Cake Central › Cake Forums › Cake Talk › Cake Disasters › So ashamed....
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

So ashamed.... - Page 2

post #16 of 53
4/8/10 at 6:00am
The only thing that bothers me about this is if she was so unhappy with the cake and it was inedible as she said and no one got cake, why didnt she contact you about it? Why wait until you contact her?

Im a suspicious person by nature and for me my first thought would be to actually go to the venue and see the cake. I dont trust people. You never know if the venue are friends with the bride and may be saying this to get a free cake out of the deal.

So I would have to see the cake first. Then, if you know for a fact that your looking at YOUR cake, then I would refund them full amount. But again, if I was the bride and couldnt serve my wedding cake then I would be calling up the baker the first chance I got! (I wouldnt put it past me to call on a cell AT the event!! lol) But that is just me.

Ive been burned by too many people in my lifetime (not on cakes only, just in general), so I tend not to trust people.
Reply
Reply
post #17 of 53
4/8/10 at 6:05am
I agree with costumeczar... these are trained people and they deal with cakes all the time in their line of bus. I would send a letter expressing your "feelings" (business jargon(sp?) of course) and give the 50% refund... and just take it as a learning experience...

Good Luck!
Happy Caking!
Reply
Happy Caking!
Reply
post #18 of 53
4/8/10 at 6:11am
Quote:
Originally Posted by weirkd

The only thing that bothers me about this is if she was so unhappy with the cake and it was inedible as she said and no one got cake, why didnt she contact you about it? Why wait until you contact her? Im a suspicious person by nature and for me my first thought would be to actually go to the venue and see the cake. I dont trust people. You never know if the venue are friends with the bride and may be saying this to get a free cake out of the deal. So I would have to see the cake first. Then, if you know for a fact that your looking at YOUR cake, then I would refund them full amount. But again, if I was the bride and couldnt serve my wedding cake then I would be calling up the baker the first chance I got! (I wouldnt put it past me to call on a cell AT the event!! lol) But that is just me.
Ive been burned by too many people in my lifetime (not on cakes only, just in general), so I tend not to trust people.



Actually, I don't think an unreasonable amount of time has passed in this case. The wedding was 20 March. If the couple was lucky enough to take a two week honeymoon and extend it through Easter Monday (a bank/public holiday in the UK), then she contacted the OP fairly soon after her return. I do think it's wise for a couple to designate someone to represent them, in their absence, if there are problems... but then it seems that most of us would prefer to deal directly with the person who ordered and paid for the cake.
You can take the girl out of Minnesota, but you can't take Minnesota out of the girl!
Reply
You can take the girl out of Minnesota, but you can't take Minnesota out of the girl!
Reply
post #19 of 53
4/8/10 at 6:52am
Thread Starter 
Miss sweetstory, I used a 3" deep tin and did put extra batter into it as when I trim the dome off, quite alot of the cake is gone. I done this before and had no problem and the cake was cooked. I also used home made oven strips which I usually find effective. I have tried flower nails in the past but didn't find them useful. One thing I do intend in purchasing is an oven thermometer as I don't trust the oven 100%.

Thank you everyone for your comments. I really did feel for the bride as she was a nice lady and I was putting myself in her shoes. I am glad that she just wanted a 50% refund. I was very afraid that she would want to go further and take legal action / insurance claims, could she have done that in this situation and could she do this in the future?
Reply
Reply
post #20 of 53
4/8/10 at 7:40am
I think that if they saved the cake/portion of the cake, everything is pretty kosher. I would refund 100%. Bummer, I know, but it really is the right thing to do to try to salvage your rep. I would also extend a 1-year anniversary cake since they didn't get a cake topper for the occasion. Decorate to the hilt and make it perfect. From your communications of the incident, it doesn't seem like they are out for something for free-especially with the corroboration of the caterer. So sorry this happened to you.
Reply
Reply
post #21 of 53
4/8/10 at 12:39pm
I would still want to see the cake, it is a learning experience if nothing else. Do i think this bride is looking for a free cake, no i don't. But if that cake is as undercooked as they say she would be getting it from me.

