I think I have my first No Show on my hands. I made a cake for a woman who ordered from out of town for a party in town. She was going to pick it up this morning and here it is 5 pm and no sign of her. I left her a voice mail asking if she was picking up today or not. Should I put the cake in the freezer? I did leave in the voice mail that if she is canceling, she will still have to pay for the cake. Should I start telling people this or will I just get stuck once in a while? (I hate the fact more I am stuck with a cake that will feed 60 people then the money!) I can't ask people for money up front as most of my orders are last minute (I have been considering taking credit cards, but aren't sure yet if I want to start with that hassle!)

So how do you guys handle no shows? I guess it will happen here and there, huh?

That is a total bummer, I hope she eventually showed up. I have just started selling cakes from home and have requested full payment to hold the requested date. I was considering changing that to 1/2 payment to hold the date and the balance when they pick up the cake. Yes, PayPal is a good option for last minute people which I am also going to offer my customers. I also advise my customers that their money is non refundable 7 days prior to the event date because I have usually started working on their decorations by that time.
Jacqui

Very rude of her! I would let her know by one more phone call that "the $____ is due for the personalized cake she ordered" and that it is still being held refrigerated for 2 more days for her to pick it up. (I wouldn't even mention the word "if" in your message. She shouldn't have a choice in the matter at this point.) If she does not respond, photograph the cake and at least give the cake away to a local shelter so it's not a waste of product. If you know her address, mail her a bill for it.

oh I am so sick of late customers!
I am currently waiting for a lady who was told to collect the cake between 9 and 9.30am and it is now 10.30am.
I rang her and she said "oh I was going to call you, the party isn't til 2pm, so my mum will get it at 12 is that okay?"
I said " no it isn't okay, as I am going out, can you come and get it now please."

Anyway, she had better be on her way right now!
Why do they think I tell them a time if I was going to wait all day for them?
I am going to change my procedures a bit to ensure they don't keep doing this, it is just so many of them that are late to some degree.

THanks for letting me rant!
I hope your lady showed up.

No, she never showed up...nor has she returned my call. I am going to call her again tomorrow, and tell her that she will have to pay for the cake. I don't want to use Pay Pal because they require you to give your bank information and I don't trust them. They also take perecetntage of your money, just like the Credit cards would...so I will probably go that route. I just haven't had anyone stiff me like this!!

loriemoms... dont be surprised if you never get paid for this cake. Unless there is a real serious reason for this lady not showing up (like an accident or something ) she will more than likely not even return your call. I have had this happen to me a couple of times. One person actually had the nerve to answer her own phone and tell me I got the wrong number ( did she think I couldnt recognize her voice???) Like someone said.. find a deserving place to donate the cake. You never know this could wind up giving you more customers!

I was told by my mother-in-law who owned a very profitable custom drapery business to ALWAYS get the full amount up front. If a customer does not agree to this, then you don't need that customer. I never had a problem with people paying in full when I had my business.

And they always showed up to get their cookies or cake!

Sorry about the lady doging you loriesmom! Side note about paypal-dh has used them for years buying and selling here and there on ebay and has never had a problem. It acutally prevents people from stiffing you when you sell on ebay because they can't cancel it once they have put the money that way you (the seller) don't get swindled for non-payment. It can be canceled but it has to be agreed upon by both parties. Just some food for thought for you.

I would do paypal and ask for payment at the time of order for all cake orders. (at least half down, non refundable) I would also add 1-2.00 for the paypal service to cover your fees. If they don't want to pay the fee they can drop off a check or cash.

Yes, I have used PayPal for a couple of years now, buying and selling on Ebay and they have been wonderful. You might give it another thought.
Jacqui

I can start accepting CC cards for the same amount for pay pal, and I don't have to have them get on the internet to do it. (it is very different from buying something on ebay...I don't have that many customers who order through the internet..most of mine are through the phone. Many don't even have an email address much less internet access) So I guess I will go that route and make them pay the extra for the cc card usage. (especially for these last minute orders) Its a shame you can't trust people....

I am going to put the cake in the freezer and try to find some place to donate it to. I am sure you are correct, I will never see payment for it. I am glad it only took about an hour to decorate it. If it had been a real fancy cake that took several hours, I would have been really mad!

i would start requesting at least a 15-20% deposit on the cakes, depending on the siz and the amount of time it will take you to make the cake. most people who put up the deposit will show. at least thats my experience.

