Bride Is Complaining (Really Really Long)

Business By jillmakescakes Updated 21 Jun 2009 , 5:49pm by indydebi

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jlynnw Posted 7 Jun 2009 , 12:28am
post #31 of 144
Quote:
Originally Posted by jeking

Bottom line is that the cake was perfectly fine when you left which you can, and have, proven with a photo. That's why we take photos after the cake is setup before we leave. What happens after that is absolutely not your problem. I would not offer one penny back. I consider that kind of crap blackmail. "I'll tell everybody if you don't give my money back"...If the blackmail works, then that information gets around too.




Exactly my point! There appears nothing wrong with the cake only one "vendor" person saying it was dry. You don't have to go any further. I can see waiting a week to complain and will hold my ground. Not everyone has a wedding planner or family available. Many brides now plan a wedding and pay for it without mom and dad's help. Something should have been done earlier yes. Photos or other proof given, yes. The proof IS the photo the baker has and that the venue recieved the cake. Someone had to have OKd the delivery. Again, the baker is covered. The bratty bridezilla does not have a leg to stand on and has lost her head to think otherwise.

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adven68 Posted 7 Jun 2009 , 3:27am
post #32 of 144

totally stick to your guns unless a photo is produced!!

great cake, BTW

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maryjsgirl Posted 7 Jun 2009 , 5:45am
post #33 of 144

Depending on what email service you use you may have the ability to look at the IP addresses of the emails you received from the bride, supposed DJ and coordinator. I would check to see if they are the same IP, if they are then you know someone is trying to scam you.

Here is more information...

Outlook Express
http://www.johnru.com/active-whois/trace-email.html

Gmail, Yahoo, & Hotmail
http://aruljohn.com/info/howtofindipaddress

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ceshell Posted 7 Jun 2009 , 7:03am
post #34 of 144
Quote:
Originally Posted by jillmakescakes

My contract does state that I am not responsible for damage to the cake after setup is complete, so from a legal standpoint, I feel I'm covered. I did mention this to her in one email, but she seems to be ingoring it.

I haven't heard back from anyone for the rest of the day, so we'll see what happens. I have not problem discussing a refund if there was actual damage, but until I see it, I can't do anything.

I mean, if they called their dress shop and said that the zipper broke, the dress shop would want to see the dress, right?



Well yes but also if the zipper broke on a $800 wedding dress, would the bride be entitled to an $800 refund, if the dress was still able to be worn?

Come on: a refund for a "leaning" cake? That cake better have looked like the Leaning Tower of Pisa if it's to warrant some kind of a refund. Also, most people with a legitimate concern don't get indignant when you want appropriate proof. I agree with you and the others that her getting upset about that is already a huge tipoff to this being a bogus complaint. Hope it all works out ok for you!

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adven68 Posted 7 Jun 2009 , 2:42pm
post #35 of 144
Quote:
Originally Posted by ceshell


Well yes but also if the zipper broke on a $800 wedding dress, would the bride be entitled to an $800 refund, if the dress was still able to be worn?

Come on: a refund for a "leaning" cake? That cake better have looked like the Leaning Tower of Pisa if it's to warrant some kind of a refund. Also, most people with a legitimate concern don't get indignant when you want appropriate proof. I agree with you and the others that her getting upset about that is already a huge tipoff to this being a bogus complaint. Hope it all works out ok for you!




I totally agree! Please let us know what the outcome is!! icon_smile.gif

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jillmakescakes Posted 7 Jun 2009 , 4:22pm
post #36 of 144

As of this morning (sunday), I haven't heard anything from anyone since early yesterday morning. We'll see what happens on Monday!

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Carolynlovescake Posted 7 Jun 2009 , 8:47pm
post #37 of 144

I always allowed leeway due to honeymoons... why you ask? The contract was with the bride and groom.

Not the mothers, not the fathers, not a member of the wedding party, not the wedding coordinator. If any of them called it was made clear I needed to speak with who the contract was with and only them.

Believe me after 20 years in the industry I've heard just about every excuse some justified, some not to get out of paying.

There were many mom's who screamed and yelled the Monday morning after and I'd hand them my lawyers business card. They would call him and he would ask if they were on the contract for the order... no... oh so sorry she can only speak to those who signed that legally binding contract.

