Wedding And Groom Cake Disaster...

Decorating By cakedog1 Updated 1 Oct 2014 , 8:52am by cakebaby2

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kbak37 Posted 25 Feb 2009 , 4:02am
post #61 of 104

[quote="patticakesnc"] Well it took a little digging but I found myspace pictures on her brothers myspace.

Have you thought about seeing if she has a myspace?

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aligotmatt Posted 25 Feb 2009 , 4:19am
post #62 of 104

oh yeah or facebook.

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cakedog1 Posted 25 Feb 2009 , 4:48am
post #63 of 104

I did call her today and left a vm, plus emailed her that I would like to see pictures of the cakes because I felt the bridal cake, besides the topper and one of the groom's cakes were fine (just not the guitar). I also sent back a picture of the ballcap she sent and it is clearly tan and white NOT blue??!!! Well, it took her a long time and she avoided my question about the hat twice until I demanded an answer and then she quickly emailed back stating that it was a light grey??? But she had said blue and sent me a pic of a tan hat? Her complaint on the hat cake was that she could see part of the board cut underneath?! Her complaint overall was that there was hardly any frosting on the cakes underneath and in between, nobody ate the cakes because they were afraid the airbrush on the guitar would die their teeth black, etc, etc..... I replied that I knew the hat cake had three layers of frosting and of course she didn't respond to it. I want to refund half, but I am feeling the full 800.00 is too much to swallow here..

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cakedog1 Posted 25 Feb 2009 , 4:55am
post #64 of 104

We were super rushed and the delivery driver took the worst pics EVER.. He was like 10 feet away. However, she saif she's going to get some over to me soon, and then I will post them. Thanks for all your support ladies...

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johnson6ofus Posted 25 Feb 2009 , 4:55am
post #65 of 104

yeah cakedog!!!!! Sounds like she is SEARCHING for complaints, not relying on actual problems. Heck, NOTHING is ever 100% perfect---- ever look for the seams in a beautifully wallpapered room? Yes, they exist, but the overall effect is still great/

Calmly thinking about it helps... sorry for your struggle. Glad to see that you are not going to lose everything on this. I still even believe $400 refund is too high. .... but your shop, your call....

HUGS

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Santa_Kitchen Posted 25 Feb 2009 , 5:45am
post #66 of 104

Be careful and continue diging more information, this brides sound like she want cake for free. Her allegations are so stupid, no sense, "afraid of stain their teeth", girl!!!!she decided the colors, you did the sketch, she approved, are you friking kidding me. the frosting, she does cakes? tell her that you need the cake pictures at the venue. And at least half of the cake, (because they did not eat it), in order to give her a refund. She sound like she did not receive enough money from their guests to go on honeymoon,and want to have it at your expenses!!!!!

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Ladyfish74 Posted 25 Feb 2009 , 1:08pm
post #67 of 104

Prissy bride...who lied.

So...she sent you a picture of the wrong hat--her G probably said "what the? Why isn't the hat blue?" and you probably told her how bad black food coloring tastes and that people don't like it (yes?) and she insisted on it anyway....and....you explained about the fondant/frosting ratios on the bridal cake and she wasn't listening.....

I'd give her maybe $200 for PR. She is clearly trying to cheat you out of money because she was a ditz and made some poor decisions but if you think the guitar was sub-par, do it for your own peace of mind.

When you give your word based on fraudulent claims, you are not bound by it because what you are saying is " I will agree to do this (give a refund) based on your claim."

If the claim is later disproved, then you are not obligated.

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-K8memphis Posted 25 Feb 2009 , 2:36pm
post #68 of 104

Could the topper issue not have been corrected by someone in the bridal party? That's a good question for her.

Y'know I obviously hope you can minimize the refund to it's smallest particle. What about refunding a third of a groom's cake--then you could say since she displayed and served the cakes she accepted them and you are refunding one 'cake'--less cost.

That the board showed some under the hat is not anywhere near a refundable issue huh. It's a clutching at straws issue.

I mean I think anything more than a 10% refund would be way too much.

This just seems like you were set up.

The average guest at a wedding says, "Oh my, not enough icing on this cake I can't eat it because this ratio is unacceptable." That's silly.

