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Had to refund a "donation" pymnt :( - Page 2

post #16 of 100
8/21/11 at 3:30pm
First off you did a great cake for a beginner and a first time wedding cake. You gave her a free cake, told her upfront that you are still learning. She still wanted to you to make her cake. After you had the consultation again, you told her yet again you would try that you are still getting your decorating skills up there. She is the one with the problem. I wouldn't have given her the "gift" back. Yes you want the customer to be satisfied, but there was no satisfying this woman. Both bride and Mother understood what they were getting into, the risk that is. If she wanted more, she could have paid someone else to do it. But both wanted YOUR cake for Free. The lesson I would take from this is, when you do start your business, contract, contract, contract. And a personal note here, if you had refused to give the"gift" back, no problem. A child cannot legally enter into a contract since she was the one given the money. Especially since you had refused payment several times.
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post #17 of 100
8/21/11 at 3:31pm
People never cease to shock me.

I was expecting some sort of disaster from your description, then I went to look at your photo. Your cake is not even close to being a disaster. It is exactly what you promised her.

This woman has no shame, no class, no manners, no good breeding, no whatever you want to call it. She got a very nice wedding cake, essentially at cost, and she wants to make you feel bad about it. She's trying to get the few pennies she spent on the wedding back. $1,000 for a photographer is nothing.

I would not only not give the money back, but I might also tell her where to go. Someplace hot. What a heinous, unforgivable, witch. I pity the people who have to live with her. icon_evil.gif
How to Price Your Cakes
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How to Price Your Cakes
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post #18 of 100
8/21/11 at 3:31pm
Sheesh! Some people! $70 was a total steal and she had the nerve to call and talk trash? I think your cake looks great and that MOB was a total jerk. I'm sorry this happened to you! I wish you hadn't already offered the $70 back as well. I wish you could send her some sort of invoice to show her how much time and cost it took to make the cake. Then again, she sounds heartless and probably doesn't even care. icon_evil.gif
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post #19 of 100
8/21/11 at 4:42pm
I agree with everyone...I held my breath as I clicked on your photos totally expecting to see a "cakewreck"...but I didn't.

I think you did a really nice job on your first wedding cake and I think these people are being very ignorant and ungrateful.

Walmart wouldn't even do a cake that size for $70.

The only thing I can think of that would explain her phone call is that the photo they gave you for inspiration was a fondant cake, were they expecting fondant?
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post #20 of 100
8/21/11 at 5:33pm
If it were me, I would send the $70. directly to the bride, not the mother. I would include a note saying, "I'm sending this back per your mother's request since she was so disappointed in the cake. (bride may not even know mother is doing this) I'm doing this against my better judgement as I believe you were well aware that I was a beginner when you came to me, a former coworker, in order to save yourself eight or nine hundred dollars by asking me to do your cake for free.
Now, not only have I spent tens of hours of labor on your cake, but now my costs are not even covered because your mother didn't feel my beginner efforts were up to the standard of a seasoned professional that would have charged you eight or nine hundred dollars. So I am in the hole because of this "favor" you've asked for.

Please take this $70 and spend it on something nice for your mother. And please do not ever call me for a cake again."
Housework makes you ugly.

It's marshmallow, not marshmellow! Aaargh, I have the strangest pet peeves!
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Housework makes you ugly.

It's marshmallow, not marshmellow! Aaargh, I have the strangest pet peeves!
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post #21 of 100
8/21/11 at 5:44pm
I'd agree with artscallion. Send the money to the bride with a note stating the MIL requested that the gift be returned. If the MIL doesn't want to "bother" the bride, that sounds suspicious to me. The bride may not even know what her MIL was doing. That poor girl.
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Cake is life
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post #22 of 100
8/21/11 at 5:47pm
Perfect!
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post #23 of 100
8/21/11 at 5:47pm
So, let me get this straight. She's on the phone with you trying not to "worry" the bride who is on her honeymoon, and will "check" with the bride to see if your offer of the refund will suffice?

You had better be prepared for another phone call wanting additional compensation or some such jerkery because they aren't satisfied.

People will never cease to amaze me.
life is short, get a cakesafe.
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life is short, get a cakesafe.
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post #24 of 100
8/21/11 at 5:53pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by artscallion

If it were me, I would send the $70. directly to the bride, not the mother. I would include a note saying, "I'm sending this back per your mother's request since she was so disappointed in the cake. (bride may not even know mother is doing this) I'm doing this against my better judgement as I believe you were well aware that I was a beginner when you came to me, a former coworker, in order to save yourself eight or nine hundred dollars by asking me to do your cake for free.
Now, not only have I spent tens of hours of labor on your cake, but now my costs are not even covered because your mother didn't feel my beginner efforts were up to the standard of a seasoned professional that would have charged you eight or nine hundred dollars. So I am in the hole because of this "favor" you've asked for.

