I've opened a small bakery/deli. I love what I do--had a similar storefront about 12 years back. I bake all the bread the sandwiches are made on--etc...
What has been coming up more and more is the price I charge for a slice of pie. I hand make, totally from scratch fresh pies everyday. They range from apple, peach, pecan to cream pies. They're a 10" deep dish pie and I slice them into 8 pieces for serving. I've been charging $3.99 per slice and I've had several people gasp or say.. is that for ONE piece? I thought that sounded reasonable and I tell you they're not skimped on in the least, only the best ingredients and plenty of them go into it.
Am I dealing with total ignoramuses or am I too high?
I'd rather go home and bake a pie myself than pay $3.99 per slice. However - like melmar02 said - when I'm out @ a restaurant, I'd pay that much.
I'd happily pay that for good berry pie. I cannot make a pie to save my ass, so when I find a good one, I'm on it!
You could always respond something like, "Oh! you must want the frozen, mass produced, hardly anything worth eating pie! Hold on, let me send one of my guys to walmart and get one of those for you."
But then .... I tend to take the smart ass approach to things! 
My DH & I were out to dinner last week and he paid $4.00 for a piece of Key Lime pie that certainly was not homemade and half of it was this meringue cream stuff. He is the pie lover (I had a Pink Squirrel Ice Cream Drink) and I am sure that he would gladly pay that price for a piece of HOMEMADE pie.
That's lower than the going rate for a slice of pie or cake at a restaurant, like everyone has said. I'd stick to that price. Your fresh ingredients will find you the right clientele.
Seems very reasonable to me. 
Before I had unpacked my cake stuff, and was jonesing (sp) for a piece of good cake, I paid $5.00 for a 1x2x4 slice of raspberry filled (sleeved filling) white cake at the local cake shop.
Cake tasted like WASC cake, so I was very happy. Frosting wasn't what I make, but it wasn't bad. All in all, I'd definitely go back if I didn't know how to make my own.
So I'd definitely pay $3.99 for a slice of deep dish homemade pie. 
Boston Market charges like 3.50 for a single cupcake that looks like my son made { it's scary trust me } I am one of those girls who will eat anything but not that ha,ha . With that being said I love pie and would pay that price . Plus I can make my own pie ,, but that's the whole reason for a cafe , convienence . Stick to it ,, if p are craving it they will pay , trust me peoples sweet tooth usually wins over the price ! 
stick to your price, once they taste your pie they'll become addicted and then you can Raise the price. Now that's a good addiction!!!
Thanks for all the replies. I was exhausted yesterday and simply not in the mood for the comment I got from the customer about the pie. I'm sticking by my guns. If they want cheap pie they're barking up the wrong tree! I don't do cheap--and Debi, I've abruptly cut off cake conversations when my price is questioned and suggested Wal-Mart.
The next time this comes up I just may calmly walk to the back and bring out a rolling pin and tell them to knock themselves out! 
Wish you were in my area. I'd love to find a place where I could get a slice of good, homemade pie and a cup of coffee. My husband and I often mourn the fact that there isn't a place like that that isn't connected with a restaurant. We do know of one restaurant that sells good homemade pie, but they are really out of the way for us. I think they charge $2.95 a slice. I can bake pie, and often do, but a whole pie is usually too much for my household.
I also wish there was a good place around here to get a GOOD piece of pie.
When I had a job where I traveled all over the country, I was thrilled to find a shop that sold mostly just pie and coffee (Chicago suburb somewhere). I was SUPER thrilled to be able to order a berry pie!
I get so SICK of going to places and all they ever have is apple and cherry, with the assumption of "Oh EVERYONE likes those!" Uh, NO, we DON'T! Some of us would like a good peach or berry pie. Apple pie is disgusting (why do they ruin perfectly good apples by throwing cinnamon all over them! 
) and I can choke down cherry pie if I'm forced to at gunpoint.
That's about the same price they charge where I live for a slice in the local diners. They're also deep-dish with a 10" diameter.
Tell them a half slice is only two bucks, if they buy more than one.
Theresa
And... by the way. My sister used to work for a five star restaurant (VERY PRICEY) and you know where they got their desserts? Sams/Costco. That's the cheesecake their customers were paying $6-7 (or more) per slice for. Please!
I agree with Indydebi - I'm not at all interested in apple or cherry pie at a restaurant. Sheesh. Although those are okay, really they are way too boring. I want something a little more exotic, something I don't often get - a meringue or cream pie, pecan pie (my favorite but husband hates it) or a berry pie (we both love fresh blackberry and strawberry). I'd pay $3.99 for a good slice of that.
$3.99 a slice sounds about right for pie. I think that's what the Marie Callendar's and Village Inns around here charge for their pie slices normally.
I think why they may have balked is because this time of year is when all the restaurants and grocery stores sell pies for the cheap in order to lure in holiday catering package orders. Average price for a whole pie in these parts is $6.99 for the 'premium' pies and 2 for $5 for the berry/pumpkin type pies.
Just like with cake, people assume that if it's that price at Village Inn or Kroger, then it should be that price with you too. They don't stop to think that your pie was homemade the day before or the day of and that it probably tastes a heck of a lot better than the factory-direct pies the rest are selling. 
I am still laughing out loud, here all by myself, at the comment: 1/2 slice is only $2.00 if you buy more than one! I wish I had an occasion to use it! No really, I think your price is more than reasonable for anyone who doesn't bake their own, as I always find it difficult to pay for something I can do myself. Fortunately the world isn't filled with me s. (Can't make that plural and look right.) Hold to your price and your quality.
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