Airbrush black is the best way to do it--it leaves the least amount of residue in the mouth. This chick is gunning for you. I believe that if the guests were aware of this and were unhappy with that most odious of cake sins, not enough icing (lol) it was because of the vibe that was set (planned).

These claims even if all were 100% true are not anywhere near a $400 refund--5%, 10% max if that.

She wasn't happy she was getting married??? She had the cakes under the micro$cope de$parately $earching for flaw$$$.

No refund for her!

Hey, buy her a Mcdonald's coupon book and tell her to go get herself a Happy Meal on you.

Y'know what else? This is all this bride has on your cakes?!?!--Dudette, you did way good!! Had new work place, green employees, huge work load, stuff went wrong, man did you deliver!! Multiplied congratulations!! Youdabomb.

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-K8memphis Posted 25 Feb 2009 , 2:51pm
post #69 of 104

See these folks got quickly overwhelmed by the cost of a wedding. They put three names in a hat, 'flowers', 'honeymoon' and 'cake'.
They drew 'cake'--so the money they had went on that. So you are being squeezed and held hostage by their disappointment.

A refund will not fix this.

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cakedog1 Posted 25 Feb 2009 , 5:12pm
post #70 of 104

Hi __________________,

I'm actually glad the fax did not go through yesterday because frankly, I don't want to send this to your place of business as this is more of a personal matter. I will mail you the document after I can just look at the cakes. I feel this is only fair! Also, you did not give me the current address to send the checks to either. Please email that to me when you get this. The payments would begin by March 20th because I've already invested all my current cash flow in the two advanced cake classes coming up. According to my contract I really don't have to give back anything, but of course I want to save face and feel that you should be refunded for the guitar and topper.

However, on the other end I feel that this was very rushed and I have talked with a few other cake designers since speaking with you and they have all said it doesn't warrant even a $800.00 refund because firstly, you actually got the cakes, and they weren't burnt or destroyed, maybe less frosting than you wanted, but there was still something there (minus the guitar cake and the bridal topper). I only say this because I could tell you were acually starting to look for things that were wrong, such as the board showing some under the hat cake and the fact the black turned veryone's mouth black with the airbrush. Frankly, most people don't usually eat the airbrushed fondant because they realize food coloring will turn their mouth whatever color it is. I know you said the decorator put no icing underneath, and again, this is the guitar cake, which I was planning on refunding anyway (this would be approx $225.00 of the groom's portion and the topper would be $75.00). However, I know that the hat cake had 3 layers of frosting and you can't put a huge blob of frosting underneath fondant or the cake will slope .

Furthermore, I also did my own flowers at my wedding to save money, but I know that $900.00 in cakes did not prevent you from taking a honeymoon, because a honeymoon costs way more than that and Custom Cakes or Ace of Cakes would probably have charged you double what I charged since they have cake shops and employees (which I did too and caused me to lose money this time). I'm not trying to be rude here, but I frankly feel like you have buyers remorse and want all this money back unfairly when I had to pay employees to work, paid $250.00 plus in fondant and the fact you got two cakes which were correct minus the guitar cake, the cake topper and the berry cream cheese on 1 tier. I will admit that the only cake of your's I worked on was the hat cake (which I have now asked a 4th person and they state the picture was light tan, not blue or grey), Also, remmber that I had included the 2nd tasting in the wedding cake cost and that was $40.00 we added in on the pricing, which came to the 900-I'm not sure of the exact amount.... Mind you, I had to bake SEVERAL cakes for you that day and that was a lot of waste. $40.00 didn't even cover the cost of all that baking. And you told me not to pay my employees, but as a business owner, you cannot just "not pay someone" for a job that they did! Would you go to work and just not care if your employer said, "Well, this isn't the best job, so I'm not going to pay you today!?" You know that wouldn't fly and I have to pay them or else I can get sued by them, just like you would sue for your pay check.

