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Illegal home baker help - Page 4

post #46 of 57
1/24/12 at 6:18pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mysweets

Quote:
Originally Posted by not_a_desperate_housewife

I am pretty sure she only took one Wilton decorating class. That is it.



icon_sad.gif I did not like this comment. That's all I'll say.


I agree! I never took a Wilton course, or any course. I am self taught and run my own business strictly on word of mouth, and have cakes every week, and even have had to tell people I was booked. Honestly, I am not impressed with Wilton, and their products are crap.

I would rather make 1 cake for $150, than 3 for $50 each.

The person who works for nothing will always have plenty to do!

My sarcasm is good-humored. People generally really like me, in person ;-) 

Licensed, inspected, insured, home-based commercial...

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I would rather make 1 cake for $150, than 3 for $50 each.

The person who works for nothing will always have plenty to do!

My sarcasm is good-humored. People generally really like me, in person ;-) 

Licensed, inspected, insured, home-based commercial...

Reply
post #47 of 57
1/24/12 at 10:20pm
For those who believe "live and let live", this is not a sound business decision and this scenario does not exist in the commercial world.

For those who like to justify because of unknown circumstances, remember, the illegal has many opportunities to earn money, but freely chooses it because it is what she wants to do. There is absolutely no excuse to bake illegally.

I am a self-made, always self-employed business person. The list of what people can do to make money is long enough for me to write a book. There is no reason to choose a path that involves licensing for the sole purpose of public safety, except that it is the most convenient and the most fun.

And many of us out there that legally own businesses have never baked an illegal cake.
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post #48 of 57
1/24/12 at 11:29pm
WOW!! The term "illegal cake" sounds completely ridiculous! Just sayin'....

I would rather make 1 cake for $150, than 3 for $50 each.

The person who works for nothing will always have plenty to do!

My sarcasm is good-humored. People generally really like me, in person ;-) 

Licensed, inspected, insured, home-based commercial...

Reply

I would rather make 1 cake for $150, than 3 for $50 each.

The person who works for nothing will always have plenty to do!

My sarcasm is good-humored. People generally really like me, in person ;-) 

Licensed, inspected, insured, home-based commercial...

Reply
post #49 of 57
1/25/12 at 8:17am
Maybe what she's doing is against the law, but her customers can look into her credentials for themselves. If they choose to buy from her, knowing she's not licensed, then that is on them. Unless you have good reason to believe she is baking in an unsanitary environment or her baking practices could be compromising the health of her customers, I would just leave it alone. These things usually have a way of taking care of themselves eventually.
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post #50 of 57
1/25/12 at 11:19am
You have two choices here if you want her to stop.

1) Report her, and watch her and her family suffer the consequences.

2) Help her. If you feel uncomfortable, then send her a letter telling her what you've said here.

As a few posters have said, she might just need educating. If you truly feel it's your business to intercede, then I hope you take the high road and help her instead of hurting her.
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post #51 of 57
1/25/12 at 11:33am
Quote:
Originally Posted by zespri

1) Report her, and watch her and her family suffer the consequences.

2) Help her. If you feel uncomfortable, then send her a letter telling her what you've said here.


In most cases, the "consequences" of reporting her will be that the health department tells her what she needs to do to get legal. No one gets thrown in jail, and fines are typically reserved for egregious offenders.

I wouldn't exactly call that "suffering". She would need to shut down until she was legal, but that would drastically reduce her exposure to catastrophic risk as an unlicensed and uninsured baker -- getting sued without liability protection is a far worse fate.
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Recent Articles: The Magic Pricing Formula • Copyright Law
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post #52 of 57
1/25/12 at 4:55pm
Even though I live in a state that licenses home kitchens and in a town that does it fairly pain free, there are still "illegal bakers" or "unlicensed bakers" whatever term you prefer, popping up monthly.

Here's how I (a licensed and insured home baker) handle it. I e-mail them and introduce myself and forward them the information needed to become licensed. (how do I know their e-mail addresses you may ask? Well, they have FB pages and websites, even though they're not licensed and insured) It costs less than $100 to get an inspection and a license in my town and there is absolutely no reason why anybody can't do it. If it were thousands of dollars then maybe it would be difficult for some, but $100??? Save $2 a week and in one year you'll have enough. Sorry, I have no sympathy for the "but we can't afford it" argument when the fee is as small as $100. The HD is very nice and very willing to help these people out.

Most of the people I've e-mailed have been receptive and thankful for the information because they didn't even know they were breaking the rules/laws. I've had a couple who weren't so receptive, so I just happened to mention that to the HD when I saw her.

If I wasn't in business I wouldn't care what they did, but if they're going to "play baker" and pretend they own a REAL business then they better do it legally.
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post #53 of 57
1/25/12 at 7:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by grama_j

What ever, Jason......... I believe in LIVE AND LET LIVE...... people that do wrong will get theirs in the end...... Karma is .......well, Karma....... we have turned into a nation of whinners, and big brothers, and it saddens me......This thread is no longer about cake decorating, so it is the last I will post about the subject.....




Love your reply grama-j .......sad but true.........a nation of whinners and big brothers we have become - your reply says it all, could not have put it better myself. thumbs_up.gif
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post #54 of 57
1/25/12 at 7:09pm
In my mind it's better than a nation where everyone says "can't someone else do it?" and "as long as it's not hurting me, I don't care". That's the opposite of what a community is supposed to be.
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Recent Articles: The Magic Pricing Formula • Copyright Law
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post #55 of 57
1/25/12 at 8:53pm
Interesting take there on your definition of community - I actually thought a community helped and supported its members so I don't see how reporting this person would do that. If the original poster has a personal grievence with the 'illegal baker' aka criminal maybe she should confront her directly. 'In my mind' people try to get others to back them up to then justify why they done something so their conscience does not trouble them at night......just my opinion tho.......no doubt the starving folks in Africa will have their own opinion on this very serious matter as well icon_wink.gif
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post #56 of 57
1/25/12 at 9:10pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ellawillow

Interesting take there on your definition of community - I actually thought a community helped and supported its members so I don't see how reporting this person would do that.


A community does help and support its members, to the extent that those members follow the rules of the community. If people break the rules, they are guided back to the right path...with information at first (ideally provided by specialists paid for by the community, i.e. the health dept), then more punitive measures if that information is ignored. If there are no consequences for breaking the rules, you may as well not have rules in the first place. And if you disagree with the rules, you should work to change them or move somewhere else.
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An experimental blog with new content every Tuesday!

Recent Articles: The Magic Pricing Formula • Copyright Law
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The Bakery Business Perspective
An experimental blog with new content every Tuesday!

Recent Articles: The Magic Pricing Formula • Copyright Law
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post #57 of 57
1/25/12 at 9:40pm
The law is purely and 100% put in place for public safety. With that fact in mind, every person who does not report is not acting in the best interest of the community. Look at your own words in the context of public good.

This belief, and I call it that since there is no sound business advice to it, exists because many people who choose this industry have no skin in the game. If you had to make a real investment where your much needed income or home was on the line, and your business was doing well due to your great knowledge of business, you would protect your investment just like every other licensed industry does.

In an industry where very little can be invested to operate illegally or not, sound business decisions do not always come into play. But for those of you who are reading this and want to run a business based on solid business practices, not a hobby that makes a little money, protect your investment and don't feel ashamed to do it.

I'm not saying that you must turn someone in, but don't feel bad if you choose to do so.
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