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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Birthday cake disaster, what would you do?

156 replies

Cakeybreakyheart · 01/03/2015 21:41

I bought DP a birthday cake for a v special birthday, we didn't have a chance to cut it at his party.

We cut it today to start giving it out to people.

The cake itself looks fab but it's totally inedible. Dry, very very heavy consistency almost bread-like.

It doesn't taste very nice at all and I'm just gutted about it. You really couldn't even force a piece down.

Would you tell the person who made it? I paid over £50.

What would you expect them to say/do?

OP posts:
TheIronGnome · 01/03/2015 21:42

You should definitly say something! How big was the cake? How many days was it between recieving the cake and cutting it?

You should expect at least a partial refund. Have you kept any cake? How did you find the cake maker?

FirstWeTakeManhattan · 01/03/2015 21:43

Was it a company or a friend/relation who made it?

CliveCussler · 01/03/2015 21:44

When did buy it and who made it?

If it was a friend, i'd just chalk it down to experience. But if you got it from a legitimate business, I'd definitely be taking it back for a refund. Unless the party was ages ago.

windchime · 01/03/2015 21:45

I could have written your post, OP. Same thing happened to us. A perfectly decorated cake, just as I ordered, but cut, and tasted, like brick. A friend of a friend made it, and gave us a hefty discount, so I didn't complain. But I won't be ordering more. For the amount you paid, I really think you should complain.

arethereanyleftatall · 01/03/2015 21:45

That's really unusual. Has it been stored sensibly?

ChipDip · 01/03/2015 21:46

I would definitely have to say something. How has it been stored though? If it was a friend I think it's all the more reason to let them know.

DisappointedOne · 01/03/2015 21:49

I make celebration cakes for friends. I'd want to know.

Original poster
Cakeybreakyheart · 01/03/2015 21:52

I picked the cake up yesterday morning (day of the party)

I found the company from Facebook after they made an amazing cake for a local shop. Good reviews as well.

It was stored in a cool room from pick up yesterday to cutting it today.

Could just cry really, was so looking forward to trying it but glad we didn't get chance to hand it out at the party as I'd have been a bit embarrassed.

I feel really bad because the person who made it was so nice.

OP posts:
BitchBags · 01/03/2015 21:55

I would definitely complain. £50 is alot of money for an inedible cake

OhFlippityBolax · 01/03/2015 21:55

Id let them know. Chances are they know the base cake was crap - experienced bakers can tell when one is a dud! But give them a chance to rectify it before bad mouthing them. Take photos of the cake bit.

Original poster
Cakeybreakyheart · 01/03/2015 22:09

It was a large square cake covered in icing, about 30cm square.

We have kept it all so we can show it hasn't been eaten, only tried a small piece.

OP posts:
bimbobaggins · 01/03/2015 22:18

This happened to me last year. Paid a similar amount for a cake on the recommendation of a friend. Unfortunately it looked and tasted terrible. I was so disappointed but didnt complain. Im a wimp. Have regretted not complaining and too late now so id definitely advise you to say something. Its too much money to let it go .

Purplepoodle · 01/03/2015 22:19

How many days has it been sitting?

Purplepoodle · 01/03/2015 22:20

Sorry saw you answered. Take it back tomorrow and show them. You deserve at least some compensation

Original poster
Cakeybreakyheart · 01/03/2015 22:21

Picked it up yesterday morning, cut it today. So can't really say it could be stale by now.

OP posts:
Messygirl · 01/03/2015 22:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig · 01/03/2015 22:23

It wasn't the fact that you stored it in a cool room that made it go hard? Cakes and bread etc do go hard if you put them in a fridge.

Evabeaversprotege · 01/03/2015 22:25

We've had two of these! One was made by my SIL & I didn't say a word but would never ask her to make me another.

Second was a lical business, it looked great, but was so sweet & plastic tasting it was awful. I complained to the shop & they give me £20 back (it had cost £40)

Original poster
Cakeybreakyheart · 01/03/2015 22:26

Well it was kept in a proper kitchen (kitchen not in use so not hot or anything) at the venue, but not in a fridge.

I can't think of anywhere better to keep it really. Not just that it was hard though, it didn't taste nice at all.

OP posts:
GokTwo · 01/03/2015 22:30

There's no way it should have gone hard and stale in that amount of time. I think I would take it back, that's awful.

RandomHouseRules · 01/03/2015 22:34

Most cake should keep well for at least a couple of days if in an airtight container. It is more likely to go stale if put in the fridge. I would definitely mention it if I had paid that amount.

ConfuddledPickle · 01/03/2015 22:35

Dh makes cakes (wedding/birthday). Fondant icing acts like a vacuum and, uncut, a cake should last well for days.

Dh made ds1's last birthday cake 3 days before the party and it was still soft and lovely because he iced it as soon as the cake was cool.

Either the un-iced cake was kept hanging around uncovered for hours/days before being decorated or something went wrong with the mixture. There's really no excuse for either. Definitely (constructively) complain. If it was so bad as to be inedible, I would expect nothing less than a full refund.

If theY refuse, Wrap it up, take it back and get them to cut into the middle of it themselves (for a piece not yet exposed to the air) to try, and threaten reviews on facebook etc.

Sweetpea15 · 01/03/2015 22:37

Don't eat anymore or cut anymore of it just leave the cake.

Explain to her that it was dry and as another poster said you think there may have been an issue with the mix.

Be nice but firm. The reason I say don't eat/touch anymore of it is that some bakers ask to check the cakes themselves and that way you have it as proof.

It should not have been dried out in that amount of time.

Xx

Original poster
Cakeybreakyheart · 01/03/2015 22:40

That's what I thought confuddled - we didn't cut any of it last night so expected it to still be very fresh today as it was still fully iced. Then we would have dropped it round for people this evening.

Five of us tried the small piece we cut off, even the 4 year old said they didn't like it.

DP is going to deal with it I think. I'm not usually a wuss but I'm knackered after organising the party and can't really be doing with it.

OP posts:
ConfuddledPickle · 01/03/2015 22:40

If that was dh, he'd probably ask you to bring the cake back so he could have a look to see if he could work out what went wrong.

And then apologise profusely, offer a full refund and drop you a 'sorry' cake round the next day, free.

The market is saturated with have-a-go bakers atm and competition is rife. The risk to Dh's reputation wouldn't be worth it.

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