I made it very clear to each and every person signing that contract that if there was a problem or they were unhappy and any moment of their day to immediately call me and I'd get there to fix what I could, or witness a complaint (dry cake, leaning, non matching colors etc). They paid me to deal with any problems that came up.

I never had a bride think twice and wait to contact me.

There were a few who tried after the fact but then after research it was because the table was moved with the cake on it, sitting next to the bass speakers, someone cutting it with out untiering it etc. all situations outside of it being my problem.

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Ruth0209 Posted 7 Jun 2009 , 9:10pm
post #38 of 144

[quote="CarolynGwen"]I always allowed leeway due to honeymoons... why you ask? The contract was with the bride and groom.

Not the mothers, not the fathers, not a member of the wedding party, not the wedding coordinator. If any of them called it was made clear I needed to speak with who the contract was with and only them.
quote]

Carolyn, I completely agree. This is very good advice. You should deal only with the person with whom you entered into the contract. Talking with others who will relate information second-hand will only "muddy the waters".

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jillmakescakes Posted 7 Jun 2009 , 9:20pm
post #39 of 144

Carolyn,

You are absolutely right! I have had no discussion with anyone else (dj coordinator etc) about what will be done to remedy the "situation". She has had them contact me to tell me that the cake was leaning. I asked the "coordinator" for the contact info of the photog because the bride couldn't provide it and I could find NO contact info anywhere. I have yet to see a pic of a leaning cake.

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DebBTX Posted 7 Jun 2009 , 10:57pm
post #40 of 144

Jill,
Your cake is beautiful.
Were you able to contact the actual venue manager to get their opinion? Did the venue staff cut the cake? Surely they would have an idea how the wedding went, and how the bride and her guests acted.

It really sounds like the bride is not being truthful with you.

-Debbie B.

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jillmakescakes Posted 8 Jun 2009 , 12:57am
post #41 of 144

Ok, y'all are gonna love this!!!!!

So the wedding coordinator replies, telling me that she does not do this professionally (no kidding) but also Dj's and acts as a photographer!!! so she sends me pics that she took showing "the top tier almost all the way over". ARE YOUR FREAKIN KIDDING ME????? on what planet is this cake about to fall over? Now, the pics to do show the bride and groom about to fall overs, but if you notice, the tree is gone from the background (check out my original pic). what do you want to bet that someone moved the tree and a branch accidently (sp?) hit the bride and groom?

Can we say "nutjobs"???" (no offensive intented to those who have careers in the nut or nut related industry icon_biggrin.gif )
LL
LL

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indydebi Posted 8 Jun 2009 , 1:01am
post #42 of 144

As my hubby would say, "She's so full of sh*t, her eyes are brown!" The cake is not leaning!

And I notice they've laid the napkins around the cake, which means someone was in close proximity.

BTW, as the cake cutting person, when I'm ready to cut the cake, I gather up all of those napkins and move them out of my way. Why they think they need to clutter up the table and leave me NO room to cut a cake is beyond me! icon_mad.gif So gosh darn gee, I'm SO glad they spent so much time laying them all over the freakin' table!

(oops! sorry to rant on your parade! icon_redface.gif )

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__Jamie__ Posted 8 Jun 2009 , 1:09am
post #43 of 144

Awesome job, again! Those people are nutters.

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artscallion Posted 8 Jun 2009 , 1:18am
post #44 of 144

And...

I increased the contrast on her picture and cropped them both to show that it's clear that the folds and placement of the table cloth on the entire right side of the cake are different. erm, someone was all up in there. Know what I'm sayin'?
LL
LL

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__Jamie__ Posted 8 Jun 2009 , 1:30am
post #45 of 144

Artscallion, Private Eye.....you're HIRED!

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jillmakescakes Posted 8 Jun 2009 , 1:40am
post #46 of 144

Go-go-gadget-photoshop!!!!

Yes, the linens are moved, as well as the napkins being placed (yeah Debi). This falls right into my "we are not responsible for damage to the cake after setup is complete" clause in my contract.

thank you all so much for your support. I might just see if I can find some photos of cakes that are actually leaning so I can show them the difference. Is it possible that they are just tilting their head? icon_lol.gif

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chassidyg Posted 8 Jun 2009 , 2:02am
post #47 of 144

It looks to me as if the groom has been moved slightly to the right also. Although it could be my eyes playing tricks on me.