I'm only saying all this because I need you to also see this from my end as well. It really isn't my fault that people decided not to eat the cakes. I actually wonder if you told everyone not to eat the cakes because you were wanting to return them for a refund. Of course everyone is going to agree with an upset bride that ALL the cakes looked absolutely atrocious. I have only had one instance where something like this happened and I was in a car accident and the wedding cake was destroyed, so I went to Bodi's at the last minute and they were able to put a cake together for me. I gave her back 25% because it wasn't the right flavors/design and felt this was fair because she still got a cake. Now, if I hadn't deilvered anything, then yes, I would feel I needed to give an enitre refund. I just really need to see the pictures and I will mail out the finalized document when I can see the cakes for myself.

Thank you,

Jennifer Campbell

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cakedog1 Posted 25 Feb 2009 , 5:14pm
post #71 of 104

Why the #$#$# didn't she call me AT the wedding and instead wait until 2 days later???? Hmmmm..

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DreamInCake11 Posted 25 Feb 2009 , 5:24pm
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Personally, I think the letter is way too wordy and sounds like you're admitting to pretty much everything she's complaining about. I feel like there are too many details included. Something straight to the point would be more professional, and would leave less of a "grey" area if she decides to pursue this further.

IMHO

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-K8memphis Posted 25 Feb 2009 , 5:39pm
post #73 of 104

Dear Bridelette,

I need to see your photos of the cakes in order to make final my decision regarding your complaint. Please remit along with your new address as soon as possible.

Sincerely,
JC

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KoryAK Posted 25 Feb 2009 , 5:39pm
post #74 of 104

yeah... no no no no no NO on sending that letter! WAY too much info and personalization. You are running a business. This letter should be straightforward and eloquent and look like it came from a business.

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Santa_Kitchen Posted 25 Feb 2009 , 6:01pm
post #75 of 104

I agree with Cristieb11, don't give her so many details, it's sounds like you agree with the"fault", instead demand the photos if she want to sustain her claim, don't explain her why the guest did not eat the cake, (anyway that is a matter of personal taste), do not explain why you think is unfair, just send her copy of her sign contract (did anyone in the venue sign as accept?), and the amount you will be willing to refund after evaluate all the photos. Also the argument of the icing is irrelevant and is not a matter of discuss with the client unless she actually verbalize that at the cake tasting and specified in the contract, under specifications. She taste the cake, she agree with the flavor, do not discuss that with her. You gave her what she paid, and she decide to make a big deal of that. After reviewing the pictures(try to ask fellow cake decorators in the area if you consider her argument unsustainable, so you can tell her that your decision is base and agree with other cake artist) She will not take you to court, believe me, nobody got silk because of the cake . What a bridezilla!!!

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Santa_Kitchen Posted 25 Feb 2009 , 6:59pm
post #76 of 104

Let me tell you what happen to me. A lady came to place an order for a birthday cake, I was finishing a cake tasting, so she dig in all the flavors there where left. She decide to have a strawberry flavor cake(because it was for a girl), she love it, although i did tell her that kids are good with a regular vanilla cake or chocolate cake. Ok, she paid, perfect. she came the next Saturday to pick up her cake. It was very simple sheet cake, because she buy the decorations elsewhere. After 6 hours, she call me and tell me that the cake was a waste of money, the kids didn't like it. I told her that she need to bring back the rest of the cake next day in order to give her any refund(not to mention that i though the cake was hard, or the recipe didn't cake i was supposed to). Next day she came, with the leftovers, I touch the cake, it was fine, taste it, it was delicious....then ask her very seriously what they did not like....she said the kids didn't like strawberry flavor...ahaaaaa.....look her through her eyes and tell her in her face that she decide the flavor and refuse my suggestion, tell her no money will be refund and advice her that is against the law the intention of avoid payment of received services. She turned white....., and leave. I call her friend(frequent customer) and tell her no order will be accepted from her friend. She was embarrassed. (But I did that just in case her friend wanted to talk bad of me). I learn my lesson, but she learn one two.

