I made a cake today for a first birthday. Let me just begin by saying this has been a CRAZY week in which I have been SWIMMING (literally) in cake batter and buttercream icing.

ANYWAYS, I was bringing a 12x18" sheet cake from my dining room table to my front door, and I DROPPED IT!!! Right in plain view of the customer. I couldn't even believe it...this has never happened to me, in 4 years of decorating!!! I could hardly bring myself to open the lid to see how the cake fared.

Well, fortunately, it wasn't has horrible as I thought. The cake slid on the board, so one border was completely damaged, but luckily, Elmo survived the near-fatal plummet.

I gave my customer the cake for free, and apologized profusely. I offered her 2 choices: I would fix it and have it ready for her in 2 hours, or she could have the cake for free.

Is this a good fix??? I don't know if that's enough, but my hubby thought it was a perfect solution. ANY THOUGHTS?!?!? I'd love to hear anyone else's disasters, so we can laugh about it together!!

Seems like you handled it very well. Sorry this happened to you.

You handled it well. I think I would have laughed and cryed at the same time in front of the customer! LouAnn

Soooooooooo sorry that this happened to you. On the plus side, I believe your solutions were great!

oh you poor thing! this is my nightmare scenario!
Recently I had a customer collecting her cake and as I went to place it in the box my hand slipped and wiped out half the name (thankgoodness just written on the cake board) but I was MORTIFIED!
I fixed it which only took around 10 mins and offered her $10 off the cake, but she insisted on paying full price.
You have done all you could do! She would be delighted with the free cake and if anyone asks her what happened she would say how upset you were and how you gave it to her for no cost instead!
We are only human remember and as long as we try to fix any errors and make it up to the customer, they can't ask for more!

I was really afraid to read your post. I'm glad that it worked out for you. I think that you did the right thing and didn't charge your customer. I'm sure that she will be a repeat customer. Loved the Elmo cake.

That is my biggest fear!! I think I'd cry, and laugh, and freak out all at once!!! You did great tho. I would of done exactly the same.