Did you ever have someone make a fake order? I am a homebaker under the radar so I only bake or friends and family and people that have tried my cake at one of their parties. I very expensive last minute cake order. It is a suprise paprty and the daughter lives very far away so I could not get a deposit or a check in the mail. She asked if I could pay her at delivery. She also never mentioned how she got my number like most people do. Am I just being wary or does this sound fishy. The more I think about it the stranger it seems... What should I do???
Sounds a little fishy to me. You could always call them and ask them how they heard of you so that you could give that person a credit on their next cake. That way you can find out without looking like a pushy person.
Did you get a phone Number? I would call and confirm the order and delivery address and casually ask who referred her to me. Then I would check with who ever referred her and see if they know her and if it's on the up and up. Do you know the person it is being delivered to or anyone that does know them? If so check and see if there is in fact a surprise party.
I called today to confirm and there was no answer. I did not leave a message. I am going to call tommorrow to confirm and leave a message and ask who referred her before I start baking etc.
Do people ever really make fake orders though? Am I just naive??
I think you should never do anything that dose not feel right too you Gppd luck and god bless
I've had a fake order. It was the weirdest thing ever. This person came for a consultation. And I could tell had no intention of ever buying a cake from me. It still gives me the heebe jeebies just thinking about it. Something was "off" the entire time. I finally "kicked" her out, because she was just fishing for something.
I bake at home for family and friends only.
I know some of you bake at home and sell your cakes by word of mouth but how do you deal with having to let strangers into your home?
I'm not sure if I would be able to deal with that only because of my children. I have 2 little girls.
I agree....never take an order you feel funny about. I've never had anyone "fake" order a cake.....due to the fact that it has to be paid for in advance....or no cake. Unless it's family members or a friend I know. I had a girl this week....her wedding cake is next weekend (28th) and on the contract it says in bold print....THE TOTAL AMOUNT DUE THE WEEK BEFORE THE WEDDING! I had not heard from her or anyone to come in and pay anything on the cake. So I called her....on Monday of this week letting her know it was due by the weekend. She said ok, her mom would be by to pay for the cake. I had to call again, yesterday, and left a message on her answering machine....saying, if the cake was not paid in FULL by noon TODAY....she wouldn't have a wedding cake for next weekend. Guess what....she called me back in less than 10 minutes and her Mom was over in 30 minutes to pay the cake if full....and brought the cash! Sometimes you have to be firm in dealing with customers too....and if at any time you would have a funny gutt feeling about an order....make sure to get the $$ up front. I've been doing cakes for over 29 years....and you have to be up front and stick to your rules. People will take advantage of you with you being a home based business. Even on picking up their cakes, etc. Good luck!
No one ever comes to my house. I take orders by email or over the phone. Sometimes I will meet them at a local coffee shop etc. This over was done over the phone which is normal for me.
Most of my orders are called in as well. I do have a shop attached to my home, so I have an actual walk in door. I do on occasion have folks who just drive by and then come in to look at my cake books and place an order. I have a buzzer door too....so if I know I am going to be super busy baking....I will lock the entry door, then if someone wants me, they will ring the buzzer. This way I can check out who is at my shop door without them just walking right in. If you have smaller children...play it safe now days.
I have had a couple of phone enquires which to me sounded very much like fishing expeditions. The calls were two days running by different people, but the enquiry was very similar. Both wanted something very last minute. They both explained how they had heard of me, but it did not sound like either one actually had seen my cake themselves. I just had a really strong feeling that these were people calling on behalf of someone checking out the "competition". I explained to both that I don't do cakes for anyone apart from friends and family for the time being. I was deliberately vague because I am pretty sure these were not real enquires.
I just had someone join this group yesterday and they sent me an email saying they liked my shoebox cake and wanted to order 100 of them for a big party they were having. Wanted to know what I would charge and where I was located. Told them I just do cakes for friends and family.
Sounded really strange to me like it was someone trying to find out if I'm selling cakes or not.
If you are not on the up and up I would not do this cake without money in hand. Tell them to pay you via paypal or something. Even if you were on the up and up I would not start a cake without the money already paid.
I only take request for cake from people I know well or I have met through friends and family.
I remember another post whish was weird a last month:
http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-184581-.html
I dont want to scare people, I think it's important that we are aware of what is going on and that you keep safe.
It it does not feel right, it's better to walk away. I would try to call again (when I really want to catch someone I try around dinner time and appologize for the timing, I usually catch them!) Like the others have said, ask who reffered her to you with the rebate pretext and that you want to make sure of the timing of the cake. If they dont have a good anwser, then it's pretty easy to say that you might have misscalculated the timing and you need to recheck your schedule and you will call them back. Then call the person they said reffered them to you. You can go from there. That way you can decide to do it, if the person you know says they are just a bit weird or you can bow out and be done.
I dont think we need to be paranoid about orders, we just need to be very carefull with things that dont sit right. Especially since so many of us work from home and will deliver, you dont want to put yourself in a bad situation. I read in a post that the cakemaker takes her DH with her on Unknown deliveries that is really smart.
Good Luck
I had a call that did not feel right from the very beginning. She scheduled a tasting and gave me a fake phone #. Then the health dept. called me the next day! Surprise!! I was not legal at the time. So, be very wary!!
