I Am Pretty Sure My Customer Is Lying To Get Free Product

Decorating By reginaherrin Updated 29 Nov 2016 , 10:23am by GIGGLEBOX2014

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reginaherrin Posted 4 Apr 2012 , 4:16pm
post #1 of 11

I had a customer of mine email me on Monday about a cake she picked up on the 20th (1 day shy of being 2 weeks later). The cake was fairly simple, it was a square cake with a guy bench pressing weights and weights on the top to look like a gym. I had to use wire for the bars that hold the weights and there were 2 big ones and 2 small ones but nothing went into the cakes just the fondant decorations on top. I don't put wire in my cakes and when I have to use then for decorations sitting on top I always warn the customer about them and tell then to take them off before cutting the cake. I told her this as well. Well, when she emailed me she said she just wanted to let me know they found small metal objects in the cake. I asked her if she took the objects off like I told her to and she says yes. I am giving her free cupcakes (which she is picking up today) but I asked her if she kept the pieces and how many and how big where they. She just wrote me saying her boyfriend (not her) found 5 pieces and they were small and of course she did not keep them. I did not even have that much wire on the top of the cake so how in the world would it get inside the cake. I wasn't even working on the cake when I make the decorations, it was already fondant covered and in the fridge when I started on them. I am pretty sure she is lying to get something free. I just don't understand why it would take her almost 2 weeks to resond and why she wouldn't keep the pieces to show me if she was concerned. I don't mind doing the cupcakes but I am just so mad she had to lie about the reason. I just really needed to vent.

10 replies
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mommachris Posted 4 Apr 2012 , 4:39pm
post #2 of 11

Since you have already agreed to give her the cupcakes, do it. But then be done with her. If she calls again..YOU ARE BOOKED. Not only for that day but for the week. Let her find another baker.

Mommachris

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LoveMeSomeCake615 Posted 4 Apr 2012 , 5:14pm
post #3 of 11

Yeah, I agree, that seems pretty fishy. If I had found something like that in a cake or any other food I paid for, I would not have waited two weeks!

I agree with mommachris, after you give her the free cupcakes, no more cake for her!

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nicunurse Posted 4 Apr 2012 , 5:15pm
post #4 of 11

I totally agree with mommachris. Shame she didn't save the metal pieces! Be done with her! Hope you didn't put any shrapnel in her cupcakes!!! LOL. Some people......

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cakegrandma Posted 4 Apr 2012 , 5:50pm
post #5 of 11

I agree with everyone too. Cupcakes in her hand and then nothing in the future. It seems like common sense that one would keep anything odd in food if it was not consumed on the premises. No more for her.
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obsessed Posted 4 Apr 2012 , 6:32pm
post #6 of 11

Or maybe it was 2 weeks before she found herself needing cupcakes/cake for some event and that's why it took her so long to let you know? No more cake for her!

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reginaherrin Posted 4 Apr 2012 , 7:27pm
post #7 of 11

I totally agree as well. I had planned on going through with the cupcakes and never dealing with her again. I emailed her after her last email telling her I really don't know what was found in the cake but that I thought it wasn't my wire but I was very professional and nice about it and told her when she could pick the cupcakes up. She emailed me back and said she wasn't even there when her boyfriend found the pieces and he almost choked but that the cake was great. I'm confused about how she was able to taste the cake to know it was good but not there when her boyfriend (which was his birthday) when he almost choked on metal in the cake. Nevertheless, I will always be unable to make a cake for her in the future. Thanks for all your input.

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kelleym Posted 4 Apr 2012 , 7:55pm
post #8 of 11

If there were metal objects in my cake that almost caused me to choke, not only would I have saved them, but I would have hauled my behind back to the cake maker to show them, ASAP. Your customer's story doesn't pass the sniff test.

Last year my teenage son got himself a "Concrete" ice cream shake (like a Blizzard) from a local ice cream shop, and when he was eating it at home, he came across several plastic shards that looked like they were part of the cup, except that his cup was in tact. He had gone there just before they closed, so there was no time to go back that night, so I had him save the pieces in a napkin, and the next afternoon I took the evident to the shop to show them. They apologized profusely and said it was a problem they were aware of, and offered a replacement and promised it would not happen again.

I'm just saying... if you claim there is a foreign object in your food, the first step is saving the foreign object to show the manufacturer.

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nicunurse Posted 4 Apr 2012 , 7:58pm
post #9 of 11

Even McDonalds has a product replacement policy. Bring back the product, and you get a replacement. Two weeks later you get nothing! Glad you won't be dealing with her anymore. icon_smile.gif

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bellacibo Posted 28 Nov 2016 , 9:46pm
post #10 of 11

Thank you for sharing. We have a policy at our store, on our web site and is told verbally to the customer. "If you are not satisfied within 48 hours, please bring product back to the store, the product must have at least 1/2 left. The product cannot be eaten."  This is a food product, has to be addressed fairly quickly. Have had similar experiences (very few).  After two weeks, In my humble opinion, it is too late.  Am very careful with some customers who feel they are justified by getting additional freebies at our expense! This is a hard business. thanks so much.

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GIGGLEBOX2014 Posted 29 Nov 2016 , 10:23am
post #11 of 11

Goodness, two weeks later? That's a little excessive. If there was metal pieces in my cake I would have called immediately and kept the pieces as proof. Did she have anything negative to say about your cupcakes?

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