okay, so I made a cake last weekend for my stepsister...she was hosting a baby shower for her friend. (see my vehicles cake in my photos). She wanted a 12 inch square, double layer, w/a vehicles theme to match the baby's room. She wanted chocolate transfers of the vehicles on all sides and on top. I quoted her $65...she balked at the price but eventually agreed. I was annoyed.

anyway, she came to pick up the cake last Saturday at 10:20 in the morning. The shower was at 1pm. She was not dressed, no makeup, etc. The shower was 45 minutes from my house, and it was getting close to 70 degrees. I asked her where she needed to go before the shower and she said she needed to pick up the sitter, stop home to get dressed, etc. I told her to make sure the AC was cranking in her car because of the chocolate transfers.

so I emailed her the other day to see how everything went. She emailed me back yesterday to say that one of the dump trucks on top was melted all over the cake when she took it out of the car, and the ones on the sides were starting to melt too. She said how embarrassed and upset she was, etc. I apologized...never had a disaster! but I asked her how long the cake was in the car, etc. I figure, even if she ran in her house to get dressed and put on makeup, that could easily take 15 minutes. She claims she left the car running the whole time, with the AC on.

I don't know what to believe. I sent her a check for 1/2 her money back because I feel awful, but I just don't see how this happened, if what she says is true. I have used chocolate in the summer before, in much warmer temperatures (I wouldn't really recommend that!) and it was NOT that warm out that day.

I think it was just in the car way too long. what do you think? I don't really think this is my fault...I advised her that the chocolate could melt if not kept in a cool place.

I think she probably left it in her car, sun shining thru the windows, and it got hot. I wouldn't have refunded any of the money. It looked fine when you gave it to her, told her not to leave it there, and she did! Her fault!

I think if the cake looked good when it left you then thats good enough. You can't control what happens to it once out of your site!

thanks guys...I just felt awful, especially since she's family...but my DH said the same thing...the cake was fine when she took it and I advised her to keep it cool. She didn't ask for money back but she obviously is not taking any blame for it!!

Remember...........this was not YOUR disaster. She was the one who left the cake in the heat. I looked at the picture, super cute cake! Good Job!

The cake picture was very cute. I wouldn't have given her money back and what I would do is send her a copy of the picture to give the mom to be so she could have a picture for her baby book. I agree she left the cake too long in the car.

thank you

I dont think you can be to blame for something melting! Plus you warned her about them.

You shouldnt have to apologize for that.

chocolate = melting!!!

you warned her...she didn't listen. Don't apologize! I agree with diamond...send the mother a copy picture of the cake for her baby book! That would be a REAL nice gesture!

I agree with the others. I wouldn't give a refund b/c the responsibility was delegated to her. I think that was very nice of you to give her some money back though. Cute pic as well.

This was NOT your disaster...it was hers! I wouldn't have given her any $$ back. We all know that it is so much hotter inside a car then outside, and obviously she left the cake in the car too long...her fault!!

OMG she left it the car running with the air on. That's roughly 2 1/2 hrs by my count. At roughly 3.50 a gallon. Did she rob a bank beofre she picked up the cake?

Bummer

Mike

thank you all! I hope she contacts me when she gets the check in the mail...and I will clarify that I am not giving her $$ because I take responsibility...I'm just trying to keep the peace If it was anyone else, I wouldn't think I would do it! It just burns me up that she is not taking any responsibility.

i totally agree, its her fault for leaving it in the car. once it leaves your house in good condition its up to her how she looks after it.

I know the A/C in my car doesn't work nearly as well when the car is just sitting still. I'll bet it got pretty warm in there.

I wouldn't have refunded her anything family or not. EVERYONE knows that you can't leave chocolate sitting in a car. Not to mention you even told her not to leave the cake in the car. Once a cake leaves your hands it's no longer in your control.

When a customer picks up a cake from me I always have a 'tip' sheet attached with special instructions for that particular cake. For example: if the cake needs to be refrigerated, where the dowels are located, cutting instructions etc.

That way they can't come back to me and say 'they didn't know'.

Wow your way to nice i would'nt have given her the money back you told her not to leave it in the car her fault. She should have been ready and pick it up last thing before she went to her friend.

Just take it a lesson that no matter who it is the cake is their resonsibility once it leaves your hands and you can only guide them.

Great cake her loss.

Cake is ADORABLE. Stepsister NOT so adorable.

I echo the sentiments of the others. When a client picks up a cake. It's NOT MY PROBLEM what happens after that. I give them instructions; heck, sometimes I even give them the foam to sit the cake on; but after that.....it's their responsibility.

I would HOPE that your stepsister would do the right thing and return your check and accept responsibility!

Beth in KY

I thinks like the others. You advice her of what to do with the cake to make sure the cake will arrive safely to the shower, and the most important thing is that you have a photo of the cake as it was before giving it to her, and it was wonderfull. Email that photo to the mother to be, so everyones have the image of the cake before it went to your stepsister's hands. Anyways she was the one who ask for the chocolate transfers. Good Luck!!

I think your e-mail sounds fine.

thanks - she emailed me back right away (she never does that) and said she did receive the check and wasn't blaming me. She said she didn't expect any money back and will either rip up the check or send it back...whatever I want. Interesting...she didn't protest when I told her I was sending $$ back!! I think she's mad...oh, well....

I bet it was in direct sunlight.. even if it was in a box, being in direct sunlight would lead to some melting. I have people sign a release form stating that once they pick up their cake it becomes their responsibility to take care of it. They get a sheet explaining that their cak should remain cool and stay out of direct sunlight, how many dowels are in it and about where they are, instructions on how to cut it to get the right amount of servings, blah blah blah. I'm happy she is ripping your check up.. you in no way owed her anything for her lack of common sense.