lost an order....

[Pootchi]

Well this lady called from the Hospital after seeing my cookies. She wants to order a cake for 40 people for Saturday because they have the Mother's day party for the patients on that day. I told her I could even deliver the cake free of charges, so I told her that I sell my cakes for 2$ a piece. instead of giving her a rebate I decided to deliver for free. Since it's for the hospital. Well she told me that the other lady that she buys the cake from usually charges only 35$ for a cake that size.... WHAT? she's giving it for the price of her ingredients only? or what? I know this lady freeze her cakes long time in advance (not well packed for sure because they taste like frozen food...) and they're always dry. I know because I went to many events where she was the one that made the cake, so I tasted them.... and the icing taste like old crisco... Yes she's a better decorator than me, I'm not ashamed of that, she's got almost 30 years of practice under her sleeve, and it shows, but taste wise.....

What should've I done? Lower my price a little bit, or stick to my gun like I did? Even the grocery store doesn't have a cake for 40 people for 35$.....
I'm confused....

[2sdae]

dont be confused, she wanted your taste for the other decorators price...no go lady. You want taste and design? Well you pay for it or eat old crisco, dry cake that looks pretty. You choose...
You my love have talent and taste...she'll figure it out and so will others, she already did or she wouldn't have asked in the first place.
So on to bigger and better cakes.....

[MAK]

Is the other decorator giving her a plain sheet cake? Even at that $35 is way low. The other thing is the store will quote a really cheap price per serving, but isn't telling the customer the serving is TINY!!! There's always a reason an order falls through, maybe you dodged a bullet on this one.

[2sdae]

very true mac!

[Pootchi]

Thanks guys! I was feeling really guilty about not giving them a discount because it's the hospitale... but now with the flour prices that almost tripled I just can't do it! and gas.... Even the cake mixes are going up... Usually I could buy duncan hines mixes for under a buck but now when it goes to 1.49 I'm in Heaven!

Even that lady will probably up her price soon!
thanks guys again, I really doubted myself but now I'm feeling great.
I'm worth it, I'm worth it!

it's so good for self esteem to be in here.....

[cakebaker]

There's a reason the customer called you when she had a baker willing to sell to her for a ridiculously low price....she doesn't like something about the cakes she gets from her! It's price or quality, her choice, but she's not going to get both!

I never lower my prices to compete with another baker....ever! I may discount for some reason or another, but never to match prices with someone else.

[Amanda]

I think you lucked out missing this order! If you would have gone ahead and discounted for her she may have asked for that every time. Or worse...assumed that you'd do it like that every time!
Cakebaker is right, she's looking around for a reason. When she's ready for design AND taste, she'll be back. Until then, she knows you won't be 1. taken advantage of, and 2. guilted into giving your cakes away.

[Cakepro]

You made the right choice. For all you know, she could be bluffing just to low-ball you. Who needs that kind of customer? You don't!

If she wants something beautiful AND delicious, she can pay your prices.

[Pootchi]

I'm so glad I came in here! I don't feel guilty anymore. I'm not a cheap cake decorator, because I make them to order AND personnalized! No flat boring sheet cakes. there I've said it! feels good! I love what I do but I need to get creative. I won't do flat sheet cakes just so I can have exposure, because if that's ehat people see, they'll think I love to do those.... I'm in for creativity and style!

thanks again guys, I really need that slap to bring me back to reality

[Ironbaker]

Don't feel bad at all! We ALL shop around and nobody's lowering prices for us, right? I'd like to tell BP I want to pay $1.99/gallon for gas but that ain't happening.

If the other woman does it for $35, then she needs to stick to that if it's in her budget. There is something she doesn't like or else she wouldn't have come to you when she's getting such a good deal. If she wants better, she's going to have to pay better.