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HELP! Wedding cake HEdoublehockysticks... refund?!?!??? - Page 3  

post #31 of 110
6/12/06 at 8:52am
This is an unfortunete happening for both you and the bride. However, when you are in business, you must take responsibility for your product. This won't help you now, but in my consultations, I always tell them what I cannot do. If they want something that sends a red flag up to me, I tell them.
As for the cake, you really do need to refund her the money. I know you will loose on the deal, but your reputation is more important.
post #32 of 110
6/12/06 at 9:33am
I just wanted to offer a big 'I'm soooo sorry this happened to you'.

Try not to let a big, bad experience get you down. I agree that your best course of action right now is to personally apopogize and refund the bride. But the good news is that you will never have to make another cake for her again. icon_smile.gif

You are not alone!!!

Good luck.
Angie
post #33 of 110
6/12/06 at 10:10am
I just notice...this post originated almost a month ago, and author hasn't posted since. I hope she didn't quit decorating because of this cake. icon_sad.gif
www.freewebs.com/monabakes
www.freewebs.com/monabakes
post #34 of 110
6/12/06 at 10:30am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mbalis

I just notice...this post originated almost a month ago, and author hasn't posted since. I hope she didn't quit decorating because of this cake. icon_sad.gif



Me too! icon_sad.gif
COULD SOMEONE PASS THE FROSTING?
Wendy's Cake Space
The Homeschooling Blog
COULD SOMEONE PASS THE FROSTING?
Wendy's Cake Space
The Homeschooling Blog
post #35 of 110
6/12/06 at 10:34am
I PMed her as well, so maybe she will reply. I hope she didn't let this bad experience discourage her!!

Angie
post #36 of 110
6/12/06 at 12:38pm
me too that would be so sad
I don't need to know'd where I 'm goin', just need to know where I been! ~'Mater~
I don't need to know'd where I 'm goin', just need to know where I been! ~'Mater~
post #37 of 110
6/12/06 at 4:27pm
I really like how caring and supportive everyone is.

CC is my safe haven. icon_smile.gif

I'll never leave, Nope! You can't make me.
Oh, you hate your job? Why didn't you say so? There's a support group for that. It's called EVERYBODY, and they meet at the bar.
-DC
Oh, you hate your job? Why didn't you say so? There's a support group for that. It's called EVERYBODY, and they meet at the bar.
-DC
post #38 of 110
6/12/06 at 11:17pm
Thread Starter 
Wow. icon_surprised.gif Just... wow. First of all, thanks to angelas2babies for PMing me because I never got an email that anyone had responded to my post (and I've always gotten those notification emails). And when I originaly posted this there were technical diffeculties and I didn't think it was even posted at all!
Soooo.... a few clarifications and an update:
First of all, I do NOT have a baking business. I am a college student who put an add on craigslist.org saying I can make cakes and want experience. I was upfront from the begining with the bride that I am NOT a professional and I do not have a bakery or anything like that. Because of this (and the fact that this took place in a large city of which the bride doesn't even live in and I now live out of state) I am not worried about my "reputation."
Also, with regards to the mixes, yes, the bride knew they were not vegan but they were "close enough" in her words (some flavors only have whey and it's at the end of the ingredients list). And supprizingly, the pillsberry cream cheese frosting IS vegan... wierd I know!
Now for the update... I have emailed her repetedly. I have not refunded any of her money. All of the emails were VERY nasty on her part, and while I considered refunding part of her money, the more she b*ched and complained and made false accuizations (the cake was the wrong shape, the cake was underdone, etc.) the less I wanted to make her happy. Now, I know how horrible that makes me sound... and after reading all of your posts I'm reconsidering. But because I don't have a business refunding her money isn't nearly as easy as it sounds. I would have to work extra shifts (in adddition to being in college full time, and having a chronic illness) and eat beans and rice for the next month at least. Literaly. And after she has shown me NO sympathy at ALL for what I went through to get ANY cake to her wedding, AND calling me many nasty names, I just don't know if it is worth it. I don't have a reputation to save. I would just end up miserable for the next month or more. But I have a concience, and the part of me that put myself in HER shoes really wants to make thing right. I just don't know if a refund would do that at this point. I don't think ANYTHING would help at this point (and thost sugestions of descounts on future cakes, etc. are not possible because I have moved).
So, thank you for the support! I have not stoped decortating cakes (though I haven't had the time or money to do any since then), and I haven't left the wonderful land of CC... I've just hand computur and internet issues so I haven't been on much lately. Thanks again for all the advice. I certainly have learned a LOT from this.

