F.A.Q | LuciasBakedDelights

F.A.Q.

LOCATION

Lucia’s Baked Delights is located in Oakley, CA.USA. We do not have a storefront open to the public. We operate solely as a home-based bakery. Our baked goods are made in a Home Kitchen.

CERTIFIED/PERMITS

Lucia's Baked Delights is fully licensed, certified, food safety approved, and Insured. We follow all guidelines required by law and all permits, licenses, and certificates are issued by the City of Oakley and Contra Costa County. We are Insured through the Food Liability Insurance Program(FLIP).

PREPARATIONS

Our baked goods and cakes are made to order and must be picked up on the agreed date. Orders are picked up at Lucia's Baked Delights location. Most orders will be given a one (1) to two (2) hour time frame to be picked up.

We normally begin preparations three days in advance for personal and small orders. Medium and large orders are started five days or more in advance. We calculate the time to purchase items, bake, and labor. Most baked goods and cakes can take approximately

two (2) to eight (8) hours to prepare and bake. For this reason, we ask that you provide us with ample time when considering an order. All our baked goods and cakes are made from scratch. NO baked goods are made ahead of time.

SUBMIT AN ORDER

We offer several options such as placing an order over the phone, in person, online, and by email. Any questions before placing an order can be asked by calling us directly or by email at info@luciasbakeddelights.com

AFTER HOURS /WEEKENDS

Orders submitted after hours and during days we are closed will stand as pending until the next business day or until we have confirmed and processed payment. We will still make it a priority to contact the customer within 24 business hours from the time the order is received.

LAST MINUTE ORDERS

Last-minute orders are orders that are submitted within a short time frame. These orders are final and cannot be changed. No Refunds and No Credits will be honored.

BOOKING CAKE CONSULTATIONS

We recommend a minimum of two (2) to six (6) months in advance to book a consultation. Allow enough time to plan so we can have ample time to accommodate your order.

CONSULTATIONS

Consultations are arranged via email or telephone. Customers submit an inquiry containing their contact information, order specifications, and any relevant images for our review. We will respond via email to provide meeting details or to schedule a phone call with the customer. The purpose of the consultation is to address questions, discuss plans and concepts, and explain potential advantages and disadvantages. The consultation will conclude with the signing of a contract. A deposit is required to secure your event date.

PICK UP ORDERS

We strongly advise you to choose a time to pick up your order closest to the start time of your gathering. We advise placing baked goods on a flat surface in the vehicle to keep baked goods from being damaged. We suggest bringing additional help to carry the baked goods and help supervise during the travel or when you have reached your destination.

DELIVER ORDERS

All deliveries require a fee. Delivery fees are calculated by mileage and toll. We do not ship or mail orders.

DELIVERY CONDITIONS

Delivery charges are determined based on mileage and/or tolls. Alternatively, you can choose to collect your baked goods from our premises. If you select delivery, we strive to ensure that your baked goods arrive in perfect condition before your event begins. However, we ask for your understanding regarding factors beyond our control (such as traffic and weather conditions), as we cannot be held liable for any delays that may occur. In some cases, we may recommend that baked goods be delivered one day in advance. It is your responsibility to provide us with the correct delivery location. In the event of a late delivery, the maximum compensation we can offer will be a refund of the delivery fee.

Lucia's Baked Delights is not liable for any damages to the baked goods after we leave the premises. We require a responsible person to check the baked goods before we depart.

LATE DELIVERY REQUEST

Late requests for delivery made after securing the booking, will be accommodated where possible but we cannot guarantee, as earlier delivery commitments must take priority.

BAKE GOODS ADVISORY

LUCIA’S BAKED DELIGHTS do not advise Baked Goods to be refrigerated before the start of your party or event. All Baked goods need to be placed in a cool area away from sunlight and heat to avoid melting and moisture buildup which can result in a risk of losing its texture, and structure, and/or becoming non-edible. Refrigeration is not advisable but, if the edibles do need to be refrigerated please use your best judgment and allow baked goods to sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before serving.

