What To When You're Sick And Can't Fulfill An Order?
Business By crushed Updated 12 Jul 2011 , 1:06pm by sugarxosugar143
I've been down for the count (throwing up and everything) for the last day and a half and was unable to fulfill a birthday cake order for a friend of mine. She was very sweet and said she would just take the cake when I was well enough to make it (it was a cake for her birthday and not tied to a big birthday party or anything).
I'm planning on giving her the cake for free because of the inconvenience, but was wondering what everyone else does when that can't fulfill an order because of illness. Should I do more than offer the cake for free? She is a great client of mine and this is her 4th cake in 4 months.
I'm interested in hearing what everyone else does.
I had the same thing happen to me just last and I also did one for them for free. Felt awefull but they were happy
I have another baker that I help out in emergencies such as this and she does the same for me.
It's good to have someone you can either refer to or who can take an order for you if an emergency comes up.
I hope you feel better!
The only time I ever get sick is when I'm on vacation. But I know people who could help me if I was hit by a car and laid up in traction in the hospital.
I work alone also...and I go full steam ahead too...gotta fulfil committments.
I know huh? I think if we knew half the stuff that went on in the kitchens that prepare food we eat, we'd never eat anything but our own cooking.
I've been fortunate. I've only had to call on a friend one time to fulfill an order for me and it was when my dad passed away unexpectedly.
But, if I were vomiting or had a fever etc., I wouldn't hesitate to pass the order on to someone else.
Would you seriously bake and decorate a cake mid throwing up? Not very hygenic.....
No, I'd call someone for help then. But the only time I get that kind of sick is on vacation, seriously! It's like my body saves it all up until I have time to be bedridden.
After reading this post this morning, though, I cursed myself, and I sliced my fingers open with the Agbay a few hours ago. But even with that injury I made a bunch of gumpaste and decorated a display cake. Tylenol and bandages work wonders.
This happened to me last week. I got an abscessed tooth which turned into a severe infection. My face swelled up like a balloon and I became very toxic! Luckily it happened on Monday so I felt I still had a chance with Sat. cakes. After heavy heavy rounds of antibiotics and a shot of some miracle drug in my butt I came around just in time on Friday. Believe me I don't want to go through that again, I was on heavy pain killer , sick as a dog and all could think of was what was I gonna do about two weddings on Sat? I never thought of this cause I never get sick...right? Well I am gonna look for someone to partner with if this situation should ever come up again. Also, I am going to have two plain dummy cakes made up and ready to go. Both tiered cakes, plain white that I can decorating in a fast fix. In a worst case senerio, I would have one of these delivered with sheet cakes and refund their money. At least they would have something.
This happened to me last week. I got an abscessed tooth which turned into a severe infection. My face swelled up like a balloon and I became very toxic! Luckily it happened on Monday so I felt I still had a chance with Sat. cakes. After heavy heavy rounds of antibiotics and a shot of some miracle drug in my butt I came around just in time on Friday. Believe me I don't want to go through that again, I was on heavy pain killer , sick as a dog and all could think of was what was I gonna do about two weddings on Sat? I never thought of this cause I never get sick...right? Well I am gonna look for someone to partner with if this situation should ever come up again. Also, I am going to have two plain dummy cakes made up and ready to go. Both tiered cakes, plain white that I can decorating in a fast fix. In a worst case senerio, I would have one of these delivered with sheet cakes and refund their money. At least they would have something.
OUCH! You poor thing...tooth pain is the worst! Glad you're feeling better now and the dummy idea is a very good idea.
I work alone and therefore can't be sick. Ever. I just power through. Mind over mater.
You dont find that to have the potential to contaminate your client's food? Germs travel way too rampantly for me to think this is a good idea if you are truly sick, especially if you're ill with something particularly communicable, regardless of how careful you are. I guess it's a catch 22, as a customer I'd rather not take a chance that my Typhoid Mary baker was going to get me sick, but I'm sure in the moment I'd want my darn cake. I just get a shnasty visual when talking about powering through vomitting to get a cake done.
Leah, seriously you're 60?!? You look much younger!
I work alone and therefore can't be sick. Ever. I just power through. Mind over mater.
You dont find that to have the potential to contaminate your client's food? Germs travel way too rampantly for me to think this is a good idea if you are truly sick, especially if you're ill with something particularly communicable, regardless of how careful you are.
You would be surprise what proper hand washing techniques can accomplish. I've had friends who did vlounteer medical work in Africa. They have come into full blood contact with people with aids. They don't always have time to put on gloves and get elbow deep in aids contmainted blood. They have never gotten a sinlge thing, because they have always used proper hand washing techniques.
