Hi Steve hope all is well. My friend told me his coworker was having retirement party. He gave her my information and she called me.
She told me it’s going to be at a brewery 5-8 and she wanted chili and cheese dogs only for 60 people. She also said she got a quote from a food truck for $600 and that was too much. My figures are set up $25, take down and clean up$25, $8 per person ($480) and my time 4-8 for a total of $580.
Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks Steve,
Dane
Sent from my iPhone
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Hi Dane,
It doesn’t matter what numbers the customer is telling you. Who cares what the food truck quoted? Who knows if she is even telling the truth?
None of this matters at all. It’s just a smokescreen to get you to lower your pricing.
The only thing that matters is that you make enough money to make the job worth doing for YOU. You know your costs. You know your overhead. You know what your time is worth. Crunch the numbers, tell them what it will cost to have your awesome hot dog cart catering their event, then shut up.
If they go for it, great. If they complain about your price, don’t apologize. Don’t beg and plead. Don’t negotiate.
Hold your head high, wish them good luck with their event, and walk the hell away. You’ll be glad you did because…
Cheap customers SUCK. They are the worst people to deal with. They will be all over you with advice and suggestions the entire night. They will tell you how to do your job. They will throw in last minute requests that you didn’t factor into your price.
Cheap customers will make you miserable.
High paying customers don’t do this. They realize that they are paying a professional so that they don’t have to bother with the details. They will leave you alone and let you do your thing. They will compliment you after the gig, give you a fat tip, and recommend you to their friends.
Much more fun.
Stick with your numbers Dane. They are very reasonable. If the customer won’t pay that, then you don’t want them as a customer.
Good luck!
-Steve
Like Mr. Steve says…cheap people cause you more trouble than they are worth in they end…..keep your head high, and do not give it another thought, you have to make what you need to make…Jim
Dane
Stand by your dogs! I never thought about a set up and tear down fee so thanks for that tid bit
Enjoy your season.
Steve….The BEST ADVICE you have ever given! I agree 110 %.
joe
Thanks Joe!
Excellent, Excellent Advise!!!!!
that is exactaly right.a cheap customer is just that:CHEAP.that is what we are,reasonable
Last season I a local company contacted me for selling hot dogs for their workers at a concert they were to attend. I mulled over the idea and said yes. I decided to not lower my price, and only offered the combo deal (4.50). The company printed up coupons
to be used. The event worked really well 280 dogs slung( I had some people coming up and only wanting the chips or pop for the coupon!). Turned in to the company a bill, and was quickly paid. It is a good thing to business the correct way, since at the end of the year the company wanted my tax number! The company and workers were very pleased so I look forward to doing the show again this year> “Sell em’ all”
Jerry
Good for you Jerry. Yes, always keep it legal. The tax man doesn’t mess around!
For someone that tight you should write out your quote and have them sign it before you even move in their direction. People like that will try to pay you half and say that is what you agreed to, don’t fall for it!
Steve,
You forgot one important thing about cheap customers!
Get paid upfront!
Good luck Dane!
Excellent advice Steve!
Always make it fun,
Clifford
I have never gotten stiffed for an event, but it doesn’t hurt to get paid first.
Yes, good advice Steve. Our area has many non-profit organizations and we live in a well to do zone. They frequently are low balling, want you to “donate services”, unexpected add ons and surprises. I even had a local school district contract me for a Teacher Appreciation Day who told the teachers and staff to bring their own HUGE beverage cups! I simply gave then an 8oz or 12 oz drink inside their 32 oz cup! Then they didn’t pay me for a month. I could go on and on, but Steve’s correct. The answer is…make a bullet proof contract.
Wow. How cheap can you get?!!!
I’ve never done a private gig to quote for, but as a vendor I’ve only had one customer complain about my prices. And although I haven’t gone up in 3 years, he complains every year! Guess what that says? HE KEEPS COMING BACK?.
That’s funny! Some people just like to complain.
Great advice!
Put “… THEN SHUT UP” in all Caps, because if you are talking you are negotiating.
Right on. Silence is power.
A lot of people seem to think that just because it’s hot dogd that they are not getting a good quality food item, that these are the same dogs that you can get from the local grocer…..nothung could be further from the truth! They are getting do much more than that, they are getting an experience, not to mention thst they are getting a professional caterer serving their guests and they are getting delicious food at a very reasonable price. I’m with Steve, stick to your guns and never settle for less. Eventually you will get that one customer and they will foe sure help sptead the word about your business.
Right on. When you think you are doing them a favor by lowering the price, they will show you they really are. Someone who wants a cheap slave.
If you price it too cheap, they will think it is inferior quality. (crap). Just wanted to share a story from last Sunday. I stopped by a flea market, and spoke to the owner about bringing my hot dog cart there on Sundays. He said he already had a vendor that had 99 cent hot dogs that he used only as a draw, to get people to stop by, and then usually chose one of his more expensive items. He said that he protected his vendors and didn’t want any new concession vendors there. I said nothing. Have to think of a counter plan for this??? Or should I just forget about that flea market??? Anyway the reason for my post is that I quietly chatted with and watched a vendor that had quality stuff for sale. As I sat there I witnessed half a dozen buyers walking up and asking “WILL YOU TAKE $$$”. Her items were all under priced and it broke my heart that she was NOT countering their low ball offers. Not a single person actually paid the price marked on it!! One item was a mannequin she had a tag on for only $15.00. The buyer offered $10.00. Since I have seen these sell for upwards of 50 up to 100 bucks on eBay, I really thought she was just plain wrong taking so little money. I said nothing. That would have been rude. But a valuable lesson for sellers. The buyer feels NOTHING about offering less money than something is actually worth. So price your dogs high enough to make money, and be proud of yourselves?
Right on Barb. If you believe your product is awesome (and you should), price it accordingly.
I’m think that rather than a per person charge, I’d do a per meal charge. My meal served consists of an Angus hot dog, chips or cookie and drink for $5. Lots of hungry people might want 2 dogs or more. Setting what a meal is as a person plate per person would quantify costs better. Thoughts?
Try it and see how your customers react.
I have used Steve’s advice for my ice cream truck alot. His advice works for alot if food trucks is. I always ask for a credit card number when I do the contract and must be paid by cash, debit or credit card at end of event on site. Most companies have credit cards and I never accept personal cheques
I agree cheap people do suck. We are in business to turn a profit. We are not in it for practice. Stick to your numbers.
Right on Lewis and Edna!