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Poor Timming!! email arrives 30 minutes before delivery

post #1 of 53
4/11/09 at 8:34am
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Ok, I have been doing cakes for friends and family as a "gift". Friend wanted a special cake for daughter, a little over the top. We have been planning for at least 2 months on this. I take cake to party and she looks a bit upset. The bday girl loves the cake and everyone oohhs and aahhs over it. I get home and check up on things, and 30 minutes before I am supposed to be there with the cake is a email discussing how she wants the finished look. I was on the road icon_mad.gif . This morning I got another email from her saying the cake tasted good but was upset that I did not finish the cake like she wanted, I sent you an email this afternoon with what I wanted, why did you do this to me? icon_mad.gif I was soooo disappointed! How the heck do you respond to this? You get a cake like we had been talking about, wait to last minute to get napkins on the way, send a phone email AFTER the cake is finished and are disappointed in how the cake turned out? WTF? I am in the process of getting my own place and I do enjoy making cakes. I thought that this would be good pre-shop advertising. I thought this would be a good way to help a friend. She couldn't even afford Wally World. I think I will just give up on cakes all together! icon_cry.gif
yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift, that is why it is called the present. from the movie Kung Fu Panda
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yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift, that is why it is called the present. from the movie Kung Fu Panda
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post #2 of 53
4/11/09 at 8:42am
You know what, tell her the truth, you were on your way when she sent you an email. And seriously, why would she even complain about a FREE cake? If she can't afford Wally World and she is actually getting a cake from a decorator, she should be more than thankful. I'm sorry this happened to you but don't let this discourage you.

I think you make amazing cakes! I specially like the sweet 16 cake you did by the way. If she can't appreciate your amazing talent and kindness, well I don't think she is that much of a friend afterall.

Please don't give up cakes!! hugs!

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Created by MyFitnessPal.com - Easy Calorie Counting
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post #3 of 53
4/11/09 at 8:43am
Don't give up. I would just explain to her that you didn't get that e-mail until after you had delivered the cake.
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post #4 of 53
4/11/09 at 8:43am
Her problem is NOT your problem. Some people are clueless !!

Your cakes are wonderful! Please don't give up, I would love to have your talent. Don't let her discourage you, just let her go to Wally World next time.
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post #5 of 53
4/11/09 at 8:43am
It just goes to show people have NO CLUE what goes into decorating a cake or even transporting it. I would email her back and explain very simply that she cannot send an email at the last minute to make changes. It is inappropriate. I would also reiterate the agreed upon design and if she still is acting like a you know what then tell her to make her own next time.
If I only had a piece of cake.....
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If I only had a piece of cake.....
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post #6 of 53
4/11/09 at 8:44am
She's lucky that the cake was a gift... how can she have the nerve to get mad at you when you are just giving the cake! You should see the thread about Dsevans about the bride stopping payment on her check on the day of the wedding... that was a real nightmare! Like you I make cakes for friends and family...altho none have requested or demanded certain decorations, they were all appreciative of whatever cake I came up with.

Anyway, when you get into business, that's what the contract is for. Have it written in black and white, this way you are covered in all grounds.
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post #7 of 53
4/11/09 at 8:45am
You should write her a nice email back and say something like, I'm really sorry that the cake didn't turn out the way that you wanted it. I was under the impression that this was what you wanted. If you had given me more notice, I could have changed the cake. But it takes about 4-6 (however many hours it takes you) to make a cake. In order for me to have changed the cake, you would have had to let me know at least 2 days in advance. I never received the email you sent stating the changes, because I was on my way, with the cake, to your party!!

You could even put something in there about how you are upset that she didn't like it because it was your gift to her and you worked very hard on it.

