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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

shop assistant refused to sell me slice of cake I wanted!

104 replies

Birdsighland · 29/06/2014 15:58

I should post this in aibu, but...

I went to a grocery shop today. I went to the bakery section and told the assistant I'd like a slice of a nice chocolate they had. It was a rectangle shaped cake, already cut into squares like a tottenham cake, with quite a few squared already removed. I pointed to the corner slice as I liked the look of it and it's topping.

At that point the assistant said she could sell me one of the other squares, but not that one. She said it wouldn't be good for the next customers! There was some mention of the shape of the pieces left and exposing them. I left the counter. This was an already cut cake all for sale remember.

When I reached the checkout with my other items, I thought a little more about it and thought it bizarre and went to seek a manager to see why I couldn't buy the piece of cake. I found some sort of a supervisor who went halfheartedly to the counter. The first assistant and the supervisor then had a bit of a conversation, in Turkish I think so I couldn't understand them. He was decidedly unfriendly and said she said the sides of the adjoining pieces would be exposed and dry out. There were many bit of the cake missing so most pieces were exposed and which ever piece I was given would expose at least one but mostly two sides of adjoining pieces anyway (same as removing the corner I had chosen). The cake had already been completely cut up completely for sale. He hummed and hawed, but eventually sold me the slice. No attempt at any customer service.

I have never been refused an item on sale like this before. In fact in most deli's, it is 'which one do you want?'

Are they rubbish shopkeepers or should this customer have been grateful for any allocation of the item?

ps I had it after my lunch, and very nice it was too.

OP posts:
chockbic · 29/06/2014 16:18

Perhaps next time you can say I can't pay the exact amount. Instead I shall offer 20 pence. Mwahaha.

FunkyBoldRibena · 29/06/2014 16:22

they said no shock that we couldn't pick and chose what we'd wanted to buy

I think you will find mister shopkeeper that I can pick and choose what to buy. So if you serve me what I haven't requested you don't get my hard earned cash. Understand me?

phantomnamechanger · 29/06/2014 16:22

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^^ this is the cake cut into squares, with 2 squares sold from the bottom row
selling any remaining corner piece does not uncover any more edges to dry out than selling the piece at the end of the row from which slices are already gone. it exposes 2 edges. Obviously it would be a bit odd to ask for a slice out of the middle of the middle row, which would expose 4 edges!

Notso · 29/06/2014 16:24

I was once told it was impossible to have crispy back bacon.
When I said it wasn't I was told snootily I must be a terrible cook.

Birdsighland · 29/06/2014 16:26

Phantom, the cake was already completely cut up into squares. They were not just cutting the next square off as a customer requested it.

I think the bit about 'the next customer' irritated me too. If she was happy to give me a square with one or two sides exposed to the air, I don't see how the next customer was obviously much more deserving. I wasn't getting it at a reduced cost. And I wasn't exposing more sides than quite a few other square choices would have done.

OP posts:
WhisperingPea · 29/06/2014 16:26

I've never asked for a particular slice of cake and wouldn't have dreamed of doing so. Always felt it was just the luck of the draw as to which slice you got.
I think I'll start now though - didn't realise anyone asked for specific slices. So not the luck of the draw but survival of the loudest. Hmmm.

StealthPolarBear · 29/06/2014 16:26

Surrly there is no piece in a rectangular cake that, once reoved can only expose one new edge bit to dryout? Unless youre on the last row in which case there is no concept of corners

phantomnamechanger · 29/06/2014 16:28

birds ConfusedI know that! that's what the diagram shows! and I said you weren't exposing any more cake with your request for the corner slice!

StealthPolarBear · 29/06/2014 16:29

Yes e aclty phantom. I wish someoee who claims ro understand the side exposure thing would explaIn

AryaOfHouseSnark · 29/06/2014 16:30

Funky, it was so strange, they genuinely seemed to think that I was out of order. When I told them that I wasn't going to buy said burnt bacon nutty they accused me of wasting their time.

HappyAgainOneDay · 29/06/2014 16:31

Notso What rubbish. Who told you that? I like my bacon to be black crisp whether it's streaky or back because there's more flavour in it.

How rude of the person who said you must be a terrible cook. My mother never liked al dente vegetables. It didn't make her a terrible cook to boil or bake to her liking.

Birdsighland · 29/06/2014 16:31

Oops. sorry Phantom.

OP posts:
phantomnamechanger · 29/06/2014 16:32

whats a bacon nutty? Grin

MaryBennett · 29/06/2014 16:32

If someone (anyone) tried to deny me cake that I had chosen, their time on earth would be severely reduced.

Cake = serious.

choccyp1g · 29/06/2014 16:33

But OP, why did you want that particular slice? (Nosy)

storytopper · 29/06/2014 16:33

The shop staff are probably posting on a Turkish language forum right now about the awkward customer they just had who wanted a particular slice of cake.

I haven't studied the art/science of cake-slicing but in terms of the customer always being right I think they should have granted your request without a fuss.

QuintessentiallyQS · 29/06/2014 16:34

I once asked for a specific portion of fruit-salad in a coffee shop, which required the assistant to remove 4 or 5 fruit-salads to get to the one I wanted, and she said she would not do it, she would sell me the fruit-salad nearest to hand. I told her I would not have fruit salad then, as the one I picked was the only one that did not contain any kiwi fruit and pineapple, as my son was allergic to those. She was very apologetic and let me have the one portion I had pointed at. Different situation but....

I also dont get why a future potential customer carry more importance than the one served right now.

MsCeritaCello · 29/06/2014 16:34

I'm with you, OP. I can't understand why they made such a big deal of it. I don't usually ask for the specific slice of cake I want, but I've done it occasionally and it's never been an issue. I'm a bit surprised that she didn't just give it to you. It seems odd. And I think it was extremely rude for the manager and the assistant to talk in front of you in a language you don't understand.

Dilemma now, though. Do you on principle not go to the shop again, or do you sacrifice your principles for the delicious cake? Tough call.

phantomnamechanger · 29/06/2014 16:35

corner slices are the best, choccy, if the frosting etc is on the outer sides of the cake not just the top!

Chocolateisa7adayfood · 29/06/2014 16:35

If it was a small shop I'd expect them to be more flexible than say a large supermarket. Small shops rely a lot on word-of-mouth and people who get poor service normally tell all their friends about it.

WallyBantersJunkBox · 29/06/2014 16:36

I would have said "In that case can I have the entire cake, please wrap each slice up individually."

Then, keeping my eye on the bag with my preferred slice, I would push the others back over the counter saying, "ah, actually, I've changed my mind, I'll just take the one...." whilst smiling sweetly.

cardibach · 29/06/2014 16:38

I find corner slices of tray bakes dry as two sides have been exposed to direct heat. I wouldn't want the corner slice

StealthPolarBear · 29/06/2014 16:39

Even more reasonthey should have wanted to get rid of it :)

AryaOfHouseSnark · 29/06/2014 16:39

Bacon butty, Blush damn auto correct.

QuintessentiallyQS · 29/06/2014 16:40

The corner slice would be THE dries, as it has been exposed the longest. You were doing the shop keeper a favor, buying an inferior slice of cake.

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