The request was choc. cake with "fresh" strawberry filling. This was for a 6 yr. old girls b-day. High School Musicical Theme. My daughter & granddaughter attended the party. The young mom asked for the IMBC because she didn't want the "real sweet" icing. But, at the party, my daughter said no one liked the IMBC. They said it didn't have any flavor. I used my regular 1/2 & 1/2 buttercream for the borders and they liked that! My gut instinct was to use that for any childs b-day because they like the sweeter icings, but NO...I thought this might generate more business with the adults! Well, they didn't like it! And, the kids didn't even like the High School image part (frosting sheet) so they didn't even eat that! 
And, no I didnt forget anything in it, I put a little lemon in it for flavoring. My daughter said everything else about the cake was good. It was moist, filling was good etc. But, I feel horrible. Do you think I should offer a refund? I can't seem to attach the pics. Please look in my photos to see the HSM sheet cake. I was paid $35.00 for it.
Opps, They have just been uploaded....sorry. It will be there in a few....
You know - you did what you were asked to do and the cake looks wonderful - so you have to feel good about that. I haven't been decorating very long but I have discovered that if the cake is really, really good, and if you have a filling and it is good, then the icing is just there for the show!!
I haven't had a cake with an edible image, so I don't know what they look like in person or while cutting. But I would not stress over that.
I'm sure you will get many orders from this cake. And I would not refund the money - as I said - you delivered what was ordered.
And again - the cake looks great!!
Suze.
That cake is beautiful!!!!
Don't feel badly about it, you did what you were asked to do. Some people are just never happy about anything, so let her comments just roll off your back. You did a great job! 
I have no idea why they didn't eat the edible image. The sheets almost become one with the icing and they don't have a flavor of their own, they just taste like cake and frosting.
I'm sorry they said those things...it's looks like they got a deal at $35 if you ask me. 
Refund nothing it is not your fault that she didn't know what she asking for to beging with people just think they know what they want, you should have asked her if she ever had that type of icing before, but she would have said yes thinking she did
No way would I offer a refund. You gave them a nice cake and that is what they asked for. Did you only hear bad reviews second hand or did the mom actually contact you? Often I dont like what I order at a restaurant, but it isnt because there is anything wrong with it, the taste just doesnt suit me, but no way would I ask for it to be taken off my bill. Anyway maybe from now on you can suggest reg buttercream for childrens parties.
No way would I offer a refund. You gave them a nice cake and that is what they asked for. Did you only hear bad reviews second hand or did the mom actually contact you? Often I dont like what I order at a restaurant, but it isnt because there is anything wrong with it, the taste just doesnt suit me, but no way would I ask for it to be taken off my bill. Anyway maybe from now on you can suggest reg buttercream for childrens parties.
I agree with everyone here. But I think I would suggest the regular butter cream for kids parties too. People also have a tendency to think they've had something and then figure out later they hadn't had what ever it was before.
Plus they're are so many different options for icing and so many people make it differently too.
Your cake was well done and at 35.00 a bargain.
I agree with everyone else. Don't offer a refund when you gave her exactly what she asked for. If the kids didn't like the IMBC frosting then that is the mom's fault for ordering it... not yours. You should be proud of your cake. It looks great!
Lazy_Susan
First, your cakes look wonderful...and delicious! You should not offer a refund, but believe me, I know how you feel! Sometimes when I learn that a particular cake wasn't as "liked" as others I've made, I feel bad and instantly think I should offer some money back. BUT, how many times have I ordered something or bought food and/or tried something different that I didn't necessarily like? Many times....but I don't ask for nor expect a partial refund!
Personally, I don't like edible images....it's a texture thing (as is fondant with me), they just seem rubbery to me, so that may have been it, but that's not your fault! I also happen to LOVE IMBC, but when I tested it on some cupcakes that my sister took to her medical office, they tried them and the rest sat there! All of them hated it except one person....and they all said it lacked flavor, wasn't sweet enough and it was like biting into a stick of butter! Needlesstosay, I didn't add it to my list of offerings, but I personally prefer it!
Don't feel bad....it's all about personal choices and taste, and says nothing bad about your cakes!
First, it doesn't seem to me that she asked for IMBC, but for something less sweet... and... guess what, less sweet gets you something like IMBC, but I agree, not for kids - they DON'T like it, but she got what she asked for... not your fault!
Second...if I were a kid, I would be disappointed in the photocopy paper on my cake. At least that's what it looks like to them (and to me).
I really, really don't mean any offense, but this looks like something from a grocery store display - quick slap on a premade picture... it doesn't look like a special cake made just for them... A kid wants something special that can't be found anywhere else... these edible images just look, well... generic. And do they look edible? Probably not to kids.
But... if that's what the mother asked for, that's the mom's fault - not yours! your color and design is good... I would skip the words in the paper though.
Now that I sound all harsh! (sorry!!!!) I just figure, you want to hear what maybe they were thinking... it's what I woudl think... 
Melissa
Even if she wasn't happy with it, it's what she ordered, and it's what they ate... if they hadn't of eaten it and brought it back saying this tastes horrible I could see wanting to give a partial refund. But she ate the cake, she finished it or threw it away either way the cake remained in her possesion.
