I Just Want To Crawl Under A Rock And Hide.....

Business By MissNinis Updated 15 Oct 2014 , 6:01pm by babyblue113

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MissNinis Posted 3 May 2014 , 7:35pm
post #1 of 45

Hello all

 

I just delivered a cake to a customer and  soon as I got home I had an email that said she was so upset and cannot believe I mad that cake, she could have done a better job... and she was going to post it to my business page.....

 

I am so upset right now, I have never had a complaint on my work so I feel terrible....even thought I gave her a huge discount..... I still feel like S*#t....I just want to crawl under a rock an hide..... I am at the point I want to stop making cakes now.....ive been in my kitchen since 6pm last night working non-stop on her cake .....an she didn't even like it or say thank you.....just I cant believe you did this to me...

 

I don't know how I am suppose to feel right now!!!

44 replies
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AZCouture Posted 3 May 2014 , 7:40pm
post #2 of 45

ANeither do I. What happened?

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MBalaska Posted 3 May 2014 , 7:45pm
post #3 of 45

Can you post the link to your business page?

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MimiFix Posted 3 May 2014 , 7:47pm
post #4 of 45

That stinks. Can you give us details and post a pic? And you can either block her from your business page, or post immediately after she makes her comments? But maybe she will settle down. Sorry to hear this... 

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MissNinis Posted 3 May 2014 , 8:00pm
post #5 of 45

She said as soon as I left that one side collapsed, but she did not send me a pic of it so I don't know if she is just lying or did it really happen.....ugh...she said I feel like bringing this back an throw it at your front door .....are you kidding me .....ugh......I just want to hide....I don't like feeling like this.....I did block her and any an all contact to my page....

 

I am still learning the whole pricing thing, even though I have been making cakes for 10 years......so the cake she wanted was a closed bible cake, to feed 100 people.... full sheet... 4 layers.....FRESH strawberries, bananas, pineapple, blue berries, & kiwis.....an I only charged her $75.... my supplies and ingredients alone were $80....so I basically made her that cake for free.....ugh....I don't want to do this anymore...... Im at the point I just want to make cakes just for my family....I cant handle rude customers.....ugh.....;'-(

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morganchampagne Posted 3 May 2014 , 8:02pm
post #6 of 45

APictures would be helpful. If she's a paying customer and didn't get what she asked for her reaction could be completely justified. No, she didn't say it in the nicest way. On the other hand, she could just be a crazy person. We won't be able to give you advice until you show us what happened

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howsweet Posted 3 May 2014 , 8:08pm
post #7 of 45

AIf a customer told me that one side of a cake I made collapsed, I'd have really hard time believing her. Are confident in the construction of the cake?

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MissNinis Posted 3 May 2014 , 8:14pm
post #8 of 45

Yes I am very confidant in the structure of my cake....that's why I am so ify....;-/

 

She didn't send me a pic of the "Collapsed Cake"

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MBalaska Posted 3 May 2014 , 8:22pm
post #9 of 45

Do you have a photo of the 'before' cake.

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-K8memphis Posted 3 May 2014 , 8:26pm
post #10 of 45

she wants to throw a bible cake at your door? over react much? not really very cohesive there on her part --

 

was the fruit on the inside of the cake or the outside? i mean maybe the fruit set something in motion because there were no dowel or anything right?  that's a lotta juicy fruit--was the cake kept cold? so if the fruit was in the layers--did you have a nice dam around the cut fruit--maybe the fruit adorned the outside though --

 

she's coming off a little suspect to me with what you've written --she seems a little too angry to be for real -- but idk

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-K8memphis Posted 3 May 2014 , 8:28pm
post #11 of 45

well i mean as soon as you left someone mighta dropped it on the table and caused it to avalanche too--if it was secure when you left and it was good and cold...i mean

 

here's a thought--what kind of board did you have it on--was it a little bit flexible? or completely 100% inflexible?

 

and i'm sorry this is happening--i just wanna play nancy drew with you and help figure it out

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thecakewitch Posted 3 May 2014 , 8:34pm
post #12 of 45

AIs that the same cake you're asking help with here: http://cakecentral.com/t/774080/need-help-asap-please#post_7508126

4 layers with all those fruits, it can definitely collapsed. The fruits might have made your cake layers soggy and/or they way you layer the cake, fruits, and buttercream(?). Unless you show us a photo, we can only guess what really happened.

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MissNinis Posted 3 May 2014 , 8:35pm
post #13 of 45

Yes I did build a dam around the cake before the fruit...yes it was kept cold....An yea she is overly angry....an my board was 100% inflexible .. I am just really skeptical about it

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thecakewitch Posted 3 May 2014 , 8:38pm
post #14 of 45

ADid you use buttercream or the cool whip/condensed milk that was suggested on your other thread?

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Norasmom Posted 3 May 2014 , 8:40pm
post #15 of 45

Not much anyone can do to help you without pictures.  Does she have pictures of what happened?  If she does not then she cannot say much to you about your work.  I wouldn't stop making cakes over one complaint, I just would not deal with customer again.  Also, you charged too little and when you charge too little it says you don't think your work is worth the effort, which is portrayed through to customers like the one you are speaking of. 

