I had a simple cake order for today. They wanted one layer white one layer chocolate with chocolate bc icing and Happy Birthday Dad. My partiner took the cake order no problem. Right well I can do almost anything on a cake but writting NO WAY big big problem. I just cant write on cakes. Well we delivered the cake and gave her the check back. NO way I am not keeping that check because it was a disaster she loved it but I didnt and I was not about to charge for that. She kept trying to give it back I just told her keep it the next one I will charge for it in a joking fashion. She said ok but did not want to keep the check. Is there anything wrong with that? Should I have kept it? TIA MC

Well the point is the customer loved it and wanted you to have the money for your time and materials ....so regardless I would have taken the money and just chalked it up to doing it better next time!!!

I am sure you are just being hard on yourself. It probably looked fine.

OF COURSE YOU SHOULD HAVE TAKEN IT!! THE CUSTOMER LIKED IT, THAT'S THE POINT!!!

i think, if they have a problem or if you screw up really badly (like dropping it, or one side being stuck to the box or something tragic like that) then perhaps a partial refund, but you still worked hard at that cake and there is no reason not to take that cheque..did i mention...SHE LIKED IT!?

*edited for spelling*

Hmmm...I'm a bit confused. Why didn't you keep the check? Was it because you couldn't write on the cake?
Regardless, you bought the ingredients, used your time...I think you should at least have taken the check to cover your costs associated with the making of the cake.

Maybe I would have charged her half price......but, we are harder on ourselves than others.

Your cakes are just wonderful and very high quality. I'm sure that if the customer were that unhappy with it, she'd let you know. Next time, if she insists, take the check!! It's your time and money!!

I also think you should have taken the money for it to at least cover the cost of ingredients. But I understand where you are coming from. It's hard accepting $ when you aren't happy with the cake.

Writing on cakes is one of those things that you won't be able to avoid forever though if you continue to sell cakes. I practice on waxed paper and I've also purchased Wilton Letter Press sets which aren't very expensive to help keep my writing neat and in line. I've also purchased Creative Memories rulers that have cutouts of the alphabet to use on cakes. My regular handwriting isn't great at all, but when I'm writing on cakes, even freehand, it's much better for some reason. My biggest problem is keeping it straight.

I certainly think you should have kept the check and if you felt it was necessary you could have offered a discount on their next order! That way everybody wins!!

I almost did the same thing last week. A friend of mine ordered a simple 1 layered yellow sheet cake, and the decorations were only to be a volleyball w/ the team's name on it. Very simple and plain. Thats one thing I can't stand and thats orders for SIMPLE cakes. But anyway, my writing was horrible. I was so mad about it, I was about to give her the cake for free. B ut I quickly changed my mind because even though I didn't like how it turned out, she completely loved it. And like everyone said, as long as the customer likes it. You just have to know to try to do better next time.

Yes...keep it She loved it!

I agree with keeping the check. The customer is not just paying for a pretty cake but also a cake they know will taste good. The cake itself is worth more than the handwriting on it.

C

I am always more critical of my work than my customers but I did have a cake that I really wasn't pleased with when I first started and I took it to the customer and she loved it but I told her that I would take $10 off the price and that was fine. Covered my expenses and she was a happy customer!