Not enough food at function

popsy2

Yes we agreed the cost, it is the amount provided which we are in disagreement, and I think it was more like for Max 50 people, so we are trying to get them to reduce their charge to reflect they only provided for 50.

powerful_Rogue

daytona0 wrote: »

Why is it a ridiculous comparison?

I used ASDA as an example to highlight that, even at supermarket prices (and not cost-prices like Kaye1 very nicely mentioned, which should be CHEAPER), there was a huge difference in the cost per item and that OP was paying over the odds for the quantity provided.

Heating up and plating finger buffet food of that quantity would cost very little as well...

Because your not shopping in ASDA to do a home buffet. Why go to Harry Ramsdens to get fish and chips when you can buy cod and chips cheaper in Lidls.

Bogof_Babe

powerful_Rogue wrote: »

So that one extra member of staff cooked the food, plated it, served it, collected it, cleared up and washed it all?

From the OP sounds like that extra member of staff was working behind the bar.

£40 works out at fractionally under six hours at minimum wage. Easily enough to pay two casual staff members for the duration of an after-funeral gathering, which is unlikely to go on for more than a couple of hours. That would still leave two hours payment available for food preparation and clearing up afterwards!

daytona0

powerful_Rogue wrote: »

Because your not shopping in ASDA to do a home buffet. Why go to Harry Ramsdens to get fish and chips when you can buy cod and chips cheaper in Lidls.

No idea what you're arguing with me about!

daytona0

Poppie68 wrote: »

Does it matter if she has paid what some think is an extortionate amount for a finger buffet? She agreed to the cost, the complaint is against the amount of food provided. She paid for a buffet for 100 but it seems like a buffet for 50 was put out.

I was just making the point that they paid £940 for 600 food items when 1200 may have been expected, thereby making it extortionate.

Not a million miles away from the point you are making, just a different take on it.

Kaye1

Bookers prices: (Different wholesalers vary)

Samosas- middle of the range frozen ones- 80 for £17.96
Super cheap frozen ones- Case of 60 small ones £3.19 (very small)

Barbeque Chicken- fresh chicken drumsticks £23.96 for 10 kg
(Frozen even cheaper)
3.78L of BBQ sauce, £7.55

Potato Salad x 1kg £2.39

Veg Spring Roll x 50 £3.19
Duck Spring Roll x 36 £4.99

Case of 10 white bread £7.50

Filings- don't know but you can get 2.5kg cheese for £13

2kg tomatoes - £2.49

100 sausage rolls- £2.85 (frozen)

Now in the interests of balance, we don't know if they used high quality food/ homemade things etc.

With regards the charge for additional staff- well I know some business who do it and some who don't. The biggest mark up in the trade is on the drinks- so some companies know that if 100 people are coming, they can make more than enough to cover the cost of the additional staff member.

IF the food was bought in (which I have no way of knowing) then there wouldn't be much time spent prepping but there would have been some time spent clearing up.

I hope this is helpful. Please use it as a rough idea as we have no idea where they got their supplies from.

So to confirm, for £12.50 p/person they calculated that each person would have on their plate:

A spoonful of potato salad
Spoonful of salad
1 x samosa
1 x spring roll
1 x sausage roll
1 x bbq chicken piece
Half a sandwich.

Ridiculous.

timbstoke

As others have said, the price paid isn't really the main concern - the concern is that they were contracted to cater for 100 people and quite self-evidently failed to do so. The only question I have (which you may have covered and apologies if you have) is what did you do when the food ran out? Did you ask the staff for more or just let it slide? If you didn't make it clear at the time that you wanted more food bringing out, that could give you more of a challenge. If you asked and they refused, then you seem to have a clear argument.

My approach would be:

1. Contact a couple of other local venues, preferably of the same standard, who can accommodate 100 people. Ask what they would provide as a buffet for a similar event based on a food cost of around £9 per head. I would expect that you'll find they would give you considerably more than you were provided.
2. Write to the venue with something along the lines of "You will be aware that you provided x (refer to the list you provided earlier). Other local venues have advised me that an expected buffet provision for the number of people quoted would include xxx - please see quotes attached. I am sure you will agree that you have clearly failed to provide the contracted catering service. In the interests of an amicable close to this issue I am prepared to pay x% of the amount in full and final settlement of your invoice. I will make payment on receipt of your confirmation that this is acceptable."
3. Leave the ball in their court, but hold your ground. If they come back with a price you feel is more reasonable, take it. If not, refuse. Don't ignore their letters, and keep all language professional and reasonable.

Going to court isn't a big deal - it's less like Judge Rinder and more like a meeting with your bank manager. And it almost certainly won't get that far. Put yourself in their place - if you'd catered an event to the standard they did, would you really want to stand up in court and tell somebody that it's an entirely reasonable amount of food for 100 people? I certainly wouldn't fancy it.