I am waiting for 2 customers to confirm cake orders for next week.Both cakes are quite big and require fondant embellishments that need a good week to dry..That being said..I stressed in my emails that I need to know by such and such of date so I can make the items...I have 4 other cakes booked and don't have time to do all the extras for these 2 cakes at the last minute..I have spent alot of time going back and forth with pictures and prices and I have a feeling they aren't even going to order..Such a waste of my time!! Why don't people just say "No,I've decided not at this time"...and stop wasting my time!!

It just insanely irritates me and shows a lack of respect for my time that they can't/won't decide and even if they have and decide not to order...FRICKEN EMAIL ME BACK AND SAY SO!!!

Okay..I am done now...


Laurel

It is sad that this is the way so many people operate nowadays. You have to tell them how it will be and just hold to it. Let them know that if they don't follow your procedure--no matter what they think of it--they won't be getting a cake. Period.

I strongly suggest whipping out a big stick for any order(s) that are wedged in, or make a significant impact on your already full schedule:

"I must have your complete info no later than 5pm on x/x/xx or I will NOT be doing your cake. I do not, cannot, and will not, make any exceptions for this policy--ever.

Tell them when they inquire about the cake, remind them ONCE at your convenience, and then, forget about it---NO CAKE.

If you allow people to drag things out to the last minute, they will. The world is full of selfish.

Rae

This annoys me too, although I'm not a business so it doesn't make much difference to me, but I get friends on Facebook mailing me asking how much it is for a cake, I tell them I only charge for ingredients and then work out the price for them, and never hear from them again. If it were me and someone said a price I couldn't afford, I would at least reply to say in some form oh I don't think I'll bother then! It annoys me more because my prices are for ingredients only, so in comparison to a proper bakery, they are definitely not mouth-gapingly expensive! It's just rudeness. I don't understand peoples problem with just saying no. They always say oh I'll have a think about it or nothing at all and that's the last you hear from them!

Most people will not let you know if they are not going to go with you. They just fall off. Do not waste your energy trying to pull them up the side of the mountain. You already got a mountain to manage.

In the beginning I use to stress so much over pending clients because I felt the need to take every order. I wanted every order. I have learned over time as more and more orders are booked in advance, to only care as much as the client does. I book on a first to commit with full payment basis. So if someone takes forever to let me know something and another client has it together and is ready to book, I keep it moving and book the client who is ready. I have also figured from my data about my booking rates that customers who will leaky faucet me with info, inquire only about price and nothing else, who want to be negotiators, and/or mind changers, are not who I need to spend much time worrying about. I answer back and tell them when they need to have it together by, and move on. (In actuality it's worded much nicer than that in the emails or phone calls.)

As my business is growing, I find myself caring more and more about stress my levels. It's better to book those who are ready, bring you more more money, more free time, and less stress. If i'm going to worry at all it should be for one client who is equivalent to several smaller orders than multiple clients for several small orders. I am supposed to love what I do. I can not give that same love and energy to those who are not considerate.

Most people will not let you know if they are not going to go with you. They just fall off. Do not waste your energy trying to pull them up the side of the mountain. You already got a mountain to manage.

In the beginning I use to stress so much over pending clients because I felt the need to take every order. I wanted every order. I have learned over time as more and more orders are booked in advance, to only care as much as the client does. I book on a first to commit with full payment basis. So if someone takes forever to let me know something and another client has it together and is ready to book, I keep it moving and book the client who is ready. I have also figured from my data about my booking rates that customers who will leaky faucet me with info, inquire only about price and nothing else, who want to be negotiators, and/or mind changers, are not who I need to spend much time worrying about. I answer back and tell them when they need to have it together by, and move on. (In actuality it's worded much nicer than that in the emails or phone calls.)

As my business is growing, I find myself caring more and more about stress my levels. It's better to book those who are ready, bring you more more money, more free time, and less stress. If i'm going to worry at all it should be for one client who is equivalent to several smaller orders than multiple clients for several small orders. I am supposed to love what I do. I can not give that same love and energy to those who are not considerate.

I only bake for friends, but I think it makes it harder because I don't have any sort of contract and if I don't make a cake, I know they'll be very disappointed. That being said, I think in the future, if my friends say they want a cake, then take forever deciding design and flavor, I might just decided for them...

I do cakes mostly for friends and family too and you wouldn't believe how many times someone has asked for a cake and never called me back.

"Oh, I ended up picking up a cake at Pick n Save," one said. Well that's fine, but let ME know!!!
I am going to start giving my "friends" a deadline.

First I would stop emailing ideas back and forth without a deposit. When the money is given, you know they are serious. Then, I would tell them that you need them to sign a contract before you put anything on your calendar.

Well..Not exchanging information until I get a deposit doesn't work either.When I am a customer looking for prices etc I want all the information shown to me before I make a comittment with a deposit...I want to be able to offer everything in all my price ranges...

I think more of what I mean is these potential customers led me to believe that in the end they would be ordering so I was mad when they didn't,however I think I would lose potential customers if I refuse to offer ideas/pictures or cake styles by demanding a deposit first.