how sad, your cake was beautiful

i'm new to all this and just do as a hobby but the more i read the more i think there should be an item in the contract stating that if there is a DJ then they are doing so at their own risk. letting them be aware of what the loud music can do to a cake

so sorry

I was just talking to my DH about this situation and he brought up a good point. Technically it might all be the responsibility of the venue's manager. (S)he should know about how things should be set up and where the equipment should be placed. This person should have known that the cake and speakers shouldn't have been so close to eachother and should have made it a point to have one moved. That's what a manager does - manages things/people.

Of course, I still think the DJ should have known better, too. After all this person is suppose to be a professional, also.

As part of my information packet that I send to brides (pricing, menus, tips on how to set up a reception room, how to obtain a marriage license,etc), I include a paragraph on the effect of DJ speakers on a wedding cake. I'm going to add it to my FAQ page, also.

We, as an industry, should publicize, publicize, publicize this during the planning process so that it becomes common knowledge when planning a wedding, just like things like "guys wear tuxes, the couple kisses at the end of the ceremony, the best man gives a toast, speakers should not be placed close to the cake".

I just mailed her refund check and invoice.

I wrote, refund for my cake being knocked over.

Yes, this has golf bag scenerio all over it. Glad this is behind you now.

I'd certainly make customer's aware of the music issue and cake placement when planning.

Okay, I think I need to know what this "golf bag" story is all about. Anybody?

Ah...the golf bag cake.

Egad, well most of the post was lost in the crash, but basically CCer bdrider had a similar crashed-cake problem, seemed pretty obvious that it was the fault of the DJ or venue (narrow table provided for cake, could have been bumped...loud music, you could see the speakers RIGHT next to the cake in the photo)...completely psychotic customer, lots of screaming (customer) and e-insults, threats of lawyers, massive insanity. Look up bdrider if you want to find her posts, she was a real trooper through the whole thing and never lost her cool.

I remember someone else posting a long time ago that their cake fell from the loud music. In that sutuation the bride knew that and understood it. You should stick with your 30% back.

I think that is a very professional way to handle the situation. Even though you did your part already by purchasing more cake at that time. I am definitely going to add that clause to my contract. I think your cake was very beautiful and colorful.

I feel so bad for you! What a horrible position to be in, but I think you should keep in mind that this woman (MOB) is probably not being greedy about the money. When people are emotionally upset about something they will generally lash out for some sort of compensation. She thinks she'll feel better about not having the pictures she wanted, and not having the "cake-cutting" moment that WE ALL EXPECT at a wedding...especially at our own daughter's, if she gets some sort of compensation out of you. I feel bad for her. I know that I would be upset and I think most people don't understand that a cake has it's limitations when under duress! She's ignorant (about cake) and she's wounded...dangerous combination. If I were you I would write a letter stating you can understand what a blow she has experienced in regards to lost pictures and cake cutting expectations, and that you are just as sad about the demise of your work of art that you labored over for hours/days. In the end you 1.) left a beautiful, complete and stable product, 2.) came back to help salvage your "assaulted cake," and 3.) even compensated for someone else's error by bringing in extra cake for their guests. You, in fact SAVED THE DAY...not ruined it.
In my opinion people generally want you to empathetic not defensive. You can defend your position and still give her the emotional stroke she probably needs.

I don't think that you should have given a refund but everyone is entitled to ones own oppion. As far as the car analagy that was posted. Something like that just happened to us. My daughter purchased her first car from a reputable dealership. After the first week of owning the car she started having problems with it. Took it back to dealership which is over an hour drive for us for them to fix it. Well they cant fix the car major mechanical cost. They offer her a different car at the same cost but newer and nicer than the other. Well the day we drove back up so she can pick up her other new car a salesman at the dealership was moving another car and backed into it causing over $1000 worth of damage. so what the dealership did was fix the car repaint it, gave her a loaner to use while its being fixed, then delivered her car to her when it was done. Did we scream that they should reduce the price because of what happened. No we were glad that they did what they did.

Do yu happen to have pic of the speakers close to the cake?I would snd both pics, heres the one when I drooped of the cake and here' one of the idiot dj's speakers to closse to the table with a cae on it. I could understand a tall cake being knocked over by the bass. I was a a freinds wedding a couple weeks ago, and the music was so loud I had to leave. If I hdto guess atth db rating of he music inside te reception hallI would guess between 180 and 200 db. Hearing loss starts at aroung 90-100 db, I believe. Honestly I would write or call the dj service and send theman invioce for the cake, and if they get all crappy aboutit I would contact the bbb. Itreally sucks that this happened you, I starting out and now i know to add in my contracts about dj speacker, terrorist attacks, and othr unseen cuircumstances

I have a paper that I have someone sign when I deliver a cake stating


I agree that the ____________________________ for __________________________ was delivered and set up at the agreed upon time of __________ am/pm and that it was left in good condition (structurally and asthetically) and will not hold Tina's Sugar Shack responsible
for any damages occuring to the ____________________ because of surroundings (placement of table, guests, d.j. speakers/vibrations,etc.) after it has been signed for.


