Author Topic: Help with prices of SOE's, paper and printers (Read 5821 times)

Mia Lucia · « **on:** March 08, 2010, 09:12:54 AM »

:'( I am so frustrated with the customers! I made a bunch of samples for the girls at the dentist's office. Baby and Communion items and they are complaining that the prices are toooooo high!!! AARRGGHHHHHH!
What are you guys charging for soe/sce and sour creams these days?

I think that they want the stuff for nothing, I put a lot of time into what I do.......sorry but I had to vent!!!!!!!!!!!! And I really could use the money to pay off my dental bill!!!!! LOL
Thanks to all! :'(

Wrapcandy Forum Community · « **on:** March 08, 2010, 09:12:54 AM »

Happy Wrapper Karen · « **Reply #1 on:** March 08, 2010, 09:31:19 AM »

What are you charging? I charge $1.85 for SOEs. Never sold any sour creams, but depending on what you put inside, I would charge at least $1.50 for those.

Mary Ann aka Brannie · « **Reply #2 on:** March 08, 2010, 09:38:07 AM »

Sadly so many don't realize the time and money we have involved in what we do. They don't think about the cost of graphics or ink or paper. I stick to my prices I set. I do offer a discount if they order so many.
Hang in there and if you think you have your prices set so you make a profit go for it.
Mary Ann

Debbie F. · « **Reply #3 on:** March 08, 2010, 09:40:13 AM »

You might suggest that they purchase the wrappers from you and then buy the candy separate and assemble the items themselves. I have some things I will sell wrappers only for and other items that I sell only fully-assembled, such as the mint toppers.

You would be surprised at how many people do not know the current cost of a chocolate bar is nearly $1.00 each! I do not tell them that I can get them cheaper at Sam's Club, etc. unless they are looking to do 100 wrappers or so...then I am doing them a service by letting them know where they can get the chocolate cheaper than $ .74 per bar.

I currently offer the wrappers for $1.10 each (includes the wrapper, foil, and the cello sleeve).

Wrapped bars are available for my local customers only and I am charging $2.10 each for those, as it does take the extra money to buy the bar (and I sell in minimums of only 12), and time to wrap the bars, package them attractively and I charge an additional $5.00 for delivery. I do not work outside the home, so I must make a special trip to deliver the orders.

If I am working with, say, a wedding client who is going to order several things and spend $100.00 or more, I do not charge for delivery. Same with online orders. If the order totals $100.00 or more, I give free shipping.

Also maybe make suggestions for some of the cheaper alternatives.

I find many people love the mint toppers. Something small, but memorable, and doesn't break the bank!

I don't do SCE bars or sour creams, so cannot help you with that. Try searching on the internet for those items and see what others are charging for them.

babs0753 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 08, 2010, 09:40:53 AM »

I'm curious to know what you are asking for the SOEs SCEs.

The last two orders of SOE's I sold, the customers paid me $2.00 each. One order was for 100 bars and the other was for 50 bars. I was giving them both a discount because they were friends of friends and they decided, on their own, to pay me the $2.00 per bar. I was shocked but they were sooooo happy with the final product and said my time and effort was worth every penny.

As far as sour cream containers, I've never done them so I can't help you out with that.

Personal Wrappers · « **Reply #5 on:** March 08, 2010, 09:44:37 AM »

I sell my SOE's for $1.45 each. I don't do the SCE's or the Sour Creams so can't comment on those.

I agree to hang in there, sometimes it's tough, but you gotta get enough to cover your time and supplies and such. If they really want them, they will come back and pay the price you are asking. At least that's what I've seen commented on several times on the boards.

Mia Lucia · « **Reply #6 on:** March 08, 2010, 09:59:55 AM »

I asked for $3.00 each, my boyfriend was yelling at me saying that I don't charge enough. He told me to charge that amount. UGH! I don't know what to do! I guess it is too much! $:-\$

Mia Lucia · « **Reply #7 on:** March 08, 2010, 10:05:00 AM »

Thanks everyone for your input, you guys rock!

mary ellen duplessis · « **Reply #8 on:** March 08, 2010, 10:05:52 AM »

I charge $1.80 for the SOE bars. That is with the matching foil and the cello packaging. I have not had one person think that it was too high!!
I am not sure about the Sour Cream Containers ~ I just make up a bunch for Easter and I think I will ask $1.50 each.

