My husbands distant relative, whom I have never met, just sent me an email asking me If I would price match if she found cupcakes cheaper. She said she would rather give her business to someone she knows. How do I explain, politely, that I don't price match?
Ok, it's a trick question,right? 'Coz you said 'Politely" and I'm kinda weak on thank attribute! 
"Dear cousin who I never see or hear from unless you want something .... I'm not a flea market. My prices are my prices based on my expenses. I do not even try to compete with big box bakery grocery stores who get their cakes shipped in frozen at a cost below what any custom cake designer can even THINK about getting. Thanks for thinking of me and have a great time planning your cake!"
Ok, it's a trick question,right? 'Coz you said 'Politely" and I'm kinda weak on thank attribute!
"Dear cousin who I never see or hear from unless you want something .... I'm not a flea market. My prices are my prices based on my expenses. I do not even try to compete with big box bakery grocery stores who get their cakes shipped in frozen at a cost below what any custom cake designer can even THINK about getting. Thanks for thinking of me and have a great time planning your cake!"
I agree, LOL!!! And I absolutely love you debi. I so enjoy reading any thread that you post on, along with a few others because I know I'll get a good laugh, no matter what the subject is.
Just say, "sorry, I don't price match", and if she really wants you (someone she knows) to do it, then she'll want to pay your price for it.
Ashley
I just wanted to let you know that your cakes are BEAUTIFUL!
Big, fat, giant DITTO! Your cakes are UN-bee-leeve-a-bull!!!! I don't care how much you charge, I'd pay you three times what you ask - your work is stunning!
And any relative you've never met or heard from before has a lot of nerve calling and asking something like that. I'd do what someone else suggested - tell her your costs dictate that you charge what you charge and you can't afford to undersell yourself. It's a matter of simple economics.
<relatives, UGH!>
Haha, Indydebi, how i wish i could say that!!
I guess I'll just state it plainly!
Thanks everyone for your complements too. I appreciate it!
Haha, Indydebi, how i wish i could say that!!
I guess I'll just state it plainly!
Thanks everyone for your complements too. I appreciate it!
It's what we refer to as "Arguments with the bathroom mirror" ... you know .. it's the argument that you ALWAYS win! Things we wish we could say, but we have to get them out of our system anyway. 
Don't ya just love "distant relatives that we've never met?" 
Gotta give it to this one though......."price match", a creative way of trying to name her price.
My e-mail response would be........
Dear __________
My custom cupcakes start at $x.xx (insert some ridiculous price here) I don't participate in price matching.
Good luck, hope to meet you one day!
Ok, it's a trick question,right? 'Coz you said 'Politely" and I'm kinda weak on thank attribute!
"Dear cousin who I never see or hear from unless you want something .... I'm not a flea market. My prices are my prices based on my expenses. I do not even try to compete with big box bakery grocery stores who get their cakes shipped in frozen at a cost below what any custom cake designer can even THINK about getting. Thanks for thinking of me and have a great time planning your cake!"
Yep, that sounds polite to me!
Could you say something like " sorry I don't price match but I do offer X% discount for repeat customers or X% discount for every X amount of people you refer to me" that way you're "helping" her out but still bringing in business for yourself!
Ok, it's a trick question,right? 'Coz you said 'Politely" and I'm kinda weak on thank attribute!
The first thing that crossed my mind when I saw the subject was Indy need not apply--and you're the first poster!! lol
Price Match.....really?? 
Ummmm does she think u work for Walmart? 
My husbands distant relative, whom I have never met, just sent me an email asking me If I would price match if she found cupcakes cheaper. She said she would rather give her business to someone she knows. How do I explain, politely, that I don't price match?
I'm sorry, but that justfreaking offends me to the enth degree. She knows you make a far superior product, and wants to get it at a cheap a$$ price cuz you are sort of related by a quirk in the family tree. BS!
Ummmm does she think u work for Walmart?
HA! Even Walmart doesn't price match!
You have to give her points for coming up with a new way to say "I want YOUR cake, but I'm paying Walmart prices."
"Thank you for thinking of me. I offer 10% off my regular prices of $_____ for family. I don't price match." You just know if you say yes, she will find those cuppies, were they cuppies?, at $.25 cents each.
You can be polite, just be firm.
I feel sorry for you second cousin twice removed by marriage on your fathers step brothers side, cause if she is lucky enough to book she should be willing to pay your price cause you cakes ROCK!
It's just so annoying how some people can be.
Why don't you just say "I have given you the absolute best price I can. I won't be offended if you want to go with someone else but I just can't go any lower on the price." (If you will be offended, leave off the second sentence.) It's funny how the people you want to help and do something on the cheap for are never the ones that want you to because they know they're taking the money out of your pocket.
Ummmm does she think u work for Walmart?
HA! Even Walmart doesn't price match!
I guess they do only in Canada
Y'know I been thinking about this & I still would just say:
'No, sorry, I don't do that.'
That's about as nice as I could get for a stranger, related or not.
OR... rub her nose in it...
"Price match is impossible because it is really a quality issue. A diamond is not just a diamond if it has big flaws--- each one different based on quality. For cakes- you cannot compare quality, fresh ingredients baked fresh for an individual order and custom decorated to a warehouse frozen and squirted on frosting cake. Yes, I know Sam's Club cupcakes are 50 cents.... but I don't make Sam's Club cupcakes, and don't want to. And mine are not 50 cents....
Have a wonderful event, and let me know if you want a quote. My base price is $____. "
I hate when people do things like this. Acting like she is doing you a favor by ALLOWING you to make her cupcakes. Here is my opinion....you don't owe her anything. So what if she is barely related to you!!! I honestly feel that if you don't have an established relationship with her, then take her lead. If she feels that she can treat you like she would any other business, then you should treat her like any other customer.
I' m thinking maybe, just maybe she was hoping you would offer free cake because she's a relative....and you have never met her???????
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