Ms. Complaining woman comes to the shop this morning..( I was expecting her to come complain about her latest cake..since she has complained about every single one I have made her...) this time she felt oblidged to bring in a piece of cake and one the chocolate lollys that I placed on the cake to "SHOW" me what she is talking about...

lol

Well, she proceeds to tell me that she is not here asking for her money back but she just has a few "COMMENTS" to share with me...I'm like...yeah right...ok, go ahead..

She proceeds to tell me that she can't see how I charged her $25.00 for a cake that had no filling...I told her, NONE of my cakes have filling ( that's how I learned to make my fondant cakes...there all kinds of issues with fillings,soft cakes and fondant icing..lol) She was like, but you made my sisters cake with a filling...Sure, because YOU ASKED Me to and even then you had a complaint about it, you asked me for something that I wasn't familiar with and you couldn't explain it to me except to say it tasted like CANDY /Caramel... ( I had to guess! lol) She proceeded to catch me in the hallway and tell me the taste of it wasn't HEAVY ENOUGH

so, I was like OK sorry...the next cake she orders from me, was for HER birthday...she asked me for a filling again...FRESH STRAWBERRIES...so I again like I did for her sister gave her a DOUBLE cake with filling..I didn't hear from her and everytime I passed her in the hallway, she would do the avoid the eyes thing by turning her face...so..I thought..GREAT she hated that cake too.

so, her boss orderd a cake before this and I hear nothing about that one eighter..it was for HER work birthday..lol

So, when she came in to order this 4th cake, I'm thinking

1. I really don't want to do this cake
2. Maybe she's just one of those people that when money is exchanged that's the end of it no matter if we bump into each other every single day.
3. She's just a person that likes to complain about EVERYTHING..one of those eternally bitter and unhappy people that put on that face twisted smile and are always beating themselves on the chest and lamenting..

but, I was nice and took the order..the chocolate woman that she ordered..I didn' t find and since I thought I had her I didnt' go looking for her till the last minute..oops...can't find her, may I interest you in using this other mold? The same woman but instead of legs she had a lolly stick that I pushed into the cake's 4 corners..

now mind you...I charge $5.00 for any ONE chocolate embelishment that I add to my cake..this cake had 4. I didn't charge her but $25.00 for the cake...

4 chocolate ladies sitting in the corners of the cake...Swiss meringue buttercream ( 3 pounds of butter and we ALL know how expensive butter is!) box, ribbon and getting here early to provide her the best customer service that I can.


Well, she come in with a piece of frozen cake to show me that it had no filling..and one of the lollipops...she said they were awful..lol...I was like, well...they aren't really chocolate you know!! IF they were, can you IMAGINE what I'd have to CHARGE YOU?

she goes on..I have a customer on the phone too..lol...So, I tell the guy, I'd call him back..I get up and walk over to her and say, look, I'm sorry that you're not happy with my product...that you haven't been happy from the get go. I don't think that I can make you happy with what I do....Here is your $25.00 back and we are done, ok? At this point...I swipe my hands together to show her that I'm finished...lol

Now...SHE gets mad...telling me that she's not here to ask for her money back she just wanted to comment on my cake....I was like, well...If you are not here to get your money back then WHY ARE you here? You're not happy, so take the money and we are done talking, I'm busy and I need to call that man back. I give her the money back and she's pushing it back at me....and I'm just looking at her like she's growing another head..lol

and thinking inside my head...LOOK WOMAN YOU NEED TO LEAVE NOW..I was getting angry and was afraid to say something bad..lol ( you all KNOW I have a temper....I was going to threaten her with tresspassing and calling 911..lol ) ( dramatic I know!! lol)

So, I put the money in her smock pocket and tell her that she really needs to leave now...lol she storms out...grabbing the money from her pocket and slamming it down on one of my display cakes.. I was like..NO YOU DIDN"T>..did she break my ugly stripper cake?

