Hi my CC friends, I need your opinion...
Like a lot of you already know, I'm baking cakes from my home-based business for a local French bakery that does only French pastries. So when someone orders a simple ordinary cake, I'm the one to make it. Well last week a woman asked for a cake to feed 50 people, and she even draw herself what she wanted on a piece of paper. The bakery owner gave me the paper, with all the instruction so I made the cake like the lady wanted it. It's a traditional event for the child that starts walking (Native tradition). The lady came in to pick up the cake, didn't look twice at the cake and started yelling that it wasn't what she wanted, it's not big enough, it's too expensive (75$CAD for that cake) and went out the door, before anyone could say something.... I wasn't there, but the bakery owner was. I told her that this lady probably had bought another cake for 20$ at some grocery store, and didn't want to pay the cake she ordered. She didn't take the tme to look at it, for goodness sake......geez... I baked the cake according to Earlene's portion sizes. I took back the cake at my home (but told the owner to start taking deposit or full payment because I'm not taking back anymore cakes...) I even cut the cake to make sure I had enough portions (Earlene's chart says 60 portions) it was just like the chart said. So there was plenty of cake... I'm posting the pic I want to know what you think. and remember that it was designed by the lady that ordered it...
I gave some of the cake to some family members that takes care of my dog when I'm away (outside dog of course) they were very happy to receive free cake...
thanks for reading me....
Lorris
I think it sounds like what you said - she got a cheap deal somewhere and wanted to back out. I wouldn't worry about it. Your cake is cute!
Even though she drew it out on paper she could have had something completely different in mind than what came out as the end product PLUS it was relayed from her to someone else then to you. That why I always deal with the recipient directly.
Also, my first glance at the cake (although very cute) instantly triggered a mental picture of something entirely differnt than I know you were looking for (and something completely NOT appropriate for a child). Maybe that same thought crossed her mind.
Regardless, I always hate to see people jump to conclusions and instantly think the worst of somebody. You don't know what was going on in her head.
Stefy, I understand your point. But she didn't look at it directly. The bakery owner only opened the box on one end of the counter, and was ready to come show it to her, and she just got angry. And the child is not even 1 yet. she wanted the design flat on the cake, and just one tree up to represent the child. And for that price, sorry, but I can't do an all 3D cake for 50 people. Lots of people here buy cakes at the grocery store (1/4 sheets double layer) for 19.99$ and just can't get it that we charge at least 3 times that for the same thing. So I thought at first that it was me that was the problem, until I realized that she didn't took a close look at the cake before leaving the bakery. It's a major problem in my town about cakes. The other lady that bakes cake is mad at me because I started selling cakes too, and she's bad mouthing me. I've always sent her customers I didn't time for, but now I don't because of that. I was proud of my cake, everyone I know that I showed them the cake was pleased with the design, even my own children wanted us to keep the cake (well here goes 3 happy kids) anyway.... I just wanted to reassure myself, but I think it made it worst....
lorris, i wouldn't fret... similar thing happened to me.. the cake in my gallery that is blue and brown with a white C was made a for a simple baby boy shower. The customer would give me NO IDEAS, colors, themes, nothing just that the baby would be named Cameron. My DS had been in the hospital the entire week and I went home to make the sheet cake..... when she saw it she said was very disappointed.... but I knew she would be because she wouldn't help me out.... so I just gave her the cake.... sometimes their thoughts and our interpretations are completely different. I like to KNOW what they think, but sometimes we just can't, even if it is on paper. I will NEVER take another order from someone without ANY ideas.. last FREE cake, because in reality it wasn't my fault.... she should have given me some ideas!
I first read this post last night and my initial thought was why didn't the customer liaise direct with Pootchi rather than go through the bakery owner and then she'd have known what size and costs were being talked about.
Being wise after the event and all that, that would set alarm bells ringing in my head as the customer either wasn't committed emotionally / didn't really care enough to be involved in the purchase (she certainly wasn't financially committed), or she was one of those people who believe that magical cake decorator powers enable a decorator to look at a drawing and then reproduce the exact same image the customer has in mind.
Agree that possibly the cake design might be 'misinterpreted' but it doesn't sound like this was what gave the customer the squeaks, as she didn't look at it properly.
I'm just really sorry that Pootchi was out of pocket through all this happening.
I like the colours you used and I think it was nice of you to copy the drawing and customize like that. Is it supposed "Happy walking out?" though? Did she write that? Because when I saw that before reading your post I thought it was congratulating someone on leaving their spouse. Just curious. Anyway, you can't please everyone all the time and again I think it was nice of you to go out of your way to try to make your customer happy even if she didn't appreciate it.
I agree you need to start gettin at least a deposit on all cake orders.
Quote by @%username% on %date%
%body%