I think I might be mad at you for offering a refund on the UNTOUCHED groom's cake.
I sure don't mean to give you a hard time, but I think you will regret giving this nasty bride any refund at all. It was her choice to buy the cake, and then not eat it. Why should you be out of pocket?
One reason she arrived at your door intending to defraud you is that in the past, she has been successful at scamming nice people who give her money to go away.
She doesn't even have a nodding acquaintance with the truth. She's robbing you, not with a gun, with her mouth!
And if she succeeds, someone else will be next.
I totally totally agree with the past few posts.
Why refund anything?
I have been following the thread (big hugs to you, BTW! You hang in there!), and I have to agree to NO refund. At all.
I had my first complaint a few weeks ago (party issue at my cake supply store, but the point is the same)...I did my research, discovered the gal was nuts and that she complains ALL OVER TOWN, and then realized that even IF I gave her a partial refund, she would most likely STILL bash me. There is only so much damage one person can do, especially before she starts getting into slander issues.
You worked hard and deserve compensation. Do not allow her to steal from you.
She did not cut the groom's cake at the reception Friday. She called me Saturday morning to complain about the bottom tier of the bridal cake and said they hadn't even cut the groom's cake. She did cut into it Saturday night at her house. She brought back the bridal tier and the groom's cake on Monday. She said it was dry and burned also. It is the Husker cake picture a few pages back. I did offer a partial refund on that cake to be rid of her. I know she doesn't deserve it. I know it doesn't make sense that if the cake is so bad, then why did they eat a 1/4 of it that night. I just want her gone. If $55 shuts her up, it's worth it. And it's no where near the $300-$400 she wants back.
Yea, I get what you're saying and I don't blame you one bit. You just want to be rid of her and you're right it's worth $55 to just get her off your back and move on.
Hopefully she realizes that she's not going to get another penny from you.
I'd like to commend you for handling this situation with such grace and professionalism. I think a lot of us here would have liked to see a picture of her wearing that cake! 
Yea, I get what you're saying and I don't blame you one bit. You just want to be rid of her and you're right it's worth $55 to just get her off your back and move on.
Hopefully she realizes that she's not going to get another penny from you.
I'd like to commend you for handling this situation with such grace and professionalism. I think a lot of us here would have liked to see a picture of her wearing that cake!
my thoughts exactly!
Yea, I get what you're saying and I don't blame you one bit. You just want to be rid of her and you're right it's worth $55 to just get her off your back and move on.
Hopefully she realizes that she's not going to get another penny from you.
I'd like to commend you for handling this situation with such grace and professionalism. I think a lot of us here would have liked to see a picture of her wearing that cake!
my thoughts exactly!
second that.
Question: Since you are opting to give her a $55.00 refund, do you have the cake or did she take it back home? Now if she took it home, she is probably home finish eating it up and laughing cause she done got over. please, no refund. She's a scam artist. It is time that someone stood up to her!!
Question: Since you are opting to give her a $55.00 refund, do you have the cake or did she take it back home? Now if she took it home, she is probably home finish eating it up and laughing cause she done got over. please, no refund. She's a scam artist. It is time that someone stood up to her!!
That's what I thought. If you're giving her anything back on it she shouldn't keep it ... I don't care if you're just throwing it away. It's principle. People like her don't shut up and go away for anything, so why give her the satisfaction of a partial refund while keeping all the goods? If you're happy with it, though, it was the right decision. I, personally, would be kicking myself over and over again for making an offer like that. I just hope you don't regret it.
No, if she accepts the offer, she will have to bring the cake back to pick up the check. I'm not going to let her keep it. I have no problems with throwing it away here just to see that she doesn't get to keep both the cake and the money.
Also, I forgot to say thanks to everyone for there input and honest comments. It was a great help in getting through those days.
Yea, I get what you're saying and I don't blame you one bit. You just want to be rid of her and you're right it's worth $55 to just get her off your back and move on.
