I had 2 tastings scheduled this weekend. My DH broke his tail getting my new range hood installed and cleaning the house while I decorated. I missed an instructor's meeting at the dojo to meet with the first chick. Who DIDN'T SHOW.
I called, and she said her mom was supposed to cancel the appointment. Well, her mom did call, but it was to ask if we could move it up to Wednesday. I said I couldn't, and she questioned whether I was that busy, double checked whether I was available for for her DD's wedding date, then we hung up. No cancellation.
Now, here it is, 2:25 and my 2pm appointment is nowhere to be found. And to top it off, I can't find her contact info. So I've made tasting cupcakes for 5 people that now aren't going to be eaten unless I give them away.
I'm just really ticked. Why can't people either show up or call to cancel? Is that really so hard?
It's moments like this that make charging for tastings (and applying to cake if they book) worth it. At least you would be covered for supplies on the samples.
I only do this as ahobby and for friends and family (and the occasional friend of a friend...of friend), but the shoppe that I used to work at didn't charge for tastings and I was really surprised at the number of brides that didn't show up for appointments. I start at a new shoppe in a couple of weeks, so I'm curious if she charges.
Sorry they didn't show. At least your range hood is installed and your husband cleaned the house. lol
Hmmmm....that is a problem. Maybe if you charged for your tastings, with the price refunded when the cake is booked.... Dunno....
Or...I know of some people who just do one tasting a month. It's scheduled and on their calendar and if brides want to come or not...the tasting is held. You're not at the mercy of the brides...they're at YOUR mercy! 
We should all thank our husbands. Shouldn't we?? 
I have cake tasting once a month. It usually falls on Tuesday and Wednesday. I had one just last week in which I made 21 boxes of samples which included 9 different cupcakes in each box. I do not charge for the tastings. I post it publicly on my website that I will be having a tasting coming up. I don't make appointments on these two days. It is strickly a come and pick up your box and go sorta thing. Clients drop off payments, pictures, ribbons and such, but that is it. I would say half of the people that pick up samples already had an appointment with me and are awaiting samples. I require a non refundable deposit to book with me and I would like them to taste the cake first, but yet I do have many place their deposit down before they taste based on my portfolio, referal or availablity. I only once in my 18 years have had a no show. It just slipped her mind. She didn't want to lose the date so she made a deposit to hold it and had to wait another month for the samples. I send email reminders one week prior and two days prior to pick up. I set times in which I will be away on those two days, but other than that, they can come at will. I hope this helps. Oh, I hardly ever get those that just want free cake, but it does happen.
I know the topic started on something else, but the once a month tasting is a great idea!
I've been decorating cakes for a while now and decided that I am really going to try to push my 'business' this year. Anyway, I was thinking of how to get exposure and a once a month tasting is a great idea. I am definitely going to put that down on my 'business idea' list.
(On another note, I am so excited. It was my birthday Wednesday, and my sister got me this great portfolio PERFECT for starting my cake business. I just had to share!
Tasting is one of the main reason I open a shop. At home when you get a bride coming it stops everything else, but at the shop, you have a day for tasting and they just show up and get a piece of cake. We started once a month, now we are doing twice a week, they come, taste, see the portfolio, talk to other brides, Im there but I try to book appointments to give them their proper personal time, Tuesdays are only for tasting, of course if someone says that they are ready, just to Singh a contract, we do it.
But what happened to you, happened just the same to me 10 years ago, so you'll get there
I do charge for tastings, but I've never collected the $ before. Always has been AT the tasting. Do you guys make them bring the money before the appointment? Do you many complaints about that? Or do they just pay on line?
I like the once a month tasting idea. I might have to try that. It would give me something to post on my "events" page of my website, too.
Yeah, I'm gonna give my DH the cakes, I know he'll love them, and so will my kids. He really was a trouper, did so much for me this weekend.
ccr03, happy birthday! What a great sister to get you such a great gift!
a monthly tasting? Great idea...charging a minimal fee for a tasting...( even better..lol) you can always apply the monies toward their cake!
I used to tell my brides..when I did cakes...that their tasting was between...a time and another time...I'd give them about 40 min so I had 20 min between appointments to clean up and set up.
in those 40 min, that was to eighter taste or take their cake, ask questions review the contract...another meeting , more personal and detail and only a time I could totally dedicate to them.
I live in a tourist area, and most of my clients are from out of town, and many times I dont even get to MEET them. On the occasional request of samples...I usually meet them somewhere and deliver it myself. I have been fortunate in that aspect I guess...
I don't charge for my consults. I have never had a missed appt. I do prefer one on one consults instead of monthly stop bys. It gives me time to devote to the customer.
