I recently got an email from a bride asking me to make her wedding cake for 135 guesses with a $200.00 budget, including delivery,
and reception site is 45 miles away from my home!
At the beginning my reaction was: “she’s crazy!” but then I felt bad and thought that maybe she just simply can’t afford to spend more
than $200.00, which I absolutely understand.
Even if I charge her my base price ($2.50 per serving for BC) $200.00 is simply not enough to serve 135 people!
not even at Walmart prices! How clueless can she be?
I have my prices on my website, so I don’t know why she’s thinking I will give her over a 50% discount.
She wants a ‘modern’ and ‘fun’ design, so I wouldn’t be surprised if she wants a replica of $2,000.00 cake for just $200.00.
How can I nicely tell her she’s nuts without being rude?
Thanks,
kakeladi Forum Fanatic
Joined: May 26, 2004
Posts: 1957
Location: traveling the U.S. in my R.V.
Birthday: Nov 08
Posted:
Thu Apr 03, 2008 2:59 pm
Don't let an emergency on their part be an emergency for you!
You cannot feel sorry for them.
I've had brides come for consult and when they found out no other cake allowed except what I provide they walk out. One bride did that....then about 4 days before her wedding she called and ordered a very small 2 tier cake thinking I wouldn't remember her. Well I figured maybe they had downgraded the wedding. When I delivered there were *6* full sheets from Wal-Mart!
Just tell here your prices are just that. There is NO way she is going to serve that many people w/that amount of money - sorry, just NO way!
They will try all kinds of tricks to get around your pricing:(
fmcmulle Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 09, 2006
Posts: 797
Location: Ocoee, FLorida
Birthday: Jun 15
Posted:
Thu Apr 03, 2008 3:01 pm
I very nicely would tell her that it just isn't possible. Give her some wedding cake websites to checkout cake prices. I have one now I am working with that sent me a collette peters cake and asked me how much would I charge for 200 people. The cake she wanted would have cost her around $1500 well she has changed her mind on that one.
I am not sure you can find someone to do a cake for 135 people foor $200.00. Alot of brides are so misinformed and I think once you break it down for them they see it a little clearer. I hope this helps.
Faye
yummymummy Frequent Member
Joined: Oct 25, 2006
Posts: 491
Location: Connecticut,US
Birthday: Aug 15
Posted:
Thu Apr 03, 2008 3:05 pm
Oh man...when will people get it? I myself have a huge heart and tend to want to give people more than what they ask for, but then they expect it! You need to tell her you're sensitive to her budget issues, but you just can't produce the cake she wants for her price. Tell her what you can do, and leave it up to her.
disneynutbsv Frequent Member
Joined: Jul 27, 2007
Posts: 411
Location: N. Woodstock, NH
Posted:
Thu Apr 03, 2008 3:06 pm
After you add your gas to get to the reception, and cost for the materials....you would be doing it for almost nothing! She's way off in her prices.
Don't give in...you have set prices and if she cannot afford them she should look for somewhere else where she can.. There is always people out there looking for a sucker...sorry! but when people give in to them they win and get what they want for less!! Everyone else honest...pays full price!! I would reply no way...well in not those terms but you get the jist of it!!
Wow, ya some ppl. are just clueless on how much work goes into a cake and what it should really cost!
ntertayneme Moderator
Joined: Apr 13, 2005
Posts: 2740
Location: Lake Charles, Louisiana
Birthday: Nov 01
Posted:
Thu Apr 03, 2008 3:10 pm
I've had many brides to this to me.... and yes, I got "suckered" in and gave it to them for a very reduced cost ... only to get to the reception area to deliver/set up the cake and find out they had their wedding catered by one of the most expensive places in town... I'm talking this caterer will not even talk to you or book any wedding under $5,000... I was livid!! She got me good ... now when they start the "poor mouth" talk about they have a very limited budget, I just give them the price and that's that... I do not compromise my prices for anyone ..... I give them a very fair price; take it or leave it!
indydebi Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Jul 07, 2006
Posts: 13648
Location: Indianapolis IN
Posted:
Thu Apr 03, 2008 4:31 pm
because the Stephie's of the world have told them "You just TELL that vendor what you're willing to pay and if they want your business, they will have to drop their price!"