I have made it my policy to call my clients the day before the cake is to be picked up (I don't deliver) to verify/confirm the pickup time, ever since one client failed to pick up a cake. It has only happened that once, though too many to count have been late, sometimes 4 or 5 hours late. The one who did not show up had called everyone invited to the party to tell them her son had chicken pox. But she neglected/forgot to call me. So I made the cake, and called when she did not show up. She picked up a day late and paid me extra, with big apologies. Life happens when you make plans. Maybe the lady had an emergency. I was an ER nurse for 10 years and I've seen more than my share of last minute emergencies and tragedies. I'd not wish that on anyone.

By the way, none of my clients has ever paid in advance, they always pay when they pick up the cake...and I have done 1800+ cakes.
However, this year I will be doing wedding cakes for the first time, and I will require 50% up front, and full payment 2 weeks before the wedding.

I had a no-show around Christmas and decided I wasn't letting it happen again. I donated the cake next door to the doctor's office and then put a Paypal link on my website (I have been a member there for like 6 years and its always been great...I don't like paying the fee when someone pays through credit card, but its convenient and that's what you are paying for). I require at least a deposit for almost all my customers (except maybe a trusted returning customer) and then either prepayment online, or cash or local check for the balance upon pickup. Most people are more than happy to prepay or at least pay a balance, and most people actually expect to do so if they are ordering a novelty cake.

I love Paypal, I have a Paypal debit card and I can use my money straight out of my Paypal acct. Its almost like having my own little bank acct.

I also call to confirm pickup a day or two ahead of time. But she didn't answer when I called a couple of days ago. I figured since she was out of the town and the party was here in town, she was already not home. I guess you just get these once in a while! I suspect what happened is another family member ordered a cake and she didn't feel she needed to cancel. A lot of people just seem to think we are big bakeries or something!

Just be aware that there is risk involved with paypal. It is not a regulated bank business. YOu can serach online for the "negative" side of it at a site called paypalsucks.com. It is quite the eyeopener. I would just make sure that there is not much money in that account if it was ever effected and Do NOT attach that account to any other savings or checking.

https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=p/gen/fdic

if you do leave funds in your paypal account, you should read the above link. it isn't exactly like a bank account - there is more risk to your money.

Sorry this has happened to you but there will always be rude people in any business it is part of being in business. I wouldn't like to be stiffed for a cake but maybe you can donate to somewhere and make alot of people happy. I would keep calling this person and see if you can make contact. But she probably has call display and not picking up the phone when you call. I think it is wrong for someone to order a cake and waste all your time and effort to not even call you and explain something. Hopefully this will never happen again to you.

Using paypal is a great alternative to dealing with a credit card processing company and paying leasing fees for a machine, ect. I invoice my corporate clients using paypal because it is easier for them to check their email, get the invoice, pay it right there, and never have to worry about it again. There is also a website that you can sign up for where you can take your customers information and process it yourself. It is www.propay.com. Both places require YOUR banking information so they can not only verify your identity but transfer the funds directly into your account. When I first started I just took the credit card info and told them if they don't pick up the cake on the agreed time then I would charge their card. I've never been stiffed for a cake doing this. Most people understand and are willing to do this knowing their cake is fresh and that's the only way I can keep cakes coming out of my bakery fresh. I surf through the forums on this site and am sometimes amazed at what I am reading. You can not let your customers call the shots! Wether you are a home business or a bakery you have to have your own procedures and guidelines that you follow and your customers will follow them. Who goes into wal-mart or HEB or any business for that matter and sets the rules??? If you have a policy on prepaid orders (as any custom made business I have ever been in does) customers will prepay. ANyway, I am rambling, I just don't like seeing people being taken advantaged of especially when it can be prevented.

I agree... prepayment or deposits will totally make sure you are dealing with above board people. My no show customer happened to be some girl who, when I called her contact number, her mother answered the phone and in a gravelly, rough sounding voice said "Cake? I dun't know about no cake, she ain't said nuthin' about no cake, I dunno how she'd even get no cake, she don't have no car." Well I sure feel sorry for the little girl who was supposed to get cake! Anyway, had I had a prepayment or deposit system set up then, that would not have happened. Well it won't happen again!

I have used Paypal for 6 years without problem. I realize there's risks everywhere.... as a matter of fact we recently got our credit card number stolen. However, not online, but locally at a restaurant or store! You just have to know what you are doing and what to watch for, and catch problems early. I like the convenience Paypal gives me, its an easy way to accept debit and credit cards (which customers love) and it keeps me from making cake for people who have no intentions of picking it up, or who plan to pick it up but give you a bad check.