Please take this $70 and spend it on something nice for your mother. And please do not ever call me for a cake again."



THIS!!!

I also wanted to add that I understand you are eager to find people to bake for and as a beginner (and without a business) you need to offer cakes for free. It could be worth it in just the experience. (I do it too).

However, you will most likely attract this type of personality: greedy and cheap who are not doing a deal with you of getting a nice cake for free and in turn help you get experience in various cake designs (I know this one was a tiny $70 as a gift, but I'm talking about making cakes for free in general).
These kind of people will not think or care about all the work and effort you put into it. They are only taking advantage of you and are only hearing the "free" in what you're saying!
Stick to your family and real friends who will appreciate every hour of work in your cakes. Let your family and real friends be the ones to give you more experience (not saying you need it, just saying it because I'm guessing you want it) and only make cakes for them.
The other kind are not worth your time and money! thumbs_up.gif
Sofia
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Sofia
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post #25 of 100
8/21/11 at 5:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by artscallion

If it were me, I would send the $70. directly to the bride, not the mother. I would include a note saying, "I'm sending this back per your mother's request since she was so disappointed in the cake. (bride may not even know mother is doing this) I'm doing this against my better judgement as I believe you were well aware that I was a beginner when you came to me, a former coworker, in order to save yourself eight or nine hundred dollars by asking me to do your cake for free.
Now, not only have I spent tens of hours of labor on your cake, but now my costs are not even covered because your mother didn't feel my beginner efforts were up to the standard of a seasoned professional that would have charged you eight or nine hundred dollars. So I am in the hole because of this "favor" you've asked for.

Please take this $70 and spend it on something nice for your mother. And please do not ever call me for a cake again."



Yes, yes, please do this! Honestly, I'm not sure why but your story has really struck a chord with me and I am PISSED for you. From the sounds of it, they went "on the cheap" foir everything at the weding and they wanted a champagne wedding on a beer budget.

There is nothing wrong with your cake and, it is certainly not "wreck" worthy so don't beat yourself up. I, and I think most NORMAL people would be pleased to get what you gave for $70. Especially since you were very upfront with them about everything.
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post #26 of 100
8/21/11 at 5:57pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by fedra

she said "Well, I will talk with bride and tell her that this is what you are going to do. I'm not sure if this is ok with her.

Whatthehellever! LOL!

I do not want to worry her with this now as she is on a honeymoon, which had to be local because she spent so much money on her wedding.

Somebody call the waaaaaaaaaambulance!

Anyway, we regret NOT spending the $500 for a wedding cake.

Oh! Hayell! If they'd spent more on any of the vendors, they may have had to honeymoon in the mother's backyard!

The mailing address is ........". I guess I was so taken aback that I didnt even think to tell her that the person being taken advantaged of her was ME. Thanks for all your support and advice!
Fedra
"Be the change you want to see in the world."- Mahatma Gandhi

miniature cake tutorial

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"Be the change you want to see in the world."- Mahatma Gandhi

miniature cake tutorial

http://www.youtube.com/user/MyNewSneakers?feature=mhsn
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post #27 of 100
8/21/11 at 5:58pm
If anyone needs an Evalinda, it's this woman!
"Be the change you want to see in the world."- Mahatma Gandhi

miniature cake tutorial

http://www.youtube.com/user/MyNewSneakers?feature=mhsn
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"Be the change you want to see in the world."- Mahatma Gandhi

miniature cake tutorial

http://www.youtube.com/user/MyNewSneakers?feature=mhsn
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post #28 of 100
8/21/11 at 6:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by audrey0522

. . . and while you are saying "Bless your heart" your thinking - "Kiss my butt!" ( :



Here, a "bless your heart" , not always but, quite often ain't a good thing.

Has the same effect of a backhanded compliment...a dig with a spot of honey.

Surely, that's not just a NC thing. (although, I'd never been subjected to such a "bless your heart" until I moved here.)
"Be the change you want to see in the world."- Mahatma Gandhi

miniature cake tutorial

http://www.youtube.com/user/MyNewSneakers?feature=mhsn
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"Be the change you want to see in the world."- Mahatma Gandhi

miniature cake tutorial

http://www.youtube.com/user/MyNewSneakers?feature=mhsn
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post #29 of 100
8/21/11 at 6:19pm
I have the same feeling when someone says "bless your heart" to me....I'm thinking...yeah right. lol
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post #30 of 100
8/21/11 at 6:42pm
MIL was definitely trying to recoup some money, because for $70 she got a lovely cake. If I were you I wouldn't have given the money back, because the cake looks pretty nice, I've seen worse at some bakeries. Try not to let it get you down for too long, just chalk it up to a learning experience and move on to the next cake. All of your cakes are beautiful, and I'm sure your next wedding cake will be fabulous.
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