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MissNinis Posted 3 May 2014 , 8:41pm
post #16 of 45

I didn't take a before pic.... ;-(...Mistake????

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-K8memphis Posted 3 May 2014 , 8:43pm
post #17 of 45

when i layer fresh fruits-- i cover the layer of cake with whipped cream, lay the fruit like a mosaic on top of that cut small so it will serve nicely, then another layer of whipped cream --all that has a buttercream dam around it (should mentioned that first) and the fruit is completely encased in well beaten not weepy whipped cream--holds  it like glue--all that cold fat --

 

if it was just seeping into the cake it might cause a problem--but still if it was cold and kept cold--idk because her reaction is so overboard it makes you wanna draw back kwim--

 

have you worked with this type of fruit filled cake before?

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MissNinis Posted 3 May 2014 , 8:44pm
post #18 of 45

I used buttercream.... an yea I did not realize I charged too little  when I first  took the order.... ;-((( this is just so frustrating

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MissNinis Posted 3 May 2014 , 8:46pm
post #19 of 45

Yes I have done fruit filled cakes before.....BUT not ones with so many fruits... when I do fruit filled cake I usually do 2 fruits,,,

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Natka81 Posted 3 May 2014 , 8:54pm
post #20 of 45

That customer is just a very very mad woman, she said she wants to trow that Bible cake at your door, I can imagine what kind of Christian she is. Something else must have happened today that made her really mad I am sure it is not your cake only.

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howsweet Posted 3 May 2014 , 8:55pm
post #21 of 45

ASounds like you need to chalk this one up to the school of hard knocks, do some research to find out what cakes sell for and possibly also on the cottage food laws in your state, because most don't allow fresh fruit fillings. And, yes, no cake goes out without a photo. Also take some with your phone at the delivery, also.

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MissNinis Posted 3 May 2014 , 9:00pm
post #22 of 45

Yes I was in utter shock when she said she wanted to throw the cake at my door.....WHO DOES THAT....

 

An ok thank you I will make sure to take photos of every cake

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howsweet Posted 3 May 2014 , 9:00pm
post #23 of 45

AAnd I don't see how you didn't know you'd undercharged considering you were charging 75 cents per serving. I thought this was sort of a gift or something. You've been doing this 10 years? I can't understand why you'd do this to yourself. You need to take better care of you.

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-K8memphis Posted 3 May 2014 , 9:03pm
post #24 of 45
Quote:
Originally Posted by MissNinis 
 

Yes I was in utter shock when she said she wanted to throw the cake at my door.....WHO DOES THAT....

 

i would open the door real quick and at least get a big mouthfull --dang that sounds like a killer cake

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by howsweet 

 You need to take better care of you.

 

for real -- nobody will do it for you

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MissNinis Posted 3 May 2014 , 9:04pm
post #25 of 45

Quote:

Originally Posted by howsweet 

And I don't see how you didn't know you'd undercharged considering you were charging 75 cents per serving. I thought this was sort of a gift or something. You've been doing this 10 years? I can't understand why you'd do this to yourself. You need to take better care of you.


Ive been doing it for 10 years but for family and friends never for other people

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Natka81 Posted 3 May 2014 , 9:12pm
post #26 of 45

K8memphis, that cake must have been good! but for the wrong customer.

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mattyeatscakes Posted 3 May 2014 , 9:26pm
post #27 of 45

AIt's ok. Just charge it to experience :) also i guess know your limits too. People order buttercream cakes from me all the time but i usually turn them down and tell them that i really am no good in making a clean buttercream cake. My piping sucks! Hehehe that's why i stick to fondant, much more forgiving (for me anyway). If they insist, i direct them to other bakers whom i know will be able to give her the cake she wants and meet her expectations :)

Stop feeling bad or sorry for yourself, at least now you know how to make a fruit filled cake :) and make sure that it's structurally sound :) we all learn from all our little and big "oopsies"! :) keep on caking!

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Natka81 Posted 3 May 2014 , 9:38pm
post #28 of 45

Also, I have a question: when you carried that cake did you hold it by the ends of cake board? Because if cake was heavy and the cake board was thin it might have bended the cake and when you put it on the table it broke, it happens.

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cazza1 Posted 4 May 2014 , 2:23am
post #29 of 45

I'm confused.  You have a business page but you charge less for your cakes than it cost to make them?

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MBalaska Posted 4 May 2014 , 2:29am
post #30 of 45
Quote:
Originally Posted by thecakewitch 

Is that the same cake you're asking help with here: http://cakecentral.com/t/774080/need-help-asap-please#post_7508126

4 layers with all those fruits, it can definitely collapsed. The fruits might have made your cake layers soggy and/or they way you layer the cake, fruits, and buttercream(?). Unless you show us a photo, we can only guess what really happened.

 

OP did you follow any of the advice shared with you from the precious post when you first said that you 'need help asap please'?    Which of these professional bakers tips did you try?

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