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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that £4.50 is a ridiculous price for a scone?

278 replies

emsyj · 07/04/2011 16:23

I have just been to a new cafe that has opened on my local high street (small town in the north west, not a big city, not central London - just a bog standard local high street).

There were 4 of us and 3 tried to order carrot cake. The waitress returned a few moments after taking the order to say there was no carrot cake left, all they had was Victoria sponge or scones. So without the benefit of the menu in front of us listing the prices, two of us went for the sponge and one for the scone.

When it came time to pay, the person who had the scone was charged £4.50 for the scone and another £2.45 for a black coffee. I thought it must be a mistake so went to ask if it was right and the cafe owner was quite aggressive in saying that yes, it was £4.50 for the scone because they are 'baked fresh every day with locally-sourced ingredients'. I said I thought that £4.50 was a silly price for a scone, even if it were embellished with gold leaf.

So AIBU? Needless to say, we won't be going there again which is a shame as the cafe is seeking to be family-friendly with buggy parking, lots of high chairs, paper and drawing stuff for the older kids etc and we had high hopes for it being a nice weekly meeting place.

OP posts:
Susiewho · 07/04/2011 18:57

£4.50 is ridiculous. I'd be very annoyed and would spread the word to local friends!

MrsEricBana · 07/04/2011 18:59

Was charged £5 for two small crumpets and pat of butter in a cafe in Lacock - they work out at 8p each in Tesco. Scandalised. £4.50 for a scone is ridiculous and people will simply not go there.

AlbinoLadybird · 07/04/2011 18:59

This reply has been deleted

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summershereatlast · 07/04/2011 19:00

I'm starting to play a guessing game now...

Are we talking Hampstead? Am I cold or hot Wink

fivegomadinthelambingshed · 07/04/2011 19:01

I would pay £4.50 for a cream tea but definitely not for a scone on its own, it is only flour, butter sugar and milk.

beesimo · 07/04/2011 19:03

Don't name and shame OP we all make mistakes in business, don't wreck it for her she will learn by experience cos you sink or swim by your profit margins. She soon see the error of her ways.

Give the daft lass a second chance.

BiscuitNibbler · 07/04/2011 19:05

This happened at a cafe that opened in our village. They wouldn't listen to the customers on this or other issues and were out of business within the year.

Why start a customer-orientated business if you won't listen to people?

hairfullofsnakes · 07/04/2011 19:06

Her attitude is awful and her prices are an insult to customers and I would not go there however nice it was with those prices. A little cafe has opened on my estate and although it looks lovely their attitude is shit and prices extortinate and the cakes are from Costco and while costco cakes are fine I would not buy a slice of Costco carrot cake for the price they charge. I know they are Costco cakes as saw them in there.

Update us when it closes down, it won't take long. Maybe we should take bets on how long it will take?!

coastgirl · 07/04/2011 19:23

The tearoom I mentioned upthread says on their website that if you've had a "special" from the board you particularly liked (they do gorgeous quiches, cakes and hot meals) and you're making a special visit, you can phone them beforehand and ask them to do that special again for you! Now that's service.

maighdlin · 07/04/2011 19:41

that is daylight robbery. what on earth "locally sourced" ingredients are they?? i pay £1.15 for a scone in my cafe at uni. Its the size of a side plate full of lovely juicy raspberries and has a milky bar melted over the top of it.

i doubt very much that cafe will have any repeat custom, more so because they seem rude.

skybluepearl · 07/04/2011 19:42

Bettys Tea Room is just lovely i agree. Very special.

For a nice home baking type cafe 4.50 is completely over the top though.

upahill · 07/04/2011 19:46

Don't name and shame the cafe but at least tell us which town.
I'm in the NW and travel from town to town a lot. I just want to be on my guard!!

summershereatlast · 07/04/2011 19:52

oops I feel so thick. Saw NW and thought you were referring to the London post-code Grin

Original poster
emsyj · 07/04/2011 19:53

I won't name and shame, but for those interested you should exercise caution if you are in a cafe on the Wirral.

OP posts:
summershereatlast · 07/04/2011 19:55

...and I thought London was pricey Shock

Want2bSupermum · 07/04/2011 19:58

I donate my time to my local 'Main Street Economic Recovery Program' (I am an accountant by trade). I make myself available to the mom and pop stores in my local town and help them set up their business or improve the one they have. I am in New Jersey where the market is slightly different but a lot of things are exactly the same.

From my experience the high price of cake and scones make it likely that the owner has miscalculated their overhead cost per item. If you are conservative with your sales number and generous with your costs it is easy for this to happen. It is very important to accuratly calculate overhead costs and reduce them (which I think is also part of the problem). Another thing is that her profit margin is probably too high. Food in my town runs at about 5% profit and drink is where you make your money. First place to go to help is the council and they will direct you to the small business help group for the area.

So how can this owner reduce their overhead costs? Couple of ideas that I have implemented here in New Jersey:

1 - Go to the landlord and ask to restruture the rental agreement to something that will help your cashflow. A shop owner I helped changed their rental agreement from $9500 per month to $1000 per month plus 5% of revenue. Show projections and agree to provide weekly updates to the landlord. This way you have reduced your fixed overheads and given your landlord an incentive to maintain the property.

2 - In the north west there are lot of ways to incorporate local products at low cost. Cheshire is famous for its dairy farms so finding cheap dairy products shouldn't be a problem. There are also a couple of fanastic family owned fruit farms. I set something up with a diner in town where all the tomato for their sauces came from one farm. We got a lower price than we could have ever gotten at the wholesaler because we offered to advertise the other products and services offered by the farm. For your other items such as flour try to have two deliveries a week and neigotiate a discount for prompt payment. Normally they can knock 2-5% off the bill.

3 - Staff and Utility Costs - Cook all of your cakes 3 days a week and hire one very experienced person for the kitchen and front of house. The experienced worker directs and trains the cheaper labour.

If this owner continues to charge so much for a scone then they might as well shut up shop now. The small business help groups are generally great and there are always people like myself who are willing to help someone in business for free but we need to be asked. The most important skill a business owner can have is listening skills. I suggest this lady pulls the cotton wool out of ears and listens to her customers.

upahill · 07/04/2011 19:58

New Brighton, Heswall ,Irby, Hoylake, Burton, Bromborogh,Bebbington, Neston, Ness, Pussington,Hooton, Little Sutton, Great Sutton. Overpool, Ellesmere Port????

Come on! !The Wirral' is a bit to vague!!!! Grin

Want2bSupermum · 07/04/2011 19:58

crikey - can you tell I am on bedrest!

PorkChopSter · 07/04/2011 20:02

That's almost National Trust prices Shock

Want2bSupermum · 07/04/2011 20:03

for GBP 4.25 it has to be somewhere in Heswall, the lower village, West Kirby or Willaston/ Thornton Hough.....

There is a great little cafe on Milner Road in Heswall and then there is Brimstage Hall.

Original poster
emsyj · 07/04/2011 20:04

I am saying no more about the location as I really do want to be constructive rather than name and shame - but if their prices remain the same in a month, I may reconsider!

OP posts:
beesimo · 07/04/2011 20:07

emsyj

Good for you I would hate to have to added you to my gammy Mneters list!

upahill · 07/04/2011 20:49

Blush at Pussington. Meant Puddington (well 's' is next to 'd' and I was typing fast!

pigletmania · 07/04/2011 21:55

Bloody daylight robbery Shock, name and shame lol

pigletmania · 07/04/2011 21:56

At least they could have provided high quality jam and enough clotted cream the meanies, dont go there again

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