I had mastitis (breast infection, feels like the flu, plus slamming your boob in the car door) last year and a cake to do. I was covered in sweat and shaking and naseaus, so I popped some percocet left over from my c-section 1 1/2 years earlier (I hate drugs, only take them a few hours after I feel like I could die of pain, in hopes it just goes away by itself!) and crawled into the shower, then got back to my cake! I did have my mom make the bow, it was real ribbon, so no biggie.
Wow Annabakes. I've had mastitis three times and I felt like I was seriously going to die all three times. I'm in awe that you were able to finish your cake. I couldn't even drag myself out of bed to go pee let alone ice and decorate a cake.
I thought I was going to die too, but I would have wished I was dead if I had ruined their reception! I was late, and I was miserable. I know what you mean about the not wanting to get out of bed to pee. The night before I started crying when I had to pee bad enough to get out of bed and do it. I think I held it for 2 hours! I had already had it baked and frozen, or I don't know what I would have done.
I haven't had to fill an order while sick but I have had to do one with a broken right wrist in plaster! Luckily a) I did have a friend who was very good at following instructions; b) it was a rough textured royal icing covered cake and c0 the flowers were allready made before my accident. It's also very syurprising what you can do left handed if you absolutely have to!
Perhaps Leah means that she never gets sick. Perhaps her body just doesn't succumb to illness because her mind says no. I never get sick either. And I'm sure that Leah is too much of a professional cake artist to ever endanger her clients in any way.
Oh yeah...and I'm 66 years young! It's the strong southern stock that keeps me going tough.
I had a huge wedding that I was catering and doing the cake for. I had a miscarriage and found out at the beginning of the week. I had a D&C on wed. slept 1/2 the day and woke up and got to work. I would try to power through it and get someone who could help with your assistance. In this type of field where you have a skill it's hard to have "sick" days. Especially when you are a part of someone's big day. I would feel horrible if someone did it to me, so I wouldn't do it to them unless I absolutely had to.
Even though people say they do everything themselves, I still think it's good to have friends in the business. I have another cake decorator that I refer business to and vice versa if we are booked and can't take anymore orders and it has brought us both a lot of business. Being a good business person is all about networking.
I had a huge wedding that I was catering and doing the cake for. I had a miscarriage and found out at the beginning of the week. I had a D&C on wed. slept 1/2 the day and woke up and got to work. I would try to power through it and get someone who could help with your assistance. In this type of field where you have a skill it's hard to have "sick" days. Especially when you are a part of someone's big day. I would feel horrible if someone did it to me, so I wouldn't do it to them unless I absolutely had to........
I am sorry to hear that, you must have been devestated. I miscarried and I can't imagine if I would have had a cake that weekend...Though doing something besides laying in bed crying might have been a little healthier....
I work alone and therefore can't be sick. Ever. I just power through. Mind over mater.
You dont find that to have the potential to contaminate your client's food? Germs travel way too rampantly for me to think this is a good idea if you are truly sick, especially if you're ill with something particularly communicable, regardless of how careful you are.
You would be surprise what proper hand washing techniques can accomplish. I've had friends who did vlounteer medical work in Africa. They have come into full blood contact with people with aids. They don't always have time to put on gloves and get elbow deep in aids contmainted blood. They have never gotten a sinlge thing, because they have always used proper hand washing techniques.
That's a very good point...I think that I rarely get sick because I'm constantly washing my hand while I work. It does make a difference.
It does take some of the joy out of cake decorating when you do not feel good. Went to ER Friday, they thought it was a stroke, not..... Went to Doctor Mon, sent to dentist Tues, oral surgery Wed. Contacted client Thursday was waiting for color sample for cake for this Thursday, they assumed I would not be doing the cake. They did bring color sample Sat with a note that this is not the color we want!!!! Well...... my patience my be waving but will do cake, but not sure what color!!!! Geez started with a primary green, then changed to a dull green with gray base, does not want a baby pastel green, brought a neon sample plate which they do not want...... It is for a baby shower for a 9 month old adoption. Maybe I will just do it in blue. HA HA
Luckily this hasn't happened to me (yet) but it's really got me thinking now! I did get a nasty stomach bug once - I literally stayed in the bathroom because I couldn't go longer than 5 minutes without getting sick. I ended up in the ER at 1AM getting IV fluids. If I was to have been working on a cake, it would have been impossible. Hopefully this won't be a problem in the future! I like the suggestion to have display cakes made up just in case. Good idea!
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