Reply to "that's too expensive" without dropping your price

Saying no to price shoppers takes backbone. A polite, confident reply that explains your price, and offers a smaller option, saves your margin. Having it ready means you answer calmly, with a real alternative priced from your own costs.

A free AI chat tool (ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot or Claude)

Steps

1. Note what goes into your price: decorating hours, ingredients, boards and boxes, and any consultation or delivery.
2. Decide a smaller or simpler option, priced from your own calculator, for example fewer tiers or a simpler design.
3. Example (made up, for illustration only): a customer says a three-tier floral cake is too expensive. The reply thanks them, says the price reflects hand-made sugar flowers and about a day of decorating, offers a two-tier cake with fresh flowers at a lower price from the baker’s own price list, and wishes them well if it is not right for them.
4. Run the prompt below.
5. Save the reply and adjust it to each enquiry before sending.
6. If they choose the alternative, send a written quote for it.

The exact prompt

Write a polite reply (under 90 words) from a [UK] home baker to a customer who says the quote is too expensive.
Briefly explain what goes into the price [my points], offer an alternative [e.g. smaller size or simpler design at £X], and wish them well if it's not right for them.
Confident, warm, no discounts. Use only my points and prices. Do not criticise other bakers or shop-bought cakes, and do not add pressure to book.