AHi everyone. I made a Lightning Mcqueen cake. I made a sketch & the customer approved the design. In my mind the sketch would tyrn out great but it didnt. The cake looks more like happy Ninjago:

[IMG ALT=""]http://cakecentral.com/content/type/61/id/3208350/width/350/height/700[/IMG]

Even while I was putting the finishing touches on today I was convinced the cake would turn out like lightning mcqueen!

What would you do if a cake didn't turn out the way you thought? Should I wait for the customer's reaction before deciding what to do? Or say cake isnt great I'll give you a discount on your next cake?

Thanks in advance!

AHello, I'm an amateur, only make cakes for family and friends but I do have a couple of thoughts to share with you. If you're not happy with it I think you'll feel better if you do something about it. The customer might see it, be disappointed with it but not want to say anything. She'll pay you, take it home and not come to you again. On the other hand she might be delighted with it and you giving her discount will delight her even more! I think you should protect your reputation and do what you know will sit comfortably with you when you've delivered it, gone home and sat down with a cuppa thinking about it. I think the cake is lovely btw but I have no idea who happy ninjago is! If you'd put the picture here and said who's this supposed to be? I'd have said Lightening Mcqueen. :-) Sorry if I've waffled, hope it helps.

A

Ninjago is a popular cartoon or game I think! I've seen them but not really sure what they are. I thought the cake looked like ninjago- the happy version lol.

thanks for the advice. I think offering a discount certainly feels better to me! The customer is a friend of a friend, so I think she may not say anything.

Sorry but if I had ordered a Lightening McQueen cake I would be really disappointed.  It's just not quite right.  It's hard to say if you should offer a discount or what without knowing how much they are paying for it.

AMost welcome, let us know how you get on. :-)

AI think it totally depends on what your sketch looks like, that the customer seemed satisfied with, when you started. If your scratch implies a carved cake to look like L McQueen the car, I'd say yes she'll probably be disappointed. If your sketch shows a round cake with L McQueen elements, she should be happy. As for the price, is it in line with your charge for a fully car shaped carved cake or a basic round one?

As far as cakes go it is not overly expensive.  If you are going to offer a discount I personally think it should be on this cake as this is the cake that is at fault.  I do not have a business, though, that is just a personal observation.  I am just putting myself in your customers shoes.

Maybe if we saw the sketch would help? I would only be concerned if I couldn't make a cake look like the sketch I've shown, and if she approved the sketch and it looks like the cake then all is good!

I don't sell cakes but it looks to me like the cake matches the sketch that the customer approved.  If you do give a discount, which I don't think is needed, then it should be on this cake, not a future order.

AThe cake looks like the sketch - but you should have left the cheeks flat.

The mouth seems bigger in the sketch and at more of an angle.  Maybe that's why it seems a bit off to you.

I think the cake resembles the sketch well enough.  I see a few differences, but I imagine it depends on the customer whether they care or not.  It's likely they'll love the cake and you're worrying for nothing.  I say don't offer a discount up front.  By doing so you're saying there's a problem with the cake when really there's no problem with the cake at all except you don't seem to care for it.  It pretty much matches the sketch.  Maybe you could ask the customer when she gets it if she feels the cake matches the sketch.  If she goes on about it not matching then give her some compensation.  

AI think the mouth on the sketch is smilier (i know that's not a word!) However, now I've seen the sketch, if I was the customer I'd be happy with thecake. If you offer a discount, I agree with everyone else, offer it on this one, not a future one. :-)

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I agree with this, saying 'Here's a discount because I'm not sure you'll like it' is the same as walking customers into the restaurant you work in and saying 'I know the decor isn't very nice so here is some money off' It's bringing up unnecessary negativity through fear the customer won't like it. The fact is it looks like the sketch, I think the cheeks should have been flat like the sketch, but that was also a customer request so it's what it should be.

AThat black border is glaringly out of place. If that wasn't there, it would help tremendously.

have you seen the minimalist posters that pixar put out for their movies, including cars? they either show the eyes or the mouth---but everyone still knows who the character is! This is trendy! 

I knew exactly who it was! the cake is clean and cute! I think the customer will love it, I like cakes that look different than all the others! No discount! 

http://www.awwwards.com/gallery/5045/minimalist-posters-of-pixar-s-movies

I think the cake looks great. If I changed anything I would change the eyes a little.  I wouldn't change the mouth because you put so much work into the cheeks having the 3d look.  The eyes maybe could be slanted like in the drawing. 
I do think it looks great though.  If you do decide to do a discount I would do it on this cake.  I know with just working in retail (I know cakes has nothing to do with retail) but customers like to see instant savings.
 

AIf I were the customer, I would be happy with the cake. When I saw it I thought it was McQueen, and it looks like the sketch.

If the customer is happy, say nothing and saw wood.

A

This. I looked at your picture before I read your post, and it was obviously Lightning McQueen. Great job!

Hi all.

Just to let you know how it went with the customer. Some of you said the cake's ok, but to be honest, every time I Iooked at the cake, I couldn't see Lightning Mcqueen. I KNEW I couldn't just gauge the customer's reaction first. So I just went right ahead and blurted it out! 

I know you're all divided about how to deal with this- I decided to deal with it in a way that I knew I would be happy with. So discount it was (on this cake).

However, I did learn lessons here and this will be the last time it happens. 

Many, many thanks everyone  

Did she like the cake? Even though you didn't get much of a chance to see her reaction post-discount offer.

I would probably have done the same as you, although I thought your cake looked fine!

AYes, did she like it? I'm glad you went with what sits right with you. :-)

AHi, I done know if Lightning McQueen is copyrighted or not, but I know I am not great at copying things exactly, so I would use the copyright issue to not make a cake like this! Character cakes scare the heck out of me! Regardless, your cake matched your sketch, it was clean and fun. Nothing to feel badly about! Nancy

I think the cake was just fine, it looked like the sketch plus it was an absolute bargain!