Have you ever made a cake based on a drawing given to you? And then have an unhappy client?
I have recently had a wedding cake order, and the groom had sketched out his cake design. (I met with his mom, and by the way, she ordered this 5 days before the wedding.) A very busy design for three tiers for 50 servings. The colors were too bright, every tier had a very busy design, and they also wanted silver hearts painted on it on the top tier...not a problem to do, but I should have said no...I had doubts about how it would look when done!
Today I finally get my cake stand back with a note that is written on a picture of the cake (WHICH I COPIED FROM HIS DESIGN!). "Ugly as hell..." it starts out, and gets not much nicer from there.
They didn't ask for a refund at least, and they sure didn't say anything when I delivered it. I would have fixed it (though I am not sure how) had they asked.
Sigh.
I know this wouldn't help the client relationship, but I don't know if I would've been able to stop myself from writing back, "That's exactly what I thought when I looked at your detailed drawing which I followed exactly!"
Edited to add: What a jerk!!!
[quote="Melvira"]I know this wouldn't help the client relationship, but I don't know if I would've been able to stop myself from writing back, "That's exactly what I thought when I looked at your detailed drawing which I followed exactly!"
I may not write it, but I sure am thinking it. Oh well. The thing that really bugs me is that they were referred to me, and there goes that reputation.
Wow.. That stinks. What a tool. If you copied HIS design.. then he has no one to blame but himself.
" I may not write it, but I sure am thinking it. Oh well. The thing that really bugs me is that they were referred to me, and there goes that reputation."
I would CERTAINLY let them know that it was NOT YOUR idea, and I would also inform the person that informed you..... I hope you still have his "sketch".......
Wow, what a terrible feeling. It reminds me of the show "Miami Ink" actually. A customer wanted a tattoo that the artist really didn't think would look good so he nicely, but with persistance, steered her away from it. And she agreed in the end. A cake's not a permanent inking on your body, but you get my point!
Clearly your client seemed stubborn but maybe the best thing that can come out of your experience at this point is a lesson learned? In the future, stay true to what you believe and your artisitc eye! It's always your reputation on the line when you put your cakes out there for public viewing. Best of luck in the future!!!
How rude!!! Can we see a pic?
I thought of posting it, but hey, it's ugly, remember? Also, I don't want anyone remotely associated with this situation getting wind of my posting here.
I'm sorry this has happened to you. 
Some people just have no class.
First, you don't order a 3-tier cake with such specifications just 5 days before the wedding; if you didn't think about it before now, it's a little too late. 
You were more than gratious to do such a job on such short notice. Kudos to you for that. 
Second, since the Groom didn't feel meeting with you personally to make sure YOU understood HIS vision was an important detail for him to take care of, then he should have no complaints. 
He relied, instead, on his Mommy to convey his wishes, and she probably did her best. The fact that he felt his cake was "ugly as hell" is not your fault, is not his mother's fault, but is HIS fault for not insuring HIMSELF that you would be able to take HIS VISION and turn it into a 3-dimensional work of art that HE would like. 
Some people have NO CLASS. 
To put you in a position where you have to rely on second-hand information, a crummy sketch and someone's misguided sensibilities about what they want to make look good on a cake is just rude.
The Groom here is the classless wonder, not you, dear. Don't let this child get you down...he needs to learn how to grow up. I would keep a folder of his drawing/sketch, your order form and notes, photos of what you did, even his "nasty-gram". Look back on it and laugh, use it for inspiration, copy it all and pin it to your dart board .... whatever you do, grow from this experience. We've all had bad customers (if we've been doing this long enough), and we're in YOUR corner, rooting you on. I'm sure you worked very hard on that order and it was precisely interpreted from what you were given to work with.
"It is what it is" and "We can only do what we can do" are two of my favorite sayings lately....I think they apply here. Hold your head up and smile; you provided what was asked of you on very short notice under difficult circumstances. You can't help it if the Groom has no taste. As I always tell my Clients: "I can't make any promises other than I will do my best to create the vision you have described to me." Sounds like the description was lacking here....Just my opinion.
Hope this helps you feel better about your skills.