Hopefully she realizes that she's not going to get another penny from you.
I'd like to commend you for handling this situation with such grace and professionalism. I think a lot of us here would have liked to see a picture of her wearing that cake!
my thoughts exactly!
second that.
yup yup yup!!! 
Not my favorite plan, but an acceptable one....she brings back remainder of groom's cake and gets check for $55 to disappear.
No cake=no refund at all. Less than half cake returned=no refund.
She really deserves nothing!
i do understand why you are refunding 1/2..just to get id of her.
BUT, I wouldn't give her anything back. You can just stop accepting her calls/emails. Tell her no communication unless through lawyers. I mean, you said 1/2 looks and 1/2 taste. You're cake looked good, and tasted good enough to eat 1/4 of it(or however much) the night after the wedding. It's not your fault she ordered so much that they had no need to cut it the night of the wedding. I really wish you wouldn't give her anything, but whatever makes you feel better. I just hate to see you loose money just to shut someone crazy up...she proves she doesn't deserve it.
If crazy girl accepts your offer to buy yourself peace from her I urge you to PLEASE have her sign something saying by accepting this hush money that this finishes all business and claims she may have from the original contract. Cuz I would hate to have her smell money and then go after you for more. Then you can be sure that you won't have to deal with her again. and unfortunantely for her what goes around comes around and the only reason people are like this is because they are truly unhappy in their life. So know that while you are enjoying a happy life she is forever unhappy!!
I understand why you offered the refund. You did handle yourself beautifully. She may be a scammer or she may be genuinely unhappy (and a bit looney too). I think she did contact her lawyer and he said that she had no case and that it would cost more to persue than what she was seeking. Is there an expiry to your offer (ie no refund once the cake is stale) or are you just as happy to give it still and be rid of her? I love that you didn't lose control of your emotions in such a charged confrontation - congratulations!
Ummm... hello? Is she for real? Has she never eaten a piece of bread in her life??
I'm sure when she makes a sandwich, she doesn't complain about the "burnt brown edges"!
Some are wise...and some are otherwise....
My favorite tasting part of the cake is the darker part, especially the cracked top on a pound cake-YUMM!!!
OMG! I made a butter cake on Thursday that I slightly over filled. So naturally, there was a little "crunchy edge" around the top! I TRIED..I WALKED AWAY, but, alas I wasn't strong enough. I trimmed that puppy while it was still warm and scarfed down those crunchy edges! YUM!
Beth in KY
YES...that crunchy part of a pound cake is MINE! I'm sure my pound cake customers are really missing that part. just kidding, but when i bake for home...that's MY part.
For the past week, I've been keeping up with this thread. OMG...it's like a Lifetime Movie. Now, that's an idea. Let's see what title can we give this movie? Psycho Bride Sends Hubby on Honeymoon Alone While She Stays Behind to Raise H***, or Nutcase Bride, Wedding Cake MURDER.....
Seriously, I hope everything calms down for you real soon and you can get on with decorating beautiful cakes. Best of luck to you and keep up the good work.
I just read this entire thread...all I can say is wow! I wouldn't have given her a refund, but as you said just to get rid of her I would have given her something also. Keep us updated...did she ever come back? I would like to add you do beautiful cakes!
Very, very newbie here, so my apologies in advance for speaking out of turn. I'm only up to page 6 and this may have already been covered, but....
A few folks recommended recording conversations with the bride. Please, *please* anyone considering that, check your local laws before you do it. Here in the state of Washington, *both* parties have to be aware and agree to voice taping unless a warrant has been obtained. If the other party is unaware or has not agreed to being taped, not only will it be totally inadmissable in either criminal or civil court, but the person doing the taping would be liable for criminal charges. Our law not only applies to "normal" voice recordings, but voices recorded in the course of video-taping, cell-phone and/or digital camera video-taping (in case anyone thought that might be a loophole). Just an FYI. Now...I've got to finish reading!!
