When a phone call starts with those words I know it's already over. Yesterday it was someone wanting three dozen cream filled devils food cupcakes with ganache topping and decorative pink squiggles. And obviously $2.50 per cupcake was not competitive with Costco/SAMs. Even though it wasn't the same product.

But if I want to give it away it will be to charity so I at least get a tx deduction.

sooooo is this a rant, a question, what?

It's not necessarily over, and a customer starting with those words shouldn't change anything about your sales pitch. If they are calling because they want a higher quality product they may be willing to spend more and order from you, if not then they'll go back to Costco.

Well, sheeewt, I must've been Pollyanna-ing, because I saw that subject line ending like this:
Customer: "I was going to order from Costco, but..."
You: "...but you want your guests to eat the cake, not leave it on the plate, right? You came to the right place! "

"I was going to order from Costco but..." "...I decided to get a good cake instead."