Vendor Etiquette Question

Re: Vendor Etiquette Question

• mlg78 member

  

  March 2013

  In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_vendor-etiquette-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:d71357c5-89c7-4201-a274-ae818b849861Post:92cc9ba6-ac63-4419-ae09-371a78e41265">Vendor Etiquette Question</a>:
  [QUOTE]One photographer that I was interested in did not list pricing packages on her website, so I contacted her requesting a quote. Unfortunately, she is out of my price range. How should I respond? Should I even respond, or will she just assume that if I don't contact her again, we chose to look elsewhere? This would be good information to know for vendors in general, whether we choose another vendor based on price or preference, etc, after an initial request for a quote. Do vendors prefer to hear back if you are not going with them? We mentioned our date and she mentioned that she was open, but we made no commitment and didn't ask her to hold the date. Any thoughts?
  Posted by Didgeridoo[/QUOTE]
  
  <div>I would say the majority of vendors I contacted didn't follow up afterwards with me and I didn't contact them.</div>

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• AJuliaNJ member

  

  March 2013 edited March 2013

  I don't think you HAVE to respond. It's not like she would hold your date based on one inquiry, and giving quotes and not getting responses is par for the course in any position where you are selling something. She probably isn't expecting a response.

  
  

  However, if you feel a need to respond, or if she went over and beyond quoting something very specific (as opposed to just e-mailing you a ready-made price list), you can either be honest and let her know the prices exceed your budget or say, "Thank you for sending your price list," and leave it at that.

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• nda8414 member

  

  March 2013 edited March 2013

  If the vendor isn't a lot higher than your budget, I'd e-mail them to tell them to say thank you and say that you it's out of your price range, and you never know, maybe they'll be willing to work with you

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• yellowdaisies84 member

  

  March 2013

  'Thanks so much for your help but unfortunately we're working with a smaller budget. We would have been very lucky to have you, though. 

  Best, 

  Bride Lastname

  
  

  They may be willing to work with you, give you a smaller value package, or recommend other friends in the industry they know who have lower rates. 

  
  

  I think it's courteous to respond so that they know that you received their e-mail and that it was price that was the issue for you and to thank them for taking the time to get back to you.

  "It's always better when we're together." -Jack Johnson

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• Didgeridoo member

  

  March 2013

  Thank you very much for the suggestions, everyone.
  
  As to asking her to work with me on a smaller budge, unfortunately her lowest package is double my budget. WAY out of my price range!

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• Angelface225 member

  

  March 2013

  I had the same situation with a photographer, I just ended up creating a form email to send everyone. (I shopped around for everything!)
  
  Thank you for your time. We have decided to go with another vendor.
  
  All the best,
  Angel

   

  

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• Summer2011Bride member

  

  March 2013

  We did not respond to price inquiries of vendors that we decided not to go with. For many of them, we were shopping around and didn't even immediately make the decision we were going with someone else; at times, it was weeks later.
  
  I don't think you have to respond, but if you want to, what yellowdaisies said sounds good.

  
  
  
  
  

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• MuppetOverlord member

  

  March 2013

  If I was interested in them and they were out of my budget, I asked if they were willing to work with me at all....or I said that they were out of my budget in hopes they'd offer something.
  
  

  
  
  You'll never be subject to a cash bar, gap, potluck wedding, or b-list if you marry a Muppet Overlord.

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• Andama08 member

  

  March 2013

  I never responded, but there was one particular vendor who just kept calling me every other day so I finally had to tell them I found someone else.

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• [Deleted User] member

  

  March 2013

  If the photographer is interested in your business they will follow up with you to see if you had any questions or wanted to schedule a meeting. If they do, then at that time you can tell her that even though you like her work, her prices are out of the range you had budgeted for. That should be enough.

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