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Fed Ex (CAKE KILLERS!!!) - Page 2

post #16 of 46
3/31/07 at 8:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by fmcmulle

I am so sorry this happened. I can't believe they wouldn't sell you insurance. It kind of looks like someone was eating it..



i feel so bad for laughing at this comment since it was so horribly ruined, but its true...does look like someone was digging in!

msaur, so sorry! just out of curiosity as well, how was it packaged? i shipped a cake a couple of months ago with usps and had perfect results. i used a sturdy scratch cake, bc and then fondant. i stuck it to the board w/ bc, then loosely wrapped in plastic. then bubble wrapped it like it was going out of style. i made sure the ENTIRE box was full to the brim with bubble wrap, top , bottom and both sides. then placed pointless (lol) fragile and this side up stickers alll over the box. i used the usps flat rate priority box (8.10) and it arrived in two days, in perfect condition. (be sure to use fillings that dont have to be refrigerated). it is the "meilani" cake in my photos= i did it simple in case it was smashed to smitherines, but since i had good results, i will definately do it again, in fact, i plan on sending my sister a pink giraffe in may- at her sarcastic request...she didnt think i'd agree! once again, sorry, that cake rocked... next time (def. try again!) remember that bubble wrap is your best bet.
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post #17 of 46
3/31/07 at 8:29pm
I work in shipping and unfortunatley they have every right to refuse insurance for many different types of packages. They have very detailed descriptions of what is insurable and what is not (nothing of cash value, jewelry, cash, bonds, ect.)

It is horrible what happened to the cake, but like the Fex Ex man you talked to said, they cannnot guarantee it will arrive safely. I have been in the depots of other large carriers in Canada and the US, and was appalled at how they handle the packages (literally throwing them through the air to each other or onto the rollers.) I have also experienced customers who disregarded my warning that baked goods would not arrive in good condition and then compained about the way it arrived, and unfortunately it is just what happens.

At least you learned the hard way with family instead of a paying customer.

Sorry this happened to you!
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post #18 of 46
3/31/07 at 8:33pm
OMG!!! I'm so sorry!!! It was a great looking cake!
~Sunshine93~
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~Sunshine93~
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post #19 of 46
3/31/07 at 8:35pm
Wow! icon_eek.gif It took a lot of effort by FedEx to mess your cake up that bad! icon_lol.gif It is always a pain to try and deal with shipping companies. They have a million loop holes, but it's worth trying to get some compensation.
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http://www.thedenimshop.com - My "real" job! You know- where I'm at when I'm online looking looking at cakes!
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post #20 of 46
3/31/07 at 8:39pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by JenniferL

Wow! icon_eek.gif It took a lot of effort by FedEx to mess your cake up that bad! .



not necessarily...if it wasnt contained well (ie: TONS of bubble wrap so it couldnt shift even if turned upside down) in the package, it wouldnt take alot to do that to a cake.
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post #21 of 46
3/31/07 at 8:55pm
That is awful, I am so sorry that happened to you.

No offense, I often wondered why someone would ship a cake. The odds is that it would never make it.
legal, not legal, I don't care
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legal, not legal, I don't care
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post #22 of 46
3/31/07 at 9:00pm
I am so sorry this happened with your cake. You did a fantastic job with it. We shipped cakes twice within the past 2 years and have had wonderful results with both. The first timewe shipped a cake...it was just the cake layers undecorated from AL to CA,we used DHL. We shipped it overnight and it arrived in perfect condition the next afternoon. The second time we shipped a decorated cake again to CA and used UPS. It was delivered in 3 days, again in perfect condition. They offered us insurance, but we did not take it. It did cost us a little more then expected, but well worth it. The couple who received it were celebrating their anniversary and it arrived just in time. Apparently FEDEX is not the way to go. I hope this experience doesn't keep you from trying to ship a cake again, just try a different carrier.

Again, I am sorry this happened to your cake.
"Use what talent you possess-the woods would be very silent if no birds sang except those that sang best." Henry Van Dyke
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"Use what talent you possess-the woods would be very silent if no birds sang except those that sang best." Henry Van Dyke
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post #23 of 46
3/31/07 at 10:09pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by CakeMakeN

I am so sorry this happened with your cake. You did a fantastic job with it. We shipped cakes twice within the past 2 years and have had wonderful results with both. The first timewe shipped a cake...it was just the cake layers undecorated from AL to CA,we used DHL. We shipped it overnight and it arrived in perfect condition the next afternoon. The second time we shipped a decorated cake again to CA and used UPS. It was delivered in 3 days, again in perfect condition. They offered us insurance, but we did not take it. It did cost us a little more then expected, but well worth it. The couple who received it were celebrating their anniversary and it arrived just in time. Apparently FEDEX is not the way to go. I hope this experience doesn't keep you from trying to ship a cake again, just try a different carrier.