I was going to follow her out the door to tell her that if she broke it she pays for it, but decided it wasn't worth the trouble.

Now..I'm thinking...of printing out my price list and putting an note on it showing her that no where are the prices that she's been paying...

and putting it in an envelope with the money..


Thanks for letting me blow some steam here....oh, this is the SAME woman from the other thread I posted about her...Now, I have a migraine coming on and feel really bad that I was unprofessional.

Oh, man. Some people!

I think you handled it well by giving her money back and flat-out telling her to stay away if she's so unhappy with your work. Good for you!

May you never have to deal with her (or her type) again.

Is this someone who works in the same building/complex as you and you pass frequently in the hall? Yikes!

She must just like to complain! Perhaps if there is a next time you suggest that she make her own cake if she's going to be so picky and condescending about it? (In nicer words than I just wrote!).

Or if she wants to order another cake, it will be at your regular full price. Charge for every embelishment she wants, extra for the fillings, etc. Maybe she'll get the hint that way.

Sorry you had to deal with that again.

Wow! What a miserable woman. If someone complained to me about every cake I made, I would be livid, too! Well, at least you don't have to worry about her coming back any time soon! It's just not worth the money when you're dealing with people like that!

You should take her money since she insists on giving it to you. After all, you deserve something for your time and trouble. But you shouldn't do any more cakes for her. I bet you don't want to go through all that again!

good for you!!!!!!!!!!

just keep the money, you more than earned it, she was just looking for someone to complain to.

i've had a few customers like this, one woman i had to start dialing the police before she'd leave.

you know what?....not everyones as nice as us, if she complains this much everywhere she goes about her food....no telling how much ungodly stuff this woman has eaten...you know how some food preparers are...you keep sending it back...they'll put a little surprise in it for you before they bring it back.

seriously she sounds a little off her nut, you should be glad she's mad and gone.

Geez, if she complained so much why did she keep ordering cakes? What a wierdo.

lol, I printed out my price list...enclosed a nice note..and her money.

but I locked the door and I DO have a right to refuse service to anyone..

and I'm going to!

The BALLS she had to BRING ME a piece of the cake ...like what? I was going to not believe that she didnt like it? or that I would have to EAT IT?

and it's too funny ...last night I was at a tv show and I just happened to make the same cake..plus a chocolate one...and they went crazy!! they even attacked the cake on LIVE TV..they grabbed the OLD cookies I had to decorate the table and scooped out cake! it was a mad free for all of cake orgie..

So I KNOW my cake isn't bad..lol

Hey don't worry about it. Your cakes are to good for her. lol. I think you should take the money too. Ecspecialy, since you got a migraine from the woman! ha If she asks for another cake maybe just refer her to another bakery. By the way, the carriage in your photos.....awesome!!!!!!!!!!

My thoughts exactly! If she was unhappy with your product, why did she keep ordering??? I'd keep the money and put up a small sign that stats "We reserve the right to refuse any order." And that is just what I would do if she ever had the nerve to come back. (Apparently she has A LOT OF NERVE)!!!I would very politely tell her that you won't accept an order from her, because she is impossible to please.

Personally, I would send the money back. Apparently she believes that as long as she is paying you (no matter how little) then she can treat you like dirt. Well, the $25 may have just barely covered your costs - but no way in Hades would it compensate for having to listen to her constant complaints!!

I wonder how she handles her customers that complain?? I'll bet she sees red if anyone dares to complain!!

What was her point exactly? Did she want to believe that she was coming to give you some "constructive criticism"? Maybe she is a cake decorator wanna-be who envys your talent. I think you were very patient with her... I would have said a few after the first ten minutes of her ranting.

Inma

The woman sounds like a total whackjob...

I don't feel that you were being unprofessional. You were being the bigger person and willingly giving her a refund, when she didn't ask for one.

If she is so unhappy with your cakes, then WHY does she keep coming back?

