Are some of you really taking orders via text messages and FB messages? - Page 3

Neither do I.

I have one customer that contacted me through facebook and did not have any contact until she picked up the cake.  She has become a repeat customer and all through facebook.  So, yes, I have taken orders through emails and facebook.  In fact, I have had two orders that I took, filled and delivered the orders without even seeing the customer. 

I can send an invoice and be paid before the cake is delivered and all is right in my world.

I started on facebook, then eventually got an email, and it wasn't until after about a year that I go a website. I reach about 50% of my customers on facebook and then the rest through other means... I have talked about orders on facebook... and even will take them if they are smaller. Larger orders require a phone or in person consult and weddings generally require a sit down tasting and consult. I have one client in another state who is doing a huge wedding in Saginaw, I've met their parents but have only spoken on the phone with the actual client once. If I can't meet with the person face to face because they are too far or the order is on the smaller side, I almost prefer to get some sort of a written request because there is less room for error when they write it. I've had issues with talking on the phone and things getting explained incorrectly or their explanation just doesn't make sense... and vice versa. If it's written, there is usually no dispute... I make sure to confirm with another message back and then print all details and highlight specific items so that I can look back and "Yes, you did request raspberry filling even though you may not remember... I have it typed to me here in your message" Or you know... whatever else there may be a question on.

Really... it's the sort of similar to how fast food started to take debit cards a few years ago... I remember thinking that was soooo weird that someone wouldn't have cash on them. Now I'm the one that doesn't ever have cash and I use my debit card for everything. If my customers demand it, I will do what they want. Because you know... they're always right... or always a jerk. Or however that goes!

I had a bride with a $600 wedding cake who never requested a tasting  and who paid her order upfront, immediately upon ordering, via check, 8 months before the wedding. I never met her, not once! Generally, everyone wants the tasting, puts down the bare deposit, and waits until midnight of the last day to pay the rest. 

Same here. Even if we don't meet the customer they still get an invoice and order confirmation via email (never by text or FB), and payment is via check (we only accept paypal as a last resort for customers outside the US).

LOL! Sweet!

Oh hey I'm 23 and I can barely understand that! I have a friend who always writes her status updates on Facebook like that. I've seriously considered unfriending her just so I don't have to try to figure out what she is trying to say. It was fine to do text speak when smartphones didn't exist; but if I know you are texting me from an iphone, I expect you to write normally. :P 

The one that irks me the most is when people use those awful spelling alternatives that are maybe one letter way from the correct word. 'Hw' instead of 'How' UGH! If you're going to type 2 letters, you might as well type 3 and spell it correctly.

 

I know, right? I mean, when you just had 140 characters to work with, and each text cost you and the person you sent it to .15c it was understandable to a point, but I couldn't hardly bring myself to do it. I would maybe skip the space after the end of a sentence  or use a shorter word than I would've or make my own contractions every now and then But I would really rather just spend the $ and not look like a jerk, but it added up, way back when. I remember a phone bill $40 over in texts! 

 

I think the very worst is when my 57 year old mother does it. It is just WRONG! 

I'm so sick of FB pms asking for cakes that never materialise into paid deposits that I have recently set up an auto response redirecting them to the order form on my main site, that way they have to make some effort and I actually get info on what size, flavour, date, message.... they want!!!  I also redesigned the large banner-type heading picture on FB to include the text: "For ALL orders and enquiries please visit....." yes it's an image so they can't click it and link to my main page but that’s a little 'natural selection' for me  if they aint able to spot the link below or type in the address manually they're outta the gene cake pool!! (... I have to satisfy my inner fascist somehow )

 

I have to aggree though that FB is great for marketing with cakes being so visual! Almost as much site traffic originates from FB as from Google- although there are fewer conversions.

     Yep, most of the people who just post on our wall with "How much for this cake?" with a picture NEVER follow up once I ask them to send an email or call. Shows me how serious they are if they can't even pick up the phone!

 YES, thank you! How hard is that???

How would taking an order from facebook be any different than taking an order over the phone or email? Most people if not all will take the order and input it on a formal document either written or digital and if they don't they should. I can go back 3 years and tell you every order that I got through fb in detail. And the same goes for customer relations. I have more contact with my fb clients due the mere fact that they see my daily/weekly fb post which in turn keeps those relations current. Most, if not all my clients that I don't meet through fb will ask if I have a fb page. Obviously not everyone has fb and what keeps me in touch with those customer is the fact they love my cake and are repeat clients. If you want to keep it old school more power to you, but just like Darwin stated in his survival of the fittest theory, those that adapt to change are the ones that survive.

How would taking an order from facebook be any different than taking an order over the phone or email? Most people if not all will take the order and input it on a formal document either written or digital and if they don't they should. I can go back 3 years and tell you every order that I got through fb in detail. And the same goes for customer relations. I have more contact with my fb clients due the mere fact that they see my daily/weekly fb post which in turn keeps those relations current. Most, if not all my clients that I don't meet through fb will ask if I have a fb page. Obviously not everyone has fb and what keeps me in touch with those customer is the fact they love my cake and are repeat clients. If you want to keep it old school more power to you, but just like Darwin stated in his survival of the fittest theory, those that adapt to change are the ones that survive.

To me, the biggest plus of a phone or web site order (which is routed through an order form to email) is the ability to guide the customer to provide as much relevant information as possible in the first inquiry, this avoids the need to constantly go back and forth. It's also easier to send and track attachments (like the final invoice) via email.
Exactly. As I mentioned, FB is great for marketing and casual connections with customers, it's just not a very effective tool for managing orders or customer information.