Cake Central › Cake Forums › Cake Talk › Cake Disasters › Longest Disaster Story Ever. Please Help.
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Longest Disaster Story Ever. Please Help. - Page 5

post #61 of 99
6/30/08 at 3:41pm
Thread Starter 
Everything is quiet here. Almost 6, no calls. Maybe it will just blow over.
Reply
Reply
post #62 of 99
6/30/08 at 4:49pm
after 6 now icon_smile.gif if they haven't called I don't think they will. And I'm sure if they were gonna they would have by now
Christi
(NO I am not a goat farmer LOL)


I get enough excercise just pushing my luck
Reply
Christi
(NO I am not a goat farmer LOL)


I get enough excercise just pushing my luck
Reply
post #63 of 99
7/3/08 at 8:55pm
Quote:
Quote:

Chefs jacket isn't a bad idea. But it feels weird. Like walking around a hospital in a doctors coat and stetescope (sp) but not being a doctor. I haven't earned a Chefs jacket. I am an imposter!



I feel the same way, like a big goof when I wear mine. I mean I bake from home and only do so many cakes a year! So the ONE TIME I did not put it on (I even had it in the car 'cause HD made me take it) I soooo wish I HAD!! They loved the cake so much they called out The Head Chef and most of his staff - ALL wearing jackets OF COURSE! It would have been sooo much nicer if I had been wearing my damn jacket!!! icon_mad.gif I mean I bought the damn thing, I really have to get over feeling silly in it.

Get one and wear it, the few times I did it really did make a difference. icon_smile.gif
Laura
Reply
Laura
Reply
post #64 of 99
7/3/08 at 8:59pm
BTW I love your cake, and I'd really be surprised if you hear anything from the customer. Let us know the results of your letter!
Laura
Reply
Laura
Reply
post #65 of 99
7/3/08 at 9:06pm
Thread Starter 
I decided to not send the letter. I really didn't want to stir things up-have the hotel cause additional problems or whatever.
Never heard a single word from the Bride...funny, it's only been a week, but it seems so long ago now!
Reply
Reply
post #66 of 99
7/3/08 at 9:28pm
I've worked in the HR field for over 30 years (it's my "real" job), and I can't tell you how many times employees with bad behavior are never held accountable for it because other employees or customers just don't want to make a fuss. Rude, unprofessional people like the woman you dealt with count on that. Believe me, her management needs and wants to know about her conduct. It's not acceptable behavior, and it really should be addressed.

I'm not sure I understand your reluctance. You acted completely professionally in a very uncomfortable situation that was not of your making. I always point out to people who don't want to complain that this may be a pattern for this person that her supervisor has been dealing with, and the supervisor needs to know if it's continuing. If this woman doesn't actually work for the venue, but is an independent wedding planner or something, they still need to know because it's still a reflection on their business.

I'm an amateur cake decorator, but I'm a professional employee relations specialist, so this is my advice. Don't lose your nerve now. Send the letter. You'll feel so much better that you've stood up for yourself once you do. Then you can forget about it and move on with your head held high.
It's not good enough that we do our best; sometimes we have to do what's required.

Winston Churchill
Reply
It's not good enough that we do our best; sometimes we have to do what's required.

Winston Churchill
Reply
post #67 of 99
7/3/08 at 9:46pm
I am so sorry this happened but honestly - I had to look hard for that crack!!! I am sure to you it looked like the Grand Canyon - but like everyone pointed out - that is why there is a "back of the cake".

Your cake was stunning and I am sure it that the bride didn't even notice the crack. Sorry Dragon Lady was so ugly to you. You must develope an air of confidence in what you do...that "the cake artist has arrived" and that you are in complete control. I have had an ugly happen on site once...I nearly died...I was putting a loopy bow together on a buttercream cake that had their names stencilled on at the bottom when the Kee-seal textured bag blew out and dropped buttercream blobs down the front of my cake onto the stencil. Horrors of horrors. I had them turn up the lights so I could see better and whipped out my tools which fascinated the staff and gently scraped away the buttercream without messing up the design. We all have had some sort of mishap at one time or another. Don't let it visably flap you.

