So after drawing several blanks as to what to do about this I decided it was best to ask my cc ladies! I just received an odd email, I thought it looked way to edited and rehearsed and sure enough... I got to the bottom and the email address was to another cake decorating business. I'm not sure as to how I want to go about the situtation... I don't want to oblige them by replying, but what if they reply under a different email address? So heres how I think it could play out... I could reply saying I'm unavailable, and then open my self to have them ask about a later date for another cake... or they end up replying under a different email and name. Maybe I'm over thinking it, but have you been in this situation? What do you all think about this?

Tell them you'd be happy to meet with them to discuss their needs....would they be willing to meet at your shop...or theirs?

Well what was the email about? Was another bakery ordering a cake, or wanting to check out your prices? If you are confident in your prices, let them know! If you do not want them to know, tell them you are keeping that information for paying customers only

Our bakery often refers customers to other bakeries since we book up quickly. Usually we just give the customer the name of the other bakery, but some businesses might prefer to contact the other bakery themselves.

lol carmijok!!! That's a good one! They wanted to order a cake, they listed flavors, serving size, the location, date, and design... Pretty much giving me everything inorder to return a quote.. I really just don't want to give in to her, based on princples. I just thought it was funny that she used the businesses email address.

I thought the same... maybe they were not able to fufill the order and was inquring for the customer. However she didn't used her name and she didn't identify that it was that business contacting me. She also made as thought she had pictures of "his" instruments, it just seemed as though she was playing as a customer... it's just funny.

hmmm ya to me it sounds like if they were really trying to be annonymous they wouldn't have used the business email address.

I actually was thinking of using carmijok idea. I know that sometimes other bakeries will price check, but I have a basic pricing list that she could easily find. I'm just thinking that it was very odd, because, if reversed I would have identified my self and that I was inquiring for a customer, if that was the case.. It was just weird to me, and that is time I have to put into researching and writing up a quote for her. All of these had crossed my mind though... I do thank everyone for the replies though!! Just not sure what I'm going to do!!

Maybe it's for a personal cake that the baker doesn't feel they would be able to fulfill? When I was looking for a baker for my sister's wedding cake, the messages I sent had all the possible info needed to get an accurate quote. If they just wanted to know what you were charging, they could have called from a cell phone. Just a thought...

They might be checking to see if they can afford you to cover for their decorator while on vacation and if you're available.

I would just answer the question. We all need to know what our competitors charge. I personally order the products, ask for a receipt, do the taste testing, record the prices, and expense it. I have no secrets, give full prices on every wedding cake right on my site, and am confident in my pricing. I have even had one competitor ask for a tour, but I guess she chickened out. I don't care if they come to visit. My bakery is super nice and fully decorated, ready for visitors, even fake ones.

I don't have time for that sneaky bullsh*%. Either come right out and ask advice, and attempt to establish a friendly rapport that could benefit both businesses, or do your own work and figure it out yourself. My guess is the person did indeed forget to use their personal e-mail and never intended to send it as the business.

It's possibly it is a genuine order. Maybe it is a personal order and she doesn't want to have to bake a cake for her own wedding or event because she will be too busy organizing the event.