I received the following message in my inbox:
"Hi Sharon, I don't know if you are familliar with my work or not, but due to the fact that in the next period of time i"ll be less avaliable to work, i want to get together with you, free of cost, to give you some cake decorating pointers, in order to help you make you cakes look more profesional. Give me a call and we'll set a date. (Name) Number."
On the one hand, it's nice to offer, on the other hand, ouch!
Good Heavens! That's a lot of nerve! Do you KNOW this person? Does s/he have skills to back up the offer? If not...well...
I would not be insulted if Colette Peters or Mike McCarey messaged me and offered to help me improve my skills. But as that is likely to never happen, I think I might be insulted by someone making an offer like that.
sorry, double post...dunno why it does that sometimes
He attached some 2-tiered wedding cakes. They're nice, and he does have more skill than me, but I only started in June!
I wouldn't mind a free cake-decorating lesson, I just feel deflated by the email. He has nice scroll work and makes RI flowers. I also wouldn't mind finding out where he gets supplies, boxes, how he delivers, etc.
But, I don't want to go in there feeling like I'm the beginner and he's doing me a favour, KWIM? He already made me feel small with his email...
DH suggested writing something along the mines of "I'm really busy now with orders, what exactly did you have in mind?"
What would you write back?
Oh, and I DON'T know him, never heard of him! But then no-one round here seems to advertise, I don't know MOST of the ppl. who do this! I try to use this to my advantage by getting my name out there!
I would be VERY wary of responding to an unsolicited offer like that. Sure, ask him what he means, but do NOT see this man without your DH being present. Do NOT invite him to your home. I am very skeptical of the honesty of people these days, having been burned a time or two by liars.
Please be cautious, for your own safety.
There is an old saying: If something SEEMS too good to be true, it usually is.
SHEESH! Don't feel deflated...it sounds like his head is plenty Inflated, though 
What a fat-head! I'm waiting for a post from him next While lots of people here on CC are wonderful, there are some that are 
I've had my share of below the belt punches, but I just try to forget about them because I know there are people in my life that appreciate my cake. I'm sure you have some in your life, too 
edited to add: I wouldn't even bother responding to him. I think I'd press the ignore button on him 
Yes, it seems odd to me that someone would just out of the blue send you an email like that. It would seem more plausible to say something along the lines of giving you pointers in the email, (just an example I am pulling out of my head...does not relate to you.....your cakes are very nice, but I noticed that sometimes they aren't as smooth as they could be...I have found that such and such really helps me to get my cakes nice and smooth). Although if you haven't asked for help that seems a bit arrogant as well. How exactly did this man get your email? Was it from this website? I don't know, I would be really warey about this whole thing.
At first when I read your post I thought, well, that wasn't terribly very nice to say, but a great way to get some free training. I would love that from a pro (if he is a pro)! But then I read your later post where you said you didn't know who this was. How does he know you? I would be very cautious as the previous poster mentioned. Be sure and have your husband with you if you do meet with him, but sounds kind of odd.
By the way, how long have you lived in Israel? I'd love to visit some day. 
Sorry I wasn't clear, this was in my email inbox, nothing to do with CC!
He is someone in my community who makes wedding and occassion cakes. I would be okay to meet with him in a public place in the day.
Well, I think he probably sees talent in your work, and just wants to give you some good tips on how to improve--not a bad thing! I would do it, as I always want to work to improve what I do. If you feel he is legit, I wouldn't see any harm. Can't hurt!
Ask yourself this question though...If he is a professional cake decorator or whatever, why would he offer his time for free to help your cakes get better? I hate to ask it, but what is in it for him? Sure, he could be trying to be nice, but it really makes no sense.
Sounds to me like he's going to be taking some time off and wants to be able to refer clients to you ... but wants to make sure you can make his clients happy during his "absence".
No matter how rude the e-mail sounds, I'd find out if he's legit and take advantage of it. It's a step up the ladder, and kissing butt on the way up is just the way it goes. LOL!
When I first read it I thought the same thing as PoleKitten. Maybe he is taking time off and would like someone to refer to. He has heard of you or seen your work and thinks it is great but would like to show you some things. I think if you agree to meet at a public place and ask him if this is what he meant then I would go for it.