Date:

Signed: ______________________________________________ (responsible persons designated by person placing order)

Tina's Sugar Shack representative sig:____________________________________________________

Would you mind if I copy that, for future reference?

I don't deliver that many cakes, really, but you never know!!!!!

Suzanne x

For sure this was not your fault, too bad it had fall it was a beautiful cake!!
Just like everyone one said talk to her about the DJ and his fault in it!

KHalstead that seems to be a very nice addition to the contract language I put on the first page.

Question for you: Have you ever had issues getting someone to sign it, especially since the person paying for the cake and those present at the hall to set up for the reception are probably two different people?

nope........I actually make the bride tell the names of at least 3 people that can sign for the cake.......then when I deliver......I go in asking for these people......as soon as I'm done setting up, I let them check out the cake....they watch me take pics and then they sign and I tell em' have a great day!! I haven't had any trouble so far! The brides understand when they place the order that it will be required if they expect me to leave the cake there. If I don't get a signature, it's not my problem if the cake doesn't look right, wasn't the right design, etc. and I tell them that up frront...the signature is just as much for THEIR protection as it is for mine.

KHalstead, do you have any idea if the people on the "they can sign for it" list know about it ahead of time? I'm asking as a caterer ... they bride might say, "Oh debi will be there....she can sign for it" and I'm signing NOTHING.

yes, they know ahead of time......and besides if the bride SAYS they know and they DON'T and they don't wanna sign.........they get the cake how it is.....not my problem!!! I make the brides think it's for THEIR protection....to ensure that the cake is exactlly how THEY wanted it...before I leave! So they've been pretty good so far making sure the person that's supposed to sign is RIGHT there waiting for me...because they don't wanna get stuck with a cake that's not what they wanted....and my contract clearly states, once I leave I am NOT responsible for anything that happens to the cake!

Sounds like you handled this very well. BEAUTIFUL cake, though!

I wouldn't refund a dang thing! When you left the cake was fine, it was standing perfectly straight on a level surface. Since the cake fell as a result to someone effectively bumping the table and causing it to fall over, you're not responsible for any of it.

My contract clearly states that the moment that cake leaves my hands, I am not responsible for any damage suffered at the hands of careless waiters, children, or acts of God/Nature.

If I arrive and I deem the table to be too weak to support the cake, I will not set it on there until someone signs off on it.

What do they expect to happen when they set a huge speaker with the bass fully turned up and pointed directly at the cake???? It's like expecting a building to be subjected to a 7.0 earthquake for 30 minutes and NOT fall down.

I say you don't give them any refund.

WOW.
I TOTALLY feel for ya....
I'm the one with the golf bag cake falling nightmare.

I've been so busy lately that I've been missing so many forum topics and Sugar Plum Fairy just brought this to my attention.

It wasn't your fault. EVERYONE NEEDS TO LEARN FROM MY NIGHTMARE AND THIS ONE. My god.. any function that has music with speakers needs to be put on the "danger" list and appropriate action simply must be taken!!!

Offering the refund you did was more than gracious... And not for nothing'... ( and I never mentioned this in my thread which was thankfully lost in the Great Crash of '0... At my very own wedding ( before I was making cakes... ) I very clearly remember looking over at my wedding cake and seeing the spray of BC roses that spanned 3 tiers sliding right off onto the table. And yes... it totally screwed up the cake. Did it ruin my wedding??? HELL NO. I quiety told the hostess to please FIX it ASAP and never even brought it up again until right now. I didnt complain to anyone.... I didnt demand money back ( when I probably could have.. )..
It was my WEDDING. MUCH more important things going on there than my cake. ( yes... those words are actually coming out of my cake-mouth. ).

And you were there HOW long???? Damn girl... you were not responsible in any way shape or form.

And to anyone wondering what happened with my saga, my attorney has still not received any photo's from the nut-job and I told him to just sit tight until he does, please dont contact her for any reason.

I have a feeling she will be back though.. My pic with a cake is appearing in a mag that is distributed in the area she lives in so I have a feeling she may resurface sometime soon.

But back to the issue at hand...
Move on, be happy to put this behind you and by all means... ADD THIS TO YOUR CONTRACT!!!

brider- we should start a support group.

Good idea Cakenator!

lol... no pun intended of course!!! lol....
SUPPORT group...

L.M.A.O.

cake SUPPORT group

I am sure this has been said a lot of times in this thread but I would not refund them any of the money back it is not your responsiblity after you drop the cake off. If my cake fell at my wedding I would not be calling the cake maker I would be calling the dj or who ever set the table up near the DJ.. It is their problem after the wedding starts. It could have been a kid running around playing and some how knocked into the table.. Thats not your deal to deal with. I would put somewhere in the deposit or invoice that you have them sign, a place for them to intial that says something like all responsibilites are yours after I deliver and set up the cake table, and take a picture everytime like you said that way you always have proof that it was no leaning or having any defaults..

I hope that helps you and I am sure I am way late on writitng this as I am sure many people thought the same thing.. LOL sorry but I had to vent after reading your thing cause I dont want you to feel bad... cause you did your job by delivering a pretty cake, they have to take care of it once its in there hands..