Cakes, Customers and Delivery partners— The Love Triangle!

Let's admit it, we all love cakes. Rich or poor, it doesn't matter. Even those who don't eat cakes because of health concerns won't deny loving them. Cakes are the stuff of hopes, wishes and dreams.

Delivery partners are no different. Even if swiggy didn't remind me (which it does, every time without fail) to handle cakes carefully, to drive slow and avoid bumps, I would still do so. I would never let my precious be smudged or damaged.

But each time I get a pick up recommendation from a bakery , I can't help but hesitate to accept.

Why? Because it's not safe for cakes to travel by bike in India. With poor road conditions, sometimes even on highways , it's quite difficult to guarantee the full safety of the cake. Also, swiggy doesn't pay a higher amount just because you are driving slow and careful. And as I've explained in my previous post, incentives and surge bonuses are time-sensitive(https://www.reddit.com/r/swiggy/s/qHxVtaQjQ3). Time lost in delivering a cake carefully equates to monetary loss, which wouldn't matter if the customer made a tip , even the lowest amount would make the effort worthwhile. But that's very rare in India, at least thats the case in my city. So as a delivery partner, even though I love cakes, I prefer not to be paired with a cake delivery order, or an unempathetic customer. Often times I feel like a third wheel in their situationship.

Now to demonstrate a customer's perspective, I would like to give an example of the time my friend ordered a cake on my bday because he didn't have the time to go get one. (I would love to share my experience, but I never trust my cake with anyone so I usually pick it up myself).

Anyway he made sure to let the delivery partner know beforehand that if the cake is delivered well he would be tipped. And he did give him a generous tip, but later on when we opened the box, the cake had slid into one side of the box. It was saddening, my friend was frustrated that he didn't check before giving the tip.

It didn't really matter to me though . Maybe the delivery partner wasn't careful enough. Maybe he was, but due to some unavoidable circumstances this little accident happened, a small bump on the road almost invisible in the dark, or a brush with a reckless driver, anything could have happened.

No matter what, it wasn't my friend's fault. It was his presence that mattered to me, and even though smudged , the cake was delicious. I usually get the bday cakes from the same bakery and apparently he paid a thousand rupees including swiggy discount for the order, whereas the rate at the restaurant is 800rs. I know because I recently got one. And then he regretted ordering the cake even more lol.

I hope my point is obvious enough. Cakes are merely symbolic, in any event it's the presence of your loved ones that matters. If you care for someone, then go pick that cake up yourself, walk the extra mile, go the distance, book a taxi if you have to. It's the subtle gestures that appeal better and are remembered longer.

And if you really love someone, ditch cream cakes and get them a healthier version, or make one yourself, or better still if you both prepare it, together. It may not turn out perfect, but even if it's a mess, it will be a lovable, precious mess. This is how you make core memories that endure till the end of times, nothing a delivered cream cake, no matter how perfect could ever compare to.

So my heartfelt advice would be not to order cream cakes for delivery, except when you barely care about the recipient and the cake is just a formality. But in cases when there is no option, let the delivery partner know beforehand and only give a tip after confirming the safety of the cake. My friend's case was an unfortunate one, but that shouldn't be the norm.

This post kept longer than expected. I hope everyone is doing well, keeping safe and being kind, goodnight!