Vending Etiquette - To vend or not to vend?

FullyInvolvedBBQ · 07-03-2010, 10:05 PM

I have only participated in one event and I didn't know if I priced my food right. I suspected my prices were too low because we were slammed all day. I never had a chance to leave my cook site and see what everyone else was charging because we had this long line all day! I don't want to make any enemies and I'm sure undercutting prices will do just that. We sold over $3000.00 worth of food and made just a few dollars over what we spent after their 80/20 cut. We did our price schedule something like this:
Single: 1 meat and 2 sides (your choice of meat) $6.00
Double: 2 meats and 2 sides $7.00
Triple: 3 meats and 2 sides $10.00
Grand Slam: all four meats and 2 sides $12.00
Sides were: cole slaw, potato salad, and baked beans
a meat serving was a pork sandwich, two pieces of dark meat chicken, two or three ribs (depending on size) and about 5 slices of brisket

What do you charge? What's fair? Is it really worth it?

southernsmoker · 07-04-2010, 05:35 AM

You need to at least get 30% more than your cost, even more..we sell a rib dinner for $10, includes ribs, home baked beans, slaw and a roll, the way they sell and although we recoup 30% profit, I'm thinking thats still too cheap.

Ford · 07-04-2010, 05:47 AM

You are low - a pork sammy is $5 or $6 with an 80-20 cut especially if for charity. 3 bones of spares is $6 or $7. Brisket $6. Add 2 sides for $2. I no longer vend chicken because so many cook it at home and demand is low. But 2 thighs would be $5.

If you sold $3000 then you made $2400 so cost of meat and sides should have been no more than $600. I bet you spent more.

FullyInvolvedBBQ · 07-04-2010, 07:54 AM

Oh, ya... I spent twice that probably.
I do think I need to price each meat separately due to the difference in cost and then have single meat add on prices for people who want to try more stuff. Thanks for the input, would like to hear more...

HandsomeSwede · 07-04-2010, 08:35 AM

You were likely the bargain of the event. A $10 charge for your single is common. I charge more for Brisket & ribs on a sliding scale based on the per pound differences compared to pork & chicken. I have also found you can help keep pork costs down by using a mix of butts & picnics.

BBQ Grail · 07-04-2010, 10:20 AM

How much money did you lose?

FullyInvolvedBBQ · 07-05-2010, 09:48 PM

We actually made a couple of hundred bucks, but we split that amongst the team, we did just better than break even. Lucky for us we sold out of everything. Also lucky for us, so did everyone else... otherwise we would have made some people mad taking away their business by underpricing. Just a little beginners ignorance on my part.

Utahslo-smoke · 07-08-2010, 11:27 AM

Around here where I am if I can do a sandwich and drink for $5 Ill do a mass amount. Families here are big and you can get that out of them but at $7 they will buy one and share it. I do burnt ends and shredded chicken only cause there is 2 other at my market that do pork and I don't want to compete. My plate is 1 meat 1 side and a can drink for $6.50. and I do 3 times the sales as $7

07-03-2010, 10:05 PM	#1
FullyInvolvedBBQ Found some matches. Join Date: 06-23-10 Location: Sarasota, Fl	Vending Etiquette - To vend or not to vend? I have only participated in one event and I didn't know if I priced my food right. I suspected my prices were too low because we were slammed all day. I never had a chance to leave my cook site and see what everyone else was charging because we had this long line all day! I don't want to make any enemies and I'm sure undercutting prices will do just that. We sold over $3000.00 worth of food and made just a few dollars over what we spent after their 80/20 cut. We did our price schedule something like this: Single: 1 meat and 2 sides (your choice of meat) $6.00 Double: 2 meats and 2 sides $7.00 Triple: 3 meats and 2 sides $10.00 Grand Slam: all four meats and 2 sides $12.00 Sides were: cole slaw, potato salad, and baked beans a meat serving was a pork sandwich, two pieces of dark meat chicken, two or three ribs (depending on size) and about 5 slices of brisket What do you charge? What's fair? Is it really worth it?

07-04-2010, 05:35 AM	#2
southernsmoker is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 04-14-08 Location: NS, Canada Name/Nickname : JO	You need to at least get 30% more than your cost, even more..we sell a rib dinner for $10, includes ribs, home baked beans, slaw and a roll, the way they sell and although we recoup 30% profit, I'm thinking thats still too cheap. __________________ Southern Smoker-Northern Division! Lang 84D Longneck Cookshacks Gone brick n mortar :crazy:

07-04-2010, 05:47 AM	#3
Ford is Blowin Smoke! Join Date: 04-14-07 Location: Lakeland Florida	You are low - a pork sammy is $5 or $6 with an 80-20 cut especially if for charity. 3 bones of spares is $6 or $7. Brisket $6. Add 2 sides for $2. I no longer vend chicken because so many cook it at home and demand is low. But 2 thighs would be $5. If you sold $3000 then you made $2400 so cost of meat and sides should have been no more than $600. I bet you spent more. __________________ Ford Retired competition cook. BBQ mentor.

07-04-2010, 10:20 AM	#6
BBQ Grail somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 08-11-03 Location: Rocklin, CA	How much money did you lose? __________________ Larry Soon to be a Texafornian. For a limited time I will be issuing Moink Ball Certificates. I'm working on a special COVID 19 Verson. Email me for details.

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07-04-2010, 07:54 AM	#4
FullyInvolvedBBQ Found some matches. Join Date: 06-23-10 Location: Sarasota, Fl	Oh, ya... I spent twice that probably. I do think I need to price each meat separately due to the difference in cost and then have single meat add on prices for people who want to try more stuff. Thanks for the input, would like to hear more...

07-04-2010, 08:35 AM	#5
HandsomeSwede Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 03-12-09 Location: Genesee Valley, NY	You were likely the bargain of the event. A $10 charge for your single is common. I charge more for Brisket & ribs on a sliding scale based on the per pound differences compared to pork & chicken. I have also found you can help keep pork costs down by using a mix of butts & picnics.

07-05-2010, 09:48 PM	#7
FullyInvolvedBBQ Found some matches. Join Date: 06-23-10 Location: Sarasota, Fl	We actually made a couple of hundred bucks, but we split that amongst the team, we did just better than break even. Lucky for us we sold out of everything. Also lucky for us, so did everyone else... otherwise we would have made some people mad taking away their business by underpricing. Just a little beginners ignorance on my part.

07-08-2010, 11:27 AM	#8
Utahslo-smoke Is lookin for wood to cook with. Join Date: 11-13-09 Location: Roy, UT	Around here where I am if I can do a sandwich and drink for $5 Ill do a mass amount. Families here are big and you can get that out of them but at $7 they will buy one and share it. I do burnt ends and shredded chicken only cause there is 2 other at my market that do pork and I don't want to compete. My plate is 1 meat 1 side and a can drink for $6.50. and I do 3 times the sales as $7