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__Jamie__ Posted 25 Feb 2009 , 7:12pm
post #77 of 104
Quote:
Originally Posted by Santa_Kitchen

Let me tell you what happen to me. A lady came to place an order for a birthday cake, I was finishing a cake tasting, so she dig in all the flavors there where left. She decide to have a strawberry flavor cake(because it was for a girl), she love it, although i did tell her that kids are good with a regular vanilla cake or chocolate cake. Ok, she paid, perfect. she came the next Saturday to pick up her cake. It was very simple sheet cake, because she buy the decorations elsewhere. After 6 hours, she call me and tell me that the cake was a waste of money, the kids didn't like it. I told her that she need to bring back the rest of the cake next day in order to give her any refund(not to mention that i though the cake was hard, or the recipe didn't cake i was supposed to). Next day she came, with the leftovers, I touch the cake, it was fine, taste it, it was delicious....then ask her very seriously what they did not like....she said the kids didn't like strawberry flavor...ahaaaaa.....look her through her eyes and tell her in her face that she decide the flavor and refuse my suggestion, tell her no money will be refund and advice her that is against the law the intention of avoid payment of received services. She turned white....., and leave. I call her friend(frequent customer) and tell her no order will be accepted from her friend. She was embarrassed. (But I did that just in case her friend wanted to talk bad of me). I learn my lesson, but she learn one two.




icon_twisted.gif You go girl! Very well handled!

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-Tubbs Posted 25 Feb 2009 , 10:55pm
post #78 of 104

Yikes icon_sad.gif Please don't send that email. It's way too personal and emotional. Sleep on it.

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eldag0615 Posted 25 Feb 2009 , 11:05pm
post #79 of 104

Is that a copy of what you already sent to the bride or what you intend to send?

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Ladyfish74 Posted 25 Feb 2009 , 11:29pm
post #80 of 104

Yes, I agree with everyone on this one. You sound too concerned. That gives her the power in the situation. When you are on the defense, it always makes you look guilty. You aren't guilty of all the stuff she's accusing you of so don't act like it. Just send a fax like K8 suggested and let her make the next move.
This is just the way some people try to get their money back. They are the same people who wear a formal for one night and then take it back to the store with sweat stains in the armpits and say "it didn't fit". Yeah, uh-huh....

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bakingatthebeach Posted 26 Feb 2009 , 2:45am
post #81 of 104

I wonder, did she complain to the management at the venue about the reception, you know, the food, maybe the lettuce wasnt green enough, the seats werent spaced apart evenly. It really sounds like what alot of replies on here are saying, she got in way over her head. Basically a con artist trying to recoup most of her wedding budget back. Because some of the complaints she is giving you are really bogus. Like I said before, if you want to do it for PR purposes, only refund what you didnt spend on the cake, but Id just let it go, you obviously had enough happy clients to feel you could open your own shop so who cares what she says, your photos of your work speak for themselves. Maybe refund the delivery fee since the driver screwed up the birds.

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Karema Posted 26 Feb 2009 , 3:09am
post #82 of 104

What are you doing? You are just giving her all the amo that she needs against you. You actually told her that you had another incident where the cake was in an accident. Why does she need to know that. I am just confused why you find the need to over explain yourself to this bride. If this is what you are going to send you might as well give her the checks now and close up shop. Think about it. Everyone here is trying to help you sometimes we should take the advice if we ask for it and it will save you a lot in the end. Why would you give her the money back for the guitar? Because it was black? So she chose the color and then you admitted that you didnt even make her cakes someone else did and you only made the baseball cap. Then you made it personal and asked her if she would accept not getting paid at work because she didnt do a good job. Take the advice of K8 and the others quick and learn from this situation and never do it again. Do you really want to have a shop and run a business or just decorate cakes. Keep it about business and dont get emotional.

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summernoelle Posted 26 Feb 2009 , 3:40am
post #83 of 104

STOP! Stop stop stop. Go for a run. Go to the movies. Go to dinner. Just step away from this and do NOT under any circumstance send her that letter. You must calm yourself. And you must act like a professional.
You will regret it later if you send this letter. Be brief, to the point, short even. Watch your words, and don't over share.

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cakedog1 Posted 26 Feb 2009 , 4:10am
post #84 of 104

I'm sorry... I'm such a butthead. I should have totally posted this before I sent it icon_mad.gif .. Oh well, I am faxing her a copy of the contract that covers everything I have said.... and yet another thing.. her payment was a week late and in my contract I state I can actually liquidate that money and cancel the contract if timely payments are not made. So, in reality, if I was a shrewd business person I could have just kept the money and not made the cakes...


icon_rolleyes.gif There's an idea... but I couldn't be that snotty I guess!!

