This client lives 3 hours from me. The wedding will be 3 hours away. The cake will serve 80-90. I told her I'd make her the cake but the delivery fee is $1/mile (144 miles). I gave her a list of vendors near her.

She says she will either pick it up or have her in-laws pick it up on their way to the venue or the day before (they live 45 minutes south of me.) Then she corrects me and says the cake needs to serve 110-120 people.

It's one thing if a client wants to pick up their own wedding cake when it's here in town (which is ridiculous because I don't charge delivery/set-up if it's in the county) but it's another to drive it 3 HOURS AWAY!

Yes, there will be an addendum to the contract to release me of ANY liability if that cake doesn't make it there in one piece.

Oh, and it's July 3rd travelling some rocky roads in West Virginia.

Just wanted to see what you all thought.

Run away!

I think that it sounds like a TERRIBLE idea! Don't do it!!!

I would have to tell her "No Thanks" as well..All you need if for her to call you a few days after the wedding complaining it fell apart and wanting her money back.Bumpy roads...July weather (need I say more)...3 hours away....I'd say Forget it.

I just wanted to say that I looked at your website and you've got some awesome flavors!! I love em'!!

If that;'s what she wants to do and you have told her it was a bad idea and she still wants to do it, let her knock herself out. As long as you have yourself covered in your contract and she signs a waiver, it's not on you. My contract says basically if you take this cake, and ANYTHING happens to it once it leaves my possesion, I'm not liable. I let them know,"SO, what that basically means if you walk out this door and trip, there is nothing I can do for you". They tend to change their mind on pick-ups.

Totally agree with LaBellaFlor. That is why you have the contract. I would add, make sure you take photos of cake before it leaves you. You have proof it was perfect when picked up. then, let them knock them self out.

Absolutely cover yourself, especially if there's a bumpy road involved. I personally wouldn't do this, because regardless of what she signs, if something happens to the cake she'll try to blame you for it.

They paid, they signed. They can drop it off a building if they want.

Mike

I did this once and had them sign a waiver saying they were choosing to pick up and transport this cake against my recommendations. It further stated that any damage once the cake was signed for was their responsibility. Then I had them sign another form at pickup stating the cake had no damage, etc. They were happy with this.

If you're interested I can find my exact wording and send it to you.

Good luck,
Kathi

Yup. I also have a form for them to sign at pick up.

I personally wouldn't do it. If something bad happens on the way, you will get the blame for it anyway. Even if they do sign a waiver. And that gives you a bad reputation, even though it isn't your fault. I don't understand their thinking.....why would you spend the money for a beautiful cake, and then take the chance of ruining it on the drive back?.....I think that $144 for a delivery fee is not unreasonable at all.....especially given the fact that if something did happen on the way, you have the expertise to repair it once delivered.

If you do it I'd us the SPS support system

6 hours of driving=$144 to you for a delivery fee????? Or is it 1.5 hours one way?

Send the biz my way, I'll take it. I've done this several times - never a problem,. USE SPS. It's what SPS was designed for.

It can still be a three tier cake for 130 servings.

Easy-Breezy.

I've done it before.....had one cake travel about 8 hours from Sunny southern Arizona to cold northern Arizona [ Flagstaff ]thru a sudden snow storm as well! Cake made it just fine, 1/2 the guests never made it to the wedding!

Some people are just out of their minds. Hope it gets to the wedding!

I asked her to make an appointment and she said she would get back in touch with me. Which means she is driving the 3 hours (one way, Jamie, LOL, it's a 6-hour round trip) JUST to have a consultation.

Yes, I have it written all over my contract that I am released from EVERYTHING when I walk away from the cake..or the cake walks away from me.

I might just be using SPS for this particular cake.

Leahs, if you are close enough to West Virginia (who knows how far she is willing to travel for her cake), I'll tell her to give you a call!!

I have many cake pick-ups. people are cheapskates and don't want to pay delivery fees. They are aware of the risks involved with self pick-up, and do sign off on delivery. So far, nothing has happened.

I guess if you're getting paid and they are signing a waiver I would do it. Last summer I did a free cake for my daughters friend. They also were driving 4 hours to the wedding. The brides dad picked it up, I in nauseating fashion told him how careful he needed to be. I could tell he wasn't taking me seriously, so I kept on...keep it cool, have it sitting flat, have it secured. I had it all boxed up securely. Well as you might guess, it was totally trashed by the time it got there. I found out later he had put it in the back of his truck, in the hot sunshine, no less. I think it was probably bouncing all around the truck, from what my daughter said it looked like. I was so disgusted, I had worked so hard on it, and it was trashed. Some people do not have a clue. I won't be doing another cake unless I can deliver it, but then mine are usually free.