Sorry to vent I show up to deliver cake i see the mother and she loves the cake plus all other things she ordered I set up say goodbye. a week later they finally drop off cake stand and complain about everthing they weren't satisfied then the mom starts the flowers on the cake should have been lilac not white and im like heres a picture they are Lilac, she said nothing and that they were dissatisifed with the cupcakes she ordered 100 macarons that I told her I priced her for 50 she got 100 it seems like those people that go eat finish all there food then complain to get it free! She saw the cake when i delivered and didnt complain then she didnt complain about the taste just the cake toppers and color of flowers and cupcakes its like they propably short on money so they just want to complain. Sorry to vent thank you for letting me vent =) 

sorry was rambeling, Has any one of you dealt with people like this that they just start complaining about everything yet you were there and know what you delivered and have pictures

It's happened to probably most every one of us.

well thank you for responding I felt so bad yesterday I got all depressed my husband was like theres people like that but its easier to hear it from people who have dealt with cake complainers

i hope you didn't refund much if anything--so sorry that happened!

No I didnt refund anything I just apologized 

good for you--

but seriously i felt like i was going to pass out im sure my blood pressure sky rocketed cause even my voice started to crack but i never lost my politeness though inside i was thinking other things 

At some point in everyone's career it happens. You kept your composure and apologized that's a darn good response. If it didn't upset you or hurt your feeling than you probably are a bad baker......... so take that as a pat on your back as being a person who really cares a lot.

I gave someone a refund for cupcakes because they were "really, really good".........just not as "special" as usual..........I regret that. I only hope she regrets it more ............because she no longer has a place for really, really good cupcakes anymore.

AGood on you for not refunding, these people only continue because they keep getting everything for free.

Thank you so much for your responses =)

Don't refund anything to her.  If she truly had complaints she would have called you the next day, not wait a week to tell you about all the things that were wrong. It may be that she went way over budget and the cake is the easiest way to get money back.  Glad you have a photo of the cake to prove you did all that was asked for. 

In the future, if you didn't do so with this cake, I would have a sheet that lists everything the client is wanting on the cake or amounts of items such as cupcakes and designs.  This would insure the client gets what was ordered and save you from any future complaints, if any.

Thank You cakegrandma that is very smart idea I will do that to save me from future complaints if any =)

Your work looks great and I am sure it was fine!

I am sorry you had a "bad" customer.

They are out there.  You just have to recognize them.  They are "never" happy and enjoy being that way.

Thank goodness 99 % of our real customers love what we do.  Keep doing what you are doing, because you make a difference!!!!!!!

AThank you so much for your words it means a lot :) you guys are the best :)

AThis is going to sound really mean to many of you, but here's some expert advice. I've never had anything close to this happen in the 6 years I've supported myself making cakes. Knock on wood. Yet I see these kinds of posts here all the time. To me that hints that the customer pool is "bad". And the way you get this kind of customer is to undercharge. This person was given 100 cookies half price? How did that come about? Also something I've never done.

I'm not saying this couldn't happen to me because I do everything right. Just that it's much, much more likely if you aren't charging enough.

ASo true, the class of customer that understands and appreciates that they are paying for a truly luxury product does not pull stunts like this.

AThank you and your right I've told myself that from now on that if they can't afford my price I'm not going to deal with that client glad I was able to download the cake price matrix you guys are amazing

A

I'm so sorry this happened to you babcaro, but as everyone else has pointed out, you did good in not refunding!!

You mention a price matrix, is that here in the forum? - Thanks! - Nevermind, FOUND IT!! :D lol

One of my customers did a royal iced wedding cake - which was duly delivered and accepted.  Then after the honeymoon the whole family pitched up complaining that the icing was hard and could not be cut.  The top tier was duly taken into the kitchen there and then - and easily cut with a pretty blunt knife.  My customer offered a small refund to cater for their disappointment (but was seething inside)  She heard nothing.   TWO YEARS later - she gets an email asking for the refund.  Can you believe it?  Some people are just extraordinary (and that is the polite word).  I think getting them to accept delivery of a contract, and get them to sign to say that the visual, wording and colours are fine.    So you will always get a couple of immoral customers, but the lesson is to NOT let their values, affect your day.  You are in the right, if you feel you have done everything possible to get the contract exactly as was ordered.   Normally an argument will start, because the order is not as they expected, and if you can minimise this risk by having an order outlining their expectations, get them to sign it, and then produce your goods exactly to the order, then no argument can be started.  You have approval by signature.   Hope that helps.  Kx

AOk glad you found it :)

AWow can't believe after 2 years some people are horrible I'm very thankful to have you ladies give me some great advise because I was really depressed I am not going to lie it is still in the back of my mind bothering me but I realize that I just need to deal with clients who can afford to pay

exactly what I was gonna say! There are many people out there that have no problem doing this as a tactic, to get things cheaper or for free. I have seen it many times don't fall for it, and stick to your guns. Its hard and nerve wracking for you, but its usually not you, stand by your product and hard work, and don't take them again as customers. Macarons = HARD to perfect, don't give them away! Chin up!!

thank you reneefig =)

I once had a group of customers at a delivery standing in front of me and speaking in a different language (that I did speak but they didn't know that I understood them) talking about how much they could get for a refund if they complained. I stood there with the contract while they tried to tell me everything about it was wrong, even though it was right there on the contract. After they talked about how to get money back and kept saying "she won't take the cake back" in the other language for a while I got tired of listening to them and I took out my checkbook, wrote them a check for the refund, took the cake and drove right to the Ronald McDonald house to donate it. They were surprised that I actually took the cake back, but I hope they enjoyed their supermarket sheet cakes that they kept telling me would have been better than the four-tiered cake that I'd made for their event.

The only thing I wish I had done differently would have been to tell them goodbye in their language when I drove away with the cake.

AMy goodness some people have no respect cake we do are nothing like walmart cakes we take hours to make sorry that happened to you

I love it - that you took the cake back.   I would have loved to see the expressions on their faces too.   Some people are so cheap aren't they.   So I guess the solution is that we must all aim for a better type of customer - hopefully who are both truthful and honest too.  Kx