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milkmaid42
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 26, 2009
Posts: 67
Location: Bay, Missouri
Birthday: Aug 16
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 Posted:
Fri Oct 30, 2009 7:17 pm |
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I had an order for a Halloween cake which I just delivered. I had such a grandiose design in my mind and the client was all excited with me. Well, the finished cake didn't turn out like I pictured, (I'm an entomologist and the darn thing ended up with 3 body parts instead of 2) and the fondant job around the legs was lousy. So I didn't feel like I should charge her the full amount we'd agreed upon and let it go for the 1/2 down payment. The construction caused me grief and I didn't feel that she should be charged for my ineptness. At the time it seemed the right thing to do for I was quite ashamed of my work. Oh well, live and learn. I can't figure out how to attach a photo here, but it is in my photos. Tell me, was I wrong? Did I let my pride get in the way? Have you ever felt this way? Thanks for letting me vent. |
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Jeniwin
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 17, 2009
Posts: 32
Location: Suburban Washington D.C.
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Fri Oct 30, 2009 7:36 pm |
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Are you talking of that fantastic spider? Looks pretty darn good to me. Its cake, not clay. I assume she was pretty thrilled and most likely will be telling the story of how you just slashed your price last minute and she can't figure that one out.
Anyway, looks great to me. |
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globalgatherings
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 26, 2007
Posts: 64
Location: omaha,nebraska
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Fri Oct 30, 2009 7:36 pm |
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Wow, I looked at the picture, that cake is too cool!!! If I was the customer I would have demanded you take the full price we agreed upon when I hired you. Whatever it was, it was worth every penny. You see things the customer won't ever notice. In the future, don't point out the flaws, they probably won't notice.
Great cake, love it!! |
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Wiltonlady
Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 05, 2005
Posts: 535
Location: AZ
Birthday: Jan 09
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Fri Oct 30, 2009 7:43 pm |
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You're kidding, right? It's a great looking cake. |
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CakeForte
Frequent Member
Joined: Oct 21, 2004
Posts: 480
Location: Internet
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Fri Oct 30, 2009 7:44 pm |
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That's where the "Artistic license" comes in and also "you are your worst critic".
Next time, if you feel bad about the work...wait and see what happens. Complete the order at the original price...IF the client comes back to complain...that's when you start thinking about refunds or credit.
If it helps, I only offer refunds when there is total damage that couldn't be fixed on site. Also..I feel bad about a lot of my cakes..but the client thinks it great. We see the flaws that no one else does until we point them out. |
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alene
Regular Member
Joined: Feb 07, 2009
Posts: 119
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Fri Oct 30, 2009 7:46 pm |
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I delivered one today that I felt like wasn't my best work but I just kept telling myself what globalgatherings said: You see things the customer won't ever notice. don't point out the flaws, they probably won't notice. She was right, my fiend loved it. |
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cylstrial
Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Aug 12, 2008
Posts: 5333
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Fri Oct 30, 2009 7:58 pm |
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cylstrial
Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Aug 12, 2008
Posts: 5333
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Fri Oct 30, 2009 7:59 pm |
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Oops...double post! Sorry!  |
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tonimarie
Frequent Member
Joined: May 13, 2007
Posts: 400
Location: Montana
Birthday: Jun 12
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Fri Oct 30, 2009 8:26 pm |
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I think that cake looks awesome! Your way undercutting yourself! |
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prterrell
Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Mar 20, 2007
Posts: 2629
Location: Newnan, GA
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Fri Oct 30, 2009 9:01 pm |
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Totally awesome cake! Don't undercut yourself again! |
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JanH
Moderator
Joined: Mar 09, 2006
Posts: 12163
Location: Rapid City, SD
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Fri Oct 30, 2009 9:03 pm |
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| globalgatherings wrote: | Wow, I looked at the picture, that cake is too cool!!! If I was the customer I would have demanded you take the full price we agreed upon when I hired you. Whatever it was, it was worth every penny. You see things the customer won't ever notice. In the future, don't point out the flaws, they probably won't notice.
Great cake, love it!! |
Exactly what gg said.   |
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Mensch
Forum Addict
Joined: Jun 19, 2009
Posts: 687
Location: The Diogenes Club
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Fri Oct 30, 2009 11:08 pm |
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I think it looks really good.
Besides the general public has no clue about the differences between Arachnida and Insecta. |
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JanH
Moderator
Joined: Mar 09, 2006
Posts: 12163
Location: Rapid City, SD
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Fri Oct 30, 2009 11:22 pm |
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| Mensch wrote: | I think it looks really good.
Besides the general public has no clue about the differences between Arachnida and Insecta. |
So True.
All I know is that I try never to look too closely at spiders (in the house) before I dispatch them..
(Yes, an irrational fear of one of the book-lunged. Did you know that you're never more than 3 feet away from one... Glad I wear a full face CPAP mask so that I can't aspirate any in my sleep.) |
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FromScratch
Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Mar 12, 2007
Posts: 5376
Location: Southern NH
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Sat Oct 31, 2009 8:48 am |
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A mask?? For real? Now that's being proactive right there. 
I am not scared of spiders... love me some tarantulas and if I see them in the house I leave them be because they do more good eating the other bugs that fly around the house. Your cake was great and yes... mistake on the discount, but nothing you can do about it now. Next time though... make sure you don't let your pride get in the way or your profits okay? |
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Spuddysmom
Regular Member
Joined: Apr 14, 2006
Posts: 164
Location: Newcastle, WA
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Sat Oct 31, 2009 9:10 am |
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I'm conflicted on this. Unless the client complained I don't think you should have discounted it. You were really hard on yourself; the cake looks great/creepy - really good legs, BTW Is it truly that much different than what you had agreed to create? Appears as though you captured the essence of the creepy theme and executed it well. I don't see the huge flaws you do. That being said, I really don't get it when some decorators deliver a cake that is vastly different from the one ordered (wrong color, incorrect wording, wrong flavors, wrong design) or truly poorly made (cakewrecks.com) and then say "No refunds!" Your standards are very high - that's a good thing; but watch out that people don't take advantage of that and now try to get future "discounts". |
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