I just had a man (not the customer..she sent a go boy..) 
come and pick up the 18 X 22 Graduation slab for the party tonight.The cake was all decorated in blue and yellow (Not my choice) Roses,Fondant mini flowers,and a small Graduation cap and tassle.It was really heavy..I put it in the back of my SUV in the garage so I would easier access to load it.The young man shows up...says he's running late even though he was there the time she told me someone would be....so I opened the garage door and my SUV and he grabbed the cake and put it into the trunk of a small sports car.. 
the cake fit...junk ,garbage all around that will obviously fall onto it and to boot he had a cardboard air freshner dangling into the icing when he put it in. 
Now I ask myself....Will this cake even make it to the function in one piece? I didn't get a call so I hope so..I just don't understand why some people are so dense when it comes to picking up fragile items.I had a lady put a cake in the back of a SUV with a baby stroller banging around.. I just don't get it!! 
Sorry about the vent!!! 
Venting is good; take it out on the forum & not your next cake;
this is why I try to deliver my cakes as often as possible, or as a friend of mine does: whoever pickups the cake signs a form stating that they have taken possesion of the cake, which was in perfect condition at the time. Once she has the form & they have the cake, she 'is no longer responsible'.
For your situation, the customer is now responsibile ... she trusted you to make the cake, she is now trusting someone with junk in their car to deliver the cake.
Don't loose any sleep over it
ciao
I agree, it's not your responsability once someone picked up the cake. I like the idea of making people sign a form to admit they're taking responsability on the cake. *note to self: make a release form for future customers...*
But sometimes I don't get some people!!
A long time ago, I decided I would not present any unboxed cake to a client. So, I began using clear plastic Rubbermaid storage boxes for cake boxes. I use two sizes: large size, which holds a 12x18 half sheet or any character cake, and small size, which holds a 9x13 quarter sheet, or a small character cake. Each is about 6" high. My DH cuts plywood cakeboards for me, to fit the boxes. I cover the boards with white Contact plastic, and then with heavy duty foil. I also provide a smooth-edged cake server which will not cut into my board. Part of my interaction with my clients is to impress upon them the necessity of returning my cakeboards, servers, and boxes within a week. Sometimes I have to make a reminder call, but they always bring me my stuff. They know they will not get anymore cake if they fail to follow my rules. Life without cake is not much of a life.
Nonetheless, even using the boxes, I have been horrified when people put the cakes in their cars. They put it on the slanted back seat, which makes me wonder if it will slide on the board. Or they clear enough space for the cake to fit with sports equipment and groceries and whatever. I wonder what will fall onto the cakebox when traveling. Or they tell me they have 3 more stops to make before they will take the cake home, in 100F+ heat. Or they arrive alone to pick up a fragile stacked cake with no one to "guard" the cake on the drive. Crazy people!
If anyone ever picks up a cake, and I am worried about its safety, I call to see if the cake safely arrived at its destination. Most times it is okay. One stacked cake collapsed enroute, after I discovered she lived on top of a VERY VERY steep hill, and I had warned her she needed help (she said "nah, it will be fine") Famous last words, equal only to "Hey! Watch this!" before doing something really stupid.
I have a habit of telling clients "After it leaves my hands, it is no longer my responsibility." Just so they know. And what more can you do? Nothing really.
Just do your best, and then let go...like sending a teenager off to college.
PS: Regarding the plastic storage boxes, I forgot to mention that I flip the box over, so the clear bottom is the top, and the opaque lid is now the base. Does that make sense? I also use deeper/taller storage boxes for tall/stacked cakes. And I attach my card to the top of the box and to the underside of the cakeboard.
I agree that most people don't think about transporting. I always have my cakes in a box. If it is a large cake, I always tell them ahead of time to make sure they have plenty of room and a flat surface to transport. If it is hot I tell them to make sure they have their air on. If they must put it on a slanted seat I always have them bring a towel or something they can roll up to put in that gap where the seat slants. I always put the cake in the car myself and I have provided some non-skid mats for them. I get it at the dollar store and just cut pieces so their cakes won't slide. Its a cheap fix.
we know as cake bakers the need to be delicate. as far as i am concerned...when its out of my hands its on that person what happens to the cake. now if i am to deliver and something goes wrong its on me to fix. i delivered a cheese cake to a restaurant yesterday and forgot that it had filling...by the time i got to the place i had to turn around and come home because it had slid off of the cake. so i fixed it and delivered. some of the cream fell off again but by that time i couldnt turn around again. i havent gotten a call so everything i assume was ok.
Most of my clients want me to deliver and set up..if not I tell them that once the cake leaves my hands my responsibility ends.
I had the husband of a client come on a motorcycle to pick up a birthday cake. The idiot actually thought he could bungie cord the box to the back of the seat behind him.
I called the wife and told her and she about jumped through the phone to kill him. He went home and got the car and came back.
I would always take a photo of the cake before it gets picked up. Maybe even try to take it while it is in the car to show the stuff around it.
You can always say "Oh please wait! I forgot to take a photo and I always photo my cakes for my album" That way the person doesn't have to know you are really taking a photo showing the condition of the cake and all the junk around it.
i know after picking up the cake, it is not your responsibility anymore..but, i would really feel bad if the cake does not make it to the event..all the hardwork that we put into the cake...
I had it happen today. A gentleman picked up cupcakes for a birthday. They had chocolate letters that stood on top. He stopped to pickup flowers and left the cupcakes in the backseat of his car. Surprise, surprise the chocolate letters melted. Now shouldn't it be obvious that you don't leave chocolate in the car in August.
Fortunately, I had made anthor complete set of letters in royal icing, just in case I had problem with the chocolate.
I place wet towels well wrung out in the bottom of the plastic box
i'm never up this early & i don't understand about the wet (damp) towels, someone please explain it to me
i want more sleep
To keep it from sliding around I would imagine.
Kiddiekakes,
I can feel your frustration, however, I may be able to give you an even crazier story! Yesterday...a lady came to pick up her cake and placed it on the seat...AND had a dog in the car! The cake was stacked so the top of the box was cut off. Not only was I worried about it sliding off the seat...but the dog eating it while she was driving!
Oh well...I guess all we can do is shake our heads! 
The pink cake with the black monogram in my album was picked up and taken to a restaurant for a surprise birthday party for a friend to which I was invited. When it came time for dessert and they brought the cake out, there was a huge wedge of cake cut out of it and I noticed a dent in the side. I don't think that you would normally cut a cake like that with a monogram before the person had even seen it unless something had happened to it 
. Oh well, we still had a good time and everyone enjoyed it.
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