how about if you tell her that since it is a case of 'she said/she said'., you will donate the $55 that you mentioned refunding her to a cause of her choice... that way you can both feel good about the outcome....in cases where it is impossible to please both parties, (i agree with you 100% on this whole issue tho') , it is sometimes best to come to an agreement that neither party profits from, but a third party does.... just my 2 cents.laurie
how about if you tell her that since it is a case of 'she said/she said'., you will donate the $55 that you mentioned refunding her to a cause of her choice... that way you can both feel good about the outcome....in cases where it is impossible to please both parties, (i agree with you 100% on this whole issue tho') , it is sometimes best to come to an agreement that neither party profits from, but a third party does.... just my 2 cents.laurie
Oh I like this for future reference! Great idea I think.
Is there a way to protect ourselves from the scammers who just want free cake/services? Or those customers who just want to stir up trouble?
How are these things best resolved?
I have read on CC about stopped checks, false complaints...these are things I never even considered when I became licensed to sell cakes... 
I'm sorry this happened to you. 
SweetArt, I think you did a great job handling this one!
But...I still do not understand why you refunding part of the grooms cake even if the nut job bride does bring the uneaten part back? Just because they did not cut into it the night of the wedding? That is absolutely INSANE. Never mind hush money. Maybe I am just stubborn. I buy things all the time that I do not use ALL of, no one lets me return them!
Is there a way to protect ourselves from the scammers who just want free cake/services? Or those customers who just want to stir up trouble?
How are these things best resolved? (
Yup, you have to have a "tailor made" "tough as nails" "no detail left out" contract...............and have them initial each and every paragraph of it.
Even then there could be some loopholes, but I think it's less likely to happen if you cover all your bases.
This is the kind of thing that not too many of us thought about when we decided to start a business selling cakes.
That's why so many of the veteran business owners here will tell the "newbie" that "cake decorating" is NOT what this business is ALL about, it's a very small part of it in fact.
You have to be one step ahead of the public all the time.
All I can say is wow. I just read though all the messages on this thread, and wow. What a crazy bride. There are soooooo many red flags on her part. I see why you did it, but she was really wrong. I mean for her to say hey we didn't cut the grooms cake, but its burnt, but we ate part of it, but we want all the money back from it. That is just wrong. I might get yelled at for saying this, but you shouldn't have giving her a dime, you just let her open a door to rip off any cake maker. She is going to tell everyone she knows how she got a over $100 cake for $55. Sorry you had to go though that and like a lot of people say make sure you make a very very very detailed contract. Their are very evil people who get over on the best of people.
NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!DEFINITELY NO refund for her in any form!!! There is only so much she can do- She has tried shouting, bluffing ,threats none worked and now she's playing at being reasonable 
pfft! she's got no legs to stand on, DON'T fall for her tricks she's a stupid fraudster and much as we love cake making and decorating I believe we all know it is hard work and there's no way I will support someone cheating you out of your hard earned money be it $55 or 55cents ,people like this don't stop after being paid off they move on to find the next gullible victim.Don't worry she'll soon tire herself out when she sees nothing is going to come out of her rantings and manipulations. What a creep!!!!! 
wowo...quite a saga. I disagree with a refund in any shape but now that you are committed to it, give her the 55 bucks but AFTER you have her sign that this is the last you are hearing of this issue. Take the cake back ofcourse and never hope to see her again. Please dont let her attorney nonsense even sound half way true to you....its awhole bunch of nonsense. Awww shucks...what a way to start your new wedded life! Good luck!
dont you hate how it only takes one person to mess up everything for everybody else... for example at our bakery we can no longer take orders over the phone because people wont come and pick up later... we cant take credit cards over the phone because weve had more than one stolen credit cards... we have to check every single $5 $10 $20 $ 50 and $ 100 bill that comes in because we have had more than one counterfit bill...and now you have to make all of these extra arrangements so that another bride wont be able to complain about "brown edges".... rewrite contracts, cut edges of cakes.... what a waste of a human being....
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