So, I sold my first cake last week. It was a pony cake for a little girl's second birthday. It was a 12 inch heart cake (was told they needed it to feed about 12 people). It can be found under my photos.
I was proud of the cake since I just started taking classes in February. I thought it looked perfect. When the lady came to pick it up with her children, she seemed happy and even gave me an extra $5 tip (my asking price was $30). I told the lady to please let me know what she thought after eating the cake since I am just starting out. She said she would...and that her mom was a real "cake person..."
Well, a week has gone by and I was disappointed that I didn't get an email from this woman. However, today I ran into her at the grocery store and real quick she goes, "the cake was good...." I asked her if she had any complaints, if it was dry, etc. and not to just tell me that it was good if she was disappointed in it. She said, "no it was good..." and changed the subject.
Well, I don't feel like she is telling the truth! I mean, if it was good, wouldn't she had commented on the taste or the icing? Hubby says my expectations are too high of people!
Anyhow, what are your experiences with your "customers." Is "no news good news..."? I would think that in this case, "less news is bad news..." Don't know what to think.
Also, should I shoot her an email with a few simple questions? Did she like the icing, was it too sweet, etc.? Goodness, I leveled the cake and it seemed to be perfect inside.
I am just disappointed. I guess I expect a nicer review from the lady (she knows I am new at this). But as my mom says, "some people just don't have manners...."
HELP and advice! What would you do?
Not everyone has the same opinion about sweetness and flavor.
If you KNOW your cake and icing are the best you can provide, then you can't worry about every customer's feedback.
Not everyone will have comments. It is a pain not to get positive feedback, but it happens a lot.
I think we have to remember not everyone gets excited about cakes like we do. After my Elmo cake was picked up I hadn't heard anything for 3 days. Finally I decided to call and the client said everything was great and will order from me again. But that was it. I wanted to hear how her son loved the Elmo, how the filling was yummy, how everyone enjoyed it, etc. etc. etc. I realized that to some people cake is just cake plain and simple. BTW really cute cake!!
i agree, just move on to the next one, cause if she didn't like it you'd know about it. in those situations if they aren't happy they let you know real quick.
I agree dont bring it up again she would tell you if it was bad. People are not going to get into the details of taste texture like you would.
People just don't always reply. My husband is always asking me if I followed up and I actually have to seek people out sometimes to ask. Usually, they say the cake was good and move on...... Sometimes, they will email me and tell me it was good and thanks. Others are repeat customers and I never hear about how good or bad it was. So....repeats are good.
Just go with the flow and provide the best product you can!!
I agree. i just started out with this too, and it's really exciting when you make a cake and want to know exactly how much everyone loved it like you do! especially when you worked really hard to impress them and then you don't get any feedback. it can be discouraging to say the least! just remember that every once and a while you will have everyone raving about your work when you least expect it, and it will make it all worthwhile! don't give up, your cake looks great! 
I get dissapointed too, when all I hear is "The cake was a HUGE hit. Everyone loved it!" I want to hear the specifics of how great it was, also. But I guess just hearing that, and knowing I was proud to make and deliver it, is good enough.
Your cake was wonderful, by the way 
I agree that it would be nice to hear more about your cake especially starting out. When I first did cakes for others, when I was asked to do the cake, I told them that I would make the cake on the condition that, as I was just starting out any feedback would be appreciated no matter how good or bad so that I can adjust my baking for the next time. You may try that approach!
But I also agree not to ask anymore from your first person.
This happens to me too. One of my favorite cakes is the baby shower cake in My Photos that looks like two stacked gifts. The girl that ordered it had her mom pick it up and she oohed and aaahed over it and was really nervous about transporting it. I didn't hear anything about it after she left until months later when she called to set up an appt to discuss her own wedding cake. We keep playing telephone-tag but I spoke with her sister who said that when she saw the baby shower cake she commented "oh, she is SO doing my wedding cake". So even though she was thrilled she still didn't feel the need to call and let me know how she like the cake. I am not one to really call and follow up (maybe that's bad on my part) but I don't want people to think I'm fishing for compliments. Before I started doing cakes, I had a lady I ordered from and I don't think I ever called to let her know how much I enjoyed her cakes. I let her know how beautiful they were when I picked them up but that was it until the next cake. I just never thought that she'd really like to know how her cakes turned out. So don't feel bad about not getting more feedback. I agree with the previous poster. To a lot of people "it's just cake".
Your cakes are beautiful, by the way. Keep up the good work!
I just think that when people are paying you to make a cake, they EXPECT it to be good! They paying for it to be that way, so why would it be otherwise?!?!? If they wanted to take their chances, they'd have old Aunt Mildred bake away and take their chances!
People that have paid you for a product shouldn't have to stroke your ego, should they?
I mean, don't get me wrong, I love compliments as well as the next person, but "we enjoyed the cake" is really all your should expect. Any more is gravy, isn't it?
Personally, the only thing that bothers me is complaints! 
Thank you for your help everyone. I look for constructive feedback and I appreciate the answers.
Look, I come from a working background where you ALWAYS follow up with the customer and ask for their feedback. Restuarants ask about the quality of their food, don't they? I think of this as asking a customer about her satisfaction with my product. To me, this is good business etiquette - esp. when just starting out.
I am NOT looking for an ego stroke as one person mentioned, but for FEEDBACK. I asked this lady to provide me with feedback BEFORE she took the cake home and she said she would let me know. I just think that if it knocked her socks off, then she would be anxious to tell me.
Molliebird - I like your idea of telling people upfront that you would appreciate feedback of any kind. I thought I did that with this lady, but maybe I didn't get my point across. I will be more clear in the future.
Well, I am not feeling totally at ease. I guess only time will tell if she liked the cake - and that will be if she asks me to do future cakes.
Thanks for the compliments everyone!!!!
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