Sounds to me like she's just someone who HAS to complain about everything. Unfortunately, I know a few people just like that, and I wasn't so nice about it (example: "If you don't like it, then quit hording the whole cake to yourself. Don't eat it if it sucks that bad!").

Congrats to you for having the guts to ask her to leave. If it were me, I wouldn't have been so nice about it...hehe.

She kept ordering cakes because they were given to her at sucha good price. Keep that money and be glad youre done with her. You were not unprofessional. You did what needed to be done. I read your last post and this lady had it coming.

No way girl! Put that money back in that register and to heck with her! She didn't ask for a refund and basically refused your gesture to refund so keep it!!! You earned it!

As for her b****fest oh well you don't need customers like that anyway. Politely tell her next time that she has the cakeballs to come in there "I'm sorry but due to our previous dealings and how unhappy you have been with all of your orders I will sadly be unable to help you this time" That way you're still being respectful and not calling her a b**** to her face and you're still being professional. Which I might add you were still being professional today when she came in there like that!!

I've had people who complain about everything!! Not since I started cakes but before when I worked retail, food service, and a gas station cashier this guy came in to Exxon and complained that our gas prices were too high so I politely told him the gas station down the road sells the SAME exact gas (tanker unloads here then goes there and unloads lmao) and they sell it for about 2-5 cents cheaper per gallon. So instead of doing so he repeatedly came back and every day he came in complaining and I finally at 2 am one morning (I worked 10 pm - 6/7/8 am shift) while I was cleaning up the store and started screaming that I was stealing his money and ripping him off and so on and so on this time over the price of coffee.... $1.29 for a cup of FRESH coffee isn't bad lol. Not for the size cup he had and the fact that I had just freshly ground it and brewed it because I knew what time my truckers came in for their breakfast lol. Anyway I finally had it and I snapped. Mainly from stress and fear and tiredness, but I blew up at him and told him if he didn't like it to leave, 7-11 is right next door go get your 3 day old coffee from them and get your gas down the road at the other Exxon for 2 cents MORE and complain to them! I said all this as I walked toward him with the phone in my hand and my stun gun in hand (police issued ) and he backed away walking out the door at which time I grabbed the door slammed it shut in his face locked it and put the sign up that we were temporarily closed. He never came back and never complained to my boss lol.

Anyway hun I think you should keep the money you did the cake just because she isn't happy doesn't mean she deserves her money back she is obviously never happy with anything anyone does god help her husband LMFAO!!!

Cake balls? hahaha LOVE that!

You know, sometimes I come across as rough and tough as nails when I post..but that is because if you saw me in real life ..no one takes me seriously..

I am over 50 years old and people STILL call me "THAT BABY FACED BAKER!"...lol

I have a SERIOUS girlie gigggle that makes people laugh with me and a BETTY BOOP voice that when people call they ask to speak to MY MOTHER!!!!

GRRRRRRRRRRRR so I have to be tough as nails...riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight....lol

and right now I"m trying to fulfill an old dream of learning stand up comedy because I can tell the greatest funny stories...(what I'm trying to say is that I'm not all that bad..hehehe)

so. I guess that's why people like her THINK they can bully me......well that SPA WITCH can THINK AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

bwaaaaaaaaaaaahahaa!

*audience clapping*

I kinda feel sorry for the lady. LOL. But I in no way could have had that much patience for that witch.

I thought you handled it pretty well...I've actually thrown people out of my shop! Sometimes you just can't let them walk on you any longer. I'm sorry but, the customer is NOT always right! Good job keeping your stack!

Risque, now do you wish you had that special smash cake ready that I mentioned on the other thread? Just kidding! Sorry you went through this, some people have NO class and she is one of them. You did the right thing

Risque, I just want to say that I saw your cake photos and you are totally pro! That chocolate cake with the transfers looks absolutely delicious! All of your cakes look delicious and beautiful!!! That women is just insane..maybe she's just lonely and bitter!!

