Oh that’s such a disappointing story :( a gorgeous cake, such a shame for it to end up not being properly appreciated. I have no idea about the cracking, it’s scary to think that could happen but imagine it would have to be fairly extreme conditions for that to happen (got majorly bumped, v hot, v cold??) and the 70 must have taken quite a lot of force to crack like that? So good that you have the initial photos, which I guess your friend will have seen. I must say it would be really upsetting if the friend didn’t pay, you have a certain moral high ground by allowing her to choose but really the fault lies with whatever happened on the journey, v upsetting :( Lovely cake tho!

You did an amazing job!! It looks so perfect!! Im so sad for you that your friend hasn’t paid you. You gave her the cake in perfect condition, it looks like the cake has had some kind of impact, she may have dropped the box or it nearly fell over, there is no way it would have this damage if it was safely transported!! I don’t feel she is being honest with you. I would never ever have not paid a friend who made this for me! I would have paid you the Minuit I picked it up and more so because you were my friend!! Unfortunately in life some people are not very fare or nice and it takes something like this to show their true personality. Its very sad she has done this but I would take away from this that you were the lovely friend that made this for her and she has to have the conscience like you said!! She is not a very nice friend to do this to you :-( x

Wow, how utterly disrespectful towards your work! Looking at the picture it looks like the cake has been transported with total ignorance and carelessness.
I don’t think you should take any responsibility for transportation nor are you liable how transportation is done. In my general terms I state that, unless I do the transport or I organise transporation, the cake is accepted as ‘seen’ when leaving my premises and to be paid in full with the pick-up.
Analysing the pictures I think the filling melted and therefore the sugarpaste sagged and additional (because the inside melted) the top of the cake bumped on the top against something (like the tower of Pisa). It’s strange that the numbers broke in the middle and not at the bottom (where it would, when not fixed nor dried properly).
How you describe your client I get the impression that she doesn’t have a clue how much effort it takes to design a cake, that she isn’t organised and she doesn’t know how to handle staff/subcontractors.
All this is not your business, nor should you care when she obviously doesn’t.

My conclusion: you’re work is flawless and you should be paid in full.
And, you should take more pride in your work and the passion you’ve put and still put in your work. You have developed a very unique style and should tap yourself on your shoulder once in a while :-)

Btw: I call people like this acquaintances, not friends. My friends have similar standards of moral and values

Great cake!

Thank you all for your replies, I feel really encouraged. I do realize that here in my country, they don’t really appreciate art in general. They keep bargaining and bargaining and constantly ask for “friend discount/price” I am and have tried to keep my prices up to my standard. I’m sometimes fed up how they don’t understand that I’ve spend hours and hours and energy on making these cakes… and unfortunately there seems to be a growing numbers of cake makers that have lower prices here. But I stand by my quality.

I’ve apologized over and over and I’ve come to a point where words are not necessary anymore.
Ever since this incident, I print a disclaimer for all pickups, giving all necessary guidelines to handle the cake and that I am not to be held responsible once it leaves my premises. (It also bugs me that sometimes they pick up their cakes on motorcycles! Grr!)
I usually ask for full payment 3-4 days before pick up since I’ve had experiences with people not being responsible with payments, but since she’s a “friend” I let her pay later with no reluctance (tho she claimed that her driver forgot to bring the money with him)

But really I thank you for all your encouragements and thank you for sharing your thoughts. I don’t feel alone anymore! :D Lol…

This is so, so sad and frustrating! Such a sad story to read. :(
But if it could help, I can assure you that I came in for telling you that I love the look of the cake, it it so nicely and professionally done!
So pity it should give you such bad feelings. :(

So sad…such a frustrating situation.
The cake looks Great!!!! xxx

Thank you Neli and Ana… :)

How awful…. I have a strong suspicion your cake was dropped, or badly bumped. And I wouldn’t waste your time on this’s called “friend”. A true friend would 1. Admit they damaged the cake. 2. Paid you regardless. & respected your time & work. Lesson learned, albeit tough. :o(

Yes I think it is bumped too but the driver probably didn’t want to admit it.. and yes, lesson learned! thanks jchuck