Please Help..last Minute Cake Cancellation.

Decorating By anncakes Updated 30 Aug 2014 , 1:52am by Pastrybaglady

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anncakes Posted 29 Aug 2014 , 3:10pm
post #1 of 17

AToday I had a client cancel her order just hours before she was supposed to pickup the cake. It is a 6-inch guava cake with cream cheese and guava gel filling, covered in fondant. my niece's birthday is on Sunday. Is it possible to store a fondant-covered cake in the refrigerator without ruining the fondant for 3 days?...if so, how should it be stored?..in a box?..

Also, please could you help me reply to this client?..I'm frustrated, this has never happened to me before. And no, I did not get any advance from her, which is also a first for me. Since this was a small cake, I did not ask her to pay in advance. Lesson learned.

Thank you

16 replies
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Gingerlocks Posted 29 Aug 2014 , 3:20pm
post #2 of 17

I don't think there is much you really can do in this situation, there wasn't a deposit. I would reply with a firm yet professional "It is very last minute to cancel, and your cake is now finished" something along those lines..but beyond that there's really nothing to say.

 

You should be able to refrigerate the cake..I mean whats the harm in trying at this point?

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anncakes Posted 29 Aug 2014 , 3:42pm
post #3 of 17


True...at least I can try making my niece happy with a surprise birthday cake. Thank you so much for your reply. 

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mattyeatscakes Posted 29 Aug 2014 , 3:55pm
post #4 of 17

AThe nerve! Maybe you can tell her that she cannot cancel as you have made the cake already and that you demand to be compensated. That's just plain rude!

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Gingerlocks Posted 29 Aug 2014 , 4:44pm
post #5 of 17
Quote:
Originally Posted by mattyeatscakes 

The nerve! Maybe you can tell her that she cannot cancel as you have made the cake already and that you demand to be compensated. That's just plain rude!

I totally and completely agree with this..but we all know she won't pay anyway. If the customer is inconsiderate enough to cancel at the last second they clearly do not have the insight to be able to see what they "should" or what is right..which is pay for the cake they ordered. 

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anncakes Posted 29 Aug 2014 , 5:03pm
post #6 of 17

AI sent her a reply to let her know that her order has been cancelled and that I hope she realizes the money, time and effort that was put into the cake, She apologized and offered to pay me for my time and effort, but I politely declined.

Thank you so much for your replies Gingerlocks and mattyeatscakes.

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-K8memphis Posted 29 Aug 2014 , 5:07pm
post #7 of 17

i'm just curious as to why you would not have that refrigerated anyhow -- and for a small cake shop cancellations can really bite but it happens so try to take it in stride as the cost of doing business rather than an upper cut to the jaw-- but it does sting but it does happen -- i'm glad it was just for a small cake and that you can maybe use it for a family event --

 

shouldn't it have been in the fridge?

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anncakes Posted 29 Aug 2014 , 5:34pm
post #8 of 17

I have never refrigerated a fondant cake before. I understand it happens, but was taken by surprise when the order was cancelled just hours before pickup and did not know how to reply appropriately. Hence the post.

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-K8memphis Posted 29 Aug 2014 , 6:16pm
post #9 of 17

fondant schmondant -- most cream cheese icings/fillings become hazardous without time and temperature control aka refrigeration and most fruit fillings should be kept cold too

 

i don't know if yours are some of the rare ones that do not become hazardous but maybe this is your lucky day where you can become aware of the limitations of some of your preparations -- like i said i don't know for sure but it sounds like you need to do some research for safety's sake --

 

best to you

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FrostedMoon Posted 29 Aug 2014 , 8:45pm
post #10 of 17

I'm with K8memphis on this one.  Whether the cake has fondant or not, cream cheese frosting (unless made with a shelf stable recipe) and the majority of fruit fillings (unless sleeve fillings or filling recipes tested to be shelf stable) need to be refrigerated after being out for more than a few hours.  It's not a guarantee that it will make someone sick, hence the thought of many that they've done it before and were fine, but there is a much higher chance of bacteria growing & could definitely make someone quite ill. 

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maybenot Posted 29 Aug 2014 , 8:48pm
post #11 of 17

Put it in a cardboard box and wrap the box in plastic wrap.  Let it come to room temp on the counter with the box still wrapped.  The condensation will form on the box & not the cake.

 

That said, yes, this type of cake--cream cheese icing & fruit filling-- should have been refrigerated from the get go.

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jchuck Posted 29 Aug 2014 , 8:53pm
post #12 of 17

ARespectfully anncakes. If this customer offered to pay you for your time and effort, you should have graciously accepted. You sold yourself short. You deserved at least that much. Not sure the customer would have followed through, but you could have given her the opportunity. Then, if she followed through, you could certainly consider her as a customer again...with a deposit, of course. If it was "all talk" on her part, and she didn't compensate you, then she goes on your ...." Never make a cake for this customer again" list. All in all....a lesson learned, albeit, a hard one.

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anncakes Posted 29 Aug 2014 , 9:28pm
post #13 of 17

AThank you so much everyone for your valuable comments. I have left cream cheese filled cakes out for a day before and fortunately nothing happened, and the guava gel was made out of boiled juice. It was in the refrigerator till today morning when I covered it in fondant. Will definitely refrigerate from now on.

I really don't know what prompted me to decline her offer, but I just did not want to take anything from her without her getting the cake.

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jchuck Posted 29 Aug 2014 , 9:55pm
post #14 of 17

AI'm sure you would have felt awkward getting paid without handing over a cake. But it would have at least worked out to be what should have been your non- refundable deposit. You wouldn't necessarily have had to see this customer face to face. She could have mailed you a cheque. You need to pat yourself on the back for the good job you did. These situations are not always easy...much safer to forget about it and move on because we all don't like confrontation....I sure as heck don't. Would just like to have seen you get compensated as you deserved. You decided against...you can put this behind you as a valuable lesson. I've been burnt...that's how I learned.

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Pastrybaglady Posted 30 Aug 2014 , 12:04am
post #15 of 17

AInteresting situation. If she was willing to pay for your time and effort why not just buy the dang cake like she was supposed to? Did she say why she wanted to cancel in the first place? I haven't asked for a contract or deposit for an order that small either. I will think about that. I would feel very stung, but yeah, once she offered you should have collected at least the equivalent of a deposit. You'll do better next time!

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anncakes Posted 30 Aug 2014 , 12:58am
post #16 of 17

She said the bday girl was ill and that the party had been postponed.

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Pastrybaglady Posted 30 Aug 2014 , 1:52am
post #17 of 17

AOh, then she could have frozen the cake. Lots of threads about that topic here.

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