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Bad Manners and Brimstone
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#Post#: 27383--------------------------------------------------
Re: New bakery dilemma - should I have said something
DIR By: lowspark
Date: March 8, 2019, 11:55 am
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I think it's very difficult to give an honest negative answer in
a situation like that. I would feel like I was being put on the
spot. If they really want honest feedback, positive or negative,
maybe they should provide feedback cards or encourage people to
post on their website or Facebook page.
I was at a chili cook-off quite recently and after tasting one
that I didn't particularly like, one of that team's members
asked me if I liked it. I just said yes! I was sure glad I did
because he then said about how hard they had worked on it.
Now of course, that's a bit of a different situation because
it's not feedback for an ongoing business, but my point is that
it's not easy to say to someone's face, "I don't like what you
cooked."
I agree with others who say that you really have no obligation
to give them feedback or a second chance, but I get the feeling
that you are asking about this because you want them to succeed.
So in that case, I would definitely give the feedback in a less
face-to-face setting online, whether it be on Yelp or their
Facebook page or whatever.
I think what you wrote here would be the perfect thing to post.
--- Quote from: katiekat2009 link ---
>
> It has a nice, cozy atmosphere in a very quaint, old building.
I found the prices a little high and the selection sparse but
purchased a cupcake anyway. The cupcake was dry and bland, not
adherent to regional recipes for it, and the icing was loaded,
very sweet and dried out, as well.
--- End Quote ---
#Post#: 27394--------------------------------------------------
Re: New bakery dilemma - should I have said something
DIR By: TootsNYC
Date: March 8, 2019, 7:38 pm
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If I said anything, it would be because I wanted to be helpful.
So maybe I'd have said, "Well, to be honest, it was kind of dry.
And maybe the frosting could use a pinch of salt to cut the
sweetness."
And I'd have used a "sharing information with you" sort of
rueful tone.
But I might also have just said, "it was fine," and left without
more detail.
#Post#: 27411--------------------------------------------------
Re: New bakery dilemma - should I have said something
DIR By: browzer11
Date: March 8, 2019, 11:47 pm
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"If I said anything, it would be because I wanted to be helpful.
So maybe I'd have said, "Well, to be honest, it was kind of dry.
And maybe the frosting could use a pinch of salt to cut the
sweetness."
And I'd have used a "sharing information with you" sort of
rueful tone.
But I might also have just said, "it was fine," and left without
more detail."
Well, which is it? Say something critical? Or say nothing?
#Post#: 27414--------------------------------------------------
Re: New bakery dilemma - should I have said something
DIR By: DaDancingPsych
Date: March 9, 2019, 4:20 am
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--- Quote from: Kimpossible link ---
>
> This reminds me of Gordon Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares. He's
talked to restaurant owners about customers who vote with their
wallets. I'm not sure I would have been 100% honest with an
employee (owner) who asked my opinion in the moment, but I might
have said that the cake tasted a little stale or overly sweet.
If I were a diligent employee, I would have taken the fact that
the customer threw away a significant portion of the product as
a sign that it wasn't very good. The customer might not have
eaten it all in one sitting, but most customers would have taken
a tasty (pricey) treat with them for later.
>
--- End Quote ---
I totally agree with this. I will go to great lengths to take
tasty leftovers home. Some people have laughed at the things I
put in my purse! =P If I am tossing something, it must have
been bad!
#Post#: 27418--------------------------------------------------
Re: New bakery dilemma - should I have said something
DIR By: Dazi
Date: March 9, 2019, 9:34 am
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There is a phrase that conveys something is bad without being
critical. It's, "It wasn't to my tastes."
#Post#: 27424--------------------------------------------------
Re: New bakery dilemma - should I have said something
DIR By: TootsNYC
Date: March 9, 2019, 12:39 pm
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--- Quote from: browzer11 link ---
>
>
>
> Well, which is it? Say something critical? Or say nothing?
>
--- End Quote ---
It would depend on my mood.
If I wanted to be helpful enough to bother with the effort, if I
was sort of thrilled with the idea of having the shop in my
neighborhood, then maybe I would.
Neither is wrong.
#Post#: 27426--------------------------------------------------
Re: New bakery dilemma - should I have said something
DIR By: Aleko
Date: March 9, 2019, 1:09 pm
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--- Quote ---
> If I were a diligent employee, I would have taken the fact
that the customer threw away a significant portion of the
product as a sign that it wasn't very good. The customer might
not have eaten it all in one sitting, but most customers would
have taken a tasty (pricey) treat with them for later.
--- End Quote ---
Indeed - and that may well have been the precise reason why they
asked.
#Post#: 27429--------------------------------------------------
Re: New bakery dilemma - should I have said something
DIR By: Mrs. Tilney
Date: March 9, 2019, 3:55 pm
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I think if you want to be helpful and encourage the bakery to
succeed, you shouldn't leave a negative Yelp review; I doubt it
would lead to the baker changing anything, and would keep
customers away. At this point, I probably wouldn't say or do
anything.
#Post#: 27453--------------------------------------------------
Re: New bakery dilemma - should I have said something
DIR By: kglory
Date: March 10, 2019, 3:03 pm
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I would never have said anything. Unless you were going to make
a complaint before they asked because it was so inedible, it
feels somehow rude or violating social norms to reply to "Did
you like it?" from a stranger with "No."
Then again I tend towards the people-pleasing side so I would
never want to insult new business owners like this, especially
people I don't even know.
For those who would feel compelled to answer honestly to help
the business, the only way I could see doing it is burying one
small negative among some good things. Like, "It was good, and
the cake had a good flavor. The icing was a little sweet for my
taste. I do love having a new bakery in our downtown."
Voila, not offended anyone, said a lot of nice things so they
won't feel attacked, but like any person, they will hone in one
the criticism and maybe address that one thing.
#Post#: 27457--------------------------------------------------
Re: New bakery dilemma - should I have said something
DIR By: Rose Red
Date: March 10, 2019, 3:39 pm
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--- Quote from: kglory link ---
>
> I would never have said anything. Unless you were going to
make a complaint before they asked because it was so inedible,
it feels somehow rude or violating social norms to reply to "Did
you like it?" from a stranger with "No."
>
> Then again I tend towards the people-pleasing side so I would
never want to insult new business owners like this, especially
people I don't even know.
>
> For those who would feel compelled to answer honestly to help
the business, the only way I could see doing it is burying one
small negative among some good things. Like, "It was good, and
the cake had a good flavor. The icing was a little sweet for my
taste. I do love having a new bakery in our downtown."
>
> Voila, not offended anyone, said a lot of nice things so they
won't feel attacked, but like any person, they will hone in one
the criticism and maybe address that one thing.
>
--- End Quote ---
But this is a business interaction and not social. The OP
shouldn't say it sucks, but she can say it was a bit dry and the
frosting was too sweet for her taste. She can say it in a nice
tone. Feedback doesn't have to mean complaint.
A new business is the perfect time for feedback so they can
change and improve if they wish. They want repeat business; not
customers who are too polite to say anything and just never come
back.
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