.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Godot 

Not to mention that most people are uneducable idiots.

haha! Some days I'd agree with you, but on the days I'm feeling generous I just figure they're feeling prickly after being told their budget is too small so they don't want to be educated at that moment. Which reaction I have totally depends on mood.

Wow - I hope none of your customers are members of CC, Godot, so they can see what you think of them.  Probably why you have no identifying info in your profile.  ;)   A lengthy education is not necessary - I think that most people don't know, for example, that a gumpaste flower can take several hours to make.  I think if you point out that a small wedding cake might have 20 hours of labor in it, it might be easier for them to understand the price.  Christopher Garren's might just have it right when they price their cakes - they price by the slice and then add on the hourly labor.  Kinda like a mechanic or a plumber - $100 to look at your problem x $50 an hour to fix your problem = $500. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcaulir 

 

I like you.

I like you, too. :-)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dani1081 

Wow - I hope none of your customers are members of CC, Godot, so they can see what you think of them.  Probably why you have no identifying info in your profile.  ;)   A lengthy education is not necessary - I think that most people don't know, for example, that a gumpaste flower can take several hours to make.  I think if you point out that a small wedding cake might have 20 hours of labor in it, it might be easier for them to understand the price.  Christopher Garren's might just have it right when they price their cakes - they price by the slice and then add on the hourly labor.  Kinda like a mechanic or a plumber - $100 to look at your problem x $50 an hour to fix your problem = $500. 

Interesting. That'll surely help the customer see that it's not "just flour, sugar, and eggs." 

I don't think that the average person has any idea how many a three tier cake will serve.  The smallest three tier cake I offer is a 6", 8" and 10" which feeds 74 (all round tiers based off Wilton wedding serving because all my tiers are at least 4" tall).  I think it is important to explain to clients how many servings the smallest 3 tier cake you offer really feeds - this way they understand the price is twice what they want to spend since they are actually ordering twice the cake they need.

A cake to serve 25 for $80 is $3.20/serving.  Is this in line with where you live and what you would normally charge for a cake to serve 80 people?  If yes, then if may be worth your time to make the cake.  If the price per serving is lower than what you usually charge, then maybe you want to walk away.  But make sure you tell them why so next time the person needs a cake, whether they call you or someone else, they know what to expect and how to budget.

As a side thought...others have already posted about the legal problems you could run into if you make your own figurines. If you plan on buying a Mickey and/or Minney toy to put on the cake make sure you tell the client this.  Otherwise it will look like to cheaped out by putting store bought plastic toys on the cake.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MadeWithYum 

Really? They don't want a "big cake" - yet they ask for three tiers? Honestly, this kind of customer is not worth the hassel. Over the pricing, OR the clear annoyance it'll be that they don't understand what they want.

 

And, for wanting a cake this short notice (a week ahead of the party? For custom work? Sheesh.) - NEVER lower your price. It cheapens your work. Your cakes are valuable because of the work you put in them. If you do the same work, for less - it says your work isn't worth that much.

 

And; if you do it once, if they're a repeat customer
A) They'll always be last-minute orderers. (Frustrating and rude)
B) They'll always expect a lower "more manageable" price.

 

I agree with the poster before me. They want caviar but expect to pay for sardines. Give them the number to a grocery store; there's nothing wrong with going to where you can afford if that's your budget. Don't sell yourself short.

I agree 100%.  I have a few stories for y'all to laugh at . . .  

A bride called me on a Monday wanting a wedding cake on Thursday for 150 people.  I told her it would be $500 and that was cake and icing (no fondant, a few buttercream roses, no fancy stuff).  She had an attitude and told me to call her the next day.  I told her to call me if she wanted the cake.  She did call and told me that was too much!  SMDH

I was at a gas station one Friday night at about 8 pm.  A former co-worker called and asked if I wanted to do a wedding cake.  I asked when was the cake needed and she said tomorrow.  I asked for how many and she said 200.  I asked what happened.  She said that the couple paid for a cake months ago.  They tried to contact the cake decorator and she never responded to their calls.  The cake decorator called the bride about 45 minutes before my co-worker called me and said she had been ill and would not be able to make the wedding cake.   My co-worker then thought of me.  I told her I needed $700 (cash) by 9:30 pm.  She told me she will call me back.  My co-worker called me back and said the wedding planner, not the bride, groom, or person paying for the cake, said that was too much money.  WTF!  The bride wanted me to make the cake because my co-worker gave her some of my cake a few weeks prior and the person paying for the cake was willing to pay ANYTHING for the cake.  They ended up getting a sheet cake from the grocery store in an aluminum pan.  They cut the cake in 1/2, still in the aluminum pan, and set it up on separator plates with pillars.

Yesterday, I received a call from a regular customer.  She said her sister wants a Mickey and Minnie 3-tiered cake for her daughter's first birthday (WHAT?).  She said she told her sister that was too much and her sister said she wanted to "go all out".  Well, I reminded my customer that a cake that size is priced at the same price as a wedding cake.  I said it's the same amount of work, ingredients, and time as a wedding cake.  She said she did not think of that when she was trying to talk her sister out of it but she will talk to her again.  In this situation, my customer and I were on the same page. 

Some people do not realize or care what it takes to make these cakes they see on TV and expect to get them for $50 or less . . . 

Quote:

Originally Posted by TSMarjorie 

I agree 100%.  I have a few stories for y'all to laugh at . . .  

 

A bride called me on a Monday wanting a wedding cake on Thursday for 150 people.  I told her it would be $500 and that was cake and icing (no fondant, a few buttercream roses, no fancy stuff).  She had an attitude and told me to call her the next day.  I told her to call me if she wanted the cake.  She did call and told me that was too much!  SMDH

 

I was at a gas station one Friday night at about 8 pm.  A former co-worker called and asked if I wanted to do a wedding cake.  I asked when was the cake needed and she said tomorrow.  I asked for how many and she said 200.  I asked what happened.  She said that the couple paid for a cake months ago.  They tried to contact the cake decorator and she never responded to their calls.  The cake decorator called the bride about 45 minutes before my co-worker called me and said she had been ill and would not be able to make the wedding cake.   My co-worker then thought of me.  I told her I needed $700 (cash) by 9:30 pm.  She told me she will call me back.  My co-worker called me back and said the wedding planner, not the bride, groom, or person paying for the cake, said that was too much money.  WTF!  The bride wanted me to make the cake because my co-worker gave her some of my cake a few weeks prior and the person paying for the cake was willing to pay ANYTHING for the cake.  They ended up getting a sheet cake from the grocery store in an aluminum pan.  They cut the cake in 1/2, still in the aluminum pan, and set it up on separator plates with pillars.

 

Yesterday, I received a call from a regular customer.  She said her sister wants a Mickey and Minnie 3-tiered cake for her daughter's first birthday (WHAT?).  She said she told her sister that was too much and her sister said she wanted to "go all out".  Well, I reminded my customer that a cake that size is priced at the same price as a wedding cake.  I said it's the same amount of work, ingredients, and time as a wedding cake.  She said she did not think of that when she was trying to talk her sister out of it but she will talk to her again.  In this situation, my customer and I were on the same page. 

 

Some people do not realize or care what it takes to make these cakes they see on TV and expect to get them for $50 or less . . . 

Whew..............right now, I'm really glad I can't think of anything similar happening to me. I love when clients' party planners give them advise that something is too expensive...........too bad no one can tell the bride her party planner is where she's wasting her money....if they dropped the consultant she could afford all those little things she wanted for her wedding.