Ok, my feelings got hurt. what could I have done differently?
last week was the first time I made a cake for anybody other than my family and only my 6th cake ever as I am new. the cake was "beautiful," the co worker said, who I might also add is a self proclaimed "chocoholic." she asked me to make a cake for her and only paid for the supplies $20. She wanted a chocolate cake with choc fudge filling decorated with bc. The deal was I got to do whatever I wanted. So I get the cake done,the icing tastes good, and the cake did come out nice (still trying to upload pictures). I get to work today and she says, "it was too chocolaty. The cake was ok, the fudge was too much, and the icing cracked all the way down the back (2layer 8" round). What could have happened she asks and starts to make me feel like it was my fault as she says, "I was super careful." Ok, I made this cake tues, crumb coated it wed, and decorated it thurs, for delivery on friday. all was fine. she tells me she noticed the crack sunday at the party--was it my fault? was there something that i should have done differently like use dowls ? her first comment was that it was too small..she needed it to feed 30 people. for god sakes it was supposed to feed 24 and she cant complain for only $20, IMO. I think maybe she was upset at something else and transfered her feelings onto my cake, but i have to tell ya, i gotta give credit to those of you who do this for a living....critisim sucks when some gets what they ask for and then turn their nose up at it. It makes afraid to this for anybody other than family , and someday, I would love to work in a bakery. Thanks for hearing me...and thanks in advance for your advice, comments
Beth

I have been trying to post pics all weekend, but the site keeps timing out...i will play with it more this weekend and try to post pics soon.

I'm sure you did just fine! OK - she is a self-proclaimed "chocoholic" and said it was too chocolately? It seems like you delivered exactly what was asked for that one. I don't get that part at all.

The way you described how you made it sounds fine. Since I haven't seen the "crack" you are describing, I'm not sure what happened. But if your cake board is not thick enough, it can bend under the weight of the cake and the icing can get a cracked look.

The only thing I can say is that an 8" round would be small to feed 24 people. I would say about 12 non-wedding type servings but that is the only thing I would maybe do differently.

I'm sorry she made you feel this way! But don't give up - chalk it up to experience and move on. I hope you get your pics posted - I'd love to see your cake.

I am so sorry to hear this!! It is not your fault that you "over-chocolated" a chocoholic - how is that even possible?! Size-wise, I do have an 8 x 4" cake at 17 party servings so maybe it was a little small (10x3" is 20 and 12x3" is 30) but she still got a deal on the price. I don't know what kind of BC you use, but my thought on the cracking is that it did sit for quite a long time... Thurs to Sun. Perhaps it dried out? Or dried out enough that moving the board did it? How was it stored?

Chin up, it takes time to work out all of these little kinks and lessons. The next cake'll be even better

she described her cake as "icing was falling off of the cake in the back." It sounded terrible to me. she said, "It seems like there was too much icing and the cake gave." She did not mention anything about the board bending...but good thought. I will have to ask her. She came up to me later today and asked if I would like a slice...so either 1. she really didnt like it since there was cake left over, or 2. it went farther than she thought...

[quote="KoryAK"]Perhaps it dried out? Or dried out enough that moving the board did it? How was it stored?

not sure...but another good question. While i was making it, I kept in a cake carrier. I delivered in a box. I am not sure what she did with it after that? Should she have refrideraged it?

I hope this coworker hasn't talked you down to other coworkers! If she did, maybe you'll hear a different story from somebody else. Without seeing the "crack" I don't know exactly what she means either. In the future, I would not make a cake on Tuesday for a Sunday party. Most of my cake orders are for Saturday and Sunday parties. I do all my baking and decorating on Fridays, stay up past midnight, and finish up on Saturdays if I need more time. (and I work outside the home too).

It sounds like this chocohalic is too picky! Getting something for nothing it seemed like she wanted!

I do also think that maybe it was handled a little too much and maybe it set out too long. Normally, I only decorate the cake the day before it goes to anyone. You can bake your cakes and fill and crumb coat it then wrap and freeze it till you need to decorate. This helps with time and moisture.
You should try to get into some classes to boost your confidence, they are really helpful. And if there WAS too much frosting you can always get those large tips with a large piping bag that can give you the right amount of icing.

I think you should still keep trying and just put it down as a lesson learned. We are all learning all the time! Don't give up, just keep practicing!

