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woodthi32
Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 15, 2007
Posts: 532
Location: Oneida, NY
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 Posted:
Tue Oct 30, 2007 5:17 am |
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| summernoelle wrote: | | One more question-letter (with all the emails, and a serving chart included), email, or phone call? I am seriously soft-spined and will fold under pressure, so I don't want to call! |
a snail mail with return receipt requested. She has to sign to acknowledge she received it. It let's ppl know you mean business and you don't screw around. Among the contents, include the copies of any emails regarding price and delivery time. |
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Jocmom
Frequent Member
Joined: Sep 24, 2007
Posts: 376
Location: Port Huron, Michigan
Birthday: Apr 05
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Tue Oct 30, 2007 3:37 pm |
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Consider this a lesson learned . . . actually, more than one lesson:
- When giving multiple quotes, make sure that you and the customer are on the same page as far as size, price, etc. before you even heat up your oven. Give them a cutting chart so they can see what a serving size looks like. They may decide on a larger cake. Or work your way backward. Ask for their budget and show them what you can make for that price.
- If you've had an unhappy customer in the past, it might be wise to create a form that customers sign when the cake is delivered stating that they received what they ordered and they're pleased.
- If your customer requests a design that you don't like, offer alternate designs. I was recently asked to make an UGLY baby shower cake. I didn't want my name associated with that train wreck, so I showed the customer lots of other options. She finally said, "I've seen your work. I trust you. Make what you want." She was so pleased she's still showing pictures of the cake to people. I've gotten 3 referrals from her doing so. 
- When you ask for honest opinions in a public forum - you're bound to get some people that see things differently than you do.
Okay . . . stepping down off my soap box . . . putting down the fistfull of Halloween candy . . . warming up my oven . . . I've got cupcakes to bake!  |
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DelightsByE
Forum Fanatic
Joined: Jul 26, 2004
Posts: 1229
Location: Williamsport Maryland
Birthday: Aug 23
Gallery Supporter Member
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Tue Oct 30, 2007 6:45 pm |
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Jocmom
Frequent Member
Joined: Sep 24, 2007
Posts: 376
Location: Port Huron, Michigan
Birthday: Apr 05
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Tue Oct 30, 2007 7:29 pm |
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Yep . . . cupcakes! I made spice cupcakes. Jell-o came out with a pumpkin-spice flavor pudding, so I mixed that with milk and Cool Whip for "frosting." I'm taking them into work tomorrow for my coworkers.
Hey . . . if I can't lose weight, they all gotta gain some. |
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DelightsByE
Forum Fanatic
Joined: Jul 26, 2004
Posts: 1229
Location: Williamsport Maryland
Birthday: Aug 23
Gallery Supporter Member
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Tue Oct 30, 2007 7:35 pm |
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OK now I'm a bit peeved.....Jello had that pudding flavor LAST fall too, and I could never find any around here. Now they have it again, and I STILL can't find it.  |
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superca_girl
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 23, 2007
Posts: 20
Location: Orange County, CA
Birthday: Aug 05
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Tue Oct 30, 2007 7:50 pm |
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I know you already made a decision by now, but I just wanted to say that it took alot of hard work to make that cake. The city scape was huge and I dont know where you get a cake with that amount of work for that price. You make beautiful cakes but in life there are always whiners. |
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cakedesigner59
Regular Member
Joined: Oct 19, 2007
Posts: 125
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Tue Oct 30, 2007 8:08 pm |
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Okay, these are the kind of posts that scare me to death. I used to work with the public (was a hairdresser and court clerk) and I know how rotten and nasty some people can be. I am trying to decide if I want to start a small cake business again (had one years ago but quit it). And now you all are reminding me the heartaches and headaches that come with dealing with these knuckleheads. I can't decide if it's worth it. Things that make you go hmmmmmm.....  |
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justme50
Frequent Member
Joined: May 15, 2007
Posts: 482
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Tue Oct 30, 2007 8:48 pm |
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Cakedesigner...Don't let the horror stories scare you off.
Of course there are customers out there that are a pain, but the vast majority aren't. Honestly, I haven't ever had to deal with a customer who was anything close to what the op here had to deal with...hopefully never will!
I truly believe 99% of the problems can be avoided by being meticulous with the details and doing a good job of spelling out to the customer exactly what they will be getting and what it's costing them. Sometimes we take for granted that the customer is as informed about cakes as we are! |
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NanaFixIt
Junior Member
Joined: May 02, 2007
Posts: 40
Location: Central Indiana
Birthday: Dec 21
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Tue Oct 30, 2007 9:00 pm |
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Ok, I read the entire post and checked out the photo gallery of the OP - nowhere did I find the cake with the characters the client added. What am I missing? This seems to be a big part of the issue...can someone direct me to the pic after the figures were put on the cake? TIA |
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mommachris
Forum Addict
Joined: Nov 06, 2005
Posts: 576
Location: central California
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Tue Oct 30, 2007 10:27 pm |
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it is the red and black cake...red cake with a cartoon style cityscape. I believe the spiders were the added part.
mommachris |
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newlywedws
Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 17, 2006
Posts: 598
Location: MacDill AFB, FL
Gallery Supporter Member
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Wed Oct 31, 2007 12:56 am |
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Sounds like that gal was a heffer and cut pieces that were huge...and newsflash, gluttony and lack of portion control doesn't equate to a refund! |
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spongemomsweatpants
Forum Addict
Joined: May 30, 2007
Posts: 694
Location: Lakes Region of New Hampshire
Gallery Supporter Member
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Wed Oct 31, 2007 3:26 am |
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| justme50 wrote: |
I truly believe 99% of the problems can be avoided by being meticulous with the details and doing a good job of spelling out to the customer exactly what they will be getting and what it's costing them. Sometimes we take for granted that the customer is as informed about cakes as we are! |
I could not agree more. Now that I have my own shop I have adopted that very same mind set and am proud to say that I have not had a single issue. I have a very explicit contract. I go over the details with my clients and make them sign off. I then give them their signed copy of the contract. It works like a charm. I think that sometimes, and I am not sure that is the case here but in my experiences I have found that just because something makes perfect sense to me does not mean it makes perfect sense to the other person. |
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