First Time Someone Has Complained On A Cake Of Mine?
Business By shorn0099 Updated 25 Oct 2013 , 5:52pm by BrandisBaked
A[quote name="kiminfrance" url="/t/765016/first-time-someone-has-complained-on-a-cake-of-mine/30#post_7456602"]Being a new cake decorator I was really pleased to find this site and I've just joined this forum, but after reading some of the replies to this poor girls post, I think I might think twice before I ask for help
[B]If you want help you're in the right place. If you want to be told your work is stellar when it's not then you might want to rethink the career as a whole. When you ask for help you can't tell somebody how to give it to you. The whole goal is to be better. Sometimes it will hurt to hear but it better a stranger on CC tell you than an angry customer[/B]
AI'm amazed at ppl with these prices. I wouldn't give her a refund at all. Tell her you charge $5 per svg...she already for a huge discount. You did a fondant cake for $45. She already gor her refund. I agree with the other posters about the prices, tho. I am having a tough time in my market commanding the prices I want...I've learned that is rather decline the order (after suggesting a design that fits her budget) than hate myself throughout the project and then deal with someone as ungrateful as she...
MimiFix: your advice makes so much sense to me I am waiting for your book to arrive so I can get a bigger dose of it, and keep it on hand. (even though I am not in business and may never be)
Thanks, MB. Let me know if you have any questions.
(edited to remove advertising)
OP and other new members - as this is a business forum you will indeed get advice from professionals who are not going to candy-coat their answers, but will provide information and assistance with honesty and integrity. This is what you should expect should you choose to post in the business forum.
To all the lovely professionals that DO help less-experienced cakers with their questions: please keep it civil and avoid rude language and personal (or general) attacks. I know all of those who have responded here have the best of intentions. This is just a reminder to keep it kind, and keep it professional. Our industry deserves it.
Did the customer order the cake in the same fashion as her text? I personally would not even entertain an order from someone who used " da" instead if "the".
Can you imagine if we conducted business like that? " Dear Customer, thank u 4 ur interest in mah cakes. The cake u wanted, u know, da one wit the zebra stripes, hot pink bow, and blinged out monogram- dat one is finna cost u 2 bills. I accept cash money, debit, and Pay Pal . Sorry no credit card or food stamps at dis time. Please holla at me if u want to reserve dis cake. Thnkx- Cakegurl Cakes
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Did the customer order the cake in the same fashion as her text? I personally would not even entertain an order from someone who used " da" instead if "the".
Can you imagine if we conducted business like that? " Dear Customer, thank u 4 ur interest in mah cakes. The cake u wanted, u know, da one wit the zebra stripes, hot pink bow, and blinged out monogram- dat one is finna cost u 2 bills. I accept cash money, debit, and Pay Pal . Sorry no credit card or food stamps at dis time. Please holla at me if u want to reserve dis cake. Thnkx- Cakegurl Cakes
I. Just. Spit. Coffee.... Fur Realz
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Did the customer order the cake in the same fashion as her text? I personally would not even entertain an order from someone who used " da" instead if "the".
Can you imagine if we conducted business like that? " Dear Customer, thank u 4 ur interest in mah cakes. The cake u wanted, u know, da one wit the zebra stripes, hot pink bow, and blinged out monogram- dat one is finna cost u 2 bills. I accept cash money, debit, and Pay Pal . Sorry no credit card or food stamps at dis time. Please holla at me if u want to reserve dis cake. Thnkx- Cakegurl Cakes
True dat.
Liz
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Did the customer order the cake in the same fashion as her text? I personally would not even entertain an order from someone who used " da" instead if "the".
Can you imagine if we conducted business like that? " Dear Customer, thank u 4 ur interest in mah cakes. The cake u wanted, u know, da one wit the zebra stripes, hot pink bow, and blinged out monogram- dat one is finna cost u 2 bills. I accept cash money, debit, and Pay Pal . Sorry no credit card or food stamps at dis time. Please holla at me if u want to reserve dis cake. Thnkx- Cakegurl Cakes
hahaha! love this!
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Did the customer order the cake in the same fashion as her text? I personally would not even entertain an order from someone who used " da" instead if "the".
Can you imagine if we conducted business like that? " Dear Customer, thank u 4 ur interest in mah cakes. The cake u wanted, u know, da one wit the zebra stripes, hot pink bow, and blinged out monogram- dat one is finna cost u 2 bills. I accept cash money, debit, and Pay Pal . Sorry no credit card or food stamps at dis time. Please holla at me if u want to reserve dis cake. Thnkx- Cakegurl Cakes
Dat iz da shizz! 
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Being a new cake decorator I was really pleased to find this site and I've just joined this forum, but after reading some of the replies to this poor girls post, I think I might think twice before I ask for help and support!
As an also new member of this site, I've got to say I want REAL advice. I came here with a cocky attitude because everyone I know said my cakes were fantastic and I would make a killing if I did it for a living. I come here and realize that I'm decent, but I have a heck of a lot to learn, and that I am so not ready to start charging people for what I can do. But in the mean time, I've already picked out some favorite members who I know will tell the truth when I ask how badly I screwed something up. Because I've got friends and family in real life to tell me I'm great, but If I hear it from DeliciousDesserts, I know I've done good.
AI've got to say...you undercharged for what she wanted, but you under delivered for what you did. I have no doubt you can and will do better next time. At least you know you've got the boobage down!
And I totally agree with AZ and others. It is far better to get the unvarnished truth from those in the know than to hear it from an unhappy customer. The best lessons are often learned the hard way.
