Being Used? Or just bad business?

[Deleted User]

We currently operate a food business and only started offering this product about 6 months ago.

We book by time and serve a set number of portions during that time.

We booked a very elite and expensive private school to take our service for a bonfire night part this weekend.

They asked for an increase in product quantity, we agreed and increased the price somewhat.

Since this point we have been hit with demands such as requests for size and shape of product and photos of said product. Unfortunately it's not something that you make in a set size - actually it's candy floss.

We are feeling somewhat used and feel that they are taking the p out of us.

We are now left with a situation whereby we will be expected to do all of the work making the product beforehand and then stand at the event for the said time when we are suppose to be making the product.

I don't think I have explained my point very well, but im struggling to put it across.

What do you think?

Pennywise

It sounds like they've been conned/used in the past and are maybe going a little over the top to safeguard it happening again.

Asking for an example of the finished product doesn't sound particularly unreasonable - can you not just give a photo of an "average" one and make it clear that they will all be different in shape and size due to the nature of the product.

It's all about managing expectations. They'll have an image in mind as to what they want. You have an image in mind as to what they'll get. Hopefully, by a picture, you can both make sure that your expectations are the same.

I think it's better to get the detail sorted beforehand rather than them complaining after the event that it wasn't what they were expecting. If you've confidence in your product, why should it worry you?

paddyrg

'A stick of candyfloss' is broad and could cover anything tiny to huge, one colour or multicolour, flavoured (?) or plain. Broad enough for both parties to think it means different things, anyway.

I'm sure both parties expect natural variations, so why not make a minimum, typical and maximum sized stick, and weigh the amount of sugar on each finished product. In sure the difference will be measurable in terms of a few grams, and so those numbers and typical size can form the basis of a well constructed agreement.

Per Pennywise they have probably been disappointed in the past.

sugarwalsh

So are they paying for a set amount of candy floss before you go and you have to make and bag it up before? Surely you can;t make it on a stick in advance as it would just dissolve?

Therefore there will be a set size as it will be bagged? I thin it is reasonable for them to ask for a photo or indication of size - I have seen mini ones and massive ones in the past.

As for 'just standing there', use the time to promote your business. It is an elite school, there are bound to be customers who might hire you for future parties... And you will get to see the fireworks. Win-win in my opinion.

Megan

Mistral001

I suppose the customer is worried that all you will be able to serve in the time are tiny candyflosses as regular-sized ones will take too long to make. Like all of us the customer will have an idea of how long it takes to make a candyfloss and since they are teachers will be able to do sums - well most of them anyway.

Atidi

assj wrote: »

We currently operate a food business and only started offering this product about 6 months ago.

We book by time and serve a set number of portions during that time.

We booked a very elite and expensive private school to take our service for a bonfire night part this weekend.

They asked for an increase in product quantity, we agreed and increased the price somewhat.

Since this point we have been hit with demands such as requests for size and shape of product and photos of said product. Unfortunately it's not something that you make in a set size - actually it's candy floss.

We are feeling somewhat used and feel that they are taking the p out of us.

We are now left with a situation whereby we will be expected to do all of the work making the product beforehand and then stand at the event for the said time when we are suppose to be making the product.

I don't think I have explained my point very well, but im struggling to put it across.

What do you think?

Surely you have a portion size for your product?

I wouldn't be very happy if the product I bought from you was only half the size, or even a tenth, of the one you supplied to the previous customer at the same price.

How did you calculate the increased cost of the larger portion size they requested if you don't have a standard size portion in the first place??? :huh:

And I'd have no idea what a 10g portion (or whatever size you have) of candyfloss would actually mean? So they want some photos and/or dimensions so they can see what they will get for the additional money you are going to charge.

Presumably they are expecting the traditional warm candy floss made on demand. Is this what you have described you will supply? Or are you (and they!) expecting this new fangled, ready made stuff you sometimes see sold in a bucket.
If you are making it on demand, how many of the new larger sizes can you make per hour? And how many makers will be present? Will it fullfill expected demand? Firework parties are usually quite big, and quite short in duration (an hour at the most, typically).

You don't want a queue of wailing kids still there hoping for some candy floss hours after the bonfire has gone out.

If they do just want the pre-made stuff, you don't even need to be at the party - just send the goods

I think you probably need to have a discussion with the client to iron out all the details and ensure you don't end up disappointing them

[Deleted User]

Thanks for the comments, the issue was that they wanted it pre-made but on the stick, so this means sticks made and then bagged (still on the stick)

Which makes size hard to manage. I thank everyone for their points, it does give me confidence that they may actually be okay to work with lol.

Savvy_Sue

Atidi wrote: »

How did you calculate the increased cost of the larger portion size they requested if you don't have a standard size portion in the first place??? :huh:

The way I read it, they asked the OP for MORE portions rather than larger ones. I could be wrong, of course.

Atidi wrote: »

You don't want a queue of wailing kids still there hoping for some candy floss hours after the bonfire has gone out.

That to me seems very likely: it is a long time since I have coated my hair with candy floss, but I seem to remember that there are times when the machine needs to spin for longer to produce the floss, so managing the queues would be important.

Maybe the way to go is to suggest that you get there early and bag up on the spot but in advance, or take most of it pre-spun. In your position I'd want to take the spinner and do some portions on the spot: that is the 'selling point' if you're hoping to create more business from the event! It's just amazing watching the stuff being made.

[Deleted User]

You got that spot on!

I'd love to talk to you more... you seem to have done this before and we can always use advice from someone that has experience in the same thing.

You have also clearly been successful in what you do :-)

Savvy_Sue

assj wrote: »

You got that spot on!

I'd love to talk to you more... you seem to have done this before and we can always use advice from someone that has experience in the same thing.

You have also clearly been successful in what you do :-)

who, me? :rotfl:

The reference to coating my hair with candy floss is that I used to love the stuff as a child, but I had long hair then, so probably got as much in my hair as in my mouth ...

It was always great fun watching it being made though, and that fascination hasn't gone away.

piglet25

Just found this and wondered how it went? As a candy flosser myself I can understand the frustration, as it does indeed shrink! My machine makes 8 lge per minute, the normal size people think of is a medium and it does twelve per minute of those