....delivered my 40 cookie order today, but not feeling good about it. I wasn't happy with my royal icing - the border design did not hold up due to all the humidity around here lately (but we did need this rain) and the taste was not what I wanted, despite my trying. I was going to say something to the customer, but did not - which is why I feel guilty. Guess if they are real bad she will either e-mail or call me. Should I have told her what I was disappointed in with these?

deb

I would wait to see if she contacts you. If you don't hear from her in a week or two.; contact her then. At that time explain how you feel about the cookies. She probably will not notice what you have noticed.

We are often our worst enemies when it comes to critiqueing our work. I would not have said anything to the customer especially about the taste - it may not have been exactly what you wanted but it may taste great to them - if you had said something - they would expect something to be wrong. As for the RI, you might had made a comment, that the humidity affects RI.
But definitely never tell a customer you are disappointed in your work - they would definitely wonder why you even gave the order to them.

Um, no MomLittr. Do not call her to tell her you are disappointed. Why in heavens name would you do this?

Think of it this way, your worst efforts are better than her best efforts any day of the year.

Let it go and move on.

I find that I am far more critical of my work than other people who see and eat my cakes. She may think they are fantastic and find nothing wrong with them. So I would wait and see if she gives you a call.

I'm with TIPTOP...... don't say a word ....."Never let 'em see you sweat"...

i agree don,t say anything if she is unhappy she will call you and even if she does don,t tell her how you have felt about the taste or anything else just move on put it behind you and try other icings etc

Thanks group! I like that, never let them see you sweat! I did give her a good deal on the cookies, only charging $1.25 each (cross cookie with monagram) so if she is a little unhappy won't say anything - I did put in a "receipt" showing what full price would be ($2.50) and put down it was a first time cookie order 50% discount.

deb

I sympathize with you though. I have delivered cakes I wanted to apologize profusely for things that glared at me. But, I learned my lesson when a cake I charged $60 for (which looking back I undercharged anyway) and I thought was a mess, the lady ended up sending me a thank you card and her daughter used it as her profile picture on Facebook for a while. Then I realized what all the other girls are saying, we are way too hard on ourselves. For a long time I thought, if I can do this, everyone can. But, I'm learning quickly that that just isn't true. With each cake we make, mistakes and all, we are honing a craft. Just like a plumber, anyone can go to Lowe's and buy pipe, but knowing what to do with it and how to do it right/well is a craft. Anyone can go down the cake isle at Wal-mart and buy pans and icing and tips, but not end up with anything close to what we can do. So, chin up, girl! You know what you want it to taste like, they don't. Was it sweet and cookie like? Did it NOT taste like sawdust (ahem...Wal-mart cookies)? Then you did what she paid you to do and that's that. And even if she calls you, don't gush about how disappoint you were before you even delivered them. Tell her you're sorry there was an issue and you will work on that for future orders. Offer to make her some samples before her next order if she would like. That shows you understand what she means and give good customer service. And, you can try out those new recipes! Sorry, I didn't intend for this to be "War & Peace"!!

P.S. Go back and look at your wedding cake sometime. I did that a few months ago and was AMAZED at what I saw! At the time, it was the most beautiful cake I'd ever seen. Now, I see a big ripple running through the bottom teir and the flowers were uneven. Believe me, your perspective changes!

i also give a little discount if it is my first at whatever one time i did a wedding cake i was so displeased that i wouldn,t even take a picture of it i just got out of there when the brides mother bought back my things she told me how beautiful it was and good tasting it was i was speechless but i could tell she really meant it i have often wished i did have a picture of it to see how far i have come i just put it behind me and kept trying harder

I'M SURE the cookies were just fine!!! And you did already give her a discount.

sweetrat, you have a great point. the cakes i first did in class i was so happy about and now looking back on them they are a reck. As we learn and improve our skills we also become more critical of our work. I agree with everyone else dont sell yourself short i am sure your customer will be very pleased with them even if you are not.