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Wedding Cake Fell, how much do I refund? (long) - Page 2

post #16 of 70
4/22/08 at 12:11am
I wouldn't give a refund at all, you came back and even provided sheet cakes to make up for what fell. It's not your fault, so don't feel bad about it (easier said than done, I know) Tell her to suck it up and move on to the DJ for the money like someone else mentioned lol. Honestly though if it were me I wouldn't refund her a penny, it wasn't your job to babysit the cake..only to provide the cake and you did just that.

Just wanted to add, if you feel you have to give her something then give her a credit or a voucher for a free 6" anniversary cake or something..
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post #17 of 70
4/22/08 at 6:35am
I would give a partial refund as a sign of good customer service (I'm BIG on customer service).

Question, who actually paid for the cake? The bride or the MOB? I had a cake disaster once and someone else called me and when I offered a 50% discount on a future order she angrily said that wasn't good enough. When I talked to the person who actually ordered and paid for it, she was like great, that'll work.
Cake decorating ROCKS!!
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Cake decorating ROCKS!!
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post #18 of 70
4/22/08 at 9:21pm
I think you were very kind. The same thing that I would do in that situation since we are both caring people. It was not mandatory that you go back but
very considerate!!
My passion is cake decorating.
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My passion is cake decorating.
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post #19 of 70
4/22/08 at 10:10pm
I have to agree with the other posts.

You deliviered and set up the cake. Stayed for hours with no problems.

The DJs arrive,start booming their music and suddenly the cake falls!! Hello, not your fault!

The bride should be asking the DJs to refund the price of the cake,not you.
What could be better than cake?
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What could be better than cake?
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post #20 of 70
4/23/08 at 7:24am
I don't normally chime in on subjects like these because I don't feel like I have been in the "business" long enough to give much advice. Having said that, I don't think you owe this lady anything. You did her a great service by providing her with sheet cakes to serve and salvaging as much as you could of your original creation. Do what you feel in your heart is the right thing and stick to it. By the way...you already babysat the cake for hours, which is more than I would've done. Once the cake is up and a pic is taken, I'm outta there...
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post #21 of 70
4/23/08 at 8:14am
A a story similar to the cake:

She just bought her very first new car. It was lovely and she just adored the new car smell, the admiring looks sent her way, and the way the engine purred when she started it. The dealership where she purchased it was going to apply a small bit of graphics to the trunk and door handles but the person responsible was on vacation until the next week. So she took the car home over the weekend excitedly waiting until Monday.

Monday came and she brought the car into dealership trusting they would do the job properly as she already paid for the work. The expert took his time and created a lovely graphic above each door handle and the trunk. He then drove the car across the street to the car wash to clean up the bits of dirt and to show off the car properly when the women came to pick up the car.

The car was washed and parked in the parking lot. Unfortunately the gas tanker did not see the car and backed into the driver side and trunk area and crunching the car It was still drivable but looked awful.

Now who is at fault? The graphic craftsman, the dealership where he worked, the car wash company or the tanker driver?
Award winning cake designer and fine art sculptor.

"An artist discovers his genius the day he dares not to please." ~Andre Malraux
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Award winning cake designer and fine art sculptor.

"An artist discovers his genius the day he dares not to please." ~Andre Malraux
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post #22 of 70
4/23/08 at 8:54am
Unless the carwash rendered the car invisible, or invisible ink was used on the entire surface of the car, the tanker truck driver (and probably the company he works for) would be held responsible.

icon_biggrin.gif
"To laugh often and to love much..., to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others, to give one's self..., this is to have succeeded."
Ralph Waldo Emerson
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"To laugh often and to love much..., to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others, to give one's self..., this is to have succeeded."
Ralph Waldo Emerson
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post #23 of 70
4/23/08 at 8:56am
Zactly - tanker driver - and wouldn't that be the same as the DJ?
Award winning cake designer and fine art sculptor.

"An artist discovers his genius the day he dares not to please." ~Andre Malraux
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Award winning cake designer and fine art sculptor.

"An artist discovers his genius the day he dares not to please." ~Andre Malraux
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post #24 of 70
4/23/08 at 3:46pm
No, the manufacturer should have built a car that could withstand the force of a tanker truck.

icon_lol.gificon_wink.gificon_rolleyes.gificon_lol.gif

(did I use enough smileys to convey the sarcasm here??!!)

Anyway good luck in whatever you do. Although I think you are generous in offering a refund or some sort of compensation, I do think you need to make it perfectly clear that you are doing so out of the goodness of your heart, not because you did anything wrong. Kinda like when you go to McDonald's and drop your meal, sometimes they might be kindhearted and give you a new one even though it's not their fault you dropped your own tray... Except in this case you already DID give her a "new meal" (sheet cake)...??
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post #25 of 70
4/23/08 at 4:03pm
You're so nice to be concerned about this. I agree, it's not your problem after you deliver.
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post #26 of 70
4/24/08 at 10:04am
Thread Starter 
Well, I guess I finally learned my lesson! I updated my contract to include the "not responsible for the cake once it is signed for" Claus.

I called the Mother of the Bride back late on Monday and offered her 25% back.

She said she deserved more because all of the pictures were ruined (i guess I made the brides makeup run all over her face when I ruined her wedding day). Oh and the sheet cakes weren't decorated like the original cake!!

I tried to explain to her about the music but she just screamed that all weddings have music. I told her to call the caterer and she would explain just how loud the bass was up.

So I apologized for the DJ ruining her cake and told her that her 25% refund would be in the mail.

I'm just glad that this whole thing is over!

And also thanks to everyone for your kind words icon_smile.gif
Is it hot in here?
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Is it hot in here?
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post #27 of 70
4/24/08 at 10:54am
Why not make out an invoice for the sheet cakes then refund whatever percentage that comes to?

I think it's very nice of you to refund 25%.
Stephanie
Momma to 3 stinky boys
Caden (5), Wyatt (3), and Grady (1)
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Stephanie
Momma to 3 stinky boys
Caden (5), Wyatt (3), and Grady (1)
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post #28 of 70
4/24/08 at 5:12pm
What I'd like to know is how is getting more $$ back going to fix the wedding pictures?

Like I said before, I think you went above and beyond (going back & fixing said cake and bringing sheet cakes with no compensation for them and offering a 25% refund) for something that was not your fault. She should be tickled pink for what you have given her already! Some people will do anything for $$, even when they know that they should rightly get nothing and should be thanking you profusely instead of screaming at you for more $$!

I'm just happy for you that it is all over and you can put it behind you as a lesson well learned! I'm glad you have updated your contract so hopefully you won't have this problem again!

icon_smile.gif
KJV - PROVERBS 15:1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
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KJV - PROVERBS 15:1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
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post #29 of 70
4/24/08 at 7:39pm
Sometimes, it takes people longer to realize they're being irrational. Maybe, when this person gets her revelation Cakenator's generosity will be repaid with new customers who appreciate her deeds.

All the best to you!
"Be the change you want to see in the world."- Mahatma Gandhi

miniature cake tutorial

http://www.youtube.com/user/MyNewSneakers?feature=mhsn
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"Be the change you want to see in the world."- Mahatma Gandhi

miniature cake tutorial

http://www.youtube.com/user/MyNewSneakers?feature=mhsn
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post #30 of 70
4/24/08 at 7:53pm
,,,, Story sounds so familiar. Remember the Golf bag incident?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/25648034@N08/
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/25648034@N08/
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