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Does This happen often?

post #1 of 22
5/18/12 at 7:58am
Thread Starter 
I am a very very small business... well I would call it more of a hobby. I operate under the CFL in my state....As I am really just starting out ( I have only been decoration for about 4 months now....) I get REALLY excited when someone contacts me to do a cake... especially if it is a large order. Even more exciting when it comes upon the day they will pay the retainer. However twice now I have gotten cancellations right before they pay icon_sad.gif Is this normal? Happen often? The giddy feeling quickly dashed is really no fun!
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post #2 of 22
5/18/12 at 9:56am
Very normal.
Life is short. If there was ever a moment to follow your passion and do something that matters to you, that moment is now. -quotebites.com

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Life is short. If there was ever a moment to follow your passion and do something that matters to you, that moment is now. -quotebites.com

http://m.facebook.com/Edible.Elegance.cakes.Zimbabwe
http://www.flickr.com/photos/73178569@N05/
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post #3 of 22
5/18/12 at 10:46am
No, this never happens with me. I don't get excited until they're in front of me and it's pretty much understood if we are meeting, there's a deposit being paid. Maybe a couple of emails and a phone call or two...and any work after that, it's show me the money time. How much time are you allowing from "initial contact" to "time to pay?" Hope that makes sense.
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post #4 of 22
5/18/12 at 10:49am
Yeah, I either got $ at the consult or generally we weren't gong to do business. Occasionally someone would email a week or so later asking if the date was still available, but they still understood that they need to bring cash or PayPal me the money right away, or we weren't doing business.

Inquiries are not contracts. icon_smile.gif
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Answers to the most often asked questions re: SPS. SPS instructions are on Page 15 of the Sticky at the top of the Cake Decorating Forum. Supplies can be ordered from Oasis Supply, Global or BakeryCrafts.
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post #5 of 22
5/18/12 at 10:51am
Quote:
Originally Posted by leah_s

Inquiries are not contracts. icon_smile.gif

Exactly.
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post #6 of 22
5/18/12 at 10:52am
Thread Starter 
That makes sense. In this latest instance, she contacted me Wed afternoon, we chatted back and forth through Facebook messages about what she wanted... talked about price flavor etc etc I told her 50% retainer fee was needed in order to ensure her day booked, she signed off with something along the lines of how excited she was for me to be making her cake and shed pay me the amount Friday (today) to book her day. I run around all excited do my giddy dance etc etc then this morning I message her to finalize meeting time and place to get the fee and she says "oh hey, sorry my brother in law will make the cake" icon_sad.gif

Guess I just need to hold the enthusiasm until I get the green in my hands!
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post #7 of 22
5/18/12 at 10:54am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by AZCouture

Quote:
Originally Posted by leah_s

Inquiries are not contracts. icon_smile.gif

Exactly.



Completely understand that! I guess I was just SO excited about getting a large order.... :-/
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post #8 of 22
5/18/12 at 10:55am
Eh, it's understandable. I'll admit, it's hard not to get excited and assume it's going to play out with a paid order. icon_smile.gif
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post #9 of 22
5/18/12 at 7:22pm
I've learned to curb my enthusiasm until after the wedding date actually. But specifically in terms of the initial consult and deposit, I pretty much put that ball in my potential customer's court. We talk, I explain what it is I can do, discuss my flavor profiles, decor, might even send a few pictures to them. I will make a tasting appointment - which is ONLY free if a signed contract with a deposit is paid that moment; otherwise there is a charge that is disclosed over the phone or through e-mail.

I don't ask whether or not the potential customer wants to set an appointment, for tasting or for paying. I politely end the call with an invitation to call me back to set an appointment but I very often say that dates are filling up fast (which is entirely true - between my personal life schedule and my customers). I am probably a strange person in that I don't do followup calls/emails after I've talked with a potential customer. One and done type of thing - don't want to seem as if I'm pressuring them.

Back to my first sentence, I've had people cancel while I was on my way to deliver. Sad but true. I'm never happy when the entire event is cancelled and it has happened twice.
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post #10 of 22
5/19/12 at 11:22am
when there is a delay between their 'ordering' and the paying it is normal for some to find someone cheaper to do their cake icon_sad.gif
Maybe not the same way it happened to you but often 'something come up' to make them change their mind. Simply put she didn't want to OR was talked out of spending 'that much money'.
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post #11 of 22
5/19/12 at 11:40am
When someone contacts me the very first thing I ask is What is your Date? The second thing I ask is What kind of budget are you working with? Those 2 questions all by themselves weed out a lot of potential time wasters. The very next statement from me is that I require 1/2 down with a signed contract to secure their date on my calendar. I have no wiggle room with this one, they either want the date or they don't. I don't chase people down, I don't call looking for their order, I am not wishy-washy with my prices. If they no-show me they are officially off my list of people I will bake for.

So far this has worked very well for me to find serious customers and eliminate the time wasters. Up until the deposit money is in my hand I do not consider them anything except a casual inquiry and I don't put any time or effort into thinking about their order.
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post #12 of 22
5/19/12 at 12:07pm
Good questions! I struggle with those who want to know the entire cost up front (like I know what the hell they are going to order icon_confused.gif ) before they even set up an appointment. I give them the "my prices start at..." etc. speech and sometimes they book and sometimes they don't.
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To find "THE RECIPE LINKS ARE HERE" thread, click on "Forums", then "Recipes" and it's the first sticky. Latest updates are on (the bottom of) page 10 here: http://cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopic-625803-135.html
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post #13 of 22
5/20/12 at 2:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by akaivyleaf

I've learned to curb my enthusiasm until after the wedding date actually. But specifically in terms of the initial consult and deposit, I pretty much put that ball in my potential customer's court. We talk, I explain what it is I can do, discuss my flavor profiles, decor, might even send a few pictures to them. I will make a tasting appointment - which is ONLY free if a signed contract with a deposit is paid that moment; otherwise there is a charge that is disclosed over the phone or through e-mail.

I don't ask whether or not the potential customer wants to set an appointment, for tasting or for paying. I politely end the call with an invitation to call me back to set an appointment but I very often say that dates are filling up fast (which is entirely true - between my personal life schedule and my customers). I am probably a strange person in that I don't do followup calls/emails after I've talked with a potential customer. One and done type of thing - don't want to seem as if I'm pressuring them.

Back to my first sentence, I've had people cancel while I was on my way to deliver. Sad but true. I'm never happy when the entire event is cancelled and it has happened twice.



This is almost EXACTLY what I do (other than the paid tasting, everyone around here does them at no charge.) Without a deposit there's no client.

I don't get excited until I'm...well...I don't get excited about cakes at this point. I've also had peopel cancel their weddings when the cake is ready and sitting in the fridge, and once after it was delivered. Oh well.
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http://www.acaketorememberva.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/acaketoremember
http://www.youtube.com/karabuntin
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post #14 of 22
5/20/12 at 3:40pm
Richmond specials wouldn't excite me either. icon_biggrin.gificon_razz.gif
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post #15 of 22
5/20/12 at 4:10pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by AZCouture

Richmond specials wouldn't excite me either. icon_biggrin.gificon_razz.gif



Working in general doesn't excite me but the paycheck is good icon_wink.gif I know a guy who has a job testing games for Xbox...Where do I sign up for that job?
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http://www.acaketorememberva.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/acaketoremember
http://www.youtube.com/karabuntin
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