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jamiekwebb Posted 26 Feb 2009 , 4:18am
post #85 of 104

You actually sent that???? Oh boy,.... well I guess she is getting what she wanted then. Hope you don't loose too much...

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Rocketgirl899 Posted 26 Feb 2009 , 4:19am
post #86 of 104

wait! where can you go on a honeymoon and get all your flowers for a wedding for a measly 800?!?!?!?

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Tita9499 Posted 26 Feb 2009 , 4:24am
post #87 of 104
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rocketgirl899

wait! where can you go on a honeymoon and get all your flowers for a wedding for a measly 800?!?!?!?




The Bronx...HA HA HA! icon_lol.gif

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sweet_teeth Posted 26 Feb 2009 , 4:27am
post #88 of 104

I know you have already sent that letter.. but just for future reference.. I would make sure you don't make the same decision again.

The letter was very unprofessional, had poor grammar, and was almost attacking the customer. You were all over the place in your thoughts and it was not very coherent. I know you feel like the situation has turned personal, but you need to take your personal feelings out of your business. She feels like you messed up her cake, but.. you have a contract, she agreed to it, and that's that. If she wasn't happy yet she got what she ordered, then she needs to suck it up and you need to stick firm on the fact that you delivered what you said you would deliver.

If the guitar cake was messed up it should have been fixed before it went out. If there was no time for that then fine, give her a partial refund. If people didn't eat the cake because it was airbrushed black.. well that sucks for them that they missed out on cake. She ordered a cake that would have parts of it black.. what did she want it to by dyed with..that magic dye that turns clear when it hits air!!!???!

I'm sorry this problem has happened to you but take it as a lesson learned and learn from your mistakes. Don't loose your confidence. Remember that you are an amazing cake decorator (I just went to your site) and that bad things happen to everyone.

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Karema Posted 26 Feb 2009 , 4:27am
post #89 of 104

ok I dont even know why I even keep checking in on this because at this point I feel any advice is useless. I do have one question Do you have a silent partner? If so let them handle customer complaints from now on because obviously someone helped with your contract. I pray that you learn from all of this and dont try this again. You have to grow a thicker skin if you want to succeed. I wish you the best.

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Rocketgirl899 Posted 26 Feb 2009 , 4:47am
post #90 of 104
Quote:
Originally Posted by alexandrabill

I know you have already sent that letter.. but just for future reference.. I would make sure you don't make the same decision again.

The letter was very unprofessional, had poor grammar, and was almost attacking the customer. You were all over the place in your thoughts and it was not very coherent. I know you feel like the situation has turned personal, but you need to take your personal feelings out of your business. She feels like you messed up her cake, but.. you have a contract, she agreed to it, and that's that. If she wasn't happy yet she got what she ordered, then she needs to suck it up and you need to stick firm on the fact that you delivered what you said you would deliver.




TOTALLY!!!! I was reading the letter and shaking my head.

LOL about the Bronx. I mean even for say 100 people? dam... as in icing... I have no intentions of getting married....so I won't have to worry about all this crap. icon_biggrin.gif

I wanna see these cakes. No disrespect but why didn't you take a photo in your shop? Even if it is just a crappy one on your cell? If I spend tons of time on something I want proof!

And you said she wanted ACE of Cake quality? Sh*t goes wrong with their cakes all the time.. she got what she paid for! lol. not really but still.


If one thing is wrong, people tend to find another, and another, and another, till finally nothing is right.

At the shop I worked at, one time the owner forgot the topper. The bride and groom and said it ruined there wedding! wanted a whole refund!

Also then the "ivory" wasn't "ivory" and there wasn't enough filling (single layer 3 tier torted) I felt horrible because it was one of the first wedding cake orders I took... I had heard the owner tell another customer to bring in the topper to make sure it would stay on the cake and be supported right. So this is what I told couple. So they came in and were ticked at me!

Oh so much I learned from working at that shop... more what NOT to do then what to do.

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