Keep Baking,
Odessa
How rude!!! Can we see a pic?
I thought of posting it, but hey, it's ugly, remember? Also, I don't want anyone remotely associated with this situation getting wind of my posting here.
I see your point. I was just thinking that maybe it really wasn't all that bad.
As far as the referral reputation being out the window-I wouldn't worry about it too much. You do beautiful work-it speaks for itself, the people that referred these classless folks know you do beautiful work and they are probably snickering behind their backs as well knowing the kooky groom and his sense of taste and this wasn't something you would come up with one your own!
Thanks for all the replies today. You are all so awesome and supportive. I'll think about posting a picture. 
I guess, all in all, it's better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.
I copied the design, the mom saw and accepted the cake, never said a word, and waits 8 days after the wedding to complain. 
On to bigger and better things....I have a shop to open next month!
It was a bad moment for you.....but I need to see the cake....I'm very curious now...I can't believe people could do that. Next time express your opinion and let they know what do you think about it.
I pity the bride that is marrying that guy!!! And what bride leaves THAT up to her groom??? Maybe she is the one behind the displeasure??? Just a thought...
I pity the bride that is marrying that guy!!! And what bride leaves THAT up to her groom??? Maybe she is the one behind the displeasure??? Just a thought...
I wondered about that too! Perhpas she went ballistic and he was like, "Uh...uh... it was GORGEOUS when I drew it! I don't know WHY she couldn't make it look like the drawing!" or something intelligent like that.
I know this wouldn't help the client relationship, but I don't know if I would've been able to stop myself from writing back, "That's exactly what I thought when I looked at your detailed drawing which I followed exactly!"
Edited to add: What a jerk!!!
HAHAHAHAHHA! that is waht I would want to say, and given that if they were so unhappy with their "ugly" cake, they probably wouldn't order again, so I may actually say it to them!
I wouldn't worry about it! I would keep the sketch so if anyone ever mentioned seeing the cake, you could show them how good you are at making exactly what the client ordered!
In the back of my mind, I always worry about people like this. I think it's a red flag when the guys care very very much about the specific details of weddings and other such girl-stuff. It just seems to be a mark of someone who is controlling.
This is just another example for the many I have seen. Poor bride, she probably thinks he's being sweet when he "helps" her pick out curtains and furniture, too.
You couldn't make his cake "right". I'll bet his wife can't park the car "right" or cook a chicken "right".
Anyway, I digress... congratulations on opening your own shop! Good luck!
If I were in your shoes, I would send him a letter like the one below:
Dear Mr. X,
I am so sorry to hear that you were not satisfied with the groom's cake. After meeting with your mother, I came to the conclusion that the resulting cake was what was requested. The specifications were to have a 3 tiered square cake in the following colors: red, white and blue. I have attached a picture of the final product as well as a sketch that was provided to me. To my ability, I tried to replicate the design on the cake from the 2-D picture that I was provided. As you can see from the original sketch and the final product, it was very similar in design and identical in specifications. I know that this is a very special occasion and I offer you my heartfealt apologies for your disappointment, however, I feel that I did a very satisfactory job on replicating the request that was made.
Sincerely,
Me
"Jerk" ??? A$$hole is what I was thinking of. I don't know if you would ever send a letter like that, but after reading your posting, I feel better just typing up a letter to him and 'kindly' explaining to him that he got the design that he asked for--it's not your fault that he has visions of screwiness.
Next time... if there ever is a next time with this type of situation... make a copy of drawing-- stick it in a frame and plant that sucker right next to the cake so everyone can admire the likeness of the cake to the drawing and then talk smack about the wanna-be cake designer instead.
(and good letter, by the way!) Next time... if there ever is a next time with this type of situation... make a copy of drawing-- stick it in a frame and plant that sucker right next to the cake so everyone can admire the likeness of the cake to the drawing and then talk smack about the wanna-be cake designer instead.
That's an awesome idea!!!!!
I was thinking along the lines of onetaahine, except I would put the picture of the finished cake and the drawing both framed, side by side in your new shop to show customers how you are willing to go to the extreme to please your customers no matter how ugly their ideas are.
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