ALLERGIES & SPECIAL DIETARY REQUIREMENTS

Please discuss with us if you or any of your guests have food allergies or special dietary requirements. All Allergens are listed on our labels. We will make it a priority to make sure all food allergies are made a high factor throughout the baking process and table preparations.

* Remember we DO NOT specialize in gluten-free, sugar-free, keto, or vegan diets.

PRICES

All baked goods orders are paid in full and non-negotiable. There are no set prices on cakes because all designs are custom.

DEPOSIT

A deposit is required for all cake orders to secure your order, and this deposit is non-refundable. If you need to change the date of your order, it is your responsibility to contact the baker. We will do our best to accommodate the new date and transfer your deposit.

Please note that a mandatory non-refundable deposit is necessary to secure your cake order.

ORDER CHANGES

(THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO PERSONAL, SMALL AND LAST-MINUTE ORDERS)

It’s important to note the following:

- We require 72 business hours notice for all changes to your order.

- Once an order is submitted, a cancellation or modification date will be provided.

- No changes to size, flavor, or decoration can be made after this deadline.

- If you need to accommodate additional guests, we are happy to add small baked goods (such as cupcakes, cookies, etc.) to your order.

- Most of our orders have a shelf life of three (3) to five (5) days.

- Any last-minute changes or add-ons that incur additional fees must be paid in full.

- Please note that there are no deposits, refunds, or credits available for this transaction.

CANCELLATIONS (non-including parties and events).

We require written notice three (3) Business days before the agreed date via email or handwritten.

Emails can be sent to cancellations@luciasbakeddelights.com.

CELEBRATION AND WEDDING CAKE POLICY

Each cake design is custom-made, and there are no set prices. To place an order, I require a non-refundable deposit to secure your date.

To initiate your order, a payment of 50% of the remaining cost, minus the deposit, is required upfront. Please use the provided link to request a quote. Prices may vary, and each order is unique; therefore, changes to cake tiers and layers could result in additional fees, which will be added to the final total.

Please note that cakes are sold separately from other baked goods. You can also send cake orders to cakes@luciasbakeddelights.com.

Allow two (2) months in advance for celebration cake and (6) months for Wedding cake orders. If you request additional tiers and layers, the baker has the right to add a non-refundable fee to be paid at the time of the new order. This is a separate payment from the original order.

A general time frame is as follows

Single-tier cakes -prep time 3-5 days in advance

Multi-tier cakes- 7-14 days in advance (with no orders pending)

*For Celebration Cakes - We request a minimum of at least 2 months in advance

** For Wedding Cakes- We require 3-6 months in advance.

PRICE

We can provide you with a quote for all cakes.

EDIBLE PAPER, WAFER(RICE) PAPER & INK PICTURES

We operate using our personally owned machine. We use icing sheets and wafer paper(aka rice paper). We use ink FDA-certified GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS)). This meaning as having been adequately shown to be safe under the conditions of its intended use, or unless the use of the substance is otherwise excepted from the definition of a food additive.

CAKE TASTE TEST
There is a Mandatory fee of $50.00 for taste test boxes. We have custom cake flavor selections. Pick 6 different cake flavor combinations. This fee will cover the ingredients and must be paid at the time of scheduling your consultation.

Please make a secure decision, this is non-refundable.

PHOTOGRAPHY

On occasion, we will photograph our tables, baked goods, and cakes.

We reserve the right to use any photographs for display or promotion without compensation to you.

CAKE DESIGN AND PICTURE PIRACY

Copying someone else’s original cake design without their permission is also an act of copyright infringement. We are willing to use the design as inspiration but will have to put your creative spin on it. We don't copy someone else’s art.

FONDANT CAKE TOPPER - COPYRIGHT POLICY

Recreating a copyrighted product is illegal. We can offer custom fondant toppers to fit the theme of the cake or event.

The customer is responsible for collecting permission from the rights owner. That means the artist, and trademark owner, and granted permission the use their works in exchange for money. The customer may also provide purchased toys for cake decorations.