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paolacaracas Posted 8 Jun 2009 , 2:12am
post #48 of 144

The only way I return the money is if you bring me the uneaten cake back. If you eat the cake, you enjoy it so no money back.

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melodyscakes Posted 8 Jun 2009 , 3:41am
post #49 of 144

so now we need to put in our contracts, that if groom plays with cake, moves fondant figures, and accidentally moves top tier of the cake..... you do not get a refund.

some people.

good grief.

your cake is awesome!

melody

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jillmakescakes Posted 8 Jun 2009 , 1:11pm
post #50 of 144

Anyone have any thoughts on how to actually explain to the bride that there is no way in he** that this cake is leaning? I want to sound professional and not like I'm laughing so hard that milk is coming out my nose.

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brincess_b Posted 8 Jun 2009 , 1:19pm
post #51 of 144

i think you should contact the person in charge of where the reception was, ask their opinion on the cake - presumably they are not connected to the bride.
i would just say 'looking at that picture, i can not see that the cake is leaning.' if you talk to someone not connected with the bride i would add ' speaking to others present at the time, they agree that the cake was not leaning.' not sure how to finish it though, but something along the lines of 'hoping that this closes the matter'.
xx

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CookieMakinMomma Posted 8 Jun 2009 , 1:21pm
post #52 of 144

Not to be a wench, but I think when they say "leaning" they might actually mean "off center". It could be my eyes, but it looks like the tiers are slightly to the right of center. Personally, even if this is the case, I would hardly call it an issue that warrants refunding. Besides, as they clearly monkeyed with the cake they should be thankful you supported it so well, off center or not!

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jillmakescakes Posted 8 Jun 2009 , 1:39pm
post #53 of 144

The bride actually mentioned that the site coordinator told her that cake was leaning when it was delivered. My issue with that was that when I was finished setting up and giving her the extra butterflies, I specifically asked "Are there any questions, concerns, comments, complaints?" (I always ask that in jest at the end of my cake classes) The site coordinator said "Nope, looks fine to me". Then, I get the following email from her after the bride asked her to email me with her thoughts on the cake:

It is not my responsibility to set up your cake. While you were setting up, my husband and I watched you add the support for the groom figure and yes the cake was leaning. I immediately showed the cake to the bride and groom when they arrived and advised them we should cut the cake. At that time, the groom had fallen. I can assure you that no one from my staff touched the cake for any reason and I have no reason to lie. It is not my place to comment on the cake and the questions and concerns should have been directed to the bride and groom.


While this concerned me a bit, I know that my cake is not LEANING in the photos I took and contiuned to ask for "after" photos. Now that I've seen them, it makes me wonder why the site coordinator is saying this? I mean, the after pics are almost identical to my pics.

Cookiemakinmomma, I can see a little bt where the top tier is slightly to the right, but nothing close to leaning or about to fall over.

The other thing that is blatantly obvious to me now is that there were people messing with the cake table and I can't be responsible for what they did. If there had been something that was my fault, I sure wouldn't mind considering a refund, but this seems pretty obvious to me that this was not my fault.

edited to fix typo

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miss_sweetstory Posted 8 Jun 2009 , 1:54pm
post #54 of 144

The site coordinator is responding the way she is because she knows that the bride is going to hold her responsible if she can't get anything out of you. She also bears the responsibility of not bringing a concern to your attention when she had the opportunity. (She wasn't responsible for setting up the cake... but as site coordinator she certainly was responsible for attempting to rectify problems as they arose. Her email admits that she saw an issue during set up, but she didn't call it to your attention.) I wonder if she tried to make a "correction" to the slight misalignment of the tiers that caused problems, including the leaning groom.

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CookieMakinMomma Posted 8 Jun 2009 , 2:02pm
post #55 of 144

Oh don't get me wrong jillmakescakes! I was just citing where they may have gotten the idea for a "leaning" cake. Clearly these folks love exaggeration and truth-fudging so going from "off-center" to "about to schmear all over the floor!!!" is probably not a big leap for them. I totally agree, if she claims to have noticed the cake had "problems" before you even left then she should have said something then. Saying something now is like saying "yeah honey, I knew yesterday was your birthday but I just didn't feel like doing anything about it.." (sadly, my BIL actually did that, three weeks after the wedding to boot!)