I tell people that an eight inch cake serves 18 at best unless they cut small pieces. I'm really not sure how an eight inch cake can crack like that, but I'm sorry you had a complaint.

Angie

I'm sorry that she made you feel like this. Just let it go and keep on keepin on! You can't be perfect all the time. I used to work in a bakery and I have seen some cakes go out that I would have been embarresed by and I'm new at this. Maybe she's just too picky. Make yourself a cute cake, sit down and watch a good movie and tomorrow will be a new day!

yes....just let it rollllll right off of you! People like that are never happy. I wouldn't make a cake for her again, even if she paid double. If it's not your business....then cake decorating should be enjoyable. Who needs that kind of response?
NO ONE!

And....by the way....I'm sure your cake was awesome.

I have an idea, make another cake--exactly like this one if you want too--take it to work, and let your co-workers eat it in front of her. They can rave over your cake...that will speak for itself.

Yes, the 8 inch is a little small--but live and learn.

Oh I'm sorry you had this experience!

She may have left the cake out of the fridge - if she did and it's humid, the icing could have melted a bit. Another tip - add a tiny bit of vinegar to your icing. It keeps it from cracking. (well at least w/ the crusting icings it does).

As for it being too chocolate-y - there's no such thing! LOL

As for serving sizes - DO NOT go off of Wilton's sizes. They want you to cut pieces extra tiny and most people don't do that. Go to Earlene's website for a bit better chart - And I always feel it's okay to make a little bit more for left-overs!!

For $20 though she can't really complain. Maybe she wasn't complaining so much as being really honest so that you can improve.

The board is a big thing too - for an 8 inch cake did you just use one cardboard? Or did you glue a few together? I love cake drums b/c they are already covered w/ pretty wrapping and they are thick enough for several cake sizes. You can get them at Michael's or Hobby Lobby or you can order them online in a variety of sizes and colors.

Don't give up! Just learn from it and grow! Good luck!

She only said what she said because she knows you and could be jealous of you for some reason. She probably dropped the cake and blamed you for it to her guests. You will have to learn to ignore people like that, I call them "haters".

I'm sorry she made you feel the way she did. Some people are just so inconsiderate. I know, oh so many people have no idea how much money and time go into cake. They don't take into consideration all of the fresh ingredients, not to mention the cake board and box AND your time. I had one lady buy a couple of cakes from me (she had seen my cake at someone else's party). I had never even met her; she just called me on the phone and said she needed a cake for her father's birthday. She said she wanted it Vegas themed and wanted a 1/4 sheet. I told her that IMO it would be a very small cake considering she was expecting 25. In my family, we would have 1/2 a sheet, at the very least. "No No," she says. Everyone is on a diet any way. We don't need big pieces. THEN, she calls me back the next day to change the theme of the cake. They aren't giving him a trip to Vegas anymore so can I make something else? What else does he like to do? Tell me something, anything, Lady... (all in my head of course lol). So she says how about balloons and streamers. OK. When she comes to get the cake, she just stared at it. She says it's too small... Ahem hem (like I said lol). She doesn't compliment it, she doesn't say it looks like dog-doo...nothing. Then another time she calls to order a baby shower cake. Says she wants something Precious Moments-whatever you want to do, she says. I made her a big precious moments baby with a fondant pacifier and bonnet. I told her it was going to be $45; she paid me $40. Again, no compliments or input. She just says, "Oh, I see what you did." Solution: I never worked for her again. All of my other customers are always happy and So am I Don't let one person's negativity get you down. Maybe you're right and she was having a bad day and couldn't take it out on the person who was really due.
BTW, I, too, start working on things early. If I have fondant or royal icing that need drying, I'll start on them like on Monday or Tuesday. The actual baking I'll start either on Thursday night or Friday, depending on the size of the order. Anyway, keep up the good work and things will just get easier and easier. I've learned plenty from all my mistakes

Well, here's what I wonder, if it was too small and supposed to feed 30, why were there leftovers for you to sample? I'd also just take a deep breath on this one. Did $20 even cover your expenses? I agree with the poster who said to make a duplicate to share with work, but don't go back into a "family only shell" just because someone offered criticism - constructive or not. Keep trying new things.

thank you everyone for the tips, ideas, encouragment, and ears (eyes) for listening(reading). You have given me some things to ponder for next time and definatly some things to remember....

