How do you tactfully...

...call a vendor out for quoting you higher than somebody else?

I'm starting to get really paranoid. I've contacted a few girls asking what they were quoted for a handful of vendors, and they were kind enough to oblige so I'm not going to go into specifics of who they were or who the vendors were. So, when I've contacted these vendors, knowing the price I 'should' expect, I was shocked when they all quoted me more.

I know there's a lot of variables involved, like for hair and makeup volume discounts for larger parties, but sometimes it was for exact same package. And these were recent quotes too, not from like 6 months ago. I'm also in the off season, so logic would dictate that the pricing wouldn't be higher anyways.

The first time it happened I flat asked them if that was in fact the pricing, because they had told a 'friend' another number. They insisted it was, and that they would never say that low a number, when in fact, they did. So either I was lied to, or another poor girl. Either way, that potential relationship started out on the wrong foot. I think they're liars, and they most likely think I'm conniving.

So what would you girls do? Would you keep your mouth shut and eat the difference rather than risk pissing off your vendors? Or would you bring it up, and how?

i would first find out if there is any reason whatsoever why somebody is paying a little bit lower.

Ive seen this happen alot and let me say that some ppl just like to say 'oh i paid less' without getting into alot of the facts but in the end it ended up being for a good reason.

Ive gotten discounts for things that others didnt but it was for certain reasons. Depending what type of vendor it is of course. For example i got a discount on an extra at an Rh, but i also had alot of guests, close to 300 and paying alot for that and already had a few other extras included so they had more room to work with me on things. I found out later that certain rooms on certain days of the week and months, a bm cant book it below a certain price and they expect a minimum to get paid for certain things.

Now you mentioned hair and make up is where there was a problem. Is the distance the same from you and this vendor and this girl and the vendor. Some charge a bit extra if they have to travel a little bit further, especially now with gas prices so much higher many ppl are charging just a bit extra if they have to travel. Also this happened to me quite a few times during planning, but just got real lucky with timing. I had booked JT when it was 18%, someone booked a week later and they said it went up to 20% but meanwhile they were confused bc i told them 18%. I found out that the week i booked was the last week they were doing 18%.

Same with hair and make up. SOon after i booked the prices went up and again somebody had asked me but said they checked the site and it was $50 more for each thing than i had told them, i checked the site and just told them i guess prices changed since i booked, which was just 2 weeks later or so

same with videography. I had a few ppl who asked me for the price, then they told me it was higher than what i told them. Again, i asked my vendor if prices changed and he again said that i booked the last week they were doing those prices and it changed right after i booked.

there was also another vendor where this happened, and i actually had a girl kinda get mad at me bc she said i told her a different price. I explained to her i had booked over a year before she tried to and prices changed since then but she was still annoyed lol

sometimes it can be the vendor, but if youre just asking girls on LIW there might be other reasons for discounts and youre not getting the full story. So i would just find out more info before approaching a vendor, because you just never know. If its a close friend then try to find out a bunch more details. And just dont mention the persons name who told you the lower price, might get them in trouble. Especially if they dont know youre going to tell the vendor

Oh, I would absolutely never call out another girl. I appreciate all of the help and answers I've been getting, I would never do anything to harm them. Just as I would expect nobody to name me by name either. I certainly wouldn't get mad at them for telling me a different price lol, I mean, at least someone is getting a good deal!

I'm sure it's very possible it's been recent price jackings. This economy is nuts right now. It's a risk you take I suppose when you look at people who work out of their home or are independent, because they really can arbitrarily decide to charge you anything they want, and can do so and get away with it.

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Posted by coldasice217

Oh, I would absolutely never call out another girl. I appreciate all of the help and answers I've been getting, I would never do anything to harm them. Just as I would expect nobody to name me by name either. I certainly wouldn't get mad at them for telling me a different price lol, I mean, at least someone is getting a good deal!

I'm sure it's very possible it's been recent price jackings. This economy is nuts right now. It's a risk you take I suppose when you look at people who work out of their home or are independent, because they really can arbitrarily decide to charge you anything they want, and can do so and get away with it.

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the vendor shouldve told you though that prices changed. I thought about the fact that you told the make up artist that a 'friend' booked at a different price and she said 'i would never book for that low' so if it was a price change she should've said, yeah your friend booked before i raised prices. So not sure whats going on in your situation. Who knows maybe it is a shady vendor, it is possible. My only thing is to seriously find out first, my bigges example was using myself in it when i got mad. There were a bunch of girls who would post prices they paid for the same RH, same day and around same month. i kept getting so upset, and i was just about to call my Rh to argue with them bc this was months of seeing different prices, alot lower than mine. One time i got so annoyed and just started asking these girls on LIW a bunch of questions as to why, and i didnt understand what was going on and that i was gonna ask my rh about it. UHMMMM yeah after a few more posts i found out why they got it for alot lower. When other girls mentioned a bunch of reasons it might be, thats when the other girls said oh yeah that applies to me thats why it was lower. But these were things that none of these girls ever mentioned and would just say hmmm i dont know why i got a lower price, maybe some ppl feel special that they are paying less for the same thing so just want to leave it at that hahahaha.

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Posted by Espo22

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Posted by coldasice217

Oh, I would absolutely never call out another girl. I appreciate all of the help and answers I've been getting, I would never do anything to harm them. Just as I would expect nobody to name me by name either. I certainly wouldn't get mad at them for telling me a different price lol, I mean, at least someone is getting a good deal!

I'm sure it's very possible it's been recent price jackings. This economy is nuts right now. It's a risk you take I suppose when you look at people who work out of their home or are independent, because they really can arbitrarily decide to charge you anything they want, and can do so and get away with it.

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the vendor shouldve told you though that prices changed. I thought about the fact that you told the make up artist that a 'friend' booked at a different price and she said 'i would never book for that low' so if it was a price change she should've said, yeah your friend booked before i raised prices. So not sure whats going on in your situation. Who knows maybe it is a shady vendor, it is possible. My only thing is to seriously find out first, my bigges example was using myself in it when i got mad. There were a bunch of girls who would post prices they paid for the same RH, same day and around same month. i kept getting so upset, and i was just about to call my Rh to argue with them bc this was months of seeing different prices, alot lower than mine. One time i got so annoyed and just started asking these girls on LIW a bunch of questions as to why, and i didnt understand what was going on and that i was gonna ask my rh about it. UHMMMM yeah after a few more posts i found out why they got it for alot lower. When other girls mentioned a bunch of reasons it might be, thats when the other girls said oh yeah that applies to me thats why it was lower. But these were things that none of these girls ever mentioned and would just say hmmm i dont know why i got a lower price, maybe some ppl feel special that they are paying less for the same thing so just want to leave it at that hahahaha.

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I hear ya. Thats why i always say if ilove it i book it. If its a ridiculous amount in difference i could understand but overall if you are happy & you love it. GO FOR IT! But without getting s c r e w e d. lol

first off i dont think you can always go by what other people were quoted or by what they are paying - because honestly, unless you see the bill yourself you don't know the whole truth or the exact situation - im basically repeating what denise said - sometimes people lie about the price and other times there are other circumstances that can affect how much someone is paying....

plus vendors can charge whatever they want, whenever they want - they can raise their price whenever - KWIM? they really can do whatever they want - especially when they are good and people are willing to pay - thats just the way it is....

i think that if you like their work and you can afford it - pay it - you can try haggling, but i wouldnt bring up what they supposedly were charging other people - to me that isnt a good bargaining chip - because its all heresay