What would you do for a client who breaks their cake after collecting?

I hate to repeat my common answer, but it depends.  

 

I think it is absolutely fair to charge for the replacement pieces.  Perhaps you throw the labor for good will.  I charge $15-30 for gumpaste items.  I think it's fair to charge the same for replacements.

 

My contract states that repair costs will be billed according to extent of damage & travel time.  I'm a softy.  I probably wouldn't bill.  

 

I created a lovely Christening cake for my neighbor.  She left her 3 Boxer dogs ALONE with the cake.  She called me in a panic asking me to fix it.  Of course, I did.  It was a rather extensive repair.  I never billed her.  She did bring me flowers...not nearly what it was worth!  

 

 

You said you'd only had it happen twice. Twice out of how many times?  If the ratio is super low then ya, I'd say, just suck it up and fix it for free.  But if it's like 2 out of 10 cakes then you might want to consider charging.  

 

I feel the exact opposite!  If it's a low ratio, you are doing things correctly (Packing well, informing/cautioning clients, assisting placement).  If it's a high ratio, perhaps all the blame doesn't rest on the client.  It's also entirely possible that you have lots of careless, clumsy clients, but it's rather unlikely.

Well this is a fine line to me, it depends on the extent of the damage to the cake, however to protect yourself in the future you may want to add this to your service contract if client insisting on pick up their cake, letting them know if they damage their cake it will :)result in additional fees in order to repair the cake. Customer Service is vital to our business but at the same time. Time is money

@Delicious Desserts:  Haha yeah I kinda thought "well if it is a low ratio it is probably your fault"!  But i was trying not to say that.  The flip side is that you are probably inexperienced in that situation and it's probably also a good reason to help out your customer base by sucking it up and just fixing it too.  So I don't know maybe it's okay.  I think the problem is if people start to take advantage of you but i think for the most part it doesn't happen that often.  

 

@Crazy Gray:  HELLO!  Going out to dinner to try a new restaurant?? ALWAYS a good reason to make a trip!  ;)  

Thats a perfect fix up. Did the dogs eat/lick that buttercream? I wonder if she told her guests

Yes! The dogs licked it. She swears she only served from the back side of the cake. It's a wonderful story. It's an even more wonderful example that almost anything can be fixed.

The dog licked it and she served it.
THE DOG LICKED it and SHE  SERVED it.
That's just nasty.

I've seen people let dogs lick them on the mouth, but I bet dollars to doughnuts the guest at the party wouldn't have eaten that cake if they'd have known.
Sorry, but I would have declined fixing it.
Your reputation is on the line. Shudder...

 

mommachris.

Good save DD.  Nasty that she still served that cake though.  REALLY nasty.

I've had a stressful day and these last few comments have made me laugh out loud
 

I haven't read any other posts past this one so, I might be repeating what someone else said, but did I read this correctly?  Her DOGS got into the cake?  I hope you tossed the entire thing and remade it, if not then GROSS!  I wouldn't want to eat a cake that a dog had been eating on! 

That grossed me out too.  Can you imagine?!!! Yuck

 Best post EVER! 

SMH, nothing like dog saliva simple syrup to give a cake that extra oomph of moistness.