Post # 1
Member
488 posts
Helper bee
Roughly, how long did it take for a potential catering vendor to get back with you regarding food prices?
I’m a little irritated with a vendor that I called yesterday at noon and I am now being told I won’t have any information until Thursday. Generally I am able to look at a list of options they offer for receptions and pricing is set next to the plates. I have an email set up to be sent to the company but I wanted to check here first and make sure I am not being rash. We are trying to decide on a venue so we can book and get it out of the way. I am required to use this caterer if we have the wedding at this particular location.
Post # 3
Member
13953 posts
Honey Beekeeper
It took a few days because they usually put together sample proposals with food options for me. I think a three-day turnaround is reasonable.
Post # 4
Member
10355 posts
Sugar Beekeeper
Catering requires a little more work for a quote than other vendors. Given that you called them on a holiday, I think Thursday is very appropriate.
Post # 5
Member
3942 posts
Honey bee
Out catering quotes took the longest. usually a few days to hear back.
Post # 6
Member
9948 posts
Buzzing Beekeeper
I get how the process can make one anxious…
BUT having been in business my whole life, I’ve also come to realize that as a Customer, I am not the ONLY person in line (especially if the business is successful)
When it comes to Quotes (for anything… be it Wedding or Home Repairs etc)
24 Hours or less, and I figure that is great service (highly unusual)
48 Hours or less, good service (unusual)
72 Hours or less, average service (most places tend to get back to their customers in 3 Days or less)
4 Days or more it depends on how long the wait… 4 not that bad… 5 or beyond, then ya, I’d be beginning to wonder if my request got lost.
As the other Bees have said, there is usually a lot of work to doing a Catering Quote… in our own case it included things like…
Food Options (Quoting on A or B) – Table Cloths & Napkins – Glassware Rental – Manpower Expenses (regular & overtime) – and the special request to have some items returned by us to them after the event (we used an off-site caterer)
After the initial Quote we did a back and forth by phone and email probably another 2 or 3 times to dot the I’s and cross the T’s before signing off on the Contract
Hope this helps,
EDIT TO ADD – See that yesterday was a Holiday in some places… so ya, that would effect the turn-around time as well.
Post # 7
Member
302 posts
Helper bee
The caterer we were most interested in told us that it would take a couple of weeks (because he had 25 brides to quote ahead of us). I called to follow-up when I still hadn’t heard anything and then he got something back to me within a few days. We made sure when we met with caterers initially to give them the wedding date immediately and confirm their availability. That way I was able to not stress about not hearing back (wedding is June 8) because I knew that he had that date open for us if we decided to use him.
Post # 8
Member
115 posts
Blushing bee
We got ours when we met with the caterer. And negotiated the price down! I guess you can’t beat small towns!
Post # 9
Member
93 posts
Worker bee
I’ve been recieving florist and catering quotes back within about a week and a half, but we are in downtown Chicago.
Post # 10
Member
488 posts
Helper bee
President’s Day is a federal holiday. They were not closed yesterday.
I spoke with the owner and did receive my quote today. Obviously it wasn’t all that time consuming for her to prepare it within the five minutes of me emailing the owner and then receiving a quote. Being up front is important to me and they were not. I want a quote prior to seeing a venue so I don’t get my hopes up.
Post # 11
Member
488 posts
Helper bee
On top of that she was rude when I originally called, which was the main reason I was upset.