Well it finally happened- 4 years of no real problems, I did 3 birthday cakes for this weekend. 2 same size, stacked, 2 - 6" round on 2 8" round cakes, and one purse cake. (I will try to post pictures at a later time) They turned out great. I managed to deliver 1 of the stacked cakes - was fine, the purse cake was picked up and was fine. I got the dreaded call that afternoon. One of my stacked cakes, which ws picked up by the client, fell apart?? She called me frantic on what to do. The top layers slid apart, and fell into the bottom. I was a bit confused, as between the top and bottom layers I used dowl rods (5) and then one all the way through all layers. When she picked it up she mentioned stopping somewhere, It was hot and humid Sat. So I told her NO WAY! take cake straight home and I put it in her car, and also explained to drive carfully and to pick cake box up straight and not to tip it. She claimed that it was my fault becuase of the dowl rods ???? I explaiend to her that that is how you constuct a stacked cake and the dowl rods had nothing to do with why it fell apart. I asked her to send me a picture of the cake so that I could see where I went wrong, she said NO. Unfortunately, I lost my money on this one, (I know her and she had not yet paid me). I do not think that it was my fault, I think she may have let the cake get hot, and or/ was driving like crazy. I can't figure it out, but I am very upset and can't seem to overcome my fear now of letting anyone take cake home by themselves. I had no problem with the other cake I delivered?
Sorry- I am ranting--- I am really not sure what happened, and I am sure I will never really know. She still swears she drove carefully and did not let cake get too hot! Has this ever happened to any of you???
Vicky
Cakedreams
so sorry to hear that! it sounds to me that you did nothing wrong and she should have not even complained since she didn't pay you for it!! just for your benefit, i would protect this from happening again by requiring a small deposit fee (even for friends and family!) before they take the cake home. if you offer to deliver then, you would be at fault, but if they take it home and have already paid for it, then they would have a reason to complain-even if they were at fault!
good luck next time and keep it up!
Sounds a bit fishy to you.
If she knows she isn't to blame then she would send you a pic of it.
However, it seems that isn't the case.
Sounds to me like maybe she did go and run her errands and the cake got too hot. Now that she has a ruined cake on her hands she doesn't want to take the blame for it and pay up.
Sorry this happened to you. I'll agree with Misscoffey though. I would get a deposit even from family and friends.
I'm sorry to hear that this happened to you. For this reason, I always deliver all stacked cakes. I don't want to risk something happening to one during transport if the customer picks it up from me. HTH!
I agree with everyone some thing is very wrong with this picture. Sounds like to me she let the cake sit in the heat. She has to have a sense of guilt why else would she not send a picture of the cake? Sorry you had to go through this try not to let it get to you.
I'm sorry that happened to you. I agree with the others about getting the money before handing over a cake. I also don't believe her about the cake. Did she say why she wouldn't show you a picture? Very fishy, indeed.
Absolutely get a photo - explain that you need to ensure this doesn't happen again which you need a photo for so you can see what went wrong. Without the photo you can't see the problem. That's like me going into a clothes store and saying I washed something and it shrank and now I need my money back, but that I have thrown the item out and just expect them to pay up!
If you managed to deliver a cake that was constructed exactly the same way and exactly the same size with no problems earlier that day, I would suggest that whatever she did was at fault, be it run errands or drive like a mad-woman. No way would I allow myself to get blamed for this! Dowels are there to prevent problems, not cause them! If it was central dowelled, I fail to see how one tier could have slid off the other 
! She's lying, don't ever make another cake for her, get your money (or at least a deposit) up front on all future cakes, and deliver them yourself. If customers insist on picking it up, then get them to sign a form accepting responsibility for anything that happens to it on the journey home. Just my thoughts anyway!
That hasn't happened to me, but my opinion is that she is lying to you. If not, she would have given you a picture of the cake. I am sorry this happened to you, but I wouldn't blame myself in this situation. Sounds very fishy!!
Cindy
Yeah, I kind of agree. It sounds like she was trying to get out of paying you.
I tell all my customers that I am not responsible for what happens to their cake once they pick it up, or even after I deliver it. You never know what a person is going to do with a cake once they pick it up!
Once I turn my back on a cake and walk away from it, its the customers reasonability and I tell them that when we are making the deal too..I take bookoos of pictures from every angle, for my portfolio and proof the cake was standing and in top condition when I left it. She should pay you what she owes you, if not, small claims may settle the case for you and more than most likely be on your side, especially since she hasn't provided proof.
If you know your "friend" and her history of doing things, it might give you a glimpse of what happened. Given the size of the cake, which is pretty small, it sounds like she was wanted to do a few errands and the cake got hot; buttercream loosening up, cake getting soft. Then she did a few too many "Barretta" turns in her car and ended up with a giant boxed Twinkie
I agree; no pix, no refund. If she doesn't pay you, consider it a lesson learned since business is business and friendship is friendship. The more cakes you do, you will become accustomed to the attitude of not working for free. Even now, I rarely make a cake for free. The time, effort, $$$, supplies involved is just too much to just let it go.
Good luck.
I feel for ya! The same thing happened to me. Mine was a "friend" too! Luckily I got the money up front even if I did undercharge her because I didn't adjust my price when the # of guests went up. I didn't give her a refund. If she doesn't order from me again it's her loss! I constructed it the same way I construct all of my cakes and so far it's not happened to any i've delivered (and I hope it never does!) Funny thing is - i'm making her wedding shower cake 
) I'm going to make sure everyone oohs and aahs over it at her shower! Of course she doesn't know i'm making it 
Debbie
...but my opinion is that she is lying to you. If not, she would have given you a picture of the cake. Sounds very fishy!!
I agree. Why wouldn't she send a pic? No worries, you did exactly what you were supposed to do...create a great cake.
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