Why i would want to see the cake, some cakes are moister then others, this may just be how this cake looks. It maybe that the cake acts differently cause it was baked in a larger then normal pan. And you can say oh a professional is the one that said it wasn't cooked. I know many "professionals" that don't know squat. Of course i don't know the venue and it could be a topnotch chef, but then again it may not be.
Reply
Reply
post #22 of 53
4/8/10 at 12:58pm
But if the chef served the other tiers, it was obviously different. It was just one of the tiers, if I read it correctly. I think you did the right thing by giving the refund. Just learn from it and put it behind you, there's nothing else you can do at this point.
http://www.acaketorememberva.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/acaketoremember
http://www.youtube.com/karabuntin
Reply
http://www.acaketorememberva.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/acaketoremember
http://www.youtube.com/karabuntin
Reply
post #23 of 53
4/8/10 at 1:07pm
hugs! so sorry icon_sad.gif
Reply
Reply
post #24 of 53
4/8/10 at 1:28pm
Refund 100% then produce a 1st year anniversary cake??????? icon_eek.gif What kind of business is that? The client said she's ok with 50% which is alright considering that only one tier was undercooked.THEN I would give the anniversary cake but not after a 100% refund!
I can do ALL things thru CHRIST that strenthens me!!!
Reply
I can do ALL things thru CHRIST that strenthens me!!!
Reply
post #25 of 53
4/8/10 at 2:00pm
Did the email from the venue come from her too in her email to you?

I think if everything is on the up and up here you did the right thing. I would have gone to see the cake piece they saved too, just to see for myself. But I don't think you needed to give 100% back. 50% was fine and it was what she asked for. Your a small business, not a big corporation. I offered a free anniversary cake with my cakes anyways(just a 6 inch) so that wouldn't have been anything different. I think that would be a nice guesture. HUGS!! I know this is hard.
Bonnie
www.InspiredOccasions.com
http://inspiredcaker.blogspot.com/
Reply
Bonnie
www.InspiredOccasions.com
http://inspiredcaker.blogspot.com/
Reply
post #26 of 53
4/8/10 at 3:19pm
Truly sorry this happened.

And this is one of the main reasons I torte every cake. That way I get to see inside.
Answers to the most often asked questions re: SPS. SPS instructions are on Page 15 of the Sticky at the top of the Cake Decorating Forum. Supplies can be ordered from Oasis Supply, Global or BakeryCrafts.
Reply
Answers to the most often asked questions re: SPS. SPS instructions are on Page 15 of the Sticky at the top of the Cake Decorating Forum. Supplies can be ordered from Oasis Supply, Global or BakeryCrafts.
Reply
post #27 of 53
4/8/10 at 3:59pm
I say 50% is appropriate and would not be too bothered about seeing the cake. I always torte every cake I give to anyone so that you can see the centre. It is not traditional in the Uk to offer a free anniversary/top tier cake but in this case I might offer them a small 6/8" cake for their occasion of their choice, just as a gesture of good will.
Sorry it happened.
Reply
Reply
post #28 of 53
4/8/10 at 4:41pm
Sorry this happened to you, just live and learn for the next time. I don't think she'll sue since you're giving her what she asked for.
Reply
Reply
post #29 of 53
4/8/10 at 5:08pm
I'm with Leah...I torte my cakes too that way you can see and fell how the entire cake has turned out. Learn from it and move on thumbs_up.gif
Reply
Reply
post #30 of 53
4/9/10 at 1:19am
Thread Starter 
I torted all my tiers too. I took it out of the oven, then waitied about an hour or two before I torted it but it was still warm. When a cake is still warm from the oven, it looks more moist when its cut. (think of bread when its out of the oven its more doey but once its cooled its light). I ended up spreading the cream cheese filling when the cake was still warm. Would this possibly have an effect on it? I also added in golden syrup to the receipe which would create more mositure and probably take longer to cook.
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Cake Disasters
Cake Central › Cake Forums › Cake Talk › Cake Disasters › So ashamed....