Cakes By Sam

Decorating By wendysue Updated 27 Oct 2005 , 7:15pm by bikegal

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wendysue Posted 27 Oct 2005 , 3:53am
post #1 of 30

I like this forum... it's very quick to get a response!!
Have any of you ordered supplies from Cakes by Sam and if so did you mind the extra charge of a handling fee on top of shipping? I opted not to order when I saw this. My shipping and added handling fee was as much as the product I wanted. I don't get it?

29 replies
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SquirrellyCakes Posted 27 Oct 2005 , 4:39am
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Haven't ordered from there, but everywhere I have ordered from has a handling fee which covers the processing of the order and the packaging. I thought this was pretty standard?
Hugs Squirrelly

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wendysue Posted 27 Oct 2005 , 4:45am
post #3 of 30

Sam's charges for each as a separate charge. It's a flat $4.50 for handling then regular shipping on top of that... so ends up costing around $10 shipping/handling for even the smallest of orders. I've never seen anyone charge this way. Usually there is one rate for shipping/handling. It's just weird.

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SquirrellyCakes Posted 27 Oct 2005 , 4:59am
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Hhmn, maybe because it is a smaller business, I don't know. I know some online stores have a flat fee and a fee per weight added on. That is a bit strange, I must say.
Hugs Squirrelly

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stephanie214 Posted 27 Oct 2005 , 5:37am
post #5 of 30

I went to Earlene's site to order the diamond mat for $5.00. There was a $5.00 shipping charge and $5.00 handling fee.

Couldn't believe it, $15.00... icon_cry.gif

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JennT Posted 27 Oct 2005 , 12:28pm
post #6 of 30

I always am confused when I see sites that make the handling fee & shipping costs combined equal more than some of the products they have for sale. Seems to me the smart/fair thing to do is that anything costing the same or less than their fee plus the shipping cost should be exempt from the handling fee, or at least have a reduced handling fee and a lower shipping cost. I know that people in business are there to make a profit, but that practice of flat fees/shipping no matter the cost of the product just somehow seems a little unbalanced to say the least. Does it really take the same effort and costs to locate/package/prep for shipping/ship an order of a few pastry bags as it does an elaborate cake stand/plateau? I think not. thumbsdown.gif

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MrsMissey Posted 27 Oct 2005 , 1:22pm
post #7 of 30

I think it is supposed to be an incentive to order more items at one time...if that makes sense, in a kind of weird way!

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peacockplace Posted 27 Oct 2005 , 1:30pm
post #8 of 30

stephanie214, you can buy some of earlene's mats at sugarcraft.com. icon_biggrin.gif

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bikegal Posted 27 Oct 2005 , 1:35pm
post #9 of 30

wendysue, I've done the same thing and cancelled my order from that website . I also dropped them an email telling them why I cancelled my order. No response back of course. icon_smile.gif

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stephanie214 Posted 27 Oct 2005 , 1:42pm
post #10 of 30

peacockplace,

Thanks so much...can't see myself paying that amount in s/h.

S/h cost more than the item...crying shame.

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wendysue Posted 27 Oct 2005 , 2:26pm
post #11 of 30
Quote:
Originally Posted by bikegal

wendysue, I've done the same thing and cancelled my order from that website . I also dropped them an email telling them why I cancelled my order. No response back of course. icon_smile.gif




Editing as I think I got a little too excited here! I'm ok now!

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Daniela Posted 27 Oct 2005 , 3:20pm
post #12 of 30

I always try to get a total before I puchase anything online especially when it's from out of the country. But sometimes it doesn't always go that way. Last week I received an item I had bought for my boyfriend online. I payed $40 shipping and when it got here I had to pay another $60 for other fees. I didn't get too upset about it because I was very happy that even though I had to pay those extra fees I was still getting a really good deal.

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cakeconfections Posted 27 Oct 2005 , 3:25pm
post #13 of 30

I have gone to sams site and was going to order because she had two items that I really wanted i could not find. But after the shipping and handleing fee was more then the two products I cancelled. She probably has never heard of anyone having a problem with it but not many people email her why they are not ordering. I dont think she realizes just how much business she is losing by the additional handleing fee. Even the Earlene's site had great things I will not order from her either because of the handling charge. I will search elsewhere or do without.

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bikegal Posted 27 Oct 2005 , 4:23pm
post #14 of 30

cakeconfections, I agree with you. I think she's losing money that she could be making from large orders when people see that additional handling fee.

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peacockplace Posted 27 Oct 2005 , 4:40pm
post #15 of 30

maybe someone should e-mail her this post if she thinks that no one has a problem with her fee!

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Calejo Posted 27 Oct 2005 , 4:41pm
post #16 of 30

well, with all these complaints, maybe she should here them. Maybe send her a link to this page? If I was doing something that was potentially losing customers for me, I'd want to know why. Even if it was upsetting for me at first. I am fortunate to have a pretty good cake supply store in the area that I work for very part time.

