"Vox Humana" > wrote in message
...
>
>
> In light of what you have said, I would also add that you can count on
> some
> people wanting their money back. I don't know how many, but sure as hell
> if
> the cake doesn't arrive in perfect condition, someone will want a refund
> of
> the total price. Assuming that they will be paying by credit card, there
> is
> a good chance that they will dispute the charges and tie-up the money.
>
> If we were talking about thousands of cakes, it would be one thing. But
> for
> 85 small cakes it might be worth offing a discount to the restaurants who
> are already customers. I would approach them and say "I have 85 carrot
> cakes. They are smaller than what you normally order. I will give you a
> nice discount for being a good customer and to compensate you for the
> inconvenience of buying the smaller cakes." That would be a win-win
> situation. You would unload the cakes without having to do any
> advertising,
> research packaging, or taking any risks. The customer would get your
> "world-class" cakes at a discount. If you make the discount equal to the
> deposit that you kept from the original customer you are out nothing.
>
>

Every time I wander past this topic, I go back to the idea of what I'd be
willing to buy (food-wise) online, how much I'd be willing to pay, and what
condition I'd want it in.

While the cakes may be perfectly edible after 3-5 days in the US mail, would
I buy a perishable food item that made that trip? No, I wouldn't. No matter
if it's just fine in the shippers' opinion, I'd be thinking that I'm buying
a 3-5 day old bakery product that's been in who knows what conditions for
those 3-5 days. It's just not appealing, and I'd bake a cake or buy one
locally before I paid a premium to buy a cake like that online. Even if
someone sent it to me as a gift, I'd be skeptical if it came in any
condition besides frozen solid and looking like it had been that way from
the beginning.

Note that I'm not disagreeing that the cake would be edible, but perception
is everything, and if the cake looks dented or damaged, or the customer
thinks too much about what the post office did to the cake in the interim,
that customer isn't going to be pleased. And then they're going to want a
refund on the cake and shipping.

On the other hand, if there was something that I couldn't get locally that I
really craved, I'd be willing to pay the cost for packaging and next-day
shipping to get the product to me in the best condition possible. So the
question is whether the OP can make the product so appealing that strangers
online are going to want to buy the cakes and pay the premium.

If the OP really wants to get into online selling, there are probably easier
things to start with, like unfrosted products that could be shipped in a
tin, and particularly ones that are thought to be best after a little aging,
like fruit cakes or rum cakes or similar products.

I agree that some discounted special local sale is a much better idea,
overall.