Just called her back. She got my card at her nieces 1st birthday party I did a few weeks ago. We had a nice long chat and she reminded me how we were talking etc. Also looked up the phone number on the reverse directory to confirm her name and address just to be sure. Feel much better and the party is at a crowded local seafood place. I also need to bring a friend to help me move the cake so I feel 100x better.
No more scary movies for me before bed.
diva....about a month ago....had a girl, her mom and grandmother come to look at wedding cakes. As the girl picked out her cake and I was filling out her contract, etc....the mom peeked into my actual cake shop area where I bake....and she said how nice it looked, etc...and said, "bet your glad to have this out of your own kitchen and it's a nice set up." I told her, yes, it was and I was glad to have it set up legal too. The bride to be looked up at me as she was signing the contract and she said...."that's what I do for a living...I'm a new Health Inspector....so I'm glad you are legal too!" I was FLOORED!!! I was so thankful I was legal....cause I'm sure she would have checked on me!! So you are right....you never know who may show up to ask about your cakes!
I HAD A REQUEST TWO WEEKS AGO .A LADY WANTED ME TO ICE AND DECORATE A 3 TIER CAKE SHE HAD BAKED. SHE SAID THAT THE DATE FOR THE WEDDING WAS 20th MAY. AFTER SHE LEFT I CHECKED MY CALENDAR ,THE 20th TURNED OUT TO BE A SUNDAY.
I HAVE NEVER KNOWN ANYONE TO GET MARRIED ON SUNDAY BEFORE . PLEASED TO SAY SHE HAS NOT CONTACTED ME SINCE THEN.I AM SURE THAT THIS WAS JUST A PRANK CALL..
I HAD A REQUEST TWO WEEKS AGO .A LADY WANTED ME TO ICE AND DECORATE A 3 TIER CAKE SHE HAD BAKED. SHE SAID THAT THE DATE FOR THE WEDDING WAS 20th MAY. AFTER SHE LEFT I CHECKED MY CALENDAR ,THE 20th TURNED OUT TO BE A SUNDAY.
I HAVE NEVER KNOWN ANYONE TO GET MARRIED ON SUNDAY BEFORE . PLEASED TO SAY SHE HAS NOT CONTACTED ME SINCE THEN.I AM SURE THAT THIS WAS JUST A PRANK CALL..
Just to let you know, I believe it is the custom for practicing Jews, to marry on Sunday night after 5pm or is it 4, 
I cant remember. So that one might come back to you fruit-cake. You might want to check her out again.
Wow, crumbscakeartistry, glad to hear that you were able to place her. Good Luck, by the way. Just a question, I would check with the restaurant to make sure you can bring a cake.
Last oct. met 5 girlfriends at a restaurant, I was bringing cake and a gift, once we were done with dinner, I asked for plates for my cake, the manager showed up and said, sorry ladies, if you want cake you either get a piece of ours, or you can go somewhere else to have yours. We do not allow outside food in our restaurant. 
We were all a little shocked. Anyhow, we proceeded to go to a coffee shop a mile down the road and had purchased our coffee and had my cake there! I even shares with everyone since we had way too much for just the 6 of us. It was really kind of cool!
Good Luck. 
I remember another post whish was weird a last month:
http://www.cakecentral.com/cak.....4581-.html
I dont want to scare people, I think it's important that we are aware of what is going on and that you keep safe.
You DO have to be careful. This other thread was about me and this lady who kept emailing wanting my street address. I ignored her last email and am glad to say she never came back again.. but neither did she order or enquire about cakes..just my address which is really weird.
I work legally from my home kitchen and won't give out my address without a confirmed booking.
There have been more emails from different people asking also for my address (not in such a spooky/weird way as her though) but I still only tell them a suburb and nothing else.
Be careful!
I haven't had that happen but now that I am dealing getting legal with the health dept I am more nervous than ever that I will get caught between now and legalizing. I hope not. Scary.
I never let anyone in my home unless I know them, don't give out my address or anything else. I have had the opportunity to watch someone "case" my friend's home while pretenting to be there for another reason. We called the police and they were picked up, for reasons know only to the police. Also had to guys try to push their way into my home. Turned out to be guys the police where looking for, for robbery no less and I live in a very nice neighborhood. Please be careful, esp when you are home alone and with your children. Too many evil ones out there.
I accept cash on collection or payment via direct deposit to my cake account.
In 2 1/2 years I haven't had anyone not collect or pay for a cake..so fingers crossed that my luck continues.
I feel that even though my home is also my business, I am appointment only and like to keep my privacy intact as much as I can.
I HAD A REQUEST TWO WEEKS AGO .A LADY WANTED ME TO ICE AND DECORATE A 3 TIER CAKE SHE HAD BAKED. SHE SAID THAT THE DATE FOR THE WEDDING WAS 20th MAY. AFTER SHE LEFT I CHECKED MY CALENDAR ,THE 20th TURNED OUT TO BE A SUNDAY.
I HAVE NEVER KNOWN ANYONE TO GET MARRIED ON SUNDAY BEFORE . PLEASED TO SAY SHE HAS NOT CONTACTED ME SINCE THEN.I AM SURE THAT THIS WAS JUST A PRANK CALL..
Just so you know for the future, 7th day adventists get married on Sundays, as Saturdays are their Sabbaths. My BIL married one and it set the weekend off to those of us used to Sunday as the holy day. But you are right, the majority of people have saturday weddings, so do extra questioning.
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