I don't know if its something in the air or not, but I have been getting "cake orders" where they hash out the details, the price, the date, and ALL the details down to the writing....then I never hear from them again! The first lady I called her twice to remind her about her deposit and then took her off my schedule. The second lady told me I'd have my deposit by Friday and then I haven't heard from her (and her's is a big order). I emailed her once...I'll probably email her one more time before taking HER off the schedule too. Its annoying because it wastes my time discussing their cake and figuring the price and wondering when they will pay their deposit, only to remove them from my schedule.
Along with that, say this happens and then a week ahead they decide to call and offer to pay. What then, say no?
Another thing I wanted to complain about 
is people who call at odd times. I know I make it clear on my website that I do this from home on my own...but I didn't know that meant people could call me at 9:00 at night or weekend evenings. 
That's ok, if I don't recognize the number, I just don't pick up and I call back. But still.... good grief. haha.
It can get annoying that is for sure.
As for the not ordering when they go that far and if they call a week ahead of time. In the written down information you are doing for their cake I would make sure there is a final date that they can say yes I want this. But make it clear that if you get an order before they give you a definitely answer that you may still not be able to do their cake.
As for the time.... well this is a tricky one. This is where you need to make sure you are covering yourself with your hourly rate for the orders you do get. It is considered overhead.
Sorry this happened, hopefully you hear back from the second lady.
If they leave a message at 9:00 at night, I wouldn't call them back until the next day. If you call them back right away, you are affirming to them that you are available 24/7.
Yeah I made sure to make her wait...
And no luckily the bounced check is for a cake in June. The lady wrote back immediately apologizing and said her fiance used his old account (how does one do that? ) and that she'll send a money order for the deposit amt plus I charged her a $25 bounce fee. Also told her I needed the balance paid by money order or Paypal as well when that date comes around.
At least SHE still wants her cake. haha.
And no luckily the bounced check is for a cake in June. The lady wrote back immediately apologizing and said her fiance used his old account (how does one do that?
) and that she'll send a money order for the deposit amt plus I charged her a $25 bounce fee. Also told her I needed the balance paid by money order or Paypal as well when that date comes around.At least SHE still wants her cake. haha.
Yeah! At least this one has a good ending =)
Hi Suzy,
I just checked out your website and I must tell you that you do wonderful work!! I was surprised though, that while I was looking around an ad popped up under a Google ad to search for other cake options!! One was even for online orders to Shaws 
The others were for the most popular Google cake sights! I then got out and went back on to your site to double check and there was a set of different ads on your site. I was just wondering if you could control what they advertise on your web page. I thought it stunk for you that other cakes were being advertised 
Keep up the great work 
Hi Suzy,
I just checked out your website and I must tell you that you do wonderful work!! I was surprised though, that while I was looking around an ad popped up under a Google ad to search for other cake options!! One was even for online orders to Shaws
The others were for the most popular Google cake sights! I then got out and went back on to your site to double check and there was a set of different ads on your site. I was just wondering if you could control what they advertise on your web page. I thought it stunk for you that other cakes were being advertised Keep up the great work
Thanks!
That's ok, the Google Ads are my choice, I could take them off if I wanted to. You get paid for every click. 
(However I somehow lost my password and can't figure out how to log into my account anymore! Not so good....)
I had the same problem a few weeks ago with a lady who wanted just about everything from cake to cookies to cupackes and snack platters. Took me 2 weeks of emailing her back and forth discussing the order. Finally send out a full quote and then hear nothing from her. She did not pay in the required deposit and just never bothered to call at all. Eventually I just took her off my schedule and that was that.
I disslike people who want everything but when they see the bill just disappear into thin air. But I suppose at the end of the day you will have all types of clients and you just have to deal with it as it comes along.
Good luck
Like you, I also work from home but I do not put that on my website or my address. I put my street name and zip code, thats it. When people know you work from home they do not always take you seriously and also want to call anytime.
I also never give too much information on the phone. When anyone calls me for cake information, the first thing I tell them is I never give prices on the phone because almost everyone who calls, want to know the price of a certain cake.
I will ask the date of the wedding and or occasion, colors and other info. I then ask if they want an appointment, if they say yes, we set a date and time, I take their information. I never give my address at that time. The day before the appointment, I will call or they call me to get my address. I do this because many people make appointments and not show up, so if I call them the day before and they still say yes I have a better chance of them showing up.
Just my 2 cents.
Cl
LOL the bounce check cake ended up being a late payer cake/lied about payment....then sent payment late but got mad that I gave her a deadline so she cancelled the whole thing. Actually it seemed like maybe she needed the money for something else and decided she didn't want the cake.
Was no great loss. 
Well-- all's well that ends well! Get rested up for that baby! I see your ticker and will be watching it count down the days.....
Martha
LOL thanks.... I'm starting to try to wind down the cake orders, I'm getting about sick of cakes about now haha.
I have three this weekend... and then one next weekend... turned down a sheet cake for the following weekend...and one possible big order I didn't want to fully turn down for the last weekend but I have to get back with him to find out if he really wants it or not.
I think I'll be glad for a little cake-break....
Just a question... for people who take orders via your website so you accept credit cards? Maybe set it up so that it processess a deposit before the order is confirmed?
or can you do that through paypal?
Im not too sure how it works over there but that could be a suggestion
I took an order for a cupcake party, called her back to confirm her address and time. 3 calls and no answer. Same thing wiht a catering quote. I was given the time and location, everything seemed great and never heard back.It gets annoying for sure.
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