Cupcakin Bake Shop — Restaurant in Berkeley

I was at this store three weeks ago. I made my purchase and when it was time for me to pay, I thought I’d be paying the regular way where you either slide your card or insert the chip if it has one and then your PIN number to process the payment. Well, this was NOT the case. The lady who identified herself as the manager of the store asked for my card and proceeded to enter my card details manually. Everything including the CVV at the back of my card. I’ve never felt so exposed! This lady did not even give me a heads up or at least ask me if I was comfortable with her processing my payment in that manner. I got paranoid & asked whether it was safe for her to process my payment in that manner. She caught an attitude and then responded saying that she did not memorize my card number and that she was the manager if I was so worried about it. How is you being the manager supposed to help the situation at hand exactly? I don’t know you so I don’t trust you regardless of the position you hold! And I quite honestly don’t care, you’re a human being at the end of the day. I don’t know what else you are besides being a manager. Additionally, you being the manager doesn’t give you the right to my card details! Plain & simple! Nothing gives you the right to invade my privacy the way you did! How disgusting of you, to carry such entitlement! A customer’s card details are private and this should go without saying. And there’s a reason why businesses use card readers as opposed to putting in every client’s card details manually. Who even does that? Without giving their customers a heads up? Better still what kind of business manager catches an attitude and gets upset when a customer expresses concern when it comes to their privacy? How unprofessional and uncouth of you! Yes, you want to keep the money coming into your business, it’s obvious, but violating a customer’s privacy in that manner and being arrogant & dismissive about it is NOT the way to go about it! You’ll lose more than you ever wanted to gain to begin with. First of all be honest and upfront with your customers if your card reader is NOT WORKING and LET THEM KNOW BEFORE THEY MAKE A PURCHASE THAT YOU WILL BE PROCESSING THEIR PAYMENT BY ENTERING THEIR CARD DETAILS MANUALLY. Simple ethics! What this manager did was so UNETHICAL! And the fact that she had the nerve to catch an attitude made everything worse! Your customer’s loyalty is one of the most important things you could ever earn as a business! Learn that! My privacy was violated by the manager of this store that day I decided to make a purchase. And as if that wasn’t enough, she caught an attitude when I expressed my concern and then trivialized it like it was nothing! And that one reason, this bakery is never getting another dime of my hard earned...

I really went to Swan Market to grab a savory lunch meal, but that's the best part about a market - there are endless, tempting food options! Of course being the dessert lover that I am, I initially was eyeing the chocolate chip cookies at Cosecho. Then all of a sudden my homegirl said, "Oh you're looking in the wrong direction if you want that good good!" And I turned my attention to my beloved Cupcakin' Bake Shop!

What do I love about Cupcakin' you ask? -Offers a nice assortment of cupcake flavors as well as sizes (get a regular size & a mini so you can try 2 flavors and not feel like your overdoing it!) -The bright décor is very inviting -The staff is super friendly -The cupcakes are DELICIOUS (icing is sweet, cake is moist, and it is everything your taste buds need)!

The Chocolate Salted Caramel was divine and the surprise of the salt at the bottom of the cupcake...oooh wee! The Red Velvet delivered as well. Cupcakes are priced well too - minis are $1.95 & regular size are $3.75.

This place prides itself on being local (owner is an Oakland native), artisan, and it is a black owned business. And if you're in the BeyHive, you'll be elated because Beyoncé music was in heavy rotation.

Can't wait to return. My sweet...

King Pin Donuts used to be the best in Berkeley since Wayne's Donuts closed years ago. During the past 6 months or so, something changed. I don't know if there is a new owner, or if the man (who was so nice & an expert donut maker) who made the donuts is no longer there, but the donuts are huge and horrible. They made the donuts huge and jacked up the price, effectively making the customer buy what should be two donuts, but instead is one horrible tasting huge donut. They are not fried long enough so they are gummy, while others are dry. Even the glazes are bad now. Maple tastes like cinnamon, not maple. They also seem stale now. Well I gave the benefit of the doubt and went 3 more times before this last time. I am done and will not go back, unless they switch back to the original recipes...