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ThePastryDiva Posted 27 Oct 2005 , 4:42pm
post #17 of 30

That's why I like who I order from. You buy a cataloge for 5 dollars which you get credited on your first order.

It covers the s/h if you just want to try out the company.

I have been so devoted to this company that I even did their trade shows..lol

They have great customer service. I always order from Beryls before even going out to the cake decorating companies by me...

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cakeconfections Posted 27 Oct 2005 , 4:50pm
post #18 of 30
Quote:
Originally Posted by ThePastryDiva

That's why I like who I order from. You buy a cataloge for 5 dollars which you get credited on your first order.

It covers the s/h if you just want to try out the company.

I have been so devoted to this company that I even did their trade shows..lol

They have great customer service. I always order from Beryls before even going out to the cake decorating companies by me...




Who do you order from. I am always looking for great supply companies.

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wendysue Posted 27 Oct 2005 , 5:05pm
post #19 of 30

I've thought about it... might wait and see if anyone else has anything to say first. We'd really be helping her, but I honestly have a hard time believing that she doesn't already have a fair amount of feedback on this already. Still, I can forward this to her in a couple days once I know everyone's had a chance to comment... anyone who wants to that is. : )

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Lisa Posted 27 Oct 2005 , 5:29pm
post #20 of 30

Hey Wendy! Good to see you here! My only advice on this is that there have been times that company reps will register and post just to defend/promote their product. I'm not saying she/they would do this but IMHO...it's better to deal with them via email or on their site than to deal with them here.

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MrsMissey Posted 27 Oct 2005 , 5:33pm
post #21 of 30
Quote:
Originally Posted by cakeconfections

Quote:
Originally Posted by ThePastryDiva

That's why I like who I order from. You buy a cataloge for 5 dollars which you get credited on your first order.

It covers the s/h if you just want to try out the company.

I have been so devoted to this company that I even did their trade shows..lol

They have great customer service. I always order from Beryls before even going out to the cake decorating companies by me...



Who do you order from. I am always looking for great supply companies.




In reading her post, it looks as though she orders from Beryls! icon_biggrin.gif

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wendysue Posted 27 Oct 2005 , 5:34pm
post #22 of 30

Lisa, Probably true. I just thought it was a little unusual. icon_wink.gif

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Lisa Posted 27 Oct 2005 , 5:38pm
post #23 of 30

Nah, don't worry too much about it. We critique all sorts of products and services. That's how we learn where to find the best products, the best deals...where to and not to shop. It's really useful.

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JennT Posted 27 Oct 2005 , 6:25pm
post #24 of 30

I believe Sam is a registered member here, with her member name being the same as her business name....cakesbysam. Before I found CC, I had come across her site & loved her cakes, so I favorited her website. Then I noticed, while looking through the galleries, that a few of the cakes looked familiar, so I noted the member's name & they were by cakesbysam. Went to her website & they were the exact same cakes & even the exact same pics she uses on her site. So since she's already a member, maybe just pm her with a link to the thread.

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BritBB Posted 27 Oct 2005 , 6:27pm
post #25 of 30

Yup! I saw that too! icon_surprised.gif

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Lisa Posted 27 Oct 2005 , 6:33pm
post #26 of 30

That's right...I forgot that too! I don't think she even had the store when she posted her pics to the gallery.

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JennT Posted 27 Oct 2005 , 6:33pm
post #27 of 30

I would just like to add to my earlier post here....

I do know that, since I've been a member, that I've never seen her post to any threads. But the fact that she posts or posted some of her wonderfully beautiful and perfect cakes for us to aspire to & to glean inspiration from is a plus! I do LOOOOOOVE her cakes! It'd be great if she'd join in and give us all some insight as to the business she has & how it all works & such, as well as some pointers....bet she has a lot to offer. icon_wink.gif

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Lisa Posted 27 Oct 2005 , 6:40pm
post #28 of 30

Me too (although I don't think she'd feel up to it if she read this--LOL!) There are several members who post to the gallery that I wish would join us for some Q&A. Carol (cjf) from The Cake Corner is another one. Her cakes are fabulous! And The Sweetest Day which is in my neck of the woods...I think her name is Stephanie. She's a member too. Think we could get Colette to join icon_lol.gif ? I would love it if we could have some kind of live chat in the forum with some of the pros.

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ThePastryDiva Posted 27 Oct 2005 , 7:06pm
post #29 of 30
Quote:
Originally Posted by lisa

Nah, don't worry too much about it. We critique all sorts of products and services. That's how we learn where to find the best products, the best deals...where to and not to shop. It's really useful.




Yup, and if it's just our personal opinions we express..well then, Opinions are like belly buttons..everyone has one!

and I do like to do a bit of research before I order or form my opinions..

The same way we recommend doctors, dentist and pediatritians..we can also recommend merchants and cake decorators!

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bikegal Posted 27 Oct 2005 , 7:15pm
post #30 of 30

I like Beryl's too!

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