I agree with the others--be careful. If you don't know him, ask around and find out what kind of person he is from people who have done business with him. Find out if he's a nice person just offering advise or a kook.
In these times it's better to be too careful than to wish you had later.
Good luck.
Whoa-ouch! If someone did that to me, it would hurt my feelings!
I think he may have been thinking of referring some business to you while he is out, but just didn't do it in the right way.
I might be in the minority here but my reply would be something like this:
Dear Joe,
Not to be rude or insulting to you or your decorating skill...but are you kidding me???
-Jane
Some people have absolutely no tact...and I'm not saying I am one that does but geesh! 
Some people are born teachers, and if they have a skill they like to help others interested...I'm not Gods gift to horses, but if I see someone struggling, I try to thelp, I'm a professional, and I think it is my job to help, although usually I get paid to help...here and there I wil see someone do something that I know I can fix, in a small amount of time, and I'll offer.....I guess it does offend some people, but oh well...
Wow, there are so many differing opinions on this...personally, I would be thrilled to death to get some free training. I would meet him in a public place for coffee or whatever, bring some pics of your cakes, etc, and see what he has to say. If he does want to sell you something, cut bait (unless it's something cool that you want/need!). If he doesn't want to sell you something maybe he really does want to help you. Along with cake decorating, teaching/training could be his passion or his hobby...and what's in it for him? It makes him feel good to help people perhaps.
I would ride the line between caution and a solid belief that there ARE good people out there with solid intentions.
I'll be very interested to know how it turns out!
I received the following message in my inbox:
"Hi Sharon, I don't know if you are familliar with my work or not, but due to the fact that in the next period of time i"ll be less avaliable to work, i want to get together with you, free of cost, to give you some cake decorating pointers, in order to help you make you cakes look more profesional. Give me a call and we'll set a date. (Name) Number."
On the one hand, it's nice to offer, on the other hand, ouch!
I personally would take him up on his offer. If he has more skills than you do and he's willing to pass on some of his knowledge what can it hurt? I know we all like to think our creations are great but there is always more that we can learn to improve on what we currently know/do.
I vote for taking him up on his offer.
If he is someone well known in the community, I would think that all he wants is to refer customers to you but wants to make sure that you give them what they want!! Being in the business longer he might have some steady customers. I would set up a date to meet him but I would have a male family or friend go with me.
Can't wait to see how this turns out!!
If I got something like that, I'd be way more than offended. You know what your talents are, so do the people who order from you...if everyone is happy, what's it to him? It would be one thing if you had contacted him and ASKED for his help, this is...too much. He sounds pretty full of himself to me. I'm also not as trusting as most of you seem to be. I'd be wondering (like a pp) what's in it for him?
Okay, here's my view on his email. Since you are in Israel, is there a possibility that he is not American and he may be struggling with the English language?? This is just a hunch because I struggle through this everyday since moving to the states. Sometimes I say things that I directly translate from my language to English and it comes out wrong So look into this as well.
Actually, it doesn't sound rude to me...I think he just left out some normalcies when introducing himself. You know when people are just meeting you for the first time they like to tell a little about themselves to make you and them feel comfortable... but, he just did it plain and simple. IT DOES sound like he is going to be less available and send work your way. And he only said he wants to help your cakes look "more professional" not better then they have been in the past! Who doesn't want their cakes to look more professional! I think this might be something good. I would still definitely get more information form him and maybe have your DH with you the first time you meet. It's ALWAYS better to be cautious. Send him a reply back saying " What did you have in mind? Why will you be less available? What is your client load like right now?" These are things you may need to think about cause you don't want to bite off more than you can chew!
Good luck!
I would not take it as insult either but I would be careful and would email someting like "hi and thank you for your offer of helping me hone my skills, but I was wondering where you have seen or tasted my work. I am sorry to say but I am not familiar with your work either and would like to know where I can find some of your creations. Do you happen to have a store or a website that I can see some or taste some samples? I am always willing to learn some new tricks for this business and might be interested in meeting with you once I see what you have to offer. Or something along those lines and then see what his reply is. JMHO
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