I Want To Kick This Customer To The Curb (Sorry, Long)
Decorating By pmarks0 Updated 15 Nov 2010 , 11:22pm by Adecakes
Let me get this straight.
- You're turning 50.
- Your DH arranges for you to make a cake with a 50 on top for a "difficult friend" on the day you will be celebrating.
- You, of course, change the day of your celebration.
- What do you know? "friend" suddenly changes her cake day to your new celebration day!
- DH sees you struggling with difficult customer but encourages you to keep the job.
- "friend" really wants you to attend her party with the cake you made with the big 50 on top, arranged by your husband.
Is it me, or does anyone else think OP is being set up for a surprise party? Ordinarily I wouldn't spoil such a thing. But I suspect DH is laughing his butt off every time difficult customer sends you one of her 23 emails. And I think this is a situation where the tables need to be turned. (if you can somehow confirm my suspicion) Maybe make a dummy cake that you drop on the floor during delivery with your DH.
...or maybe I'm just the suspicious type.
OMG!!! This happened to me once and my parents once!
For my parents, it was their 25th wedding anniversary and my junior recital in college (I was a piano major) got scheduled on their anniversary date--there were no other dates available. I told my folks that I was going to have a big reception, a "meet-and-greet," after the concert. What they didn't know was that this reception was their surprise anniversary party! Well, they fell for it completely, and my mom went so far as to make a dozen foccacias from scratch, bought a couple of cases of champagne, and a few other goodies she thought I needed for "my" party. Imagine her surprise when she found out she'd basically catered their own party!
Imagine my surprise when I discovered that the baker I'd hired to make a replica of my parents' wedding cake--she was a so-called family friend but no more!--had been having an affair with my father. No wonder he was so ticked off to see that she'd come to that party! 
For me, it was my first baby shower. I was going to throw myself a combination birthday party/end-of-second-trimester party, a small tea for about five of my friends. Imagine my shock when, at the appointed hour, the doorbell rang and there were 35 people standing on my doorstep, each carrying a hot dish for lunch! In they walked, carrying lunch, gifts, and a really cute cake. My cousin, to whom I'd sworn up and down that no one would ever be able to surprise me with a party because I'd always figure it out, got me GOOD!!! She even dressed up as a baby, complete with a diaper, for the occasion. 
Wow! I had to go take a xanax just to finish reading the posts! My goodness! I'm glad I haven't had anything this bad happen to me. (knock on wood) My biggest problem is that I don't charge enough for my work. Really trying to work on that.
Okay---First of all, PITA needs to be told to take a hike. Hubby needs to be sat down and given a loooonnnnnggggg looooooonnnngggg talking to. Don't let him up until he thoroughly regrets getting you into this. lol
And, just as a side note: I usually use cake mix, also, unless it's carrot cake or some other special recipe I've tried. I'm more in my comfort zone with mixes, but don't mind doctoring them. I can't wait to see how this all turns out! Good Luck!!
Just wanted to give you all an update. I delivered the cake yesterday. I have no idea yet what she thought because she wasn't even at the hall for the setup, just her friends. However, it gave me the opportunity to setup and get out and not have to deal with her. LOL. I'm quite happy with the way it turned out.
I can't seem to get the photo to upload here.
http://cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1822460
And this is my birthday cake that I was making for yesterday as well.
http://cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1822458
Thanks for the update to the saga! The cakes both look wonderful.. the topsy turvy is amazing and sounded scrumptious! Happy Belated Birthday! Hope you had an awesome time.
I thought you might enjoy the final chapter to this saga.
It's been 25 day since her party. And in 25 days there's been nothing from her. No comment, no thank you, no I hated it. No contact of any kind. So, needless to say DH is pissed. So he's addressed this with her in a very long email.
He has addressed her behaviour during the past 7 months from the time she started this. He's called her out because apparently, and he got this from a very reliable source, she's been bad mouthing me and the cake behind my back (his too) at the office where they both work. If you recall, one of her questions was if the cake was from a mix. DH thought I shouldn't have bothered even answering the question, and I got mixed comments regarding telling the truth or lying. In the end I told her all of my cakes have a cake mix as a base. (I had hoped she'd take this opportunity to cancel with me). Well, apparently, when she saw that she was pissed off but not enough to cancel. So instead, she has been telling anyone who will listen about how bad the cake tasted, how she could taste the mix, and lord knows what else. Claims she makes fruit cake from scratch. Well, so do I! And what's that to do with this cake anyway? LOL.
Just an excerpt from the email where hes said in the 12 years hes known me and my baking, no one has complained except her. For the record, all my baking is from scratch except most of my cakes (for the time being). She hadnt even tasted any of it before she asked me to make her cake.
"Well, to be correct, you havent complained about it have you? To do so you would have had to actually speak or make contact with one of us in the last twenty-two days, which you have not. No, instead, you prefer to skulk around in the shadows, whispering in people ears about how Pams cake tasted like it was from a box and about how unhappy with it you were and how the money you paid her could have bought a cake from a bakery instead and how you never intend to buy another cake from us in the future; trust me when I say you are not wanted in any fashion as a future customer! And please do not bother wasting your time and insulting me further by denying that you said these things because not one, not two but at least THREE people have informed me that this is what you have been doing and saying. You think you would know better than to gossip in a government office; all ears are always open. And I have TRUE friends here who look out for me."
Anyway, the psycho-bitch has met her match with my DH. He's apologized numerous times to me for putting me through the ordeal. He really thought she was better mannered and such. And what angers him as well is that they are both from Trinidad and hes told her he doesnt know any other Trinis in his circle who would act as such.
Apparently her behaviour isnt restricted to the cake either.
And as a bonus, you are complaining about who gave you a gift and who did not and how little you got as a gift and bold-face asking people where your gift is and on and on??? And add that to your ridiculous request to have Pam move her birthday celebration to accommodate yours is beyond selfish. And she wished you a happy birthday while you did not so much as recognize her special day. What NORMAL human being does all of that?!?!?!
Shes actually calling people up and asked them either why they gave such a cheap gift, or a measly $50, or even just a card and why didnt they give a gift?
Absolutely a piece of work and one person I will never be doing a cake for again, although I doubt shell be coming to me either. LOL.
I don't normally say this about people... but it sounds to me like she's a waste of skin.
Wow, I'd love to hear how she responds to that, IF she does....that is so ridiculous. Kudos to you for sticking with it!
Pmarks, thanks for updating this I was wondering what the co-worker had said about the cake. Nothing good obivously and going behind your backs after all that work! I'd give her a good smack if ever I saw her again! But that's just Me 
Your cakes were lovely and I hope you had a smashing birthday!
Thanks everyone. I appreciate all your kind comments. I really don't except to hear from her but if I do, I'll let you know.
For those who commented on my cake and my birthday, yes I had a fantastic day and the party was great! My mom came through on some cake decorating equipment (cricut, airbrush, agbay) andf friends have put money aside for some specialty classes. 
The cake was my first attempt at a topsy turvy and I'm quite happy with how it turned out.
Thanks again everyone!
pmarks, my internet has been out for ages, I just got it back and couldn't wait to catch up with this story. I'm so happy to see it came to a conclusion. Both cakes came out beautiful.
If you want to have a bit of fun with DH though, you could always point out to him that this was good practice for him to learn to deal with a difficult customer..... hehehehehe (that was just the little devil in me peeking out)
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