SET UP CONDITIONS

We require a window frame of at least two (2) hours before the start time to set up the cake.

DEPOSIT

We require a non-refundable deposit of $50.00 for celebration cakes and $100.00 for Wedding cakes., a 50% down payment before services can begin. This is not necessarily paid at the same time as the deposit but remember to plan accordingly. The total balance must be paid in full no later than 14 business days before the event date. If not paid by the agreed date the contract is voided

PARTIAL PAYMENTS

We understand it can be expensive to buy baked goods. Customers planning two (2) months or more will have the option to split payments allowing a minimum of four (4) small payments. Orders need to be paid in full no later than 14 business days before the agreed date. If full payment is not made by the agreed date, the services will be voided. NO Refunds or Credits will be applied.

RESCHEDULE FOR A FUTURE DATE

Customers who need to reschedule for a future date will only be given a time frame of no more than 6 months in advance. You may apply the deposit and down payments along with additional payments to a future date.

The customer will need to remember to email reschedule@luciasbakeddelights.com to give written notice no later than 14 business days before the agreed date along with updated information with a date plus any changes to details.

*Things to remember:

- The customer is responsible for contacting outside vendors and all agreements made with the vendors.

- Deposits /down payment can be held and transferred for the same party only; Deposits are non-refundable; unused funds can be held and applied to the new date if made within the next 6 months.

- No Credit will be issued for payments made toward purchases made for the event.

- NO Refunds or credits are honored if the customer does not notify us promptly.

CANCELLATION WITHOUT RESCHEDULING

Customers who need to cancel without rescheduling will need to email a written notice to cancellations@luciasbakeddelights.com. The same details listed above apply.

-The customer is responsible for contacting outside vendors and all agreements made with the vendors.

- Deposits are non-refundable; unused funds can be refunded with proper written notification.

- No Credit will be issued for payments made toward purchases made for the event.

ADVISORY

Customers who choose to reschedule for a date more than six (6) months in advance will need to cancel providing us written notice and re-contact us when it is closer to the new date.

IMPORTANT EMAILS

Customers are encouraged to communicate by email or phone. We encourage you to document all communications to eliminate misunderstandings. Email is best to express ideas and details by forwarding pictures and other attachments. We normally reply by email or phone within 24 hours. Here are the important emails to stay in touch with us.

General information or questions info@luciasbakeddelights.com-

Cancellations for services cancellations@luciasbakeddelights.com-

Request Consultations consults@luciasbakeddelights.com -

Reschedule a date reschedule@luciasbakeddelights.com -

Questions, orders, or general info cakes@luciasbakeddelights.com-

Submit a review reviewus@luciasbakeddelights.com-

PRICE UPDATES

We reserve the right to make changes to our prices as we see fit or needed. We review our prices and packages annually and adjust when the economy fluctuates. We may raise or lower prices on our menu but will never alter or affect a locked-in sale, contact, or package with a paid deposit.

PAYMENT

Lucia’s Baked Delights is pleased to offer several payment options: Cash, Credit/Debit cards, and Personal Checks.

Please note that both the deposit and down payment must be made in full using cash or a credit/debit card. Once the payment has cleared from the bank or franchise, clients may provide a post-dated check for a future date or complete a Credit Card authorization form to keep on file for future payments.

We will process checks unless the customer informs us of a different payment method at least 72 business hours before the original deposit date.

METHOD

We are happy to offer the option to pay with Check, Cash, and Credit/debit. We accept credit cards ( VISA, MasterCard, Discover, American Express), Venmo, cash app, and Zelle as a payment method. Customers who want to pay using Venmo or Zelle must notify us first to inform the method of payment. The payment will be added as an offline /manual transaction.