Bite me.
I can beat that one. Bride called and every time I asked for her budget, she went around the bush and behind the outhouse to avoid the answer (red flag). FINALLY she told me that for 200 people, she had a whopping (gasp!) FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS!!!! She actually thought that was a LOT of money.
I said, "Honey, you can't even get Happy Meals for that. I'm sorry, but you are not going to find a caterer for $2.50 a person." She had told me her original plan was to have the family do a pitch-in for the reception but she didn't want her family to work it, she wanted them to just enjoy the reception. I suggested ".....if that's all you have in your budget, you should reconsider your plan to have your family provide the reception food for you."
She asked me send her a quote anyway. I said sure. Never sent it.
You got a bride that I refer to as a "Twinkie-Budget-Bride". If they're lucky, they can afford to buy a Twinkie for each of their guests."
cupcakeshoppe Forum Addict
Joined: Feb 10, 2008
Posts: 936
Location: Pinas!
Birthday: Oct 08
Posted:
Thu Apr 03, 2008 8:39 pm
indydebi, that's a great analogy with the happy meal. i mean if they can't afford to even buy each of their guests a happy meal then they seriously have to cut their guest list. OR if they have enough budget to get a happy meal for their guests then they should go ahead and do that.
it truly is amazing how people want their wedding to be fabulous but they wanna pay ghetto fabulous. LOL
indydebi Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Jul 07, 2006
Posts: 13648
Location: Indianapolis IN
Posted:
Thu Apr 03, 2008 8:53 pm
It's what I call "going math-dumb". People are very good at figuring out that taking 6 people to dinner for $10 each will cost them $60.
But they go math-dumb when they have to figure $10 a person for 100 people. For some reason they are SHOCKED that it comes out to $1000!
I would tell her that you can make a cake that will serve 80 guests for $200 as your prices are $2.50 per serving. Let her figure out the rest.
homecook Forum Fanatic
Joined: May 11, 2006
Posts: 1495
Location: At my desk, in the garden, or in the kitchen
Posted:
Thu Apr 03, 2008 9:01 pm
If someone sent me that request, I'd just simply and *naively* say this: "Well, now, let's see...(adjusting glasses and reaching for calculator), my prices start at $3.50 for basic buttercream cakes, so....let me do some quick math here...$200 will feed 57 of your 135 guests. Oh!--or were you planning on the 'Invite 135, expect 57' rule?" bwahaha!
Seriously...my prices are non-negotiable, so that would be all I'd say to them, plus probably this: "So, your budget will cover 57 servings; a cake to feed your expected head count will cost $472.50 MINIMUM. Is there anything else I can help you with?"
If they still aren't getting it, I just say that I'm sorry but I can't do their cake, but they might try calling around; there could be someone (living under a rock somewhere) who could do it for that price.
CakeGrlPA Frequent Member
Joined: Nov 04, 2007
Posts: 242
Posted:
Thu Apr 03, 2008 9:14 pm
Quote:
If someone sent me that request, I'd just simply and *naively* say this: "Well, now, let's see...(adjusting glasses and reaching for calculator), my prices start at $3.50 for basic buttercream cakes, so....let me do some quick math here...$200 will feed 57 of your 135 guests. Oh!--or were you planning on the 'Invite 135, expect 57' rule?" bwahaha!
Ha! this is hilarious...but seriously, I know I live in Cheapville and people expect well...cheap...but c'mon!!!
MessyBaker Forum Addict
Joined: May 25, 2007
Posts: 827
Location: South Carolina
Birthday: Aug 19 Gallery Supporter Member
Posted:
Thu Apr 03, 2008 9:21 pm
I wish I had the GUTS OF STEEL that some of you had! I am such a weiner!
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum You can attach files in this forum You can download files in this forum
bwahaha!
