Coping with Gas Prices and delivering Cakes??

[likitiki]

Everyone here goes and picks up their own cakes. Now a large cake that had to be assembled, I would deliver and charge appropriately.

[tracymes3]

Originally Posted by cakebaker

I just assumed we were talking about larger cakes and high $$ orders. I've never delivered everyday birthday cakes and don't even offer if the order isn't at least $100.

Indeed we are, but with some of us being new to the business, we are delivering some cakes to boost our business or to even get it off the ground. Mainly starting with close friends and family to get "word of mouth" advertiseing, and it has worked best for me, any new orders would discuss delivery options and price, but gas is so high I just didnt want to knock my customers head off with a over the top price...I mainly wanted to see how everyone was dealing with this and get tips on what to do. All the information has been extremely helpful and I appreciate all the replies.

[cakebaker]

Gas prices should be taking another jump since oil hit yet another record high yesterday. I keep saying that this just can't keep going like this, but apparently it can.

Just by coincidence all three of our vehicles got filled yesterday....cost us $215...and that will last us a week if we're lucky.

[tracymes3]

Originally Posted by cakebaker

Gas prices should be taking another jump since oil hit yet another record high yesterday. I keep saying that this just can't keep going like this, but apparently it can.

Just by coincidence all three of our vehicles got filled yesterday....cost us $215...and that will last us a week if we're lucky.

I am so scared of what is about to happen!! My husband is an owner/operator and if the gas prices dont cease soon, he will be out of a job!! I want to put a rally together and start picketing....THANK YOU OPEC NATION...I will just tell you we spend an average of almost $4000.00 a week on fuel, our profit is going right in our tanks!! I say its time for Americans to take a stand!! or we will all be out of a job!!

[Amanda]

OOOHHHHH, but it's Supply and Demand ruling the prices at the pump!! The oil companies aren't taking advantage at all!
I won't get on the soap box, but let me just say this next president had better do SOMETHING about gas prices and healthcare, or we're all screwed.

[likitiki]

If we can survive until the next president!

[mona1949]

MY OPINON

The real reason that gas prices have risen so high is that the dollar isn't worth much these days compared to other forms of money and the biggest reason is that there are not that many refineries to make the crude oil to gas. This is where they get us. Saudi Arabia only pays 45 cents a gallon for gas. In the Netherlands they pay over eight dollars a gallon and the same goes for the UK. The gas prices just went from 3.65 to 3.79 here. I find it funny that when they lower the prices that it is only dropped by a cent or two. The american people need to boycott the need for gas. If everyone pulled together and didn't buy gas for a day, just think what it would do to the market.

I find it ironic that when Bush asked the Saudi's to produce more oil they said NO. If you read about the history of the Bush family and the Saudi's you will see that it was a very close relationship. Most of the 9/11 bombers where from Saudi Arabia.

When 9/11 happened Bush made sure that citizens from Saudi Arabia made it safe back to their homeland.

The next president will have quite a job just getting us out of the mess that Bush and Chenny have gotten us into. We are so deeply in debt to China that we will never get out of the mess.

One thing that the next president could do is to change the tax forms so that a credit can be given to people for the cost of gas that they use related to their job.

Also the next president needs to do something about Illegal Immigrants. If an Illegal Immigrant wants to come here and work, let them work by joining the military and serving for five years in Iraq or another place, and once the five years is up they can become a US citizen. I don't blame anyone for wanting to make a better life for their family. But they should be willing to fight for this country. My father served in World War II, Korean conflict and the Vietnam war.

[tracymes3]

Yes Indeed Mona, Let me 1st point out that when Bush first came into office, he suggested that we start drilling in Alaska and low and behold the Environmentalist stepped in and said no way ...We as American we should be self sufficient, we have enough resources here to not be dependant on other countries. I say to the environmentalist "Go Find You A mountain and pitch a tent and have a nice life" we are drilling in alaska, besides who is running this country??? 9/11 can' t and should not be totally blamed on Bush. Terrorist are terrorist and they had this planned regardless of who was in office. I'm just glad Bush stood up. Now as far as illegal immigrants are concerned, (very touchy issue)...I agree that they should not have the right to come here and not go through the process like every other immigrant that has come here. I say, Get the documentation and stand in line like everyone else!! But, we are suppose to look the other way when they are here illegally? NO WAY!! Try going to other countries and see if they put up with it...umm doubt it!! I have so much to say on that issue but will some other time.
GOD BLESS THE PEOPLE IN CHINA!! Terrible tradgedy there...as far as the debt, thats what we get for over-seas trade agreement, hmmm who was that who started that?? I just say lets all support ourselves and to heck with everyone else lol...As far as boycotting I say LETS DO IT!! I am ready and have followers, Picket, Picket!!

[cakebaker]

All I need to know is that the oil companies are posting record profits at a time when it is breaking the backs of many American workers and companies. It's pathetic and someone should put a stop to it.

As far as drilling in Alaska...seriously, that won't help us at all. The cost of drilling domestically is very expensive. Any domestically produced oil is going to cost at the pump what it costs now and more. I'm afraid that line coming from our leaders is just a crock and they full well know it being oilmen.

I like in Oklahoma where oil used to be king and is fast coming back. Our economy is booming. Oil companies are courting every land owner in site trying to buy the mineral rights to their property and they're paying huge amounts! The key is though that prices had to get where they are now in order to make it profitable to drill. Btw..I told them to go fly a kite when I got my "visit".

What we need is to reduce our dependency on oil no matter where we get it from. Some tax incentives for developing alternative fuels and more efficient vehicles wouldn't hurt.

What I do know is that high prices are here to stay. Oil companies would not be investing in the high cost of re-starting the domestic oil production if they didn't know they could do it at a huge profit.

[tracymes3]

Originally Posted by cakebaker

All I need to know is that the oil companies are posting record profits at a time when it is breaking the backs of many American workers and companies. It's pathetic and someone should put a stop to it.

As far as drilling in Alaska...seriously, that won't help us at all. The cost of drilling domestically is very expensive. Any domestically produced oil is going to cost at the pump what it costs now and more. I'm afraid that line coming from our leaders is just a crock and they full well know it being oilmen.

I like in Oklahoma where oil used to be king and is fast coming back. Our economy is booming. Oil companies are courting every land owner in site trying to buy the mineral rights to their property and they're paying huge amounts! The key is though that prices had to get where they are now in order to make it profitable to drill. Btw..I told them to go fly a kite when I got my "visit".

What we need is to reduce our dependency on oil no matter where we get it from. Some tax incentives for developing alternative fuels and more efficient vehicles wouldn't hurt.

What I do know is that high prices are here to stay. Oil companies would not be investing in the high cost of re-starting the domestic oil production if they didn't know they could do it at a huge profit.

Well said Cakebaker,
I agree with a tax incentives to invest in hybrid vehicles, but here again, What about the blue collar workers and low income families who can not afford to have these new inventions? The alternative fuels are cutting into our food supply and that could cause another rise in prices. The way I see it, we are going in circles and alot of small businesses, middle class people will/ are suffering the most. Sigh, I'm so trying to prepare for much more harder times...why cant the automobile people bring back crank cars??? lol...I'd rather sweat my hiney off trying to crank start my car then to see my money evaporate in thin air and make them booby heads more richer.