I myself wouldn't offer a refund because she asked for a less sweet icing which turns out to be the IMBC (I guess lol) and she got what she paid for, she got a cake with the theme requested. Now if she requested edible images so be it but if she didn't then there would be a problem... but I think it looks great either way 
First, it doesn't seem to me that she asked for IMBC, but for something less sweet... and... guess what, less sweet gets you something like IMBC, but I agree, not for kids - they DON'T like it!
Second...if I were a kid too I would be disappointed in the photocopy paper on my cake. At least that's what it looks like to them (and to me).
I really, really don't mean any offense, but this looks like something from a grocery store display - quick slap on a premade picture... it doesn't look like a special cake made just for them...
But... if that's what the mother asked for, that's the mom's fault - not yours! your color and design is good... I would skip the words in the paper though.
Now that I sound all harsh! (sorry!!!!) I just figure, you want to hear what maybe they were thinking... it's what I woudl think...
Melissa
WOW. I'm sure you meant no deliberate rude remarks to Sweetcakes23, but I really wish you would have read and reread your message before you posted it. I know you were only trying to convey your honest opinion, but your wording is not very nice and/or appropriate.
I think what we need to do for Sweetcakes23 re. this thread is encourage and support her work and offer advice about what to do re. a refund, not necessarily tear her work apart with words like "store display" or "quick slap". Just not nice.
Ok, now back to positive advice to offer Sweetcakes23!
I agree with everyone. Don't let the review get you down. They all loved YOUR cake, the just hated HER poor choice.
First, it doesn't seem to me that she asked for IMBC, but for something less sweet... and... guess what, less sweet gets you something like IMBC, but I agree, not for kids - they DON'T like it!
Second...if I were a kid too I would be disappointed in the photocopy paper on my cake. At least that's what it looks like to them (and to me).
I really, really don't mean any offense, but this looks like something from a grocery store display - quick slap on a premade picture... it doesn't look like a special cake made just for them...
But... if that's what the mother asked for, that's the mom's fault - not yours! your color and design is good... I would skip the words in the paper though.
Now that I sound all harsh! (sorry!!!!) I just figure, you want to hear what maybe they were thinking... it's what I woudl think...
Melissa
WOW. I'm sure you meant no deliberate rude remarks to Sweetcakes23, but I really wish you would have read and reread your message before you posted it. I know you were only trying to convey your honest opinion, but your wording is not very nice and/or appropriate.
I think what we need to do for Sweetcakes23 re. this thread is encourage and support her work and offer advice about what to do re. a refund, not necessarily tear her work apart with words like "store display" or "quick slap". Just not nice.
Ok, now back to positive advice to offer Sweetcakes23!
I'm sorry... I didn't mean to sound rude (too little sleep, too much stress, and well... that time of the month add up to not being good with words).
I'm TERRIBLY sorry that they didn't like the cake and if the mom asked for these things, it just means the Mom will make better decisions on what she asks for next time. High School Musical is REALLY hard to work with (nightmarish for me! LOL) and your execution was great....
Melissa
I would not refund any money. You gave her what she asked for and the cake looks great...my kids (5 and 4) are huge High School Musical fans and would love that cake!
If there was something wrong with the cake/icing, then of course you should refund money. Not just because they didn't like what they chose. There have been times I've gone to a restuarant and ordered something new only to find out I didn't like it. I don't ask for a refund because it's what I ordered...not their fault I just didn't like it! Everyone has different taste buds and you can't please everyone all the time. You gave her what she asked for. Next time she'll know to go for the buttercream!
Thanks guys for all your support, and Blondeberryboys is right in that the words shouldv'e been piped or anything else, it would've looked better. But, I came here looking for honest critiqueing and I got it. If we can't handle that then how can we get better?
I also appreciate those who felt differently, and the supportive words from you. I have decided to just let it go and not offer a refund. I did put a lot of work into the fondant decorations, piping "Go wildcats" on everyone of them, making the little microphones and the fresh berry filling, so....no refund! 
And besides, These same parents will be at another party later, where I will be doing the cake so I will have a chance to redeem myself.
And you are right, she did not feel compelled to call and complain, this was just from my daughter (and granddaughter) who are my biggest fans, but were giving me honest feedback about what people said about it.
Thanks again!
Oh, and I got the dark red color by adding americolor liqued food coloring. Lots of it, and making it up a day ahead so it has a chance to darken.
ur cake is awesome...i loved that movie...and u did it justice...
some ppl i swear...
just for future reference....i think imbc is very different once given flavor. the first time i did it, it was just plain vanilla. the feedback was pretty blah....(just experimenting with friends and my family). but then i flavored it in different batches another time with amaretto and espresso (separately). ...and the positive comments came flyin! of course the party cakes the second time around were for adults (a few kids were there too and gobbled them up as well) and i really do think regardless that kids will always prefer buttercream. BUT i would definately recommend that you flavor try it again and flavor it and have some honest people test it out for you and see what kind of feedback you get. test it on kids too....(do cupcakes so you can really pass them around). another kid friendly icing you can recommend in the future is whipped milk chocolate ganache. my son loves that stuff.
Thanks Melysa! Great idea, I'll do that. And, I like the idea of the Ameretto and Espresso.....
I think it was perfect! My daughter would love that cake. I don't understand why they wouldn't eat the image, though. I know Pillsbury sells those cookie doughs with edible images on them- well, it's like edible paper...and my daughter loves to make them! She then peels off the paper and eats it! It's part of the fun for her.
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