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kimmypooh79
Frequent Member
Joined: Jun 24, 2008
Posts: 377
Location: Middle Tennessee
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 Posted:
Thu Aug 07, 2008 9:45 pm |
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I got my first cake order from someone other than family for a $30 8" carrot cake. The cake was for tomorrow and I was going to make it today. I've already purchased the ingredients and the lady canceled late this afternoon. Luckily, I hadn't made the cake yet but I am still out that money.  I am angry but at the same time, in my eyes, (being new to selling my cakes) this justifies me putting a required deposit into place. I would have anyway on anything over $50 but now I think I'll do this on everything. I may even require payment in full under $50. What do you think? |
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Kivia
Frequent Member
Joined: Apr 09, 2008
Posts: 496
Location: Hialeah, FL
Birthday: May 02
Gallery Supporter Member
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Fri Aug 08, 2008 12:05 am |
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luelue1971
Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 26, 2007
Posts: 555
Location: Tennessee
Birthday: Nov 22
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Fri Aug 08, 2008 5:15 am |
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I had someone call me a couple months ago for a simple sheet cake like one I had made before. He needed it the following day so I said ok. He said he was a truck driver and would be able to pick it up. I was never able to get the phone number to work when I tried to call to ask a question.
He never showed up to get the cake. He live about 30 mins away. How could I have gotten a deposit from him to avoid this happening again.
I have started getting a phone number and calling before I start the cake to try to eliminate this. I ask for a home phone number so I can do a reverse number search and get an address. That way I can at least bill them for it if they flake out on my.
I would appreciate any other suggestions. |
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leahs
Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Jun 19, 2007
Posts: 3440
Location: Louisville, KY
Birthday: May 29
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Fri Aug 08, 2008 5:27 am |
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Get yourself a PayPal account. You can send the person an invoice and they send you the money electronically. You then transfer the money to yur bank account. I do this ALL THE TIME with brides. |
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jkalman
Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Mar 12, 2007
Posts: 4239
Location: Southern New Hampshire
Birthday: Oct 28
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Fri Aug 08, 2008 5:28 am |
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I require a 50% deposit and full payment 4 weeks before the event. If you order after that 4 week mark then you pay in full in CASH at the time of the order.. no money.. I don't buy anything. You have to. |
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TheCakeGirl87
Frequent Member
Joined: Jan 06, 2007
Posts: 217
Location: Chattanooga, Tn
Gallery Supporter Member
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Fri Aug 08, 2008 5:40 am |
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I dont think that requiring a full payment on cakes under $50 is unreasonable at all. It is just protection for you! |
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jkalman
Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Mar 12, 2007
Posts: 4239
Location: Southern New Hampshire
Birthday: Oct 28
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Fri Aug 08, 2008 6:22 am |
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Leahs.. PayPal make me nervous.. they tend to side with the payer in a dispute. Have you ever had someone try to dispute your transaction? |
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DebBTX
Frequent Member
Joined: Dec 25, 2007
Posts: 313
Location: Texas
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Fri Aug 08, 2008 6:45 am |
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Leah,
Can you explain for us how Pay Pal works?
What do you like and not like about it?
Does it protect you from "bad apples"?
Have you ever had to refund money through it?
Is there a waiting period between when the customer sends the money and when you actually get it?
Thank you,
-Debbie B. |
Last edited by DebBTX on Fri Aug 08, 2008 6:47 am; edited 1 time in total |
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DebBTX
Frequent Member
Joined: Dec 25, 2007
Posts: 313
Location: Texas
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Fri Aug 08, 2008 6:46 am |
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I forgot to ask what kind of fees are charged for this service?
-Debbie B. |
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AZCakeGirl
Frequent Member
Joined: Feb 16, 2008
Posts: 233
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Fri Aug 08, 2008 6:48 am |
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| leahs wrote: | | Get yourself a PayPal account. You can send the person an invoice and they send you the money electronically. You then transfer the money to yur bank account. I do this ALL THE TIME with brides. |
depending on whether or not you are willing to pay the $30.00 month service fee (I am since I do large quantities & it makes it worth my while), you can sign up for a Paypal business account which allows YOU to put in the credit card number yourself. If find this makes things a TON easier when accepting last minute orders. I just tell people that they can either come in to place their order & make the payment in person or I can take a credit card over the phone. Usually they always pay with a credit card over the phone so they do not have to make the trip down. Once they give me the info, I just log onto Paypal & enter it. This way, it is just like any other business that takes credit cards over the phone. I've never had a problem with disputes at all. |
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DebBTX
Frequent Member
Joined: Dec 25, 2007
Posts: 313
Location: Texas
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Fri Aug 08, 2008 6:53 am |
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So is the Pay Pal machine that you type in the credit card information a separate machine from the one you use to bill your other credit cards?
-Debbie B. |
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Kiddiekakes
Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Jul 07, 2004
Posts: 3624
Location: Calgary,Alberta,Canada
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Fri Aug 08, 2008 6:57 am |
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Paypal is very convenient and easy!!It allows customers to "Send Money" which is making a payment even if they don't have a paypal account.I use this online and Ebay all the time and I have never had a problem.I have a had a few disputes myself over falsly advertised good but I got my money back!! |
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luelue1971
Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 26, 2007
Posts: 555
Location: Tennessee
Birthday: Nov 22
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Fri Aug 08, 2008 6:58 am |
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Paypal is an online payment system. There is no machine. |
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ccr03
Forum Fanatic
Joined: Sep 16, 2005
Posts: 1476
Location: Independence, MO
Birthday: Jan 31
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Fri Aug 08, 2008 7:00 am |
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poshcakedesigns
Frequent Member
Joined: Jan 15, 2008
Posts: 485
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Fri Aug 08, 2008 7:02 am |
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I get deposits from everyone or full payment if the cake is due within 7 days or less. If I'm going to be inconvienced with a last minute order I'm going to get paid in full up front. (learned this the hard way)
I use Google check out - I send people an invoice to their email and they can pay me online.
I used Paypal until they decided to hold a $500 order I had. They requested all sorts of proof for the order. I faxed and faxed and faxed copies of my receipts for items purchased, the invoice the customer signed and they still held my money for 3 months before sending it to me. Their reason for holding the money "the transaction looked suspicious"!! YES Paypal can decide to hold your money with NO warning to you. I had been using them for more than 5 years processing the same types of orders and this wasn't the 1st time I ran one through for $500 and never had any chargebacks on my account. They can hold your money for any reason they want and there is next to nothing you can do. Yes you can call them but if they want to hold your money they can.
Others have had success with Paypal but when $500 of your hard earned money gets held for no reason it kinda makes you MAD 
I've been using Google for 2 years and haven't had one problem. (fingers crossed) |
Last edited by poshcakedesigns on Fri Aug 08, 2008 7:22 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Well after that I said no more, I don't care if the cake is $15 I need something before I bake anything. Take it as a lesson learned, put your foot down when it comes to your deposits and don't bend for anyone 