Bethola--thanks for the tidbit about the weather...I would not have ever thought about that--yes it was very humid and wet.

I do agree, 8" was probably small, but c'mon, she only paid $20. I dont think that I spent any extra in materials considering I did not use the whole bottle of flavor, whole can of crisco, etc..., and I dont consider it a loss of time either because at least I got to practice.

Like you said, chalk it up to experience, sit down, relax, and enjoy some CAKE!!!

here is the cake...it finally uploaded....it is on my photos..the site is too slow to add it as an attachment. it is the purple cake.
Thanks again!
Beth

I think it was pretty! I still can't do buttercream roses for anything.

It's beautiful. In your picture it looks perfect and your roses are fantastic. I think some people just like to complain. I made my sister 2 baby shower cakes with the Wilton Carriage pan, before I ever took any Wilton's classes. I think they came out pretty good and hey, for free, do you have a right to complain? Anyway, now that I've had all my Wilton's classes and she's seen all my work she tells me it's too bad I didn't know all of that stuff at the time of her shower. So, I have the opposite problem from yours. I think I might have to consider making cakes for everyone EXCEPT my family.

You can never make her happy!! Move on. You did a beautiful job. Be proud.

What part of Missouri are you from???

Lu

Wow! I can't see what she was complaining about. Your cake is beautiful. I wish I could get my roses to look like that. Turn on your comments option so we can tell you how great your cakes look.

I don't get what she was complaining about... you did a wonderful job on that cake. Some people will never be happy - and you are right... live and learn!

I can relate to how you feel regarding your cake. I worked very hard on a handpainted pheasant promotional cake. I gave it to our financial planner and his office. I never recieved a call back reagarding their reactions, but they did not hesistate to call me and tease me about passing my name to a local bakery about painting thier cakes....all this, of course, before they even tried my cake. I waited about a week with no reactions to the cake or offer of a position at the bakery only to have a poor reaction to the cake that they had recieved for free! The only one willing to speak to me stated that she thought that it should have had more of a filling, even though I stated that the filling was homemade blackberry preserves. Then she complained that the seeds got stuck in her teeth....well DUH!...it was blackberry preserves! It got me so angry....however....I did the right thing and sent a card to apologize for the cake not recieving a positive reaction. I didn't want to burn the bridge but keep it open just in case. However, being my second cake...it really hurt my ego and I still don't think that I have rebounded from it to venture past my family and friends...even despite the positive reactions I have had from this website.

bethyboop-I had a co-worker that order two cakes for Thanksgiving and when I came in on the next Monday she complained about both of them so I offered to make her another one and she said htat one was great. Now I also made another co-worker the same cake for Thanksgiving and she raved about it. My husband( he is an executive chef) was furious with me for making her another cake. He says you will never please everyone. There will always be that person that no matter how hard you try it just won't happen. I have learned my lesson and I will not do another cake for her. Your cake is beautiful. I love making buttercream roses. The cake board is fine for that size cake. I have done numerous 8" cakes and put on those boards. I do have to say it was to small for that amount of people though. You live in learn. Don't let negative comments stop you from doing what you love to do!
One last thing- If I have a cake that is for Saturday, I bake on Thursday and decorate it on Friday. Deliver on Saturday.
Keep up the great work!
Faye

It really is beautiful, I think you did a great job! Perhaps you did make it too early, or she could have done anything to it to make it crack. She's the one who told you to put all the chocolate in there and then has the nerve to complain? It seems like she was finding all kinds of things to complain about. Maybe she was trying to get out of paying you the $20. Just let it roll off your back, she'll get over it.

Your cake is beautiful!

I'm not a negative person and I hate the fact the some people are that very way (sometimes you try to figure out why people are the way they are, you can't). Haters! Misery loves company!

Here's my motto on these types of people:

It is a haters job to hate! Let them do their jobs! (although, I wouldn't do such a time consuming, I don't have a life, energy zapper without getting paid for it! lol)

If I have 6 people hating on me, my job is to increase the amount of haters that I have. Haters believe that they're hurting or embarrassing you and that's their main goal; they're looking/waiting for it. It's comical to me because the reality is they are letting every non hater know they're jealous of you (for whatever reason). It should boost your ego not deflate it because besides compliments and praise you get from the ones who respect and support your talents, haters are the ones who will definetly show you that you're doing your thing and doing it well!

You can't please everybody! People like that don't