When I deliver to an unfamiliar venue, I always go in first to find out EXACTLY where the cake goes and the best way to get there with no accidents.

Again, your cake was so pretty and I am sure they were thrilled.
Sugar Artist in Progress
Reply
Sugar Artist in Progress
Reply
post #68 of 99
7/4/08 at 5:22am
Oh I think you should really send that letter.. icon_sad.gif

That lady at the hotel crossed a big line when she touched your cake and put flowers on it, while you already took care of the cracks with tulle.

Imagine you are an artist delivering your latest painting to a gallery, and the gallery owner comes out with a paintbrush "because it needs more yellow on the left side"? Would you let him?
Reply
Reply
post #69 of 99
7/4/08 at 5:48am
Quote:
Quote:

chutzpah wrote:
Tell me her name and where she works and I'll slap her up good next time I'm in town....

...Sure-I'll PM it to you. We need a cake mafia.




CAKE MAFIA --- LOL What an *excellent* idea !!
The unexamined life is not worth living --Socrates
Reply
The unexamined life is not worth living --Socrates
Reply
post #70 of 99
7/4/08 at 6:01am
It's too late for the cake mafia swat team-SEND THE LETTER! Too many times these people get away with their rudeness because we're too nice to hold them to a professional standard. If I was their employer I would want to know. Think of how she stressed you; if she even mentioned it to the bride, let alone the lilies, she put a flaw in her special day that didn't even need to be there.

As for the chef's jacket, I'm just an hobbyist-you do amazing cakes-you deserve to wear the jacket.
Reply
Reply
post #71 of 99
7/4/08 at 6:57am
Thread Starter 
To Address the Letter Issue: icon_redface.gif

When I wrote it, my DH and my mother both thought it just sounded like some angry person ranting. That the supervisor would just roll her eyes and throw it away.

I guess I need to slim it down a little bit, and figure out how to write it unemotionally.
Reply
Reply
post #72 of 99
7/4/08 at 7:12am
You know... I've been in a similar situation before. Not regarding a cake, but dealing with someone who was extremely unprofessional. I went home, wrote a letter that just was filled with all my emotions... I let that sit for a few days. But never sent it. I went back about a week later, when I was calmer and a little more rational about the situation an wrote it again. This time sticking to just the facts. Leaving my anger & upset out of it. You can do it. You can re-write the letter as many times as you feel you need to until you get a professional letter, that outlines her unprofessional behavior without sounding like you're angry or whining. And trust me, that kind of letter WILL get results one way or the other and you will feel so much better!

I'm so sorry you've had to deal with this. The bright side is that the cake is gorgeous!
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming...'Wow! What a ride!' -- unknown
Reply
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming...'Wow! What a ride!' -- unknown
Reply
post #73 of 99
7/4/08 at 7:26am
I have to agree as well. Send the letter...she may need a wake up call as to her manner when dealing with people. I have to agree with all comments made, take the emotion out of it, and hold her accountable. Maybe the bride had an equally bad experience with her as well. When I first read the post I was expecting a cake severely damaged and your cake does not qualify. Remember too that the cake is usually a very small part of the day, and a good photographer will get the best angle for the cake.
Reply
Reply
post #74 of 99
7/4/08 at 9:05am
Summernoelle, send it to me in a PM if you want and I'll "wordsmith" it for you. When things like this happen to me, my husband always says, "You should send them one of your 'sternly worded' letters." I've written some letters that'd scorch your fingers just holding them in your hands, but they're always focused on the problem and not personal attacks, otherwise they're not effective.

I'd like to add that I've made it a practice to be just as conscientious about sending letters of glowing praise when people do things well. I think we forget to do that and it means so much to people when they receive those. I figure it's only fair to praise as generously as we might complain.
It's not good enough that we do our best; sometimes we have to do what's required.

Winston Churchill
Reply
It's not good enough that we do our best; sometimes we have to do what's required.

Winston Churchill
Reply
post #75 of 99
7/4/08 at 11:11am
Thread Starter 
I like that about praising people, too. There have been times when someone has been so wonderful, that you wish there was a way to repay them!
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Cake Disasters
Cake Central › Cake Forums › Cake Talk › Cake Disasters › Longest Disaster Story Ever. Please Help.