It hard to understand where this woman is coming from. The only thing I can think of is since you opened your business there not to long ago she thinks she is "helping" you by telling you what she thinks you are doing wrong-not that you are doing anything wrong LOL.
Keep the money, just do not take any more orders from her.

RisqueBusiness, don't let her get to you. One of my "other" jobs is in Mental health. The woman sounds like she has some real issues that aren't yours, and you aren't going to be able to fix either. You deserved the $25 (at least! Your work is great!) keep it and be (nicely) firm about not baking for her anymore.
Deirdre

Risque...I think next time she comes in for a cake, sell her one with a pair of twizzers. When she asks what the twizzers are for, tell her it's to get the splinter out of her a$$.

Have a wonderful Wednesday!!!!

Sandy

See? THIS is why I don't own a bakery! LOL I freaked out because a FREE cake wilted on me! I don't know how I would have handled this woman. However, I don't think I would have given her money back and I agree with the others...."We reserve the right to refuse service".

PS I am a semi-retired RN and let me just say.....while I don't have EXTENSIVE mental health experience......uh.....PROBLEMS here and they are NOT yours!!

uh,...my previous post...TWEEZERS...why can't I spell this A.M.???

I thought that "twizzers" was something new and kinky..lol

was all for it...lol

( I knew what you meant, I'm fluent in TYPOS!!) lol

I have a hard time turning away business. I am of the opinion that as a person in any type of service industry you should be of service to all types of people.

I don't think it sounded as if she was being overly rude just insane, annoying, maybe lonely (who has the time to have these drawn out conversations with strangers for no reason- she didn't want money back), a decorating wanna be as was mentioned before, or just someone on a power trip. So, in order to make sure I was paid for the therapy session that always seems to follow a delivery, I would definately stop charging her discount prices. She would get "special" prices. You should be paid for your agravation. I certainly would not have hung up on a customer to entertain her it just lets her know that she has importance and probably eggs her on. Be abrupt with her and charge her hansomely for the gift of you time, talent and attention. A simple "I am sorry you were unhappy yet again" and "what can I do for you today" is how I would greet her. If she is not ordering be very abrupt and eventually she will change up a little. If you think you are rid of her think again. Christmas is coming.

Wow! That sucks. I hope she gets help with her problem whatever it may be. I thought that maybe you had patiently listened in detail to her complaining and had given us a shortened version. Perhaps she really isn't well.

Funny slightly related story:
One of my friends was banned from a dinner. she is a mother of four and she used to go to this dinner in the morning before work (after dropping the kids off for school breakfast ) and three mornings in a row she said she sent her food back because there was a hair in it. She has a real hair phobia and she loves the dinner so I believe her when she says there really were hairs in her food. Her skin crawls when she sees hair on the floor at the hair salon. So on the fourth morning when she went into the dinner to order the owner, a short hairy greek guy, said "Oh no not you. You don't eat here! You always find hair in food. You out!" she was mortified and had lost her favorite place to eat for all time. Not only that but the experience made her leery of complaining at restaraunts in general.

One day we went out for lunch at another neighborhood dinner and she ordered a Gyro. This was not a Greek dinner so I was suspicious especially since I din't see any meat on a spit. Well, the "Gyro" came and the meat looked grey. It looked as if it had freezer burn and they had heated it anyway. I immediately tried to send it back. she all but tackled me and said "Listen I like eating here. You aren't sending anything back." Well needless to say she was rushed to the emergency room later that day with a horrible case of food poisoning and even then she didn't want to complain because although she would never eat a Gyro again she still wanted to be able to go there for Ice Cream Sundays. Can you imagine . . . ?

I guess the only thing left to do when she comes in again is to tell her "No cake for you!"

Commentaries? Who does she think she is, Andy Rooney? Tell her 60 Minutes is hiring, and that she should get a real job. Doesn't she have something to massage over there at the Spa?

If she wanted filling, she should have said she wanted filling. She knew how to ask for it previously.

Does she bring you that much business that you need to put up with this from her all the time?

Theresa