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MOB didn't like the cake - Page 2

post #16 of 42
11/3/10 at 8:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jasonkraft

To play devil's advocate, it is sometimes easy to misconstrue the emotional intent of phrasing in email, especially when you have preconceived notions based on previous experience. She may have simply been saying (albeit awkwardly) that there was no issue with the cake, and that you did your best in dealing with her emotional state.

That said, I would abide by the MOB's wishes and "leave it at that".




Ah, Jason, you're giving this woman too much credit! I think that when someone says "I'm sure you did your best" there's no mistaking the passive-aggressive meaning. She's trying to get a reaction. OP-Don't let her even though I know it's killing you to know what actually happened!
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post #17 of 42
11/3/10 at 8:36pm
Since you asked....I think your designs are very lovely and your cakes are great, especially the ones you made for the magazine!!!

I think you could really improve alot if you worked on your buttercream skills as far as icing the cakes....I can see where the cake in question seems to have some uneven icing....if the MOB is a perfectionist (which obviously she is, since she complained about the topper, which looks perfectly fine to me) maybe she thought the buttercream iced tiers were going to be a little smoother or something. (I know I've had several customers lately nervous to order buttercream instead of fondant because they wanted smooth tiers so maybe with the advent of fondant, smooth tiers is important to some customers...?)

Regardless...she either liked it or she didn't and it was unfair of her to write you an email to make you second guess yourself...so...I wouldn't write her back!!!! She seems kind of condescending to me. If it wasn't bad enough to ask for a refund that means the cake was fine and they enjoyed eating it...so no worries!!!!

And again, your designs are great! I just thought I'd mention the buttercream because you asked, and I think if you practiced some smooth icing techniques it would really make your cakes that much more professional looking (than they already are).

Happy caking!
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post #18 of 42
11/3/10 at 8:41pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by costumeczar

Ah, Jason, you're giving this woman too much credit! I think that when someone says "I'm sure you did your best" there's no mistaking the passive-aggressive meaning. She's trying to get a reaction.


Perhaps, but since the customer has taken herself out of the equation, it is up to OP to infer her intent. Given the choice between interpreting her remarks as either a passive-aggressive insult or a sincere appreciation for putting up with her in difficult times, I'd pick the latter every time.

To me, the risk of possibly giving someone I will never see again undeserved credit is well worth improving my own peace of mind.

This is also a great way to defuse escalating confrontations in real-time with someone using passive-aggressive tactics -- by projecting sincerity onto their statements they are forced to deviate from their preferred argument style, usually resulting in a more productive conversation. The trick is making the other party believe that you think their statements were sincere.
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post #19 of 42
11/3/10 at 9:08pm
Well I thought your cake was just lovely! The only thing I seen that could be considered a slight flaw was the ribbon..to me it just looks slightly wrinkled, not sure if it is just the pic or if it was just a wonky ribbon. Otherwise your cake is just gorgeous!
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post #20 of 42
11/4/10 at 5:42am
Thread Starter 
The ribbon was not the one I wanted to buy. I hate using wired ribbons but that was all the store had.
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post #21 of 42
11/4/10 at 6:04am
Your cake was lovely, just leave it alone and move on. For ribbon with that pesky wire in it, you can pull it out. If I don't have any one to hold one end - I wrap it around a door knob or something stable and pull it out that way. Works great! icon_lol.gif
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post #22 of 42
11/4/10 at 6:43am
My 2 cents- how can you go from Star Wars to classic fall theme and expect MOB to be happy? I think you did great- and were TRAPPED from the start. There is no way she was going to like it (cake) unless Luke Skywalker was gonna hold a pumpkin. icon_biggrin.gif

I agree with a pp who said there was cake drama going on before you mixed your batter.... ignore her and move forward. I was a great cake.
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post #23 of 42
11/4/10 at 7:17am
I think the cake was beautiful. I agree with your husband -- this was just not a woman that was going to be pleased. I mean she didn't care enough to come to a tasting or sit with you in person to finalize what she wanted, then she suddenly cares enough to poke you about some detail so insignificant she can't even bother to write it down?

I had the same thought about the Star Wars to formal fall theme -- how would a Star Wars cake have ever looked right in that room??? From my point of view, this also brings her judgement into question. It may very well be a compliment that she didn't like the cake. I would take it as such, forget her, and move on. thumbs_up.gif
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post #24 of 42
11/4/10 at 7:45am
My mother would say something like that. "I'm sure you did your best" That is absolutely a situation where you don't respond and you don't worry about it.

As far as the cake, sure I can see where it needs some more polishing, but the price to size to quality is MORE than fair. Don't stress about it. I agree 100% with whoever said that she wasn't going to be happy before you even baked.
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post #25 of 42
11/4/10 at 7:53am
I have in my contract that if a bride or a MOB in this case wants ribbon around their cake they can buy the ribbon and supply it to me or they can pay for fondant ribbon band. I do not have the time to spend in craft stores looking for their ribbon. I also have a dummy cake that I can put the ribbon around when they bring me the ribbon so they will see how it looks around the cake.
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post #26 of 42
11/4/10 at 7:59am
I like to get my own ribbon because sometimes brides don't know how to buy it and they get stuff that looks dumb, or too narrow, etc.....or they won't get enough.
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post #27 of 42
11/4/10 at 8:01am
Thread Starter 
She was to supply the ribbon but doesn't live around here and asked if I could get it instead.

On a side note, I wonder what she thought of the bride's hot pink and orange wedding dress. She also had black hair with large chunks of hot pink through out it.
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post #28 of 42
11/4/10 at 8:07am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Enchantedcakes

I have in my contract that if a bride or a MOB in this case wants ribbon around their cake they can buy the ribbon and supply it to me or they can pay for fondant ribbon band. I do not have the time to spend in craft stores looking for their ribbon. I also have a dummy cake that I can put the ribbon around when they bring me the ribbon so they will see how it looks around the cake.

same here. I actually give them a choice. If they want "blue ... just blue. plain blue." then I'm happy to pull some from my stash. If they want "blue ... peacock blue ... with a hint of purple ... but not too purple." then they buy it themselves and bring it to me. We review how much is needed. I show them samples of ribbon in my stash as far as sizes, material, and how big the reels are. Never had a problem either way.

And I specifically told them "No wire ribbon. Ever." Learned that one the hard way. That photo will never be posted anywhere. Ever. icon_redface.gif
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post #29 of 42
11/4/10 at 8:21am
It was a rude e-mail, indeed.

Sure, you can argue back and think of some sly remark to respond back to her, but do you know what really urks people off? The 3 C's.

Cool. Calm. Collected.
My response would be, "I appreciate the opportunity to be a part of your daughter's wedding by providing the cake. I am thrilled that the kids loved it!"

What is she going to say back? Nothing. Because she has no response.

What's the use of replying back with a comeback, getting upset all over again, going back and forth with the MOB and then ruining your day because of someone else's stupidity.

It's not worth it. icon_wink.gif
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post #30 of 42
11/4/10 at 8:43am
I also have the bride provide me the ribbon if they have a particular color shade. Over time, I have a "stash" of ribbons and show the various shades I have at the consultation. I careated a ribbon sample board with various size widths that we talk about. Also, I explain no wires and no organza ribbon. In there estimate, I indicate how many yards they need and when to have it to me. Once I explain, that they know their specific colors better than I do it would be more cost effective for them to get it. I don't want to get into getting what I think is the correct color and might have to return because it's the wrong shade.
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