The unrealistic client - Page 9

Gather all info before you do - her name, address, all phone numbers. Do screen dumps of any and all on-line marketing she has - FB, Titter, Craig's List, and print out. Collect any other marketing she does - business cards, ads in magazines etc. Send to HD.

Thank you! 

I am a live and let live kinda girl, but this is really starting to light my fire .

I was waiting for one of the shops in my area to file a complaint  but that hasn't happened yet, that I know of.

I'm going to get the ball rolling.

Quote:

Originally Posted by melanie-1221 

Thank you! 

I am a live and let live kinda girl, but this is really starting to light my fire .

I was waiting for one of the shops in my area to file a complaint  but that hasn't happened yet, that I know of.

I'm going to get the ball rolling.

Good for you. Hopefully in time, she'll get her act together and play fair.

i don't know~~as i've mentioned many times--we had people here get busted in this manner--'anonymous' call in

but everyone knew who did it

the baking community here rallied 'round the four illegal/busted bakers and it was not as pleasant for the anonymous ones here--they very shortly abruptly went out of business--probably because they turned in family--

everybody from the health department peeps on down were pissed at them

i'm just not a cake policeman--not for me

but who knows maybe this will spur the illegal person to get legal and kick everybodys baking butt

i don't know--i've blown enough whistles in my time that needed blowing and the repercussions sometimes are worse than the reason the whistle blowing occurred

just another thought for you--

i have called and emailed and cautioned cakers who advertised when i knew they were running a speakeasy but i'd probably never turn them in--it ain't my business to do that

just my opinion

I write blog posts weeks in advance and schedule them, so this wasn't written in response to this thread, but it applies.  http://www.acaketorememberva.blogspot.com/2013/02/weird-undercutting-practices.html

The illegal baker's activities that Melanie is dealing with are proof that this kind of thing does affect the market and trains customers to think prices should be lower than a living wage.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jason_kraft 


The health dept was pissed at the people who were helping them to do their job?

four at one time was kinda much maybe -- they were not happy--were not gleeful

it was perhaps an embarassment to the department how it all came down--it embarassed/saddened me and i'm a complete bystander

but i know most of these chicks

it's not right to be illegal- not at all

our health department works as hard as any

they took care of everything--everybody got duly busted--and in this case so did the busters get busted 

just by circumstances or something?

i'm not saying it's ok to be illegal period--evidenced by me not baking professionally from my home for the past blablabla

ok but one of those chicks was a widow on social security--she was absolutely wrong to operate illegally--no question

and now she has no extra little bit of income

so why be the catalyst of that--why take up that cause--what is the motivation

i don't know~~not for me but whatever

the people that called in on the other four--they had a thriving business--it was going gangbusters

ironically they started their business in their home kitchen aka illegally

and the cousin they turned in

taught them encouraged them helped them get the ball rolling at first

can you imagine the drama?

but that made all the more business for others

Quote:

Originally Posted by jason_kraft 


I could see something like this happening in extremely small markets, but for the most part legal businesses thrive once the illegal businesses are shut down. Aside from making the cakes themselves or enlisting friends and family the only option customers would have at that point is ordering from a legal business which would presumably provide a product most people can't make themselves.

no because two of the four kept all their business and transitioned to legal

the widow did not continue

one lady was moving anyhow

oh man it was five--because three became legal, one quit and one moved

it was five!!! dang!!

so the only extra business came from the legal chicks that closed

But see, that's just the thing - it IS my business.

I've busted my @$$ working my bakery, paying off loans, renovating, doing bookkeeping, cleaning, baking, etc, and it is very much my business to help shut down the illegals. Our HD has limited resources and I know they appreciate tips.

I don't go trolling around for illegals (ain't nobody got time fo' dat!*), but if do happen to stumble across them I will report it.

*Thank you, Sweet Brown, for enriching my vocabulary:-)

great blog article, by the way, CostumeCzar.

and--this is jogging my memory more

even porfessionals in the area were upset for the illegal cakers

the community made room for them

damn, memphis must be weird -- in a good way i think

but come on, if you're gonna do bridal fairs and advertise online & in the phone book you're asking for it too

still hate it for the widow but...