A
Original message sent by MimiFix
BrandisBaked, there's a definite trend on CC for posters to bash the customer and support the OP. If anyone dares to say something different, they often get bashed for being "offensive" or "mean." My advice to you: quit while you're ahead :wink: ...
I'm going to quote this again, because some of us were talking about how people on here will get smoke blown up their butts by people just insulting the customer when the issue was definitely with the baker. Not to say that the customer is always right, there are plenty of times when they're clearly being difficult. But in this situation the cake didn't look like what was ordered, and to waste time making fun of her texting doesn't give the OP any feedback to make future orders work out better. She might be totally illiterate or just texting fast, but either way the cake wasn't what was ordered.
AI definitely understand its not what she wanted! She had tolde this herself! I told her that I would do the best I could to re create but my work will never be the same as any picture. Thanks everyone for the advice but seeing the same post over and over is aggravating!
AIt's not being reposted to upset you, it's being reposted to point out to others that they aren't helping you by attacking your customer instead of giving you real advice and critique. This type of thing happens all the time, and those of us who are genuinely trying to help get labeled as "mean" for trying to give real business advice instead of coddling.
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Responses tend to be more tough love here in the business forum. There is a good cross section of business owners with valuable advice though, so if you can bring the big girl panties and take it with an ounce of salt (and a lime and a shot of tequila or two) you can learn a lot.
Absolutely 
As someone upthread also said, you need to grow a thick skin in the business. The sooner you learn that, the better off you'll be.
Holy crap...I would have refused to give her a refund based on that text alone..."dat" "da"? Are you serious? I have a very low opinion of people who speak/write in that manner, so I would assume she is just trying to get a free cake and would not even respond to her text or calls.
But, your cake and the inspiration cake don't really look alike. Go with your gut OP.
Actually, what that text 'screams' is someone who doesn't have a smart phone with a 'qwerty' keyboard function. Typing 'the' using a telephone keypad requires hitting five buttons. Typing 'da', which apparently is text speak (txtspk) for 'the', requires hitting two buttons. My arthritic thumbs are grateful for text speak. Of course, I would never use my poor old (non smart) phone to conduct a business transaction. I only use it to communicate with my grandlittles who understand such 'speak' though, being possessed of smart phones, they don't actually use it themselves.
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Actually, what that text 'screams' is someone who doesn't have a smart phone with a 'qwerty' keyboard function. Typing 'the' using a telephone keypad requires hitting five buttons. Typing 'da', which apparently is text speak (txtspk) for 'the', requires hitting two buttons. My arthritic thumbs are grateful for text speak. Of course, I would never use my poor old (non smart) phone to conduct a business transaction. I only use it to communicate with my grandlittles who understand such 'speak' though, being possessed of smart phones, they don't actually use it themselves.
I've come across many people who speak and type like that on purpose, who have smart phones...heck, I hear people speak like that all the time...My 21 year old brother has a lot of friends who post facebook statuses that resemble that mess in the OP, lol.
A
Original message sent by Paperfishies
I've come across many people who speak and type like that on purpose, who have smart phones...heck, I hear people speak like that all the time...My 21 year old brother has a lot of friends who post facebook statuses that resemble that mess in the OP, lol.
AWhat
Original message sent by AZCouture
Yeah, that is purposely done. People go out of their way to type and speak like that.
My, oh my, how the tone of this website has changed.
Back before I got supremely bored here and quit participating for a year (or two?), anyone who did anything less than bow down and worship ALL of the work, ethics, and actions of the decorators here were labeled as bullies. All anyone could do was offer lavish praise and sprinkle delicious Disco Dust on all of their sweet candy-coated words of sunshiny bullsh*t.
So the business forum now allows for honest words, even when they might be perceived as direct or even harsh. Interesting.
A[LEFT][SIZE=3][/SIZE][/LEFT]I agree, when there is teaching there is learning and when you ask for others advise on such as this you are learning, this is where constructive criticism comes from. Constructive criticism doesn't have to be harsh or disrespectful to learn from it. I don't care If you are a "newbie" or a decorator who's been at it for 30 years, there is always something new to learn regardless. You may think some of the folks on here, specifically the ones that don't post much, just because they say they are new doesn't mean they are, they could be here to watch and see whats going on in a world they are no longer a part of, possibly working more the commercial side. It seems clear to me that even though some of the others on this thread are more experienced they either aren't in a place of teaching others their craft or they are really not teacher worthy. You don't have to use harshness to get your point across. If showing a general respect to others means shooting rainbows out your bum then let the colors fly, maybe it's contagious. Sounds like an episode called cake natzi's round here.
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wendelynb: well spoken. Also the person who is making their first cake may have spent a lifetime flying jets, performing surgery, building skyscrapers, handling legal cases, serving in the Military, teaching in the University. They may be rich or poor, educated or illiterate, felon or freedom fighter.
And they just want to make a dang cake! you never know who is on the other end of a forum post.
[Me.... I'm still a chucklehead. Who Knew Right]
to continue this great line of thought here --
- what if it was a cancer patient--
- what if it was someone who had been battered
- or someone who had been assaulted and was baking to try to recover their life--
- or what if it was a veteran trying to forget the screams in the night--their own--
- what if it was your mom or your loved one--
- what it if was a recovering addict--
- what if it was someone very fragile, already near the edge--
i think this is wendelyn b's awesomest quote
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So the business forum now allows for honest words, even when they might be perceived as direct or even harsh. Interesting.
I haven't been here that much, but I'd say that's not so true. It depends upon who wrote what, some get away with more than others. Usually the moderator shuts things down if we don't all agree and someone flags a post that doesn't make them happy.
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