Sometimes you almost gotta laugh at potential clients...

[SoEzzy]

I think a lot of the real taste of this pudding is in the perceived taste of the eating, to mix my metaphors a little.

There is to all intents and purposes NO, none, zero, zip, nada cash profit in doing this wedding job, but there is the advertising against possible future earnings to be considered. A job for 200 in your local area, may be worth doing when you are starting out, but it might not be worth doing, either once you are an established name in the neighborhood, or are actually the #1 caterer in the area.

There is a certain amount of feel good factor, that I offset against current or future profits, I will help out when and where I feel able to, to offer my expertise and advise, at little or no cost, as a helping hand, but we each have to set those limits that we feel comfortable with, as to what and how much non-profit, (possible good / low cost advertising), we offer.

I have and will continue to offer my services on a loss leader basis, if and when it suits me. There is no one else alive who can convince me to do it when I don’t want to; not even “She who must be obeyed”. I will make my self scarce when it was supposed to all happen, and take my punishment later if I have to, but if I think it is a worthwhile investment of my time and efforts, there isn’t anyone who can talk me out of it either.

There isn’t a right and wrong in this situation IMO, you do what you do, for the reasons you choose to or choose not to do it, and that’s all she wrote at the end of the day.
_________________
Here's a change Robert.

I still work here!

[G's BBQ]

[marvsbbq]

Well said SoEzzy, well said.

And yes, I AM the #1 BBQ caterer in my area. BECAUSE....I was the one that conducted the poll and I was the ONLY one that I asked to vote

You can SAY anything you want...there is no "truth in advertising" as there is "truth in lending" laws

The van is a little wet from rain so the lettering looks a bit fuzzy...but you get the idea.


_________________
Often imitated but never duplicated

[G's BBQ]

Where did you get those card holders on the truck and van?

[marvsbbq]

[OddThomas]

[BBQMAN]

No hard feelings here OddThomas!

I think you also meant 20% profit margin? There is certainly not a 70-80% profit margin on the above mentioned budget! My average profit margin is around 30% on most jobs.

I thought I did offer help for this gals predicament. It's called 2 for $2.......................

Most everyone comes here to offer help, and get some too. It is nice to have the other side of story represented!

It is however hard to play "devils advocate" if you truly don't have an understanding of how this business works. We can only present it from our point of view- nothing more, nothing less. Your milage may always very depending on the given driving connditions.

It is certainly always my intention to help el-cheapo clients see the light, but some make that more difficult than others!
_________________
BBQMAN
"I Turned A Hobby Into A Business".
Providing "IMHO" Since 2005.

[Purple Haze]

Great Thread! This post may be a few responses too late but here's my take. After reading this thread again from the beginning, I don't think this thread is about business, or profitability, or even numbers. This thread is about customer service. Without a doubt, I think we all agree that no one should take a job that would cause a loss or otherwise waste time you don't have. The difference of opinion (if you want to call it that) is in what do you do with the customer after you have identified them as someone outside of your ideal target market (for whatever reason). Do you disconnect quickly ... or try help some ... or bite the bullet for humanity? All three are equivalent choices that free enterprise allows us to make. And after looking through the thread all three equivalent (and correct) avenues were chosen.

Smoke free or die.

[G's BBQ]

[G's BBQ]

[Harry Nutczak]

Ok, so someone calls for a job, you cannot meet their cost requirements. What do we do?

me I do not know which way it would go. of course I would try to help (A karma thing) but if there is no way that i could even pocket enough nickels for the Casino for an hour of play time I would need to decline the job. I would say I have that date filled so I do not hurt her feelings. I wold not say anything about being cheap or do anything to make the caller feel bad. you never know who might be a part of that party or helping arrange it.

Ok, do you offer referrals to other caterer's? What if the other caterers do decide to take the low money job, and serve them complete garbage in return. So you are the one that referred them, how does that reflect on your business and food quality? I would connect the dots and think "That food really sucked, but "Nutzcak's Nasty-Q Catering suggested them. do they suck that much too? we will need to avoid them in the future then"

I think BBQMAN has the best route, rationalize with the customer that does not realize costs, use "McDogShizzles" as a logical reference point and state how much a happy-meal will cost by visiting mcdogshizzles, and then ask how can you expect a quality (Non mass-produced) product to be able to compete with pricing less than a happy meal. (in a nicer way of course)

So, making the customer realize that it is just not possible and remaining nice (no condescending attitude) they might be able to raise more coin. Maybe it was the brides father footing the bill, and 50 years ago that is what things cost back then? And the father is making her call around because he is just that clueless, he has the money to pay for a real event, but is just so out of touch with reality he might not realize modern day cost's.

So, ask for what date last, and be able to use that as a nice way out of declining a job. yes it is a lie, but you cant be in 2 places at the same time.
If I was a less then wealthy bride, I would feel less embarrassed by a date already taken then being told that I do not have enough money to get a caterer.

maybe they will have the reception at a later date when they can afford it then and call you because you treated them nicely.

Any comments on that theory??
_________________
Just remember that the toes you may step on during your climb to the top will also be attached to the a$$es you'll be forced to kiss on your way back down!

[adolpho]

[adolpho]

[OddThomas]

[OddThomas]

[quote="GordonsBackyardBBQ"]

[allsmokenofire]

[marvsbbq]

Yea, I did not have 'my feathers ruffeled' either...as we are ALL trying to explain what we know.

As OddThomas was trying to explain (I think) was the customer's side. I know for a fact that a LOT of clients have NEVER used a caterer before and therefore really have NO idea what costs are involved in putting together an event. Where they get the 'low ball' figure from, I have no idea. It is however our job as a caterer to explain the options to them as we see them.

In this lady's case, I told her she could POSSIBLY call JJ North's (an all you can eat buffet place) and as I have heard you can 'pick up' food there for around $5 per person. I also told her that for per price range, there really is not much anyone could do for her that I know of. If there was, I would certainly tell her.

No, I did not LMAO while she was on the phone (did that afterward )

I was very polite to her as you never know IF she may make some calls and find out that I was right and just call us back to book it. If I had been rude to her, I am quite sure that would not happen..

Next week, I will feed the downtown clean up volunteer crew of 150. We will feed them chicken pcs (up to 2 if they want) and potato salad. The drinks are to be donated by someone else.

We do this twice a year as a 'freebie' to the community. Last fall I fed them pulled pork sandwiches and a bag of chips...

I have also done burgers and dog with ALL the fixin's...lettuce, tomato, onion, cheese, relish and condiments....and chips.
_________________
Often imitated but never duplicated

[Slamdunkpro]

[bigdad]

.[/quote]
I disagree here. I've been in the service industry for a long time (including food service) and I've learned that discounts only lead to more discounts. Soon everyone is shopping you on price alone and you become the "lowball leader".

Isn't that the truth. I worked for the thrid largest LP supplier in the U.S. We were not going to be the "el-cheapo" provider. However customer service and customer base is making them the "el-cheapo" player. I wasn't allowed to refuse any one that called with an order that said "but I can get it for XXX from XXXX." I would say I can do that when do you want delivery? End result??? They are selling off and down sizing and they can't figure out why

[marvsbbq]

[quote="OddThomas"]