Hope this helps. But I would definitely tell her off in a nice way. She needs to know and understand why you didn't change it. It was HER FAULT! Not yours!
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post #8 of 53
4/11/09 at 8:45am
Don't give up on cakes! It's not your fault she's an idiot. What nerve she had to complain about a free cake anyway let alone changing it at the last minute.
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post #9 of 53
4/11/09 at 8:46am
NO!!! You dont give up because of one set back. First of all, you did NOTHING WRONG!!! I would send an email back, stating that you dont check your email while your working on a cake, ESPECIALLY at the last minute...as the cake was very important to both of you and you wanted to get it done for her.
Tell your disappointed that, since there was a big change in the cake, that she didnt call you and speak to you in person, Thus maybe causing everyone to not be happy.
And state that your glad at least she was happy with the tasting of the cake. But for further cakes, Please make direct contacts and to PLEASE, not do it at the last minute, as you have other orders or its hard to change a design at the last minute. And then thank her. Stating I know you understand and I thank you.
NO APOLOGY AT ALL on your part...Be firm, be Strong!!! *hugs*
Dede Wilson (cake decorator) I dont want people to look at my cakes and say: It's to pretty to eat. I want them to look at them as dessert and want to eat them. .
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Dede Wilson (cake decorator) I dont want people to look at my cakes and say: It's to pretty to eat. I want them to look at them as dessert and want to eat them. .
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post #10 of 53
4/11/09 at 8:46am
whoa...I saw an Alaska license plate in one of your pics..are you in Alaska?
If I only had a piece of cake.....
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If I only had a piece of cake.....
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post #11 of 53
4/11/09 at 8:54am
Looking through your photos..there is no reason you should give up on cakes....your kidding right? Don't let one persons stupidity get you down! Especially if she got it for free or even half of the cost then shame on her for even making a negative remark.
If I only had a piece of cake.....
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If I only had a piece of cake.....
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post #12 of 53
4/11/09 at 8:57am
I'm so sorry.....but.....THIS is a person you consider a "friend"? I do cakes for friends and family only and well, as ANY who has been on CC for any length of time knows....I don't charge OR I don't charge enough. BUT, I can say this....I have NEVER had one of my friends complain about a FREE cake. Most want to pay MORE than what the cake is worth!

I'm sorry this happened to you, but, your cakes are truly amazing and you shouldn't give up. Maybe when "your friend" sees you one day on Food Network Challenge....she'll feel REALLY BAD!

Beth in KY
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post #13 of 53
4/11/09 at 8:57am
Ok, after reading in here, I went to peek at your cakes...ARE YOU KIDDING!!! GIVE UP ON CAKES!!! ...lol, woman you have talent...wish I had it like you did.
And I want you to go back and look at your photos and SEE HOW MANY are marked FAVORITES!!!! *hitting you on the head*...
FORWARD YOU MOVE ON...next challenge in making cakes...lol
Dede Wilson (cake decorator) I dont want people to look at my cakes and say: It's to pretty to eat. I want them to look at them as dessert and want to eat them. .
Reply
Dede Wilson (cake decorator) I dont want people to look at my cakes and say: It's to pretty to eat. I want them to look at them as dessert and want to eat them. .
Reply
post #14 of 53
4/11/09 at 9:07am
Wow!!! Your cakes are so awesome! CC has a lot of talented decorators, I'm just hoping some day I can be like you.
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post #15 of 53
4/11/09 at 9:12am
Your cakes are absolutely wonderful. Don't let one unappreciative person get in your way of what you want to do. There's always someone out there that thinks the world revolves around them and if someone gave them a million bucks, they'd complain if it wasn't in new bills. And if that's her attitude, she's really not a friend.

I have one sitting in the freezer right now....the Marilyn cake in my photos...done for a good friend. The party was cancelled a couple of hours before it was to begin and rescheduled for today. Cancelled again, and now he doesn't think it's going to happen. When I asked him about the cake...he said..."oh well, do what you want with it. If we decide to have the party, you can do another one" icon_mad.gif I highly doubt it.

Anybody hungry for dutch chocolate Marilyn Monroe cake? icon_biggrin.gif
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