I was wondering, too, if you charge for a tasting and someone doesn't show, how do you get them to pay? I don't know what the going rate for a tasting is, but it certainly wouldn't be worth pursuing too much over a few bucks. I don't know, just looking for input I guess. I've only had one no show so far, but a few have called to cancel or reschedule.
I don't usually do tastings, but occassionally I have a bride that requests it. The other day a bride called, obviously a bridezilla, running down this huge list of things for me to answer. When she asked me about coming to taste the cake, she wanted to bring the maid of honor, her mother, one of the bridesmaids and the groom. So I told her there would be a minimum charge of $25.00, and if she went with me, that money would be credited towards her cake. Do you want to mail that to me, or put that on your credit card? That pretty much stopped her flat. She has since then e-mailed me with more questions, but has not scheduled a tasting. I hope this one goes on down the road, I have a feeling she is probably hounding a ton of bakers and comparing notes, actually I think she is picking brains for a personal friend that has offered to do the cake, but doesn't know how. Caught a couple of things in the conversation that gave me a clue. It pays to listen well.
I'm seriously in the boat of considering getting set up with paypal to take CC's and charge a deposit for the tasting alone... Show up, you get your $$ back, on the spot, don't show, I charge ya! 
and donate the samples to either a nursing home, daycare, another business, etc. in their name.. Tasting or consult for that matter anymore, though I have to be honest, if they're a no-show for the consult, then at least I'm not out the cha-ching... I've had 5 consults with brides, 4 were tastings... ALL of them, no call, no show! Well, the ONE called me at 12:30 for the 1:30 tasting that she wasn't coming and left the message on my cell answerer...
I swear that I take a shower every single day, I don't know what other than not charging I'm doing wrong because I am an appointment only baker, I don't have a storefront, even though I'm licensed. Ugh... Let's just say I know what you're going through!
Well, I am sad to hear this happens. You spend your hard earned money and effort for people that are unapreciative. I have monthly tastings that I do not charge for, but I do have personal appointements. All my clients taste the cake. Last week I sent cake to Arlington, Tx for a bride in college there to taste. She pays shipping.
The only time I had a no-show was when, and I'll make a short story longer, probably...
(Call on a Saturday): Can I meet with you today?
Me: I'm sorry, but I'm just about to go out and deliver my first of 3 wedding cakes today.
Her: Is one of those at the Community Center, by the way?
Me: Actually, yes...I'll be there at such and such time.
Her: Oh, I was going to check the place out with the coordinator at that time, so I'll probably see you there.
(We then made an appointment for the upcoming Monday.)
I met her while I was setting up the cake (the fondant, pearl, and hydrangea in my photos) there, and heard the woman with her say...
"I'm not that impressed". I hoped she was not talking about me. Mind you, the cake was not even put together yet...still in boxes.
On Monday, I had to call her, and she said "Oh, was that today? Can we try for this Thursday at the same time?" I didn't hold my breath or prepare for it, and she didn't show. Big suprise!
Oh, well. I don't charge for tastings yet.
you all take the time to bake , ice and prepare for your bridal tastings..
Isn't that time just as valuable as when you are decorating?
Believe me, no one really appreciates anything that is given to them for free.
When you charge a nominal , non refundable fee ( for no show ups) you will have less people wasting your time!
When I began this policy, I never had a bride to be leave me hanging! ( when I did get a call to reschedule, though I would allow them to use the money already paid credited toward the new appointment)
I'm not a mean Cake Decorator, but my time is valuable...and since I value myself, my customers will value me also!
Well, at least I hope so.. 
I am so sorry to hear about your two app'ts.
People do not understand, this is your buisness. You have spent time and $$ not to mention baking time...and when they don't show it is Extremely Rude and Selfish.
I think if you end up doin the wedding...I would add an extra $50.
Or I would start calling the night before just to make sure they were coming.
Mind you....I would be sooo mad....that if they called to book the wedding day...I would probably say..."I am now booked, sorry, you should of come to the testing"!! HEHE..
Good luck, and sorry again to hear about the brides wasting your time!
So, Risque, do you make them run cash by the store before your tasting? Or schedule it far enough in advance to have a check clear before the appointment? How do you do that? I suppose I could have them pay via credit card on my paypal button, but a lot of people don't like that, and it costs me $. I'd be interested to know your policy.
Also, how much do you charge for your tastings, and how many cake flavors/tasters does that cover?
I feel your pain. This happens to me. I'm getting ready to talk to my accountant and see if I can show some kind of loss for no show no calls. It does'nt happened alot but when it does it really ticks me off. I'm thinking car wreck, there lost and I sit there stressing.
Andrea
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