Louisiana Small Business Owner Goes Viral for Story of Being Stiffed on Custom Cake
A video from a Louisiana baker on TikTok is currently making its rounds on social media. Abi Caswell, owner of the boutique bakery Batter in Downtown Hammond, recently went viral after sharing a frustrating experience with a customer who left her high and dry. At the end of August, a customer rush-ordered a custom cake priced at $77. Caswell whipped up the cake in time, only to be left holding the (cake) box when the customer never showed up to pay or pick it up.
In her TikTok video, which has already reached more than 7 million views, Caswell asked a question many small business owners wish they could ask: “Why?” After paying a $25 deposit, the customer balked at the price on the pickup day. Always willing to work with her customers, Caswell even adjusted the design to lower the cost, offered suggestions on making the cake even cheaper, and pretty much triple-confirmed that the customer still wanted the cake.
Not only did the customer confirm she wanted the cake, but she even called when it was complete to MAKE SURE it was ready for pickup. Despite all of that, the customer never showed up. After the final phone call, when her husband answered and promptly hung up, it became clear the cake would remain unclaimed.
Fellow bakers and small business supporters filled the comments section with a mix of empathy, outrage, and advice. Here’s a sampling of some of the reactions:
- @tina21toma kept it practical, suggesting, “Sell it as cake slices maybe?” while others in the community joked about how often bakeries do just that with “mystery cakes” on their social media (IYKYK)
- @shannonturnercakes felt her frustration, saying, “Full payment upfront, girl! No fewer than 14 days before the due date.”
- @andreanichelle88, a baker who’s been there herself, commented, “I’m a home baker and the second half of the payment is due 2 days prior to pick up. I can’t risk it 😩.”
- @kh1034 echoed a common theme, writing, “If $25 was the deposit, that custom cake was NOT expensive 😅. She did you dirty, that’s crazy!”
Others couldn't believe the audacity of the situation. @caghib offered Caswell a hard-hitting tip, suggesting, “Small Claims Court. You have a lot of evidence. You will win the case,” while @wineandzen took it even further: “Take a 50% deposit but hold a card, and if they don’t pick up, charge the rest.”
Caswell’s video resonated with me because so many small businesses have gone through similar situations. She shared in her video, “A lot of small business owners have experiences like this, and they’re not able to voice an opinion because they’re so scared.” While Batter is beloved for its unique cakes and custom creations, Caswell’s story brings to light a hard reality for local businesses, reminding everyone that supporting small businesses means respecting their policies, too.
In a world where Batter and other bakeries rely heavily on reviews and ratings, let's hope customers approach with more respect and full payment upfront!