REFUNDS

A refund will only be honored with the approval of the owner. All Refunds need to be requested three (3) business days before the agreed date via email or handwritten. Refunds will be returned in the same form they are received. NO sort of refund will be honored if you cancel after the three (3) Business days’ deadline. Refunds will be issued only for the unused funds. This is minus the non-refundable deposit and produce (food) purchases already made. Email info@luciasbakeddelights.com for additional questions or concerns

EXCHANGES/ RETURNS

We do not accept exchanges or returns since we are unable to resell our food items. All sales are final unless there is an error on our part, so make sure you have chosen the appropriate products before purchasing. Whatever the reason, please reach out to us as soon as possible within 24 hours of receiving your order if you are unsatisfied. We will come up with a solution.

PROMOTIONS/SALES

Offer will only be honored on baked goods. Not allowed to use on table Packages. Offer may not be combined with any other sale, promotion, discount, code, coupon, and/or offer. Promotions have no cash value. Promotions and sales are subject to a limited time and /or year. Offer valid on items only. No rain checks were issued. Promotions can not be used on other items not listed. No returns or credit/ refunds are accepted. Do not honor credits toward purchase for another or future purchase. Other restrictions may apply. Cash Value 1/10¢.

DISCOUNTS /COUPONS

Offer will only be honored on baked goods. Not allowed to use on table Packages. Sales tax, shipping & handling do not qualify for discounts. Offers are not redeemable for cash or gift cards, nor are they valid toward previous purchases. Offer may not be combined with any other coupons, discounts, offers, or promotions. Void if altered, copied, transferred, auctioned, or sold. Offer valid on items only. No rain checks were issued. Other restrictions may apply. Cash Value 1/10¢.

LOYALTY REWARDS POINTS

Purchases you make online, social shares you engage in, or birthdays you celebrate with us, you will collect points automatically that translate into exclusive discounts. Offline payments such as in-person purchases for custom orders and custom cakes will gain points but will be manually adjusted once orders or invoices are paid in full. All customers must enroll to use points at checkout. All Points will expire 1 Year from the date it was added.

GIFT CARDS / CERTIFICATE

Customers must present the gift card or certificate at the time of purchase to receive the dollar or discount amount off the order's total price. The GC/Certificate may not be redeemable for cash. Can not be combined with other GC/certificates, coupons, discounts, offers, or promotions. Not refundable or transferable. Void if altered, copied, transferred, auctioned, or sold. Offer valid on items only. No rain checks were issued. Other restrictions may apply. Cash Value 1/10¢.

RETURNED CHECK

It is understood by all persons the responsibility of the debt remains with the check-writer until the collection process is completed. Customers present a check payment and are not considered paid until the check clears the bank or franchise.

Requirements for writing a check:

Correct name as inputted at the branch where the check was issued
Government ID/ Driver’s license number
current address and phone number

RETURNED CHECK CONDITIONS

Persons who submit checks for payment that are returned due to insufficient funds, stopped payments, inability to locate, etc. will be responsible for paying the full amount of the check that was returned as well as a MANDATORY $35.00 returned check fee,

We will allow one (1) additional attempt and ONLY acceptable forms of payment for returned check/s are cash, cashier’s checks, or Credit/Debit cards. We accept VISA, MasterCard, and AMEX, we will also allow PayPal. Payment MUST be received within Ten (10) business days of being notified of a returned check or the contract and services will be voided.

DECLINED CREDIT/DEBIT CARD CONDITIONS

Persons who submit Credit cards or Debit cards for payment that are declined will be responsible to contact the bank or franchise to ask what issues occurred for the declined transaction. We will allow one (1) additional attempt of payment. You may use another Credit / Debit card or form of payment such as cash, cashier's check, or personal check.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME

Thank you for reading through our policies and terms and conditions at Lucia’s Baked Delights. We greatly appreciate your business, and customer satisfaction is a priority for us. Please keep us informed about any changes you make or any adjustments that may be needed on our end. We understand that your time is valuable, and we hope this policy has addressed your questions and provided clarity.

We look forward to continuing our relationship with you.

ANNAMARIA K. ROSTRAN, FOUNDER/OWNER

*We reserve the right to revise or make changes to the Terms and Conditions when and as needed.

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