I made a three tier cake for a lady who was having a bbq and a few hours after I delivered it, when the bbq was over, she called me saying there was a hair in the cake. I asked her to take a picture of it or to return the cake or even have someone back up the hair story and she said they threw the whole cake away so they dont have one.. I dont think she knows this but I actually knew about 8 people at her bbq and I asked every single person about the cake and they all said it was delicious and they cant wait to order one from me. I also asked if they had seen a hair or heard talk of a hair and not a single person did.. I wear hairnets every single time I make cakes and honestly believe that she made it up to get her money back... what should I do?? I typically only make cakes for my friends and this my first (and only for now) non friend cake. I want to deny her the full refund but the girl has threatened to spread around bad things about my business and Im just getting started.. HELP!?

well you now have witnesses that ATE the cake..... so i say she gets nothing.

She won't say a word since she fed it to her guests, if she had actually found a hair and been so horrified she would NOT have served it but she DID and so if she talks her guests will know she served them this cake which she would be mortified to admit.

It is going to go something like this "Yeah remember the party I had last week well the cake I served you had a hair in it so don't order from that lady." NOT lol!!! She wouldn't dare, blows the mind the lengths some will go to to save money.

Yikes, Your going to get a lot of responses to this post going both ways!
"I" think you should call her on it.
Here are your options: 1. give her a full refund so she doesn't ruin your name 2. let her know that you wear a hair net and you talked to 8 people from the BBQ and need more proof before you can go further with it.
I'm the type of person that doesn't like to back down if I know deep down I didn't do anything wrong!
I would go so far as asking the other 8 people to get involved if needed. I know this is going way farther than most people would but I also think it's completely wrong and unfair for people to do this sort of thing!!!

Tell her you won't charge her extra for it!!!!! Actually I would bust her. Tell her you know she served the cake and that certainly she would not serve hairy cake to her friends. Not that it would be the end of the world.

I don't understand people...maybe I'm more cynical and suspicious than the average person (perhaps company excepted) but if I were a consumer who had just bought a cake and found a hair in it why would I throw it out? I'd be damned sure to keep the evidence to prove what I'm claiming. Does she think that you can go into McDonalds, pickup food, leave and then later call and say there was hair in my food and no be able to show them? I call scammer! Call her out on it!

script:

Well, xxx, you know I talked to.....(list names of all the guests you know and talked to)... and everyone of them told me how much they LOVED the cake that you DID serve to them. Funny, none of them mentioned a hair, that you found a hair or that you threw the cake away.

I guess I'll just have to speak with my attorney about filing a defamation of character/slander lawsuit suit against you. I'll be having those guests as my witnesses that you did serve the cake, that it was edible, that you never mentioned any hair and that you did not throw the cake away.

If you want to discuss this further, here's my attorney's phone #:

I would call her on it too!

I would tell her that you were so upset that you spoke to people that you knew were there and they had the cake!

Ask her to respond to that. I would close the book on this one and tell her that you think that it is not true and there will not be a refund. And if she bad mouths you you'll tell everyone that she lies.

I agree - call her on it and I like what Doug said. Please keep us posted on the out come.

Every time I see a post like this I am glad that I am just a hobby baker and give to my friends and family.

Best of luck getting your business going.

Every time I have ever found a hair in my food, of any sort, I keep the hair and the remainder of the food for proof. Something seems a little off in her story. I would def call her on it.

I would first ask the people if they would mind being brought into this argument before I went around using their names. I think I would tell her without some sort of proof that you unfortunately cannot refund her for the cake. Id explain that you wear a hairnet when you do anything that has to do with cakes you make. I know when I found a bug in salad mix I took photos of it and then threw it away and called the company the next morning. She is trying to get a cake for nothing it sounds like. I know if I found one I wouldnt serve it and I would document it.

I vote for Doug's reply.

I'm in a mood today, and I am just sick of people pulling this crap to save a buck or two, with no regard to the harm and damage they will do to a person and/or that person's livlihood and business. I'm sick of people who haven't learned there are repercussions for their actions.

I'm just sick of 'em all!

I think she wants to have the cake and eat it too, plus money back...
The nerve of some people!
Hope this is over and done with soon for you.
Jodi

I agree with all the above responses and would add that you should not stress about losing business, that is what the woman wants. She knows you're new, knows you'll be nervous about her telling people. So, take the upper hand from the beginning and tell her what you know from those you spoke to and don't let her sense your fear/worries. Good luck!

I agree call her out on it. You have to tell us how it goes. I hate never hearing the end result.

I wouldn't refund her a penny!!! She is nothing but a scheming !$*#&@. Do as
Doug said and be done with her!!!!

I agree call her out on it. You have to tell us how it goes. I hate never hearing the end result.

I agree call her out on it and keep us posted.

I think Doug's response is great but instead of listing specific names (just in case they don't want to get involved) would substitute the words "I spoke with 8 people"

You can always tell her that with a bbq going on and people around, how does she know it was your hair? Did she do a DNA test?

I guess no one will ever know since she threw everything away.

I agree with everyone else. She's thinking she'll get something for nothing. Let us know of any updates with this situation.

Thanks for all of the advice you guys!! After I posted this I got an email wondering where her money was. I told her since they ate the cake and the people I know from the party didn't see or hear anything about a hair that I would not be able to offer her a refund. And a few hours after that she said she talked to her lawyer and since there was "lots of hairs" (like how it changed!?!) and I didn't bring the cupcakes she ordered (which she canceled because of costs but now is saying she didn't, but I'm going to look for the email she sent to cancel them later tonight cause that would bite her in the butt, I hope I still have it!) that I have to refund her or she will let everyone know how bad my business is and will sue me.. lol. I seriously think she is the dumbest person ever. It just really disheartening when someone will go all that way just to make you look bad and to get a free product. I definitely don't want to refund her but I guess we will see if a suit will stand. thanks guys for all the input!!!

If you find a hair in your food from McDonald's you can't just call them and say "I want my money back because I found a hair in my food" they will not refund a dime without the food being brought back. I would do the same. Bring back the cake with the hair in it and we'll talk about a refund. No cake with MY hair in it...NO refund.

Just a thought. Who cut and served the cake? Does she have any animals in her house? Maybe (if its true) the hair came from her clothes, or someone elses? I know with the extreme heat we have all been experiencing, my dogs are shedding like crazy. Also, my daughter is an attorney, and she is always saying "No proof, no suit". If she defames you, thats a lawsuit!!

It is interesting that she wants her money back but then threatens you that she will do such and such if you don't comply. Document all her emails and calls to you. It is one thing to ask for a refund and if it is not forthcoming to then take the person to small claims court. But to threaten to slander and whatever is kind of like extortion-"give me the money or else".