Stories

November 18, 2010: Stories

I have missed quite a bit of time writing to you all.  There has been a lot that has happened so I figured I would share with you some of my most favorite stories from the past couple weeks.

November 7, 2010: Trouble

Sundays are always crazy in the bakery.  There is a great lack of help in the morning time due to the fact that the workers are paid more for the day.  Generally I work my entire Sunday shift by myself with no assistance which is a large task to take care of considering the weekend shopper load. 

This Sunday seemed to be going too smoothly.  I had made several dozen cookies, pies, and breads in a seemingly short span of time.  I heard over the loudspeaker that our load of product had arrived so I went out back to retrieve it before it began to melt.  I was gone for approximately two minutes to retrieve the pieces and when I came back I saw the evening manager walking away from the department. 

Right as I was about to leave to get the second pallet a gentleman walks up to get his cake order.  He had ordered a large sheet cake with pink and purple balloons that read "Happy Birthday My Sweetest Gabriella" (I knew because I was the one who made it).  I went into the refrigerator to get him the cake and it was missing.  I was completely puzzled as to where it could be.  I looked high and low and finally decided to call the manager to see if someone had already come to pick up the cake.  He said someone had taken the cake already and me, believing the worst in people, believed that this gentleman was pulling some kind of a scam.  He was screaming at the top of his lungs "How could you give away a cake for Fred Ulysse? I am Fred Ulysse.  How could you give away a cake to someone that is not Fred Ulysse? I am Fred Ulysse.  That cake is for my daughter! Someone else doesn't have my daughter.  That is my daughter."

Finally the manager came down and we discovered what the problem had been.  There had been two cakes for girls named Gabriella in the refrigerator and he had given the wrong one to the other gentleman.  This creates a whole new set of problems: 1) This man does not have his cake and 2) the person who has the other cake is going to call up angrily about their order.

I had to resolve both issues.

First for Mr. Ulysse I redid his entire cake in approximately 7 minutes.  He was very happy with how it was handled and actually ordered another cake for the next day.  He was satisfied with the fix and apologized for being so upset over a cake.

After finishing up the cake I got the call I was expecting on the phone.  "Let me speak to the idiot who took my cake order because he completely (expletive)ed up my order." "Miss I was the one who took the cake order and there was just a miscommunication over cakes.  My manager handed the wrong cake to your husband, but we still have your cake.  If you would like I would be happy to have it delivered to your house and you can keep that other cake in addition to it." "Oh, that would be lovely.  My daughter was freaking out.  She wanted her Hannah Montana cake." "I completely understand and I apologize for this incident, but I promise that you will have your cake."

Both problems solved. Am I good or am I good?

Until Next Time.

Stay Sweet,

Lil' Buddy