Good Luck!
mary Ellen

Debbie F. · « **Reply #9 on:** March 08, 2010, 10:10:41 AM »

I think $3.00 each may be a bit much for most people.

The way many people figure pricing is to take the cost of the materials used (don't foreget paper and ink), then double the cost of materials and you have a retail price point. If there is a lot of work involved in the assembly, etc. you could triple the cost of supplies.

Then...tweak the price a bit up or down until you get it where you think it will sell in your area.

I live in rural southwestern Indiana, and people here are in their own little world. I do what I can to keep the costs down so I can get a few sales here and there. One of the things I do is have more white in the backgrounds. I do not do full color saturated images on expensive photo paper.

I use glossy white paper and it makes the areas of text and color really stand out. If you use glossy paper and then use a laser printer, the printing is usually not as shiny as it would be on a matte paper.

If/when I use full-color backgrounds or larger areas of color, I print backgrounds/colors that are lighter/paler in color most of the time. This makes things like names/dates/photos more prominent. Most people are focused on the names/dates/photos anyway.

The ink I use is nice and shiny anyway, so I could print it on matte paper and the full-color backgrounds would be shiny, but that would drive up my costs...and the price I would need to charge, which would reduce sales.

Mia Lucia · « **Reply #10 on:** March 08, 2010, 10:20:11 AM »

Thanks Debbie, I thought it was too high too! I guess live and learn, I listened to the boyfriend! hehe

Personal Wrappers · « **Reply #11 on:** March 08, 2010, 10:52:48 AM »

Unless your cost for supplies and time warrant $3 each, I too feel that it would be too high. Debbie gave a great explanation so I'm just going to say ditto her <smile>. I wish you luck with this and all of your business ventures.

Debbie - you wrote "I use glossy white paper and it makes the areas of text and color really stand out. If you use glossy paper and then use a laser printer, the printing is usually not as shiny as it would be on a matte paper." and I would like to ask a quick question about that. Asking here instead of a new thread because it might help Maria and others on this and pricing too. Do you use glossy with your inkjet printer?? If so, can you please tell me exactly what you use?? I have an HP Officejet Pro K5400 inkjet (which uses the separate cartridges like a laser and they say prints like a laser) and I use the HP Bright White Inkjet paper with it. However, I have been told that the glossy might look better, that I should try it and see. But everywhere I go, the only glossy I can find is for laser printers <pout>.

Happy Wrapper Karen · « **Reply #12 on:** March 08, 2010, 11:13:10 AM »

Maria...yes, I think $3.00 is too much. But I wouldn't go as low as Roberta - wow, you only charge $1.45 including the candy? That's a steal!!! It seems like most people charge between $1.75 and $2.00 basically.

Roberta...have you ever tried the HP Semi-gloss paper? I LOVE it for ink-jet printers, but it's a tad bit thicker than regular paper so it's really a personal preference. (I've been told we can give links for paper, so here goes)...you can find it here: http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=3576432

Personal Wrappers · « **Reply #13 on:** March 08, 2010, 11:19:04 AM »

Karen, I can get my candybars for about .35¢ each, and the paper and ink and such isn't that much, so I thought $1.45 was good. However, maybe that's why I'm not selling any from my website (only personal offline sales once in a while). Maybe everyone thinks they are priced too low so they can't be good, LOL, I don't know. Thanks for the link on the paper, will check it out.

Mia Lucia · « **Reply #14 on:** March 08, 2010, 11:24:41 AM »

Karen, thanks so much and all who helped me out. I use the Hp glossy paper too, it is the cheapest around and the graphics show up well.
Roberta, you can get the glossy at Staples....they have their own brand and Hp has it as well.

YOU GUYS ARE SO HELPFUL ON THIS FORUM, I WAS FEELING SO DOWN :'( WHEN I GOT HOME THIS MORNING AND I COME ON HERE AND YOU MAKE ME FEEL BETTER. I WANTED TO GIVE THIS UP, BUT NOW I WILL GO FORWARD AND ENJOY WHAT I ENJOY DOING!

Hugs to all!!!! (((((((((((((WrapCandy Family)))))))))))))