had a text from a customer saying her cake was mouldy when she cut it. I asked when she had cut it and she said yesterday, two weeks and two days after she had collected it from me, all my cakes are made fresh and from scratch, i just cant understand why she would order a cake two weeks in advance, i offered her, her money back or another cake, she chose another cake, sounds strange to me. just wondering what you would do as i dont think it was my fault that she ordered a cake two weeks in advance( if thats what happened).

I wouldn't have given her money back. That was just dumb on her part. A store bough cake would mold if it sat on a counter for 2 weeks.

I wouldn't have given her money back either. How can she expect to eat a cake two weeks after it had been baked? Since you offered her a free cake, give that to her and "dump" her as a customer.

Gross! 2 week old cake?? What does she expect?? This is in no way your fault! Definitely put her on your "no more cake for you" list!

Since you made the offer, I'd stick to it BUT... I'd also let her know (in a profession way) that food that is going to be kept more than X day's should be frozen.

I wonder if she does that with her meat, milk, etc.

Unless she was one of my customers who spends thousands of dollars each year with me, there is NO WAY I would have provided another cake or given a refund!! You cannot be responsible for two week old cake, that's just K K KRAZY! You are tooo kind!!!

I certainly would not have offered her a refund or another cake! 2 weeks and 2 days - why buy a freshly made scratch cake to keep it for that long before cutting it - you should have told her that you do not use preservatives in your cakes!!! Mind you the mind boggles as to how some people do not use their common sense - maybe we all need to start putting a consume by date on our cakes!!!

I certainly would not have offered her any money back. What person wouldn't expect cake to get mouldy sitting out for 2 weeks?

It is certainly not your fault.

I would ask her why she ordered the cake so far in advance.

Why on earth did you offer her a refund or replacement when the cake was cut over two weeks after she collected it (unless it was a fruit cake)?

I will chime in with the others that have already answered you, no refund. Of course, hindsight is 20/20 and she probably caught you off guard when she called and if it had been me I would have been, "Oh no, what can I do to save my reputation?" If you had a couple of minutes to really think about it you would have been able to arrive at the conclusion as the others. Why on earth wait for 2 weeks to cut it and sorry, No Refund for You!. Make her cake and if she calls again, sorry no more cakes.

And of course....be sure and tag the "replacement" cake with a consume-by date. This customer is clearly too dumb to figure that out!

Wow...2 weeks after she collected it??? I always ask customers "when is the party?" to make sure they are not picking up a cake and leaving it for days. I had 2 customers recently who picked up cakes up to 2 days before they actually cut it and serve it. Got great reviews but still...I found it strange they picked up the cake 2 days in advance...far less in ur case...2 wks. Gad. Sounds weird to me. Ppl are so funny about a cake that is not freshly baked. Makes me wonder how long they keep things in their home to eat... :S Very weird........

Do you have a website? Under my FAQs I clearly state that cake, cupcakes & cookies are to be enjoyed with a 3 day shelf life. I've seen even a 2 day shelf life on some cake websites. Let people know verbally as well as put it in writing that your cakes should be eaten within x days of pick-up.

.....Gross! 2 week old cake?? What does she expect?? This is in no way your fault! ....
......You cannot be responsible for two week old cake, that's just K K KRAZY! You are tooo kind!!! .........
....Why on earth did you offer her a refund or replacement when the cake was cut over two weeks after she collected it.....

Exactly what they all said. Why, oh why did you offer a refund or cake?? NO way was any of it your fault requiring a refund.

Please tell her that she's NOT purchasing a Twinky from you, it's a freshly baked cake. If she made dinner, would she think that it would still be fresh 2 weeks later.............I should hope not. She's either one brick short of a chimney or a scammer trying to get two for the price of one. If you've ever left a Twinkie out on your counter, you know what I'm talking about - they last forever.

It may not be fresh, but I doubt seriously it was moldy. If it was in a refrigerator for 2 weeks, covered with butter cream or fondant, there is no way that it would turn like that. Even if it was out on the counter...UNLESS you had fresh fruit in the filling or an egg based custard filling, the cake should not have been moldy.

Why did you take her word for it?
And no..absolutely you should never have offered any kind of refund or freebie! I would honestly call her back and say you've reconsidered. Her call caught you off guard and that after reviewing the situation you don't feel you have any obligation to provide any sort of restitution since...
a) they did not provide any evidence that the cake was bad and
b) you are not responsible for any cake one day past delivery.

Do you really want to keep these people as customers? They are scammers...and if they're not...well...they're just stupid. And who needs that?

It's true, cake starts to grow mold in about 2 weeks at room temperature. Her cake was probably moldy 2-4 days before she cut it. Whatever it's covered with (BC or fondant), it holds the moisture in and becomes more moist with time. The mold starts where the icing touches the cake -- as the two meld, it gets slimy. Even if you don't yet SEE the mold on two week old cake, you'll still smell that it is no longer edible.

thanks for the replies, i offered her a refund /another cake as i dont want her bad mouthing my work she came to me through other customers, so cut my losses and learnt a lesson as in not to do anymore for her. I do state cakes are best eaten straight away.

1. mold, moldy

2. I wouldn't give her squat. Why would you think a cake would last more than 2 weeks without freezing it.

Completely off topic, but even though I am here in the US, I love the way Colour looks with a u and Theatre with the e at the end... And I use it that way...

i have made hundreds of cakes with no problem, just one stupid customer who thinks it will last for weeks, most of my customers are regular and so know that they are collected the day before or on the day they are eaten, this is one I wont be doing any more for.