I had a last minute order friday at 1:30 pm. The lady sent her 19 year old son over to pick up the cake @ 5:30 pm. I was freaking out when I went to the door. Here he was in a little truck with a DOG in the truck with him. I thought all this work & this cake is not even going to make it to their house. My daughters boyfriend is telling me not to worry about it since I've already been paid & it's out of my hands. My DH tells me that all the time, but I still worry. Some of these people come to pick cakes up & carry them like a football. Just wondering if there was anybody wlse that felt the way I do about this[/u]
Wow, I would have been freaking out as well. Who brings a dog with them in the vehicle when there's going to be cake?!?!
But it's true: they've paid for it and it's out of your hands. I always take a picture of the cake with the person standing there if they've come to pick it up. That way, you've got proof that it looked fine as it waltzed out the door. Just one extra way to cover your butt!
Oh! I forgot to add, I called her that night to see if she liked the cake. (I don't normally do that, but I know her) She said the dog stepped on the corner of the box before he made it home. She said it didn't mess it up that bad. She wasn't that worried about it.
Depending on the order I always ask them to make sure they have a clear and flat area in their car. I have even provided a small non-skid mat so their cake won't slide. I hate when women send their husbands to pick up cakes, because men don't seem to be concerned about the cake . My last comment to most men picking up cakes is, please try not to do any 4-wheeling on your way home. I had a customer once that had a dog, 3 small kids, a teenager , a mom and her in the car, she gave the cake to the teenager to hold. I just cringed hoping that the cake would make it ok. But once its gone it is out of my hands. There is really not much you can do.
I think after reading all these posts........when/if I start a business........I'm going to make it a requirement that the person picking it up says that it's to their likings and make them sign something stating that I'm not responsible for any damages that may occur once the cake is off my property!!!! LOL I can't even imagine getting a cake with A DOG in the car!!! People are insane!!!!!
I keep a digital camera with me, I know that it's a pain in the butt, but when people pickup a cake, I take it's picture before it leaves my store and when I deliver the cake I ALWAYS take a picture once it's set up.
I ALWAYS tell people that I do this to PROVE the cake leaves or arrives in one piece.
I remember the time my daughter got married. I was unable to make her wedding cake
( but I had already made her first wedding cake..tee hee so it wasn't so bad...only thing is the cake they brought to the table was just a roughly iced cake with live flowers plopped on it . ugh...at it was a VERY expensive hotel too!!)
So, they recieved a small reception the next day for all the friends of the groom that were not invited to the wedding.....I offered to make the cake.
This was a very busy weekend for me...I had had 7 hours sleep in 3 days!
I make her cake, yellow butter cake, grand marnier swiss meringue buttercream and mandarin orange filling. Oval with fondant Calla Lilies.
Since it was a busy cake weekend for me I had NOTHING extra, used EVERYTHING UP.
Well, sent my ex hubby ( who was down for the wedding) to deliver the cake...( he should've known better!)
He goes to cool off the car ( we live in Miami..) puts the cake on the sofa....
Drum roll please...here it comes.....
and the CAT ( who loves high and higher places....) decides to STAND on the BOXED CAKE!!!!!
I didn't see this as I was in the kitchen cleaning up....when I hear the DXH say...."OH...HONEY..."
"HONEY>>???" I"m thinking..oh, oh what happened? he wouldn't call me honey, unless something is wrong..
The cake cover was all stuck to the cake, the flowers since they were fondant where crushed...and when I lifted the cover, all the icing pulled off the cake!!
I tried to FIX it, but the icing also pulled the coat off the cake too so the icing was full of crumbs!
I wanted to die!
What a great story! I guess you live and learn!
and the CAT ( who loves high and higher places....) decides to STAND on the BOXED CAKE!!!!!
...
The cake cover was all stuck to the cake, the flowers since they were fondant where crushed...and when I lifted the cover, all the icing pulled off the cake!!
I tried to FIX it, but the icing also pulled the coat off the cake too so the icing was full of crumbs!
I wanted to die!
I'd want to die too! That's horrible!
So far, for me, most people have picked up a cake in decent driving conditions. I always take pictures too; but never thought of them as "insurance".
I have not sold that many yet (5) but I only offer delivery. They cannot pick up the cake. If they ask how much without delivery, I just tell them that delivery is free (of course, it's built into the cost of the cake, but they don't need to know). This way I know the cake arrived in good condition. I never thought about taking a picture of it once it was delivered though - I like that idea and may have to start doing that.
~Chelle
Oh the state of some people's cars is horrendous. I mean I do understand a mother having the kid's cricket gear in the boot in cricket season, but when it is NOT cricket season, that is just clutter. I have to help the customer make room almost every time, getting old newspapers, handbags, footballs etc out of the way so the cake can sit somewhere! I am a virgo and absolutely HATE clutter, and while I understand the street directory sitting on the passenger seat and everything, by the time they have their two children's carseats in the back, the cricket gear in the boot and the newspapers and mcdonalds wrappers all over the front passenger seat, there is nowhere for the cake to sit and I am constantly surprised that they didn't think to clear a spot when they are going to collect a cake. I even email them a confirmation telling them to leave a large flat uncluttered area of the car for the cake!
oh well, now I just get right in there and move the junk and put it in the backseat footarea! lol!
my hubby always says not to worry about the cake when it leaves me, but I do worry especially if it is for someone else as I want them to see it looking perfect too!
Customers always pick up my cakes from me. I take the cake out to their cars and place it in the most secure place for travel, I also put a piece of non-skid mesh under the box for extra assurance. After that, it's up to them.
I always include a photo.
I agree! People come to pick up their cakes in these mini-vans that have absolutely NO trunk space or they start to clear off the FRONT SEAT!!! As if !! Give me a break! I refuse to let them drive away with my cake on their front seat. Also, many of my cakes are just too big to be put into boxes so they are uncovered and I always tell them to please drive with their windows rolled up so the cake doesn't get dusty.
Sheesh!!! 
Me, i always tell who ever is picking up the cake, "if i find out you dropped, smashed or cracked my cake, i will never make another one for you" Plus i carry it out and put it into the car/truck myself
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