~Kelsie
~Kelsie
*In the process of slooowly updating my photos (3 year backlog). More coming soon!*
~Kelsie
*In the process of slooowly updating my photos (3 year backlog). More coming soon!*
post #39 of 110
6/12/06 at 11:27pm
Thanks for giving us an update, Kelsie.
I'm sorry the bride is being so unkind. There is no need for her to be ridiculously rude no matter how disappointed she was.
I hope you can figure out a solution that will leave you satisfied, make her back off, and keep you from financial ruin!
Good luck,

Holly
post #40 of 110
6/13/06 at 4:37am
I am glad to hear you haven't given up and I do understand where you are coming from. I would just say let this roll of your back now and enjoy college and learning new cake things and just don't worry. Take care.

Carrie
I don't need to know'd where I 'm goin', just need to know where I been! ~'Mater~
I don't need to know'd where I 'm goin', just need to know where I been! ~'Mater~
post #41 of 110
6/13/06 at 4:57am
After reading this topic, I REALLY need a wedding cake contract. My first wedding cake is the end of this month, but the bride already paid in full, so I can't exactly ask her to sign one now. But I do have a couple of consultations coming up.
Anyone have one they would like to share?
Thanks Joanne


*Moderator Edited to remove e-mail address*
post #42 of 110
6/13/06 at 5:33am
Kelsie-
I'm glad you haven't given up decorating all together over the one bridezilla. And, I understand dissapointment in her cake, but that is no reason to be nasty. I am one of the ones who suggested a refund (by thinking from the bride's point of view), but...If she has been so rude, I think sh already has decided she probably won't get one! Since you have moved, I would simply "lose" her #, email, any contact information you have and forget about her. I would consider what she paid you, her fee for "her right to b**ch"! And she has, obviously, got her money's worth out of THAT fee!

[Previous posts have made me decide to draw up a contract....and posts like these show me how I need to refine it. I don't usually do wedding cakes very often, but as my name gets passed around, I find myself doing more and more of them.]
I have more cake photos at PhotoBucket.com:
http://s77.photobucket.com/albums/j45/gmcakes/
I have more cake photos at PhotoBucket.com:
http://s77.photobucket.com/albums/j45/gmcakes/
post #43 of 110
6/13/06 at 5:49am
You guys say you need a contract... but this hasn't protected anyone in this situation! By the contract, she owes the bride.

I think it is wrong to avoid this bride. If you have to pay her $10 a month, I think you should. I understand what it is like to be in college and poor. That is no excuse to keep money that you don't deserve. She's probably being nasty because you disappeared and she doesn't have any way to contact you other than e-mail! It is so rude to ignore her and for you guys to suggest that it is alright to keep her money. Bad advice! This is what makes people afraid to order cakes from home bakers.

Just my opinion!
It's not how good you are, but how well you can fix your mistakes.
It's not how good you are, but how well you can fix your mistakes.
post #44 of 110
6/13/06 at 6:40am
she isn't being a bridezilla . . . she paid for a cake and she didn't get one (you yourself said it was pretty bad). if that happened to me and I didn't get a refund, I'd likely get a little nasty too.

she doesn't need to care about what you went through to "get her any cake at all." It was your job to get the cake she ordered there and on time. That's what she paid you to do.

You've admitted you screwed up - you should take responsibility for it. It happens - it isn't the end of the world. If you have to work extra to pay her back, then so be it. You accepted her money willingly enough.

I know you will think this is harsh, but business is business. If you can't see that side of it, then likely you shouldn't be selling cakes to people. It makes all home bakers look bad.
post #45 of 110
6/13/06 at 7:02am
I am glad that you gave us an update! I think there is no reason for someone to be nasty and start calling people names. I can understand her frustration but there is a better way to resolve a problem. I think you may feel better if you do refund her money. You may want to call her or send her a nice email saying that you would like to come up with something that will work for both of you. I think the bride would be receptive even if you paid her in 3 or 4 payments.

After reading your post I got a call from a bride's mother that I did a wedding cake for on Saturday. It is the square cake with red roses in my photos. They were happy with it when I dropped it off. The bride's mother called to tell me that her daughter was unhappy with the cake because I did not put enough filling between the layers. I explained to her that on a heavy stacked cake that I did not go overboard on the filling because I did not want the layers to buldge. I told her I was sorry and offered to make the couple a cake when they arrived home from their honeymoon. The bride's mother said that she probably would not want anything. I also offered to make something for their first anniversary. I kept it on a nice note and was not sure if she was wanting me to refund some of the money. One thing to keep in mind is that I was able to get the fresh roses from a friend of mine that owns a floral shop...I did not charge the family extra for the roses. I know that any other decorator would have charged something extra especially since they were fresh roses. I felt that I gave her a good deal and the cake was not damaged. If there was any damage to the cake...I would have refunded the money to them. I felt bad all day because I have never had anyone call me and tell me that they were unhappy with a wedding cake because of the filling. Sorry but this was really bothering me!

Best of luck to waterfallsoygul with your situation. I hope there will be a happy compromise for you and the bride. icon_smile.gif
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