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kilikina_24 Posted 8 Jun 2009 , 2:04pm
post #56 of 144

"It is not my responsibility to set up your cake. While you were setting up..." This is wierd...isn't she saying that you set up the cake...so why does she think you left the responsibility to her....

Anyway, I'm thinking the so called "coordinator" messed with the cake or table or something and messed it up and doesn't want to own up to it. She knows she's at fault but wants to put the blame on you.

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varika Posted 8 Jun 2009 , 3:05pm
post #57 of 144
Quote:
Originally Posted by jillmakescakes

I can assure you that no one from my staff touched the cake for any reason and I have no reason to lie.




....except that SOMEONE touched the cake TABLE at least, because you certainly didn't leave the napkins there, so my estimation is that the coordinator has PLENTY of reason to lie--she knows somebody screwed up and doesn't want to admit it.

I'm always suspicious when people come out of the blue with "I have no reason to lie" that way.

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loriemoms Posted 8 Jun 2009 , 5:09pm
post #58 of 144
Quote:
Originally Posted by jillmakescakes

I understand a bride not saying anything for a week because of their honeymoon, but wouldn't/shouldn't the wedding coordinator (if she is actually a coordinator) should have made a phone call either after or even while at the reception?




That is my question as well. A real wedding planner would have called during the reception, asking if you can come and make repairs, or at least call the next day with a heads up.

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ceshell Posted 8 Jun 2009 , 5:10pm
post #59 of 144
Quote:
Originally Posted by varika

I'm always suspicious when people come out of the blue with "I have no reason to lie" that way.



LOL, I was thinking the same thing. People who aren't lying don't usually say "I have no reason to lie." It's especially weird coming from the so-called "site coordinator." What a bizarre, defensive reaction. And seriously, it's "not her responsibility" to comment on your setup, but she ran and told the bride right away? If she was SO concerned that she had to IMMEDIATELY tell the bride, then wouldn't it have been appropriate for her say: "Wait just a moment, before you leave I want to make sure the bride is OK with this." Something is sooooo fishy here!
[eta: ok nevermind this part; I get it: the bride was not onsite, she had to wait til the bride arrived. However it still makes NO sense that if she was THAT concerned, she wouldn't have mentioned it to you and recommended that you stay, or get your cell # to call you when the bride arrived]

Maybe this is a cake-muggle misunderstanding gone completely wrong: meaning they interpreted that minor "off-center" placement (if you want to call it that) of the top tier, and combined it with the leaning groom, and concluded that the cake itself was leaning. The cake is clearly not leaning! And I don't think that a leaning topper warrants a refund...or if it does, then the amount would be so small that it would be a joke to ask for one.

Also I LOVE the pp's photoshop enhanced side-by-side which proves that the linens on the cake table had been rearranged. I'm with the "cake table" explanation: someone probably bumped the table, which caused the groom to tip. So now your tipping groom has been overblown into a leaning cake.

Even if she's NOT lying because she believes that what she saw was a leaning cake (i.e.: even if she's delusional! LOL), she's wrong. And if all of our eyes are deceiving us, then clearly if this cake's "lean" is so minor that a normal human is not able to notice it. It can't possibly warrant a refund. The cake is awesome. They are totally trying to rip you off! thumbsdown.gif

Anyway sorry I don't have any brilliant words to provide you in your response e.g. how to politely stand your ground, but I am sure as you know from reading similar stories here, the less you say the better. Don't get defensive or argumentative. "I'm sorry, but the cake is clearly not leaning. It may be possible that the groom tipped over when the linens were rearranged inbetween the cake plates and the cakes; however the cake itself had a sturdy internal structure and I stand by my work." Something like that...

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loriemoms Posted 8 Jun 2009 , 5:24pm
post #60 of 144
Quote:
Originally Posted by artscallion

And...

I increased the contrast on her picture and cropped them both to show that it's clear that the folds and placement of the table cloth on the entire right side of the cake are different. erm, someone was all up in there. Know what I'm sayin'?




I was thinking the same thing, the table cloth looks like it was "ruffled" again or something. It doesnt look the same.

I wonder if someone simply bumped into the table too hard while activity was going around the table and it was enough to knock over the figurines (which would give an illusion of the cake leaing) Where they skewered down to the cake?

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