Again, I am sorry this happened to your cake.



how did you package yours? i dont know why people are so nervous about shipping them if they are packaged well. mine arrived perfectly .
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post #24 of 46
4/1/07 at 6:01am
Thread Starter 
Okay...someone asked "why" would I ship a cake...quite simply because my cousin asked (and I know that other people do). My family thinks my cakes are amazing icon_redface.gif , but I know that I am no Mike McCarey (so please...don't tell them about all the other decorators around the country who are far better than little old me icon_wink.gif )

When I packed it, I just kind of winged it the best I could. I had started a thread about shipping cakes and didn't get a whole lot to go on, so I did my best. Believe me...we all went into this expecting the worst. I had a feeling it may not make it, so I am not really looking at FedEx for any kind of compensation. When my cousin emailed me the picture of the cake, my first reaction was "Wow...didn't think it would be THAT BAD!"

So, I did the cake on a small shoe shaped board. I iced the cake to the board and the board to the cake drum. I nailed two dowels to secure all of it to the drum (you can see one of them rolling around at the bottom of the picture. I put this inside a bakery box and wrapped very well. This box was placed inside another box by the people at Pak Mail. "Peanuts" were used on all sides inside the shipping box. Orientation marks were put all over the outside of the box.

I thought about (but didn't) saran wrap the cake and the board together bc I was afraid it would smash the cake- guess that was the least of my worries, huh?

I certainly will take all that I have learned from all of you (esp melysa) and try again in the future. I just wanted to share my experience with all of you and even though a smashed up cake isn't funny...you have to laugh and shake it off! I know my story isn't as bad as some others!!!

Keep the shipping tips coming!!!!!! Thanks for being supportive!

-Michelle
www.sauercakes.com
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post #25 of 46
4/2/07 at 3:12pm
hi michelle, well i think the dowels and peanuts were a good start anyway! i think the issue must have been that there was nothing inside the cake box to cushion the cake so it wouldnt move. i think that in the future if you try it again, ( please do!) that bubble wrap would be better than peanuts though, because it doesnt move. an objects weight can cause it to move and make its way around to a different area of the package, but bubble wrap would just keep it put. and always make sure that if you put the cake in a box, it needs bubble wrap inside the box too! try another one, just made simply with a cover of fondant and package well, mail it to your niece, and see how it goes. i am sure it will make her day! maybe this time, you could stencil, paint or glue on a fondant cut out of her shoe icon_smile.gif
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post #26 of 46
4/4/07 at 3:48pm
for 93.00 what did they promise about the delivery? they obviously charged you more, was it for special handleing that they didnt do?
God, family, friends!
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God, family, friends!
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post #27 of 46
4/4/07 at 4:02pm
I'm so sorry about your cake. It really was beautiful before you shipped it. I'm glad I just read this thread I have been looking all day for ways to ship non decorated cakes, pies and cheesecakes. I've been checking ebay and they have people on there that are making cakes and selling them. I've been thinking of ordering one just to see how they package it, how it arrives and what carrier they use.
Oh, Bother!
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Oh, Bother!
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post #28 of 46
4/4/07 at 7:48pm
Wow! Looks like they tried to see how badly they could destroy it!
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post #29 of 46
4/4/07 at 8:01pm
I have never shipped a cake but have always had trouble with FedEx. Sorry...I agree....you should write the company. Better luck next time!
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post #30 of 46
4/4/07 at 8:08pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by BlakesCakes

I know that when Colette ships cakes she uses the shipping division of Continental Airlines. She claims that her cakes are hand carried to the belly of the plane and carried off again. The client has to pick it up at the airport, if I remember correctly.



Not to sound mean, and NO offense to msauer, but I'm pretty sure someone like us isn't going to get the same treatment out of Continental Airlines that Colette Peters does. She's on TV for heavens sake. I can just see it now - I walk into Continental and say - I need to ship this cake, can you walk it out to the plane for me? And make sure nothing happens to it. HA they'd laugh me right back to the parking lot.

There was an old TV commercial once for Mailboxes Etc. that had some little old lady who ships trays of Xmas cookies every year, and they make sure the cookies are packaged so perfectly none gets broken. So I inquired at our local MBE and you know what - it's not really possible. The guy said every once in a while you'll get lucky but for the most part things like that get messed up.

I'm really sorry this happened to your cake. It was really nice before FedEx got their hands on it. icon_sad.gif
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Exercise hard, eat fiber, die anyway.

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