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Evone
Regular Member
Joined: Sep 11, 2006
Posts: 109
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 Posted:
Fri Mar 21, 2008 7:10 am |
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Hi Everyone,
I had the most horrible day yesterday. I have no idea what to do or how to handle this situation. I had to deliver this wedding cake about 50 mi. not so hard as we were putting it together when we got there. It was to this place called Ashely Manor in Chandler, I don't know if anyone is familiar with this place or not. Well, at any rate we went in set up the cake had a person that was working there help us out by getting something to put in the middle under the large tier base as it was bowing a little so he did and mind you the cake was already set up at this point. It was a perfect fit and the cake was solid. We moved it back to the middle of the table felt the cake structure and found it sturdy and asked if they needed us to stay he said no it will be fine. We started to leave and both my daughter and I stated feeling uneasy about the cake not sure why. We were about ten minutes from our shop and we get the phone call from someone that wasn't even working that day and told us our cake had crumbled. She had no other knowledge of what had happened. I am trying to get off the freeway and make a uturn to go back. when we got there the cake didn't look like it just fell it looked like it had help. It was everywhere. This was no cheap cake it was over a thousand dollars. We starting asking questions to a girl that worked there and she was not really caring no real feelings and she stated that she didn't think anyone was in the area, then she stated later in a phone call that she was sure no one was in there, Then she stated that she saw it fall gracefully when she was with a tour.... I am beside myself. We dropped the cake off about 12 and from that time forward we had to try to find a cake large enough to feed 200 guest. The girl called again and said that they had a person that was willing to make a 3 tired cake, so we said ok. We paid for it and for three half sheet cakes. We stayed until the cake was delivered and gave our teared felt apoligies to the brides mother. Now I have no idea what else to do. I think something happened to the cake . I think they are covering. I have put together a great many wedding cakes and they were all very sturdy as was this one. Do you guys thnk I should press the matter with Ashely Manor and at least have them pay for half or what??? Please help me as we are a new cake shop and this would be detrimental to our business losing that much money. Please Help:(
Oh I almost forgot that the person the made the three tiered cake for our emergency does all the cakes for Ashely Manor Odd huh???
Sorry this was so long I am sitting here crying and angry and beside myself please help if you can. Thanks guys for letting me rant and rave. |
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step0nmi
Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Oct 02, 2006
Posts: 2887
Location: WI
Birthday: Feb 02
Gallery Supporter Member
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Fri Mar 21, 2008 7:15 am |
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oh wow! I am so sorry this happened to you! ((HUG))
yes, I think you should push the matter with the venue. It sounds like whoever was helping you was already getting the cake started to fall over! What did you use to structure it? and ask them if this has ever happened before? They may say NO but it's worth asking! Sounds like someone sabotaged your cake! |
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Erdica
Forum Addict
Joined: May 21, 2006
Posts: 703
Birthday: Nov 09
Gallery Supporter Member
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Fri Mar 21, 2008 7:17 am |
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hmm....I honestly would probably be suspicious too. Did the reception all always recommend another baker? I think that you could try and ask what happened, but honestly I think you are going to get the run around. And they are going to probably not have nice things to say about your bakery since your cake "fell over". I think some of us have come across something like this at one time or another.
I know some bakers require that someone sign off once the cake is delivered and set up as a CYA. This is something you might want to try and do. Especially if you deliver to that same reception hall.
So sorry this happened. What did the bride say? |
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Evone
Regular Member
Joined: Sep 11, 2006
Posts: 109
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Fri Mar 21, 2008 7:25 am |
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We had it all pillars plates you name it we had it. They were also saying that maybe our cake was to moist as we always bake our cakes that day. It was a 4 tier but it was two square on the bottom and a small 3" gap in the middle for flowers and then the last 2 tiers on the top which were round. I mean it happened in their establishment and we were told that everything was good and we could leave so I wonder don't they have some kind of reasponsiblity also. I don't know aI have never had this happen. |
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Evone
Regular Member
Joined: Sep 11, 2006
Posts: 109
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Fri Mar 21, 2008 7:29 am |
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Thanks for the advice I sure will next time and for everytime after that. Thanks again |
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DEBBIE157
Regular Member
Joined: Jul 23, 2007
Posts: 190
Location: Upstate, NY
Birthday: Jul 29
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Fri Mar 21, 2008 7:42 am |
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| Evone wrote: |
Oh I almost forgot that the person the made the three tiered cake for our emergency does all the cakes for Ashely Manor Odd huh???
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Sounds VERY suspicious. How would they know your cake was too moist? Did they eat some?
ALso, they just happend to have 3 tiers laying around ready to go, and a few sheet cakes ready to go?
Like you said, if the cake was everywhere, it didn't just fall, it was pushed.
It sounds like no one 'signed off'? They verbally said it was ok, but no one signed anything?
Did you take pictures of the cake after it 'fell'?
Debbie |
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funbun
Regular Member
Joined: Nov 14, 2007
Posts: 176
Location: Cambridge, Ontario, Canada
Gallery Supporter Member
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Fri Mar 21, 2008 7:47 am |
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OMG! Big ((HUGS)) ((HUGS)) to you and your daughter.
I would talk to the catering manager and find out what else was being set up after you left. Maybe someone knocked or bumped the table and didn't think anything about at the time and it became unstable and then fell a while later (seemly on its own).
You should definately get a sign off from the venue everytime you deliver a cake.
I am praying for you, but remember things like this do happen (and we beat ourselfs up about it) even to the best celeb bakers out there.
Chaulk it up as experience and move on!  |
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ladyonzlake
Forum Fanatic
Joined: Jan 20, 2006
Posts: 1764
Location: Lake Tapps, Washington
Birthday: Aug 22
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Fri Mar 21, 2008 7:52 am |
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OMG...how devastating!! If you are confident that your cake was sturdy then I would definatly discuss this with the facility. Sound like you do need a sign off waiver when you leave the cake stating that everything is in order. BIG HUGS to you both!! |
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MessyBaker
Forum Addict
Joined: May 25, 2007
Posts: 884
Gallery Supporter Member
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Fri Mar 21, 2008 7:55 am |
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No advice, just a ((HUG))! I am so sorry this happened to you and you cake. I guessing it would hard to prove andything, but it DOES sound fishy! |
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tippyad
Frequent Member
Joined: Aug 20, 2006
Posts: 233
Location: Bluegrass to Gator Country
Birthday: Dec 10
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Fri Mar 21, 2008 7:59 am |
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A tip for the future: Always take a picture of the cake when assembly is finished @ the reception site. This way you'll have a time marked photo for evidence. Once you leave I believe it's not your responsibilty for someone else's negligence. Sounds a little suspicious to me.
Good luck next time!!! |
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Denise
Frequent Member
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Joined: Jul 11, 2004
Posts: 229
Location: Nederland, Texas
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Fri Mar 21, 2008 8:05 am |
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I am so sorry this happened to you and it does sound suspicious. What type of support did you have in it? Did it seem as solid as those you have done before?
I use Stress Free support Systems. They are rock solid but let's face it - nothing is fool proof. I set up my cakes and take a picture of it. Well...a zillion pictures. I have a line in my contract that states that once I leave the site I am NOT responsible for cake disasters. They put a deposit on my stress frees and they get to see them so they know I am putting some serious cake support in it. It states that if the cake falls it is due to table failure, someone pushing, touching, etc. when cutting the cake ... because the stress free works.
This sounds very fishy. I hope that you get some answers and if I EVER did a cake in that location I would stay with it. It possibly was sabatoged or someone ran into the table or was too curious about touching it, etc. |
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CakesByLJ
Forum Fanatic
Joined: Dec 07, 2005
Posts: 1079
Location: Clarksville, TN
Gallery Supporter Member
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Fri Mar 21, 2008 8:20 am |
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| Evone wrote: | | We started to leave and both my daughter and I stated feeling uneasy about the cake not sure why. |
"gut feeling" I think you sensed something was wrong with the situation, and you were right.. hindsight.... I am very sorry this happened to you, but I trully believe you will never get the sympathy of the facility; this was a win-win for them. I would be interested to know if any other outside decorators have ever had a problem with them.. Hard pill to swallow, but write it off and move on... |
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Evone
Regular Member
Joined: Sep 11, 2006
Posts: 109
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Fri Mar 21, 2008 8:28 am |
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thanks everyone. I am going to push it with the place. They should at least pay for half. for them to completely turn their heads and walk away is not acceptible to me. If nothing else by the time I am through with them, they will think twice about doing this again. Thanks for all the hugs and caring I feel so much better thanks you guys are wonderful. |
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didivella
Newbie
Joined: Feb 21, 2006
Posts: 16
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Fri Mar 21, 2008 8:28 am |
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| Quote: | "Then she stated that she saw it fall gracefully when she was with a tour.... I am beside myself."
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Can I ask you what kind of tour went through after your cake was set up?? Would someone from this tour have bumped the table or touched the cake?? I'd be a little leary about having a cake set up and then having "tours" come through.
Just my opinion, hugs to you.
Diane |
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CoutureCakeCreations
Frequent Member
Joined: Jun 28, 2007
Posts: 344
Location: Chesterfield, Virginia
Birthday: Apr 29
Gallery Supporter Member
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Fri Mar 21, 2008 8:36 am |
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I am sooo sorry that you had to go through this. I do have some advise!!!
I feel that it is extremly important to include in your contract, a statement that says that once the cake has been delivered and set up, it is no longer the responsilblity of your bakery. You may also want to have a staff member or "witness" for lack of a better word, who works in the facilitites sign off that the cake has been delivered and looks fine at that time.
Let me know what you think of that. |
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