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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to tell her her cakes tastes awful?

44 replies

HellomynameisIcklePickle · 04/03/2014 09:04

I really hope she doesn't read this Blush

I booked for a birthday cake to be made for my PFB's first birthday later in the year. Her cakes look amazing, and she told me she was away the week I needed it but her cakes last up to 10 days. I was a bit Hmm at this - as I want a chocolate one not a fruit cake.

I happened to see another cake I wanted for my husband's birthday that was last week - I asked her for a price and picked it up last week. It looked awesome, but tasted really really bad. My husband didn't mind it but it was not my cup of tea at all Sad

How can I tell her I don't want a cake from her any more? I feel slightly obligated as I booked a slot and I think she charged me less for my DH's cake because she had a "big" one coming? I would like to tell her the truth - she is a professional and deserves to know why she is losing business.

But I don't know how to say it without pissing her off! We live in the same community, and it just feels like a personal insult.

OP posts:
winklewoman · 04/03/2014 10:04

Ooh yes, thatgirl, please link.

fingerlicking · 04/03/2014 10:04

Many (semi) professional cake makers/decorators, buy a ready made mix rather than make from scratch. The reason isn't necessarily laziness, it is because the mixes are often a guaranteed texture, where as from scratch they may not rise evenly etc, which can be important in some designs (like footballs etc).

However, the ready made mixes can taste HORRIBLE. Really nasty.

I learned this from a friend who makes and decorates cakes for an additional income. She said that larger cakes that need to be shaped etc are guaranteed to come out well with a mix, but often that mix is madeira.

SugarMiceInTheRain · 04/03/2014 10:10

I have a friend who is such an amazing cake decorator but the cake itself does nothing for me. Probably uses a mix or something to ensure it can stand up to being elaborately decorated.

Crazdsky · 04/03/2014 10:36

I have a friend who is a cake maker and we had a similar conversation recently where someone had changed their mind over an order made months in advance (pricing not taste issue) but instead of telling her they just cut contact. She said she would have preferred to have had the order cancelled as she could have taken another booking and it would have been better to have been told the reason rather than know the person was telling every man and his dog instead of her (which is how she found out the order was definitely cancelled and the reason)

NoodleOodle · 04/03/2014 11:30

I would cancel the order as there's no point throwing good money after bad.

Oriunda · 04/03/2014 11:33

I made a madeira cake for DS birthday. It tasted as good as the waitrose one we got for his family party (also madeira). Bit dubious about 10 day claim though. Mine still tasted ok 6 days on. Madeira stands up to icing better but should still taste good!

HoneyDragon · 04/03/2014 11:34

Link to the pound cake please Grin

Middleagedmotheroftwo · 04/03/2014 11:40

I'm of the same opinion as lots of other posters - the actual cake in the highly decorated cakes is never very good. The skill is in the icing, not the cake making. DD1 has a friend who makes/decorates cakes. I think her cake is awful too (usually dry), but she is a very good cake decorator.
We prefer our cakes to look like cakes, not like handbags/Bob the Builder/power drills etc etc.

MomOfTwoGirls2 · 04/03/2014 11:41

Since you bake yourself, I'd be tempted to just cancel saying you will try it yourself.

You don't say what your relationship us with this person. Is it just a random business? In which case organise the cake elsewhere. Or is it somebody who will be at the birthday ?? That's a bit trickier..

KirjavaTheCat · 04/03/2014 11:44

Totally disagree that pretty cakes are usually dry! Well mine aren't anyway Wink

People often have the wrong idea about madeira, it's not a 'dry' cake by definition, it's supposed to be dense and moist, but never dry.

MagratGarlik · 04/03/2014 11:51

Didn't you ask to sample her cakes before ordering? For big celebration cakes, where you may be spending a good deal of money, i thought this was normal?

If you are not convinced about the quality, I'd just cancel the order and be honest about why (without being rude). If you want to retain an element of goodwill, offer to forfeit any deposit even if this was not agreed.

whois · 04/03/2014 11:55

Normally you can taste cakes from people before you go ahead and order one.

Call her, explain you didn't like the lemon one and are worried about the chocolate one and could you please taste in of her chocolate ones before committing to the order?

Original poster
HellomynameisIcklePickle · 04/03/2014 11:57

MomOfTwoGirls2 - Haha, no she wont be at the party phew

It's definitely not the fact it's a madeira cake - it is not something I would call a madeira cake - which I have eaten multiple times and I've made a pound cake before that is the same/similar.

It was almost not cake, I've asked my DH to describe it

"It was kind of like dried out rice pudding"

Honestly, I had barely eaten all day and only had half a slice.

OP posts:
Viviennemary · 04/03/2014 11:58

I got a cake made once that was a bit sticky and sweet. And I just didn't ask that person again. But it's difficult if you've already said you were having another cake. I don't think I'd bother telling her. Too much hassle!

MomOfTwoGirls2 · 04/03/2014 12:09

In that case, just contact her and cancel. If she ask why, just say you have changed your mind. No other info required. Neither of you out of pocket at this point, and she may be able to give this slot to somebody else.

OwlCapone · 04/03/2014 12:21

Cancel it and, if pressed, say you're not happy with it lasting 10 days and have found someone who can make it for the day.

pluCaChange · 04/03/2014 12:24

Love the disgusting descriptions!

Learn your lessons carefully from this: you may need them at school! Where I live, lots of the mothers have mobile businesses/ franchises: Avon, beauty treatments, cake making, yoga, Phoenix Cards, music ckasses, etc., and I'm currently feeling a bit awkward about changing activities from one of them (only because I've found a different something that I need more. I do like this thing, and the lady offering it, but I haven't the capacity (for example time or space) for both (sorry that's a bit cryptic. I'm trying not to be specific.)

Don't ever agree to more than pay as you go, is my advice. And if you have to go to a Jamie's/ Pampered Chef party, do your research and try to get a gift you're due to buy anyway!

Poloholo · 04/03/2014 12:31

If she gave you a special price on the first cake due to the order for the second then personally I would offer to pay the difference you saved.

pluCaChange · 04/03/